fbpx

ring

TAG:

Read More

So you did it, you found the woman of your dreams. You are totally and completely in love and you cannot wait to spend the rest of your life with this amazing woman… Now, all you have to do is ask her… but how?

Proposal season is upon us and the love of your life deserves nothing less than the best.  For most of you, this will be the first and only time you pop the question and you might not even know where to begin! But don’t you worry, I am here to help! Follow these 10 easy steps and you will have the girl of your dreams wrapped around you crying tears of joy before you know it!

  1.  The Ring: 

    Now this first step is one of the most important steps, once you get the ring, the rest will fall into place. There are a few ways to go about to make sure you are getting the woman of your dreams the ring of her dreams…
    (A) Go shopping together. Some people LOVE this option. I mean, one of the biggest parts about a successful marriage is being a team and working together, so why wouldn’t you want to share this experience with one another.
    (B) Get the Hint…. if she is the kind of woman who does not beat around the bush and has been sending you links, photos and pinterest boards for the last 18 months, you are one lucky man, you already know exactly what she wants…
    (C) Consult her bestie.  Let’s face it, women talk, this isn’t news… and what do you think one of the things we talk about when we are in a serious relationship, the engagement ring. Meet the future-maid-of-honor for some coffee, ask her to share the ring intel and get as much detail as possible. Her best-friend will be ALMOST as excited as you are…almost.

  2. Ask her Parent’s for her hand in marriage: 

    I know what you are thinking,  how old fashioned… But let me fill you in on a little secret, this small gesture will mean the world to them and to your future wife. It will make her parents feel like they are a part of the celebration and why not keep your mother-in-law and father-in-law happy from the beginning. This will set the stage of your relationship with your in-laws for years to come!

  3. Pick a location: 

    It can be as simple or as lavish as you want it to be. Just remember, you know your girl the best, you know what means the most to her and what would make her happy. It can be right in front of her favorite taco stand that she took you to on one of your first dates, or in the middle of the park that you guys walk your dog in every day or even on top of the ferris-wheel. It can be in your apartment or at a fancy restaurant. At a carnival or on vacation. Don’t over think it,  wherever you ask her, she will love it because it is your love story and you are making her dreams come true.

  4. Choose a gesture:

    Now that you have the location, it is time to figure out how, how are you going to make this moment special, how are you going to set it up and how are you going to ask her. Are you going to send her on a scavenger hunt? Surprise her from out of town? Whisk her off to a romantic city? Once you get her to the location, are you going to get down on one knee, have her nieces and nephews surround her, show her a montage of your relationship? Before you pick the gesture, you should know, that most proposals are done in private, contrary to what Hollywood portrays. Consider who she is when deciding how big or how small the gesture should be! Your proposal story will be told hundreds of times, it might even be your grandkids favorite bedtime story, so make sure that whatever gesture you choose, it is consistent with who you are a couple.

  5. Consult a photographer!

    This is it, it is the moment you both have been waiting for. The moment that will change your life forever. You are asking your best friend to be with you from now until forever, how special would it be to have this moment captured? To have this memory frozen forever. To have photos that will keep this moment and these feelings alive!

  6. Create a Master Plan:

    Now that you have the ring, the location, the gesture and the photographer, it is time to put it all together and create a master plan. You have worked hard to prepare for your big moment, winging your wedding proposal is not an option. Talk to all the necessary people to ensure that this moment goes off as well as possible. Consult the photographer about lighting and timing, even do a walk through of the location to make sure you know exactly where you are going, where she will be standing and how you will be kneeling. Consider traffic, late reservations, delays, and anything else that might create any issues. This way, you will be prepared and as ready as possible.

  7. Have a Plan B:

    It is never a bad idea to have a Plan B. You never know what is going to happen. You never know if it will start pouring 5 minutes before your candle lit balcony proposal or the restaurant sits you at the wrong table or even there is a pop up beer garden at your favorite park, therefore, come up with a simple Plan B that is easy to pivot too.  This way, you won’t add too much stress if something goes wrong.

  8. Rehearse:

    These words, this question, the look in her eyes as she listens to you, is going t be a moment that will be cherished forever (no pressure)! I don’t know about all of you, but when I get nervous, I start rambling on and on and
    usually end up not making any sense… practice what you are going to say, rehearse taking the ring out of your jacket or pants pocket and getting down on one knee. It will make your proposal go that much smoother and make you feel like you are the most romantic man that has ever been.

