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NYC Elopement and Wedding FAQ’s

Click here for photography-related FAQS

Click here for officiant-related FAQS


PHOTOGRAPHY FAQS

Do you do City Hall weddings?
Yes, we do! However, keep in mind that currently ceremonies are only by appointment. Also, you are only allowed to bring up to 3 guests.

Do you offer officiant services?
Yes! We offer our officiant service for small weddings and elopements at a very competitive rate. David is a NY-registered officiant and performs a short and sweet ceremony that can take place anywhere in the city and throughout the NY State. We’d be happy to help you decide and give you advice based on our experience.

Do you take formal family photos?
Yes! Although our style is editorial and photojournalistic we will definitely take as many formal photos as you need.

Do your elopement sessions involve shooting around many locations?
As you probably have seen in our portfolio our style is casual/editorial and we usually work on 1 or 2 cool locations in the city (depending on the package). During our sessions we explore the areas with the couple, finding the best light and background options according to our experience of each location and the things we know about (like new graffiti or exciting backgrounds or buildings we love). We try to represent the essence of NYC without abusing the cliches if that makes sense! :) Also, moving around locations in the city can be stressful and time-consuming and our goal is to create a relaxed atmosphere so that our session is pleasant for both the couple and the photographer, and we can create something really special together.

Is every single photo edited? And what does “edited’ mean?
Yes, they are! For us, “editing” means that we go through all of the photos and work on all of them correcting the color and enhancing their visual qualities.

Color vs. Black and White. 
Most commonly you will receive a greater portion of color photos but our collections also include a slight percentage of black and white photos. In most cases, we consider that a specific photo may work best in black and white instead of in color, and this usually happens when the color of the ambient light is not interesting on a particular shot but in black and white provides more interesting textures.

What kind of files will we receive? 
We deliver the full resolution, edited, un-watermarked JPG files. You have exclusive personal reprint rights.

Could we have the RAW files? 
No. As professional photographers and authors, we will never hand to anyone any unprocessed/incomplete work.

How many photos do we receive? 
This is a tough question because the answer changes based on the timing of your day and the number of details and family formal shots. Let’s say you will receive the right number of shots to best represent your day and events according to our extensive experience as visual storytellers. We will start shooting from the moment we meet you and don’t miss any moment or photo opportunity we see.

Do you offer Film Photography?

Yes, and we are very excited about this! Our 35 mm film photography service, consists of a roll of film photos (24 shots). We may take more photos but we promise to deliver at least 24 film shots (scanned to file). This would be in addition to the digital shots. You may see some samples of our film work here.

How do we receive our photos?
You’ll be emailed a digital gallery of your images that you can order your prints from. The setup is exactly like a typical online store, and you’ll be able to share this link with friends and family so they can shop for prints themselves if they wish to. You will also be able to download the photos in both web resolution and high resolution.

How long does it take to get our images back?
Our official turnaround is 6-8 weeks. If we manage to have your pictures earlier we will send them before that time.

Are you insured?
Yes. Please let us know at least two months in advance if your venue specifically needs a certificate of insurance. Some venues do, and some don’t.

Do you have backup equipment?
Yes. Extra lenses, extra cameras, and many batteries. We also shoot with two cameras and we carry one backup camera body and lenses.

OFFICIANT FAQS

How do I obtain my marriage license?
You need to get the marriage license at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony. You can get the marriage license at the marriage bureau and here you will find more info on the procedure. 

Is David registered to officially perform weddings?
Yes. David is a minister registered at the NYC City Hall and can legally perform weddings anywhere in the State of New York and any other State of the US.

Do you allow the couple to write their own vows if desired?
Of course. We can offer guidance and sample vows if requested.

I already have an officiant, does your packages are tied to the use of your officiant?
Not at all. Our elopement packages include the optional officiant service but we are more than happy to work with an officiant of your choice.

Who submits the signed Marriage License to the Clerk’s Office after our ceremony?
Once all necessary parties have signed your Marriage License, David will fill out the paperwork and mail the completed form to the Clerk’s Office in the envelope that the Clerk’s Office gave you when you were issued the license.

How soon after our wedding can we expect to receive our marriage certificate?
The City Clerk’s office states that it may take up to 6 to 8 weeks for your Marriage Certificate to arrive, especially if you are married during the height of wedding season in the late spring to early fall. If you need a copy of your Marriage Certificate more quickly, just one, or both of you may take your signed marriage license to the Manhattan Clerk’s Office on the next business day following your wedding. The Clerk’s Office will process your license on the spot and issue you a Marriage Certificate that day.

Do we need a witness for our ceremony?
Yes, you need at least one witness for your ceremony, though you are allowed to have two. The only legal requirement is that your witness is over the age of 18.

Can the photographer be the witness?
Absolutely. If it’s just the two of you normally Leila acts as a witness and there’s no additional charge for that :)

Do you perform wedding ceremonies in other languages?
Yes. David is Bilingual. He speaks English and Spanish fluently.

Do you perform LGBTQ weddings?
Of course. We support marriage equality and are thrilled to photograph all kinds of love stories.

Do we need a permit to get married in Central Park?
If you plan to have more than 20 people at your wedding, you need a permit. However, a permit is not required for a wedding of fewer than 20 people.

Where are the best places to get married in Central Park?
Central Park has some of the best wedding spots in the city. Normally we recommend choosing an offbeat section of the Park. It just feels more intimate and personal. But there are great traditional wedding spots like Ladies Pavillion, Wagners Cove, Cop Cot, Belvedere Castle, The Conservatory Garden, Cherry Hill, Summit Rock, Shakespeare Garden, Bow Bridge, Gapstow Bridge, Turtle Pond…

Where are the best places to get married in Manhattan?
We love the Lower East Side, SoHo and Chinatown for the ceremony, and are also incredible for photos. Happy to suggest spots we love!

Where are the best places to get married in Brooklyn?
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dumbo, and Brooklyn Heights Promenade are the classics but we love to shoot weddings at unusual locations and Brooklyn offers many amazing & unique corners.

We are from a foreign country – how do we make sure our marriage is legally recognized back home?
We love elopements, but before traveling to New York to get married, please remember to contact the authorities in your home country and confirm what you’ll need in terms of documentation so that your marriage is recognized in your country. Once you know what is required by your own government, you’ll know what questions to ask the Clerk’s Office when you apply for your Marriage License and what steps are necessary to get the documents that you’ll need! A great place to start is the City Clerks website marriage records page where, under the heading “Fees,” you’ll find information regarding how to obtain an Extended Marriage Certificate and Apostille in person. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to call the City Clerk’s Office directly to be sure you know how to obtain whatever is necessary to make your marriage legal in your own country.

That’s it for now! If something you’d like to ask us is not on this list, feel free to contact us HERE

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