We’ve made a resolution for 2012 to bring you the best of the best here on SMP New York, and unlike our resolution to stop having cookies for breakfast – we fully intend on keeping it. That’s why we are ringing in the first weekend of the new year with the newest members of stylish SMP New York family - Tory Williams Photography, Gabriella New York Bridal Salon and Elizabeth Solaka Photography. And even though they don’t need an introduction because their reputations for sure precede them – we just HAD to share the love!
First up is Tory Williams Photography. I could stop right there because I’m sure you have swooned over this wedding or this wedding or this amazing photo shoot, but she deserves the biggest of SMP hugs. So be sure to give her a big virtual squeeze because we sure do love her so…
From Tory Williams Photography…Tory started photography in the editorial world, shooting still life for magazines such as Glamour and Vogue, and photojournalist stories for non-profits. It was only natural that she found her passion in wedding photography, which combines her documentary approach and sharp eye details. Her style is timeless and whimsical, her images are full of emotion and you can’t help but smile, laugh or cry when looking through them. From a recent happy couple- “The best part is that each picture is not just a pretty picture, but Tory was also able to capture the memory of the moment. Each picture tells a story. We couldn’t have asked for more.”
Tory would like to offer a LOVE-shoot to one SMP reader. Tell us what you love, is it your shoes, your husband, your fiancé, your baby, pizza? Leave a comment below telling us what you absolutely LOVE, anything goes, and the SMP team will select a lovable winner. *must be in the NYC area
Now if you love wedding gowns (and who doesn’t) you’ve probably heard of the lovely Gabriella of Gabriella New York Bridal Salon. She is as pretty as the gowns she carries, and her salon is mostly certainly a must visit if you are in the NYC area!
Gabriella New York Bridal Gown Designers include Anna Maier Ulla-Maija, Reem Acra, Amy Kuschel, Angel Sanchez, Legends by Romona Keveza, ClairePettibone, Elizabeth Fillmore, Francesca Miranda, Marchesa, Jenny Packham, Sassi Holford, Angelo Lambrou, Lusan Mandongus, Sarantina, and Douglas Hannant. Gabriella New York Accessories Designers include Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces, Untamed Petals, Rivini, Aruna Seth, Amanda Pearl, Court & Plume, Zinke Intimates, and Moyna Handbags.
Please enter your favorite first dance song below for a chance to win a silk chiffon garter, silk hankie, and jewelry bag all compliments of Gabriella New York Bridal Salon!
Rounding up our talented list of friends is Elizabeth Solaka Photography. She creates that classic, timeless perfection we just love so much about a good New York wedding and she is most definitely a must know!
From Elizabeth Solaka Photography…I take pictures that are out of the ordinary. I don’t stop at just ‘pretty’ or magazine-worthy images. I will create timeless, museum-quality works of art for you that will endure for generations. I will use my classical training, and, if need be, vintage film cameras to achieve the beauty that reflects your wedding day. This is what separates me from the arena of photographers in New York City. Seventeen years ago at the Boston Architectural Center, my photography professor asked the class if anyone wanted to learn the art of wedding photography hands-on. I raised my hand. Now, I’m celebrating my 16th year as a professional photographer. I have taken thousands and thousands of photographs, and have enjoyed sharing them with strangers and friends.
Over the years, I have graduated Smith College, lived and worked in Paris, Berlin, San Francisco, Detroit, and Boston. For the last 8 years, New York has been my home. My wedding photos reflect the beauty, warmth, humor and individuality that naturally emerges from the day. In 2011, I am grateful to my brides (and grooms!) to have been chosen recipient of the Bride’s Choice Award for Wedding Wire, Martha Stewart Weddings. My photos have been featured in print in The Knot, Elle Magazine, Modern Bride, and the New York Times Wedding Section, as well as online publications Wedding Bee, Project Wedding, Brides, and many more.