  9. Get her there: 

    Sometimes, getting her there can be tricky, so you have to get creative.  Make sure you know exactly how you are going to convince her to get there and consult everyone who will help you get there. I know, you are never supposed to lie to the woman you are going to marry (or to anyone in general), but let’s be real, this might be the ONLY time it is ok to tell her a small fib… She will forgive you for lying about your reservation being 20 minutes earlier or that you have to stay late at the office for a work thing. She will forgive you for not being able to meet her and her sister for brunch if that is all part of the grand proposal plan.

  10. Ask her: 

    And finally, the most important thing… ask her to marry you. It will be the happiest moment of her life thus far and you will be the luckiest man on earth. It is as simple as that.

Ok… so what are you waiting for! Go get that ring, talk to her parents and consult her best friends! Go tell her how much you love her, how much you cannot wait to grow old together and how you will never want to wake up without her by your side.

Read More

” We have been together ever since…” Sarah said with a huge smile on her face. As we walked away from the Starbucks, the place they went on their first date, I couldn’t help but thinking about Sarah and Ron eight years ago. I couldn’t help but think about the adorable and lovely University of Maryland Freshman, Sarah, meeting Ron, the sweetest guy on campus that everyone seemed to know and love. I couldn’t help but picture 19 year old Ron, nervously sitting in the Starbucks, and wondering What coffee drink should I get her?  In typical Ron fashion, he wanted to make sure he had the right thing ordered for his date by the time she got there, but he had no idea what to get her and felt terrible when she walked in and he had nothing to offer. It’s the little things that make a relationship truly great and Ron understood this from the beginning.

Sarah and Ron had a deep, loving, committed relationship since that beautiful fall day at that Starbucks in Georgetown. They are the epitome of college-sweethearts and I couldn’t be happier for them! Amongst the craziness of college life, everyone else around Sarah and Ron were breaking up, getting together or doing the whole on again-off again thing that seems to be very popular in undergrad. Sarah and Ron never stopped loving, laughing and growing together.   And trust me on this one, I was there! I was one of the college kids who took part in the rollercoaster version of love at UMD, but not these two. These two were strong. These two learned how to flourish together, how to push each other to do better, dream bigger and live larger.

Eight years later, I had the immense pleasure and honor of photographing their engagement session. I couldn’t have asked for a better combination of passion, admiration and fun. Their expressions say it all. Walking around Georgetown, seeing where it all began and seeing the excitement in their eyes for their future together, was a dream come true.

Sarah, Ron, my wish for you is to have the most incredible life together. To continue to grow, flourish and be each others biggest support system. To never forget the amazing way your relationship began but always strive for a bigger and better future. You were such an incredible team in college and I feel lucky to have known you then, and even luckier to know you now. Sending you all the love in the world!

 

                 

Read More

The music queued, the entire church stood and turned to look back at the door. Courtney was a vision; beautiful in every way. Total bliss and love radiated off of her as she walked down the aisle. Right next to her, arm linked, ready to give her away to the love of her life, was her brother Jamie. Jamie and Courtney are Irish twins and have been through everything together. It was only fitting that he would give her away. The bond that Jamie and Courtney share is so incredibly sweet and full that I could not imagine seeing anyone else walk side by side down the aisle next to Courtney. It was evident, from the way Gary looked at Courtney, that he could not wait to be her husband. Gary’s smile only grew bigger and bigger as Courtney and Jamie got closer to him. Courtney’s eyes sparkled with joy and admiration as she saw her groom waiting for her. It was the most wonderful moment to witness.

Capturing Gary and Courtney say “I do” in front of all their closest friends and family was an honor. It felt like I was watching one of my favorite scenes in a Romance Movie that I had grown up with. Their love is strong. Their love is fierce and powerful. Their love has matured together and has helped them blossom into two incredible people (Read all about Courtney & Gary, the early years here). Not only was their ceremony and reception exquisite, but it was 100% true to who Courtney and Gary are; elegant, classic, fun and above all, family oriented.

Their gorgeously tasteful reception took place at Courtney’s family farm, The Woburn Manor. This farm had been a part of her family for over 200 years. It was near and dear to all of them in the most heartwarming way.  Every detail was carefully thought-out, planned and executed by either Gary, Courtney, or someone else close to them. From the second I drove up to the stunning farm, through the moment I saw Courtney’s mother help zip up her wedding dress, and all the way to the tears we all shed during the first dance and family toasts, it was clear that this was a family affair. Courtney and Gary wouldn’t have it any other way. Family comes first to them. I walked out of their reception feeling warm and fuzzy.  Being a part of their love story, their special day of unity and their lovely family affair assured me that I am doing exactly what I am I supposed to be doing; photographing love, life and families.

