There are a lot of reasons couples hire a wedding photographer.
Some people find you through Google. Some through Instagram. Some through a friend’s recommendation.
Harrison hired me because I was wearing a Knicks pin.
We met at one of Maritime Parc’s tasting events, where I was photographing the evening. He spotted the pin on my lapel and said, “Anyone who has that level of commitment to a team that never wins is good in my book.”
At the time, that was a perfectly reasonable assessment. (Ironically, I’m writing this after the Knicks finally ended the 53-year drought, so Harrison can’t really use that line anymore.)
That little exchange turned into one of my favorite client relationships I’ve had in a long time.
The wedding itself felt exactly like them: understated, personal, and centered around the people they love most. That list, by the way, absolutely included Daisy.
I’ve photographed plenty of weddings where the dog makes a quick appearance for portraits before heading home. Daisy had other plans. She hung out with Harrison while the guys got ready, joined us for portraits along the waterfront, walked down the aisle, appeared in the family photos, and even had her own “Daisy’s Open Bar” sign at the reception. She wasn’t there as a prop. She was there because she’s family, and the day wouldn’t have felt complete without her.
That same feeling carried through everything else.
Their invitation suite included childhood photos of both of them. Harrison gifted each of his groomsmen a bottle of Macallan 12, which immediately caught my attention while I was photographing the details. Hanhe spent the morning surrounded by family, blending elegant modern wedding style with beautiful hanbok, creating some of my favorite getting-ready moments of the year. There was even a handkerchief embroidered with “No Ugly Crying,” which, judging by the number of happy tears that followed, wasn’t especially effective.
One of the things I love most about a Maritime Parc wedding is that the venue never competes with the people. The architecture is clean, the light pours through the windows, and the Manhattan skyline always knows when to quietly steal the background without becoming the entire photograph. Even under soft gray April skies, the waterfront gave us everything we needed. We wandered between the promenade, the sculptural staircase inside, and the flowering trees outside, making sure Daisy remained gainfully employed as portrait assistant.
The ceremony was intimate despite a full room. Family played a huge role throughout the day, and you could feel how important those relationships were long before anyone stood at the altar. Parents, grandparents, siblings, lifelong friends. Everyone seemed genuinely invested in the moment, not just watching it happen.
Once the reception began, Maritime Parc did what Maritime Parc always does. Candlelight filled the room, the skyline disappeared into the windows as the sun went down, speeches bounced between heartfelt and hilarious, and before long the dance floor completely took over. Somewhere along the way Hanhe swapped her wedding gown for a short white dress and sneakers, which is almost always the universal signal that the party has officially entered its second half.
A few days after the wedding, there was one last surprise.
That Monday, Harrison stopped by my house. We only live a few miles apart. In one hand was a bottle of Macallan 12, the same bottle he’d given each of his groomsmen. In the other was a dozen fresh eggs from the chickens he and Hanhe keep at home.
“All my guys got a bottle,” he said. “You’re one of my guys now.”
I’ve received a lot of thoughtful gifts from clients over the years. A bottle of scotch and a dozen fresh eggs is probably the first time I’ve gotten both at once.
Some weddings stand out because of the venue. Others because of the weather, the details, or the party.
I’ll remember Hanhe and Harrison’s Maritime Parc wedding for something much simpler. They made everyone around them, including their photographer, feel like family. That’s a pretty special thing.
