Life is funny in it’s unfolding of our destiny.

A and D, two people destined to be together grew up in New York’s old Chinatown, but didn’t meet until recent years. They probably have walked past each other many times on Mott street, or Pell street, or any of the old streets in this historical neighborhood, orbiting each other day in and day out. Their lives were connected before they even met.

Here’s A’s account of their story: “We should have met many years ago, but because timing was probably not right then, we finally met in spring of 2006. We quickly learned that we have a lot of mutual friends – and that we grew up in the same neighborhood with practically the same groups of friends. Our shared interest of playing Tetris and snowboarding have bound us. But the true test of our love for each other came when life throws its wrenches into our relationship and nearly broke us. In the darkest moment of our relationship, there was uncertainty, there was doubt, and there were rivers of tears, but love does conquer all. After a year of “figuring stuff out”, we decided to give our love another try, only this time with a bigger challenge ahead — “long-distance”.   D was in Alabama for a year and a half, while I stayed put in NYC.”

D was training as a helicopter pilot in the Army.  And on May 5th, 2011, D kept his promise and proposed to A, on the day he received his wings for the completion of his pilot training.

This is truly “an officer and a gentleman” story with a Chinese-American touch. A and D not only love each other, but they love their families, their Chinese culture and this country. And the story comes full circle with the couple celebrating their wedding in where else, but Chinatown!

Can this be possibly answered in a blog post? Depending on who you are or what your mood is; you may say it’s impossible or simply smile and point at a flower.

Mikaela and Brian are one of those flowers that I believe can shed some lights on what is a wedding.

They took the time out of their busy schedules as ER doctors and in the mist of relocating to Atlanta to come to my studio to share their story.

I have broken up the interview to different parts so you can come back and listen to them at different times or if you have lots of time on hand and are procrastinating at work, feel free to listen to all of them in one sitting, but don’t blame me if you are caught at work listening to these wonderful wedding stories from Mikaela and Brian.

Mikaela and Brian’s Story

Buying the Engagement Ring in India

The Road Less Traveled to the Proposal

The Dirty Secret of the First Dance

Moments from the Wedding – Please click on the PLAY button to start the slide-show

Why we chose Willi, you should really listen to Brian on this one, and Mikaela too!

Click HERE to view Mikaela & Brian’s sunrise engagement photo session at Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo

Mikaela and Brian celebrated their wedding nuptials at the Lighthouse located in the heart of Chelsea Piers, New York City’s premier sports and entertainment complex.

I thought I was going to get a more private viewing of the church on the wedding day, but unfortunately I was unable to assist Willi that day. Sure glad that there are always the photographs for me to fall back on. No need for me to fight the tourist! Hope you’ll enjoy this slide-show as much as I do.

Did you know that there are two Boathouses in New York City?   Last year we photographed a wedding at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse. This year it is a wedding at Manhattan’s Central Park Boathouse.

Snow Doesn’t Stop A Wedding!

As theAssistant for Willi, theStoryteller, I have to arrange for most if not all of Willi’s transportation. On the day before and on the day of Adina and Eric’s wedding, there was a big snow storm. The driver that we have arranged to take Willi to the East Meadow Jewish Center in Long Island for the wedding called early in the morning on the day of the wedding to let us know that his car was buried in snow and that the streets in his neighbor was not yet plowed.

The East Meadow Jewish Center is about 30 miles from our studio in Manhattan and on a normal day with no traffic it shouldn’t take more than 40 minutes to get there. We figured that it’ll take us over 2 hours to get there on a bad weather day. We weren’t even sure if all the roads and highways were plowed, but our first concern was getting hold of a car. In our neighborhood there are a handful of car services. One after another we were told that they have no available drivers. Thank goodness to friends and referrals that we finally found a ride to Long Island.

We didn’t even bother calling the groom to confirm if the wedding was still going on despite the inclement weather conditions. Weather has never stopped Willi from photographing a wedding; therefore he didn’t think a bride and groom would call off their special day because of a little snow on the ground. The snow on the ground only made it look more like a winter wonderland.

Adina and Eric’s beautiful ketubah was custom made by Adina’s mom, Janice Cepler of Yaffa Studios. You can see more of Janice’s magnificent work of art and creativity on her website: http://sites.google.com/site/yaffastudiosjc/Home

Good Omens for a Happy Winter Wonderland Wedding Day:

Snow falling on the wedding day is a prophecy of great happiness.

Snow on the wedding day brings money.

When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.

Snow on your wedding day is a sign of fertility and prosperity.

If it snows on your wedding day, you will get a dollar for every flake that falls on you.

If snow falls on their wedding day, it means happiness for the bride and groom.

It was the first time I:

* was at The Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse (for a wedding or personal leisure)
* was at The River Café
* saw a handmade silk bouquet by Twigs & Honey
* met stylist Sissi Chan
* assisted on two weddings in one day (yes, TWO (2) weddings!)
* was in Dumbo for a wedding day photography session
* assisted Willi and associate photographer, Ben
* brought a mp3 player with a recorder with me to a wedding
* tasted a Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory ice cream
* ate black cod with miso
* and so much more that I’m not going to bore you with

When I first walked into Prospect Park; it seemed like dejavu. I couldn’t pinpoint it until I’ve reached the Boathouse. I felt as if I was on the movie set of  Somewhere in Time; when I saw Cynthia and Matt in their wedding attire. The Boathouse is such a romantic setting for a wedding.

I did not plan on using my mp3 recorder, but when I heard the harpist playing Pachelbel’s Canon I couldn’t resist pressing the record button. A few days after the wedding when I listened to the recording; I was surprised by the content. Unknowingly, I had left the recorder on for the entire wedding ceremony. It recorded Cynthia and Matt’s wedding vows.

Now, I understand why talkies were such a phenomenon in the 1920s. Adding sound and especially dialog to photographs enhances the emotional content.  With Willi’s photo storytelling skills and my mp3 recorder we may have just added a new a la carte service.  Do let us know what you think.

By the way pescetarians I highly recommend The River Café’s black cod with miso!

The River Café
1 Water Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 522-5200

Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse
95 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY? 11215
(718) 287-3400?

Cynthia & Matt’s slideshow was first published on September 27, 2009.

Dumbo, Brooklyn  is a very beautiful setting for not just wedding photography sessions, but also engagement photo sessions.

Music playing in the slide show is by cellist, Chun-Hsin Chang, a former Willi Wong bride.

The Skylands Manor
90 Route 46 East
Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046
973.256.9380

We’ve recently updated our website to include the Story of Amanda & Jordan. We named Amanda & Jordan’s Story, “Since Date One”. There’s a very special reason to why we chose the title. I don’t want to ruin their story by introducing it any further. You will not be disappointed, because their story is like a Russian matryoshka/Babushka doll; a story within a story.

Once again we want to thank Amanda & Jordan for coming into our studio to share their story with us even though 6 months have passed since their wedding. Thank you for your time and effort and we really enjoyed talking to you, Jordan while waiting for Amanda.

Amanda & Jordan’s wedding was held at The Heldrich in New Brunswick, New Jersey

It must be fate, but without the appreciation of what life offers us we can not profit from the opportunity. One can see that Chris and Elena genuinely appreciate this gift that brought them back together and they are profiting from this reunion and turning their life into one of love, caring and appreciation. I can truly sense these energies in the presence of Chris and Elena.

Check out my conversation with them at the end of their wedding images.

This is my first audio interview with a couple and I look forward to more exciting and insightful conversations with brides and grooms who have given me the opportunity to be their storyteller.

Elena & Chris’s Prom and Wedding were held at  Glen Island Harbor Club New Rochelle, New York