Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers NYC

They met in college, and it showed. The room was full of old friends who had watched their story from the very beginning, and it made for one of the warmest, loudest celebrations I've photographed on the Hudson.

The day started against a wall covered in hand-painted hearts, which turned out to be the perfect backdrop for the bridal party. The bride wore a strapless gown with delicate beading, and the groom looked sharp in a white dinner jacket. Their portraits in front of a wall-sized American flag are still some of my favorites.

The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers sits right on the river, and its floor-to-ceiling windows and glowing, wave-shaped ceiling make it one of the most striking venues in Manhattan. The ceremony took place under a canopy of white fabric and white roses, and it ended with a stomp on the glass and a room full of cheers.

Their wedding brought two families and two cultures together, and the reception reflected both. Later in the evening the groom and his family changed into traditional West African attire, which set off another round of celebration. Between the candlelit tables, the purple uplighting, a tower of chocolate cupcakes and guests lifting the couple high on chairs, nobody wanted the night to end.

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Ceremony and reception: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, New York City