Union League Cafe Wedding Photographer
Wedding photography at Union League Cafe in New Haven, Connecticut, from portraits on the brick walkways to first dances in the warm light indoors.
Photographing Weddings at Union League Cafe
In the portrait outside the café, I left room for the brick walkway, the steps, and the row of flower boxes. The photograph has a strong sense of place, but what makes it for me is the way the two of them turn toward each other. She’s holding her bouquet in one hand and his hand in the other, and they’re both smiling before either one looks back at the camera.
Inside, I’m drawn to what happens when there’s less room between people. In the photograph of the ring exchange, the bride and groom are laughing, and you can see the officiant smiling between them. I like that she’s there in the frame. Her expression lets you see how quickly a laugh between two people can become something everyone around them shares.
Before the Ceremony
In the mirror, the groom is still working the knot of his tie. The man beside him is softly out of focus in the foreground, but in the reflection you can see him watching. I like how the mirror holds both expressions. It gives you a moment to notice the company he had while getting ready, even though his attention is on the knot.
I photographed the boutonniere from just outside the doorway. The dark edges of the frame leave a narrow view into the room, where the window light falls on her hands as she pins the flower to his lapel. The gesture is over in seconds. What I wanted to preserve was the care she took with it, and the way he stood still and smiled while she finished.
The First Look at Union League Cafe
In this photograph, the groom is just a soft outline at the edge of the frame. I like seeing the bride from over his shoulder because it puts you close to where he stood when she laughed. She’s still holding her bouquet in front of her, and for me that detail makes the laugh feel all the more spontaneous. She’s dressed and ready for the ceremony, and for a second you get to see how it felt for her simply to see him.
The Wedding Ceremony at Union League Cafe
In the wide photograph, the tall windows are the brightest part of the room. The light catches the shoulders of the seated guests and leads you toward the couple by the fireplace. I framed the ceremony from behind the guests because I wanted the couple to be able to see the gathering as a whole. They spent much of the ceremony facing each other, and this gives them a view of the people who were sitting just behind them.
In the close-up, she’s still slipping the ring onto his finger when they both break into laughter. His hand stays outstretched, and hers stays wrapped around it. I like that the frame holds both the careful little task of getting the ring on and the moment they lose their composure together.
Wedding Portraits in Downtown New Haven
In the photograph at Shubert Square, the bride has her arm through the groom’s as they cross the street, with members of the wedding party following behind. I like leaving the traffic lights, parked cars, and street signs in the frame. They give the photograph the unhurried feeling of a walk through downtown, when the wedding spills out onto a street where everyone else is going about their day.
In the gold-toned portrait against the brick wall, I gave the shadow nearly as much room as the couple. The line it cuts across the bricks gives the frame its shape, but the part I love is how little the two of them seem to care about any of that. He’s looking at her with a small smile, his hand resting on her arm, and she’s already breaking into a grin.
The Dining Room at Union League Cafe
I photographed the dining room from the stairs so you could see the tables as you might on your way down to dinner. The curved banister leads into the room, where candles and pink flowers sit low enough for guests to see each other across the table. There’s still a little blue daylight in the windows. I wanted to keep that in the frame alongside the warm light inside. It gives the room a sense of the hour.
At another wedding here, I photographed the couple between the tables beneath the stained-glass windows. I left the length of the table in the foreground, so you pass the glassware, flowers, and candles before you get to them. At the far end, he leans over to kiss her cheek, and she closes her eyes with her bouquet still in her hands. I like how much of the room you get to see before arriving at that small gesture.
First Dances at Union League Cafe
In the wide photograph, I wanted to leave enough of the dance floor in view to show how close the guests stood. You can see the flowers along the fireplace, the light on the ceiling, and the loose circle of people around the couple. I like that there’s a little open floor in front of them. It gives you the feeling of standing at the edge of that circle, with room for one more person.
At another wedding here, I framed the first dance close enough to see the bride’s hands resting on the groom’s shoulders. There are still people behind them, softened by the focus, and you can see the two of them smiling at each other. What I love about that distance is how much of their expression you can read. It feels like catching a few seconds of a conversation you can see but can’t hear.
A Toast at Union League Cafe
As they raise their glasses, she beams at the room and he smiles at her.
Cutting the Wedding Cake
I framed the cake cutting around their hands. You can see the knife just breaking the white icing, with the flowers at the edge of the table and the light catching on the silver tray. After the first-dance photographs, I like ending on something this small. The bride and groom have both put their hands on the knife, and for a second the whole evening comes down to making that first cut together.
Planning Your Wedding at Union League Cafe?
If you’re planning a wedding at Union League Cafe in New Haven, I’d love to hear what drew you to the café and what you’re most looking forward to sharing with your guests. Tell me a little about the two of you and what you have in mind, and we can talk about how I’d photograph the day.