My favorite wedding venues in Buffalo

People ask me all the time about the different places that I have shot weddings so I decided to make a short list of my favorite locations for both weddings and receptions. Some you have to either be a member of or get sponsored by a member, but most are available to the public.

Churches

Trinity Episcopal Church

St Louis RC Church

St Joes University Parish

St Josephs Cathedral

St. Marks Church

St Gabriels Church

 

Reception Locations

The Mansion on Delaware

Asbury Hall/Babeville

The 20th Century Club

The Hyatt

Statler City

The Lafayette Hotel

Pearl St Grill

The Web Building

The Garrett Club

Park Country Club

Country Club of Buffalo

Salvatores Italian Gardens

Fox Valley Country Club

Brookfield Country Club

Brierwood Country Club

Orchard Park Country Club

Holiday Valley Resort

Klocs Garden Grove

 

I also have lists of my favorite DJs , bands, officiants, bakeries, and florists, so if you have any questions give me a call. 716-834-0104

Wedding Photography – Style

Most wedding photographers will give you a brief description of there style somewhere on their website. It’s important to know which styles that you prefer when searching for your photographer. Don’t ever hire a photographer based only on his/her images. Ask lots of questions while interviewing them about their approach to shooting weddings. Do they let the day unfold in front of them or are they constantly directing you. It’s important to know ahead of time, because this could wreck your day. An example would be if your photographer is pulls you away from the reception to get more images, when all you really want is candid images of you and your friends having a good time at the party.

Over the past few years there has been a shift toward a more photojournalistic approach, using available light and lenses with short depth of field. I think these types of images can be beautiful and really do set a romantic tone for the images. Having a great location for the ceremony and the reception really helps to get the best of these types of shots. Churches and reception locations that are flooded with natural light are ideal if these are the kinds of images that you are looking for.

I also find some of the more traditional formal pictures to be just as beautiful and romantic. The key is finding a fantastic location. That can be in the church or a separate location, or maybe a little bit of both. A great spot to do the formal family pictures is right where the ceremony took place. The altar of the church or the spot where the vows were said work well. If you get married in a church, the altar is usually a little bit elevated, which is helpful when trying to arrange a large group so that the image looks balanced and everyone can be seen.

When looking for an outdoor location for formals, I look for someplace that is simple and elegant. You want the location to compliment the wedding party, not consume it.

Having 2 photographers is another great way of blending both candid images and traditional posed images. While one photographer is getting the more posed shots, the second shooter can be getting all the fun behind the scenes pictures. The kinds of pictures where you didn’t even know you were being photographed.

The most important thing to remember when hiring a photographer is to know what styles you like best, and then making sure your photographer is on the same page. Preparing a list of must have shots and giving that to your photographer ahead of time is another great way to ensure you get what you want.