Engagement sessions are such a great opportunity for everybody involved, and that’s why I include them in many of my wedding photography collections. There’s the most obvious benefit: really great photos of the two of you. For many couples, their engagement session is the first time they’ve been photographed professionally together.

Clare is a person for whom creative expression is a non-negotiable part of daily life. It’s not what she does. It’s who she is. So it only makes sense that her engagement party, celebrating her commitment to Chris, would be as expressive as every other part of her life. And what theme could possibly be better than Valentine’s Day? Clare and Chris gathered their New York City community near at Black Rabbit Bar in Greenpoint, where pink and red were de rigueur and love and laughs were plenty.

My all-time favorite wedding emcee is this absolute pro named Dave Kennedy. He’s a class act, and he likes to mix in the Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole duet “Unforgettable” into his dance-floor mix. It’s just a fantastic song: classic and unexpected, happy and romantic. And it’s also what everybody hopes their wedding day will be, not just for them, but for all their favorite people, too— unforgettable. From my experience, here are ten things that will unequivocally heighten the experience of your wedding day.

I’m all about getting super glam for an engagement session. It’s a huge deal to get engaged, and there’s no better time to embrace the most formal aspects of your wardrobe for a session. Lucky for me, Sara & Vivek were totally game for formal wear for their Chicago engagement photos. Sara is from India, and Vivek grew up in an Indian family in Dubai. They met in the U.S. as adults, and got engaged in Chicago, a city that they called home for several years. It was such fun to do this engagement session with them in this city that is so significant to them as a couple.

I once read that a great default question to ask couples you may meet in social situations is how they met. Clare and Chris are a couple who will always have a wonderful story to share. Once upon a time, Clare was a somewhat recent college grad, back in her hometown to see her family and catch up on some appointments. She went to her childhood dentist for checkup and found that she’d been assigned a new practitioner, who she found distractingly handsome and agreeable. She went home, found him on Facebook, messaged him, and… well, it worked out really well. 😉

If I weren’t intentional about what I wear, it would be all black, all the time. And it was that, for a very long time. I know I’m not alone in this. Black is (almost) universally flattering, it’s hard to mess up, and it can be adapted for almost any occasion. But when I’m off the clock, and for my photographic subjects, I adore light-colored clothing…

Do you want to know a little wedding day detail that can easily be overlooked? Floral logistics.

Katherine and Elliot met on the shores of the same water over which they said their marriage vows. Elliot signed up for sailing lessons, not knowing that his instructor would one day be his wife— and co-owner of their sail boat. Since Lake Michigan and nautical life are a centerpoint to their lives, Columbia Yacht Club was a natural choice for their venue.

As far as I’m concerned, one of the most charming times to experience New York City is around Christmastime. It’s cozy and jolly from the subway platform to the Top of the Rock. Dropping a couple as kindhearted and handsome as Andrew and Scotty into this scene really can only sweeten the deal for both parties. I had so much fun with these two, capturing holiday spirit and smiles in the West Village— notably, Abingdon Square and a Village classic, the annual Romp Family Christmas Tree pop-up shop at Jane St. and 8th Avenue.