Courtney, Gary your love for each other and your love towards your friends and family is all consuming and magnificent. I could not imagine a world without the two of you being the power couple that you are.  I wish only the best to you and the newest addition to your family : ) I cannot wait to continue to watch your bond grow stronger and your love grow deeper. Cheers to hundreds of years of joy and adventure!

 

xo – yael

Read More

“I love Excel” Robert said as we were sitting on a bench in Rittenhouse Square. We were waiting for our table at the Italian Restaurant for our very first date and someone ended up talking about spreadsheets and key functions. “You have to know how to use excel!” At the time, I thought it was adorable. I mean it was our first date! Everything was cute. Now, I find his love for excel and numbers more than just cute, it is a life saver… which, leads me to “Yael’s tip of the week Vol. 2”

 

Your spreadsheet is your best friend; Now that you have your budget (check out Yael’s Tip of the Week Vol. 1), it is time to break out that laptop and make that spreadsheet… Yes, I said spreadsheet! This spreadsheet will be yours, and your wallets, best friend for the next 12-24 months. Believe me, there is no one who dislikes spreadsheets more than yours truly (don’t tell Robert I said that), but this one will be magical. Anytime you speak to a vendor, find some cool centerpieces or look into ordering some speciality chocolates, put it in that spreadsheet baby. This spreadsheet will keep all the marvelous research and quotes together in one place making planning simpler and more organized. This way, when it has been months since you found that really cool photobooth and you just cannot remember the company’s name, you can open up your lovely spreadsheet and have all the answers right then and there!  So let’s get organized my incredible bride and groom to be!

Read More

As Zach, the best man, brought the microphone to his lips and looked over at the sweetheart table, his eyes twinkled and laughed at the same time. His younger brother, the groom, had no idea what was coming next…

” This one,” Zach began, “is called Gonna date my next door neighbor”

Gonna ask Britt out

She’s next door. It’s convenient.

We’ll see what happens

 

And with that, the whole room broke out into laughter!

We have all seen the Hollywood version of the girl next door story, and let’s be honest, it is always adorable. But watching Britt and Greg, best friends from childhood, walk down the aisle and stand under the Chuppah together was an incredibly intimate and beautiful moment to witness. It left me speechless. Everyone should walk through life hand in hand with their best friend. I am so immensely happy that these two get to spend the rest of their lives married to the person that has always had their back.

When Britt and Greg first told me they were getting married at One North Broad, my eyes widened and my mouth dropped opened. This venue is stunning and one of a kind, just like Britt and Greg.  The respect, love and friendship that charges between them is an inspiration to us all.

Between Britt and Greg’s impeccable taste, One North Broad’s attention to detail and the amazing energy of their friends and family, this was a wedding taken out of a dream. I couldn’t have asked for anything more and I wouldn’t have expected anything less from this remarkable couple. From the moment the band started playing, through the cake cutting and all the way to the last song, Britt and Greg were on the dance floor, singing and dancing their hearts out… now isn’t that the perfect way to begin a marriage?!

Britt, Greg, it was truly an honor to be your wedding photographer. I wouldn’t have it any other way. You have added so much love and joy into my life and for that, I will always be grateful. I wish to you the happiest of lives and the best of marriages. You two deserve it!

 

      

   

Vendors || Dress: Nicole’s Bridal, Caterer: Catering by Design, Flowers: Nature’s Gallery Florist,Band, Lighting & Videography : EBE, Venue: One North Broad

Read More

The love, the laughter and the happiness that spread like wild fire from the moment the day started until the late hours of the after party was infectious in every sense of the word. You could feel the love getting deeper, the laughter getting louder and the happiness getting bigger as the day went on.

Between the Hamilton Manor’s gorgeous venue and Lauren and Tony’s impeccable style, I couldn’t have asked for a more incredible wedding to photograph. Lauren’s attention to detail made for every photographers dream.

From the moment I walked into the hotel room, Lauren was all smiles and giddiness. Tony, on the other hand, was a little bit more nervous. As soon as he saw his beautiful bride walking down the aisle, his expression changed from nerves to complete and total appreciation.

It is as simple as that. Tony loves Lauren with all his heart. He will do anything to make her happy and Tony will protect and cherish her till forever.

Lauren is the sweetest thing in the world. Just as I suspected, she was giggling through the entire ceremony and there is nothing more contagious and joyous than a giggling bride. She giggled her way into marriage and what could be better than that!?