When I am not taking photographs, I am rustling up something to eat for my family; chasing after my one year old boy; helping my 10 year old boy with homework; writing, painting with oils, playing tennis, and swimming. As a special offer to all of my clients here, I will photograph portraits honoring your first anniversary, or your engagement session. I always give clients a selection of prints, as a gift, from every wedding.
Welcome lovelies to the SMP New York family! We are prettier because of you! xoxo
Love: I absolutely LOVE my fiance Mario. Mario is man that I admire because of his honesty and loyalty. I adore him because he is fun loving and always puts a smile in my face. He has never objected against any of my crazy adventures and has allowed me to grow as a person and live unbelievable things in the most amazing city in the world. Growing up my family was the love of my life, my parents, sister and brother. It was so easy to fall in love with Mario because he has all the qualities that I love about my family and so many more. He is tho most thoughtful man I know, the love and planning that he put into his proposal and everything else that he does makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
Song: My favorite first dance song is "More Than A Woman" by the Bee Gees. I fell in love with song playing in the background so I am very biased.
My fave song is Lovely Day by Bill Withers. And I LOVE love love New York! I got first job here, I got engaged here, NYC is my lucky charm and its energy really inspires me!!!
First dance song: Wedding Song by Bob Dylan. Not too dancey, but a sort of swaying to the best lyrics ever!
Of course I love love love my fiance, he's amazing and I can't wait to make him my husband but what I love right now sooo much is my niece, she is only 18months old but boy does she grow fast. I can't believe how fast it's gone so far and it scares me how fast the rest of it will go so fast, particularly because I live across the country from her. I love every moment I spend with her. That's what I love right now!
My favorite first dance song is "you are the best thing" by Ray LaMontagne. Can't wait to dance to it at my wedding in June.
Love: I absolutely love my shoes - my road racing shoes! I have these bright pink running shoes that I wear for races and some select running workouts. The great thing about them is that it is easy to find myself in a group running pictures when I am reviewing photographs online of the events...just look for the girl with the bright pink shoes! :) What girl wouldn't love a pair of pink shoes? (And I live within the NYC area.)
Loving my daughter comes so easily. Hearing her first sounds in the morning when she wakes up makes me smile from ear to ear! I think I was more excited picking out her flower girl dress for my wedding than I was picking out my own wedding dress!! How amazing would it be to win a love-shoot and have my little girl in the pictures with us!!!
Our first dance song will be Marry You by Bruno Mars. I can't wait!
My fiancé is the love my life but right now I’m loving NYC’s NO SNOW! I know this is probably a sign of our ecological footprint but being a recent transplant from sunny California I was scared to see/feel what winter had in store for me! Even though part of me (very tiny) wishes for white blanket over NYC I LOVE that I can still wear my suede everything! I love that I don’t need to brace myself and fight through the weather while researching my vendors! And I love that I was able to do my holiday traveling without worrying if the weather would hinder any of plans!
Our favorite song is Steady as We Go by Dave Matthews Band. My fiance' was not a Dave fan when we first met, but he bought me tickets for us to go as a college graduation present. Since then, we have shared many memories and lyrics throughout our 6 year relationship. We can relate to a lot of the lyrics and can't wait to share in another memory with our family and friends this year!! xoxo
"What do you love?" has proved to be a defining statement in my relationship with my incredible fiancee. When we were a few months into dating, I knew I was head over heels for him in every way (and of course had yet to admit it). One evening, when we were deciding what sushi to order for dinner, he asked me "What do you love?". Casually, I replied "You." He never forgot that I took the first leap. Fast forward several years later to July of this past summer, he planned a fabulous proposal that began with a handwritten note. The note only contained four words - "What do you love?" After I read the card, he handed me a takeout container of our favorite sushi order, before taking me on a whirlwind engagement sail. Needless to say, I love him for remembering the little things that have defined us from the very beginning!!
