As a wedding photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to work with all kinds of marriers. Sometimes they don’t put much effort into details and choose to go with the flow. Peter and Manuel had a vision for their New Orleans wedding. It came together beautifully, too. I took a lot of Peter and Manuel’s wedding portraits on film, and I couldn’t be happier with the way they turned out. These images show the joy and intentionality at the heart of this incredibly elegant wedding.
Film Wedding Photography at Il Mercato
Peter and Manuel wanted their wedding at Il Mercato to be an elevated experience. It started with the details. They thought of everything. From their cufflinks to their floral installations, they chose everything with intentionality. It made a great backdrop for their wedding portraits.
Film is my favorite medium in any wedding venue. It complimented Il Mercato especially well. I use film stocks that are very true to tone. The historic building translates beautifully on film. The Garden District architecture also looks dreamy in the photos from their second line. Film is so great for documenting traditions like second lines. You can almost feel the history that Peter and Manuel are taking part in.
The film also gives wedding portraits a timeless quality in the sense that they show your wedding like you actually remember it. You can feel the emotion and the movement. You get that same sense looking at Manuel and Peter’s images. There’s a whole range of emotions – tender, joyful, loving, elated. It’s all there in these photos.
As a film wedding photographer, I firmly believe that not all wedding portraits need to be posed. Many of the candid photos from Peter and Manuel’s wedding give you the clearest picture of what the day was like for the marriers and guests. Peter and Manuel shared a lot of sweet moments in quieter settings. The guests tore up the dance floor and enjoyed every minute of the reception. The mix of film and digital photos captures those moments so well.
An Unforgettable Celebration
This was one of those weddings that felt very clearly designed, not just planned. For starters, the florals and decor shifted between the outdoor ceremony and indoor reception. Neutral roses, snapdragons, and other florals draped across the chuppah and filled the vases that served as the seating chart. Inside, tea lights hung inside bonsai-like arrangements of jewel-toned blooms. It gracefully shifted the tone of the celebration while staying true to the artistic vision for the evening.
Throughout the evening, Peter and Manuel kept guests engaged with so many different kinds of entertainment. Musicians played in the courtyard while a singer performed indoors. A flapper in a fringed dress danced through the crowd with sprawling feathered fans. A poet typed up custom verses for guests to take home with them. Everywhere you looked there was something to do, a new experience to try.
Some of my favorite wedding portraits from this celebration are of Peter and Manuel soaking up moments that are culturally significant to them. The minutes following the ketubah signing got a little emotional. I love the film photo of the two grooms sitting side by side and expressing so much tenderness.
The croquembouche turned out to be another highlight of Peter and Manuel’s wedding portraits. This tower of profiteroles is a French tradition. Typically, marriers stick sparklers in it. It’s definitely more of a show than your typical cake cutting. These sparklers got a few heart rates up, but you can see how much fun Peter and Manuel had in these photos.
Your Film Wedding Portraits
Are you thinking about hiring a film photographer for your wedding? Film can add so much to the storytelling of your wedding day, but it can be hard to know where to start in finding the right professional. I created this blog post with ten questions you should ask your film wedding photographer. Get insight into what to look for in a film photographer and make sure you hire the best person to document your celebration.
Are you interested in having me photograph your wedding? I’m a Philadelphia wedding photographer who is ready to travel. Let’s preserve this moment with photos that feel true to you. Get in touch with me today!