Although Lauren and Tony are of course the best part of the day, one of my favorite moments was of Lauren and her darling father.  As Lauren’s dad spun her around the dance floor, there were tears in our eyes. She has always been daddy’s little girl. You can tell by the way they adoringly look at each other, the way they enthusiastically talk to each other and the way they lovingly smile at each other as if they are in on a secret that no one else would understand. It is a bond that everyone wishes they had with their daughter. As the two of them danced around, a slideshow started playing in the corners of the room. Lauren’s dad had created a beautiful montages of her life leading up to this day; the day that he gave his little girl away to start a life with her new, incredible husband Tony.

Lauren, Tony, it was the biggest pleasure being a part of your wedding day. It was a dream come true and you two together, are what it is all about. Cheers to 150 years of marriage, health, love and happiness!

 

             

       

Read More

The moment I spoke to Nick on the phone, I could tell he was smiling and genuinely thrilled to be talking about the love of his life, Amanda. He could not wait to propose to his girlfriend of 6 years. He could not wait to see her face as he got down on one knee and asked her to be his partner for life. He could not wait to call Amanda his fiance.

Nick is one of the sweetest, most detail oriented men I know. Even from our first conversation, I knew that he genuinely cares about people and just wants everyone to be happy. The way he described Amanda made my heart full. He loved her with every fiber of his being and they were going to have a happily ever after, I just know it!

A few weeks before the big day, I met up with Nick and one of his closest friends at Spruce Street Park so we can choose the best location for Nick to pop the question. As we walked, we talked about life, his family, Amanda’s family and his big plan!

Nick had everything figured out. He was going to take Amanda to this great restaurant right next to Spruce Street Park. After dinner, he would suggest a nice, little stroll and BAM! That is when the magic would happen…

At exactly 7:45pm, I watched as Nick and Amanda walked out of the restaurant, hand in hand, and towards me. I got into position, camera up and my finger ready to fire the shutter. That is when it hit me, Amanda seriously had no idea, I mean absolutely no idea that he was about to ask her one of the most important questions of his life. She was just minding her own business, walking with her boyfriend, admiring the beautiful night when all the sudden he stops and starts talking. She looks at him “OH MY GOD!” he gets down on one knee “OH MY GOD! NO WAY!” he pulls out the box “OH MY GOD! STOP!” Her expression was a beautiful combination of complete, total shock and intangible, unconditional love. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever seen.

Once the moment was over, I ran up to them, wished them a congratulations and had the chance to chat with Amanda. She was exactly how Nick described her. Sweet, beautiful, caring and totally lovable. As I captured a few more photos of them around Spruce Street, I had the chance to watch the love flow from one another and I cannot even express how lucky I feel to have witnessed this incredible moment.

 

Nick, Amanda, I wish you the best engagement and the happiest marriage. Love and laughter till 150 years old!

             

Read More

One new message.

When I opened up LinkedIn to see who messaged me, I smiled immediately; it was Sarah. Sarah, was the first person to really give me a chance as a college intern. She was the first person who took interest in helping me refine my skills and make me a better, more attractive professional. She was the first person who made me feel like I was a true asset. As I read through her message my jaw dropped “wedding photography packages.”  I couldn’t believe it! It was a dream come true! Sarah was asking me to be her wedding photographer. Sarah, once again, made me feel like a true asset.

I remember it like it was yesterday, after our morning meeting, Sarah stopped by my tiny, intern desk and I could tell she was excited. “What’s going on?” I asked. Sarah smiled and started to tell me all about her first date with this guy named Al. She was trying to play it cool but it was obvious that is was way more than just a good first date, but this could be the real deal.

A few years later, I find myself driving down 95 to DC on my way to Sarah and Al’s engagement session. Spring had FINALLY sprung. The cherry blossom’s were peak bloom, the weather was starting to warm, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day! I was eager to see my dear friend Sarah after all these years and finally meet her fiance, Al, whom I have heard so much about.

When I arrived at their apartment, Al met me at the front and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. He was just as wonderful, just as kind hearted and just as sweet as I knew he would be. I knew the man who was going to be Sarah’s partner in crime had to be incredible and Al definitely fell under that category.

As we walked around DC, there was one thing that really stuck out to me. Sarah and Al are just totally and completely in sync. It’s pretty incredible to witness. They get each other, they respect each other and they are aware of each others wants and desires. Watching them together was like watching a beautiful love story come to life right in front of me. I feel lucky to have been there in the beginning, and now, after all these years, I get to be a part of their engagement and their wedding! Their commitment to one another is an inspiration and I have loved every second of getting to know Al and getting to reconnect with Sarah again.

