Looking back on Stephanie and Brian’s Nostrano Vineyards wedding day for this blog felt like the happiest of memories revisited. It was the wildest of weather days - warm and sunny in the morning, windy and cloudy by midday, and so cold I had to wear my winter coat by the time the reception started - but the different weather only added to how magical this whole day felt, from beginning to end.

THE COUPLE

Stephanie and Brian are people you feel like you could be friends with forever. They’re smart, witty, and have great senses of humor. They’re homebodies, but also love to travel and explore the world with one another. Stephanie did the hard work of being a nurse practitioner during the pandemic, and Brian is an artist. They’re pup parents, and share my passion for adopting loveable pitbulls. In their original inquiry form, Stephanie mentioned that they’ve struck a good balance together, and this was evident in witnessing and documenting every moment with them during their wedding day. They are well-balanced, in-sync, and completely in tune with each other.

THE VENUE

Nostrano Vineyards is a beautiful location in Milton, NY. Tucked into a little neighborhood, this venue is quiet and feels private, even though it is very easy to get to. Nostrano Vineyards hosts more than weddings - often sharing weekend events on their Instagram that are open to the public, as well as their wine tasting opportunities in their tasting room on premises.

For weddings, it is a beautifully unique space. Most couples choose to get married under the large weeping willow tree, which is such a stunning feature. For the reception, you have access to a steel barn structure - something rare in a region where most barns are historic and wooden. There are plenty of locations for photos on the grounds - the vineyards themselves provide a lovely backdrop, as well as some of the open fields, and the willow tree itself.

We got an amazing sunset on Stephanie and Brian’s wedding day, which we were able to photograph in the little vineyard next to the reception barn.

THE DETAILS

Stephanie and Brian chose a natural yet vibrant aesthetic for their wedding day, with bright florals and gold accents. Brian drew and designed their wedding invitations, which were so gorgeous. The wedding party wore shades of deep blues and greens, and Stephanie processed down the aisle to the Jurassic Park theme song. In memory of her dad, Stephanie added a portrait of him to the stems of her bouquet. The couple also created custom prayer candles that featured their dogs’ faces to include them in the ceremony.

THE RECEPTION

Oh, I LOVED Stephanie and Brian’s reception. They were just so happy and delighted to spend that evening with all of their family and friends. Their sense of excited peace was so beautiful to witness amongst their people.

A lot of educators teach business owners to visualize their ideal clients when thinking about their marketing, and who they want to serve in their business. When doing exercises like this, I often visualize Stephanie and Brian. They’re the best. They’re the blueprint.

FROM THE COUPLE

“There are no words sufficient to explain how amazing Erica is. Aside from her clear talent and absolutely beautiful photographs, she herself is a wonder and a delight. From our very first Zoom call, she was so kind, warm, and supportive. For my husband and I, it felt as if we were chatting with someone we had known for years. She made us feel so comfortable, despite being two fairly socially awkward people.

Our engagement session proved that we had made the very best decision. It immediately felt as though we were just hiking with a friend. Erica is so upbeat and encouraging. The time flew by because we were having so much fun. Her passion for what she does is evident, and it is reflected in the pictures she takes.

Throughout the process of planning our wedding, Erica was constantly checking in and offering help, support, and most importantly, much-needed coffee. She was willing to help with anything and everything, even if it wasn’t related to the wedding. Thanks to her we not only have amazing engagement and wedding photos, but awesome, newly-painted kitchen cabinets.

Looking back, our wedding day is all a bit of a blur. But we will absolutely never forget how incredible Erica was at all times, and thanks to her and her wonderful second shooter, we have the most stunning pictures to remind us of such a perfect day. We had so many guests comment on how great she was. And despite her size, she had a commanding presence and was able to corral our obnoxiously large (and at times just obnoxious) wedding party and families. Her energy and excitement made everything so easy.

We truly cannot thank her enough for all that she did and all that she is, and we would absolutely recommend her a thousand times over for all photography needs, or even if you just need some positive vibes. It is honestly impossible not to love her!”