As a wedding photographer who primarily works in the Hudson Valley, it is not often that I get to journey to Albany for a wedding day, but when I do, it’s always a treat. There’s something about the hustle and bustle of Albany that is appealing to me, and I feel like there are so many hidden gems in that city that are often overlooked, especially in the outskirts and actual neighborhoods of Albany.

Bre first reached out to me on Instagram (I love connecting with people there!), and then met via Zoom prior to officially deciding to work together for her sweet Albany microwedding. Although hers and Luke’s original wedding plans had to be changed due to the pandemic, their eventual December day was such a joy to be a part of.

THE COUPLE

Bre and Luke are sweet-hearted, soft-spoken, kind souls. Bre works in an industry where she gets to help people often (a core value of hers), and Luke is a great compliment to her with his calm and pleasant nature. While Bre and Luke’s wedding day was beautiful, what I remember most from the day was their sense of contentment and loving attitude towards each other, and to me. Spending this day with them felt like an hours-long warm hug.

THE VENUE

Bre and Luke had several Albany venues for their wedding day: a getting ready space at the Renaissance Hotel, a ceremony space at their home church (Redeemer Church), and a dinner reception at Nicole’s Restaurant. Each location had darling options for photos - the Renaissance Hotel had beautiful natural lighting in the hotel room, the ceremony location had great outdoor options for photos (even though it was a drizzly day), and Nicole’s Restaurant was such a cozy and intimate spot to document their reception.

THE DETAILS

Bre and Luke opted for a wintery theme, with a few nods to the Christmas season. Their ceremony space was already decorated for Christmas, so they ran with it. They had beautiful red, white, and blush pink florals, and a snowflake motif for their reception decor. Bre also wore a tea-length wedding gown accompanied by a fur stole to keep her warm - a wardrobe choice that was so cute and unique (and which also proved efficient, as we didn’t need to worry about dragging a wedding gown train on the wet ground that day!).

THE RECEPTION

Bre and Luke’s reception was a small dinner surrounded by family and friends. They enjoyed a few toasts offered by their wedding party, and a cake cutting, but otherwise just enjoyed the evening as you would enjoy a family gathering. It was absolutely precious to witness.

Bre and Luke’s wedding ushered in the holiday season for me, and it was such a sweet and celebratory way to tie up my wedding season that year. Bre and Luke, thank you so much for having me there. Your wedding will always be the softest place to land in my memories.

FROM THE COUPLE

“I cannot say enough good things about Erica! When I saw her gallery and photos that she had done in a friend’s wedding, I absolutely loved her work and knew that I wanted her to photograph my wedding! Erica is also one of the kindest, positive, cheerful people I’ve ever met. When we had to postpone our wedding in 2020 due to COVID, she was uplifting and there to help however she could. When it finally came time for my wedding day, she brought amazing calming, positive energy. She is truly phenomenal at what she does - I couldn't recommend her more!”