 

Sarah, Al, I cannot wait to be there on your big day!

            

 

 

Read More

You would think, by early April, it would be warm, the sun would be shining and the flowers would be blooming. Unfortunately, as we all know, this year mother nature had a different plan for us. But that did not stop Imani and Keon.

From the second I shook their hand to the minute I said goodbye, Imani and Keon had smiles on their faces and love in their eyes and I knew that they had something very special together. They were not going to let anything get in their way from these photos.

Imani, Keon and I met at the La Colombe in Fishtown. As soon as I walked into the cafe, my eyes went straight to them. They looked like the perfect match in their coordinated outfits. I couldn’t stop smiling. I was already excited for our session, but seeing how much thought and effort they put into this too, made me even more excited!

“So, I heard Imani’s perspective, but I want to hear yours… How did you propose?” I asked Keon as we were walking to our first location. Keon glanced over at his joyful fiance and then back to me. There was laughter in his eyes. “The best part about my proposal was that Imani was so nervous, she started fixing my bowtie as I was down on one knee!” Keon said with the biggest smile on his face. That my friends, sums up Imani all into one.

Imani is the epitome of good-hearted. She is the sweetest little thing. The way she talks about her life, her family and her fiance showcases her genuine goodness and I swear, being around her made me feel like a better person.

Keon, may be just as motivated as Imani is sweet. Don’t get me wrong, Keon is an extremely nice and amiable person as well, but the way he talks about their business and his excitement over property investment was infectious.

Together, they have created a beautiful life together and it is only the beginning. They may have just started their business, but I know with Imani’s kindness and Keon’s drive, they will flourish in every sense of the word both personally and professionally.

Imani, Keon, thank you for sharing your hearts, sharing your personalities and sharing this time with me! I feel so fortunate to be a part of your love story. I wish you 150 years of happiness together!

Cheers to you!

                     

Read More

I was sitting in Starbucks, catching up on some emails and waiting for Robert to get out of his law class. It was date night and I couldn’t wait to get to our favorite place, Ponzio’s.  As I was finishing up my last email, I got a phone call. “Hello, my name is Advait and I am looking to propose to my girlfriend in March. I live in Texas and she lives in Philadelphia.” At this point, my heart smiled and I knew I couldn’t wait to photograph his proposal. Robert and I were long distance for the first year of our relationship and capturing another long distance relationship promise to spend the rest of their lives together is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I loved everything Advait was saying, from how he got the ring, to where he was envisioning popping the question, to how he was going to get his girlfriend to the chosen location. We hung up the phone after 20 minutes and I could not wait to tell Robert all about it!

Advait and I were in constant contact over the next few weeks. His attention to detail was truly amazing. I can’t tell you how touching it is to watch a man put so much thought and care into his proposal. He wanted everything to be perfect and I could not agree with him more.

Fast forward a few weeks- Senia, my second shooter for the day, and I were walking toward the Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Garden’s. I had to keep myself from skipping all the way to the Orchids…that’s how excited I was. After weeks of planning I just couldn’t wait for Advait and Abhilasha’s big moment!

Once Senia and I got there, I realized one thing. There were a lot more people around than expected.  I even dragged my dear friend Sydney to scout it out the week before and it was significantly busier this week than last. My first thought was, we need to switch locations. Staying calm, cool and collected, I contacted Advait and explained the situation. He snuck away from his beautiful girlfriend and called me to chat. I really felt like a ninja. We made the final decision to move the proposal to right out front of the Orchid exhibit and I am so glad we did!

He saw me out of the corner of his eye and he knew he was in the right place. I sighed feeling relieved. The relief quickly turned into joy and I could not stop myself from smiling behind my camera.  He was doing it, he was really doing it! After all the energy Advait had put in to making this an incredible moment for the woman he loved, he was really doing it!  As he got down on one knee, Abhilasha’s expression was extreme shock and pure joy all mixed into one. It was one of the sweetest expressions I have ever seen. You could tell that she had been dreaming about their life together. You could tell that all she wants is to spend the rest of her life with the man right in front of her.

 

Thank you Advait and Abhilasha for letting me be a part of such an important moment. Cheers to always looking at each other with sweet expressions, love and joy : )

 

 

Work With Yael

My mission is to not only craft images, but really celebrate the unique spirit of Jewish love. I'm here to honor our culture, capture the magic of your love, create family heirlooms for your future and do it all with a whole lot of heart and soul.