I love all your comments!!! Can't wait to see who I get to shoot!
xx,
Tory
I love my husband, my crazy cat, my family, coffee, crabcakes, grandparents, travel and museums - all in completely random order.
...and my favorite song is "Your Song" by Elton John. Love love love.
"We Are Man & Wife" by Michelle Featherstone is the ultimate first dance song!
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My new book comes out in May!
Running of the Bride: My Frenzied Quest to Tie the Knot, Tear Up the Dance Floor, and Figure Out Why My 15 Minutes of Fame Included Commercial Breaks by Rachel Eddey
www.racheleddey.com
What do I love? I love collapsing into bed and feeling like I did my best all day. I love the feeling of waking up after a long night with the sun shining cheerily through my window letting me know that I am fortunate enough to wake another day and pursue dreams. I love the feeling of my fiancé's arms slipping around my waist because he simply wishes to remind me that he's not leaving. I love his patience and identical dimples as well. I love the smell of freshly baked cinnamon-y apple pie goodness and maybe even more the smell of french roast coffee trickling into a pot. Hearing the sound of the first drop is also just as lovely. I love the sensation of having just ended an honest and heartfelt tete-a-tete with an old friend. There are so many things to love and I am so glad to be able to love!!!
First Song: "Lucky" by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat - it was the first song we sang together when we started going out and to this day and hopefully long after our wedding, it'll be how we fee towards one another!
I like Adam Sandler's Grow old with you
I love my dress!! It's magic! The day after I got engaged I started looking through white dresses on the internet. I wanted something that was not bridal but still was a show stopper! After what seemed like hours of looking at simple white dresses I was pretty bummed I gave in and started headed to my late night addiction ebay! Just out of curiosity I looked and found the perfect dress! I saw it and I knew it was ME! I woke up my fiance! Asked if the price was ok! Decided to make an offer! I didn't to wait!!! Thankfully the seller was online too!! less than 24 hours after i got engaged I bought my dress!! and about 72 hours later I was trying it on! People kept telling me I was crazy! How could you buy a dress online!? Without trying it on??! Never having trying on a wedding dress before???! I was going to be disappointed! You can't return it blah blah blah I heard it all! But I knew in my heart that that was MY DRESS! The dress of my dreams and that it would look amazing on me! I was so excited I told everyone and when it arrived to my office everyone wanted to see it! I ran home skyped my mom and my sister (my biggest detractors about buying it on the internet) and we all new that just like with my fiance... everything came together for my dress and it was definitely TRUE LOVE! I can;t wait to see my fiance's face when he sees me walking down the aisle in a dress that seems to have been made with instructions straight from my dreams!! I am so excited I will even let you take a peek! (I have tried to keep it a secret from my friends and family but I love it so much I just need to share with all the other SMP fans! I hope we all have the man, wedding, and dress and of course PICTUREs of our dreams!!
Oh and my favorite wedding song is: Woman by John Lennon! It was also my parents wedding song!
The obvious love answer is my hubby but coming in a close second is my adorable wittle weiner dog. I also have to mention that Gabriella is the sweetest and her shop is amazing. I 100% enjoyed my visit there when I was dress shopping. She's great! A must visit if you're dress shopping in NYC.
My favorite first dance song is "you are the best thing" by Ray LaMontagne. So sweet and such a good reflection of my fiance and i.
I love my husband, my dog, and winter. There is nothing better than spending the day with my favorites in the snow to come home to our cozy house with a blazing wood stove warming our bodies and souls.
My favorite first dance song is the one we're going to dance to, A Million Years by Alexander!
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[...] us what you love, is it your shoes, your husband, your fiancé, your baby, pizza? Leave a comment [on SMP's site] telling us what you absolutely LOVE, anything goes, and the SMP team will select a lovable winner. [...]
[...] Engagement shoot with the winners of a Style Me Pretty Love shoot, Valeria and Mario. They have such a sweet story all starting with Valeria asking a boy at a party [...]