It’s no secret that I take an unconventional approach to wedding photography. In a world of perfect poses, I’m all about the raw and organic moments. This was exactly what drew Meredith and Carson to my photography when they were planning their Manhattan City Hall elopement. After 10 years together, Meredith and Carson wanted their wedding to feel momentous and celebratory, but still be down-to-earth, playful, and fun—just like them!
Getting Married at Manhattan City Hall
Meredith and Carson first came across my work in magazines like The Cut and The Anti-Bride. In their review, Meredith said, “we assumed that those photos were more styled and not necessarily achievable for a normal person, because, you know, they’re in a magazine. HOWEVER, Sylvie can make every couple feel special, fun, exciting, and all her shots have so much life and movement. When we got our photos back, I genuinely did feel like they were magazine worthy.”
They weren’t the only ones who thought their photos were magazine-worthy. Meredith and Carson’s wedding ended up getting featured in The Anti-Bride, the same magazine they originally found my work in! This just goes to show that you don’t have to fit a certain mold to get incredible wedding photos.
Meredith and Carson chose to tie the knot at Manhattan City Hall because they were drawn to the historical, retro charm of the building. But they, like most couples planning a city hall elopement in New York, had no clue how to actually book their wedding there. That’s where I came in!
Not only did I photograph their wedding, but I helped them navigate the (often confusing) process for securing their city hall appointment and completing all the necessary paperwork. Taking care of everything ahead of time made sure that their wedding day was relaxed and full of joyful presence. And we only waited in the lobby for 11 whole minutes!
City Hall to Central Park in Under Three Hours
Meredith’s extended family is from Maui, so she wanted to incorporate Hawaiian traditions into their day. They ordered fresh leis from Hawaii—kukui nut and green orchids for Carson and simple white shells for Meredith—and shipped them over 5,000 miles to Meredith’s family home a few states away. Her father drove the leis to the city himself and walked Meredith into City Hall to symbolize walking her down the aisle. Meredith carried a stunning bouquet from The Urban Florist to complement her skirt suit and loafers, and Carson held a crochet flower bouquet to add some color and playfulness to his brown linen suit!
After their brief ceremony, I hung back to capture photos of Meredith and Carson in their natural habitat, holding hands as they walked down the sidewalk, laughing at anything and everything, and basking in that newlywed glow. We got a subway car all to ourselves as we traveled to Central Park. I specialize in slipping into the background and capturing the moments that reflect each couple’s personality. For Meredith and Carson, I captured their unabated joy and shining smiles as they walked around the city they call home as a newly married couple!
City Hall Wedding and Elopement Photographer
Sometimes people ask me if all the weddings start to blur together. The truth is, I’m at Manhattan City Hall multiple times a week, capturing these incredible celebrations. But my answer is, and will always be, nope. Sure, the buildings might be the same, and the process doesn’t change, but every couple is so unique. They each have their own story, a distinct sense of style, different energies, experiences, and expectations for their day. My job is to take pictures that capture these distinctions and highlight all of the things that make them who they are.
After Meredith and Carson received their photos, they said,
“I worked with Sylvie for my elopement this past June, and genuinely cannot recommend her highly enough!!! Sylvie made the experience the most special and beautiful day. She knows her way around city hall (the employees literally recognize her) so logistics are a breeze, she’s so friendly and makes everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera, and the ideas she has for photos and locations are unbeatable!”
If you want a wedding that feels distinct to your love story, and want to remember it with photos that feel like stills from your favorite rom-com, I would love to work with you. Fill out my contact form to tell me a bit about your wedding, and let’s start planning!
Vendors:
Photographer: Sylvie Rosokoff
Flowers: The Urban Florist
Carson’s Crochet Flowers: Fujisan Japanese Market
Leis: The Hawaiian Lei Company
Ceremony Location: New York City Marriage Bureau
Makeup: Olivia Garvin
Hair Stylist: DOLO Hair
Meredith’s outfit: Reformation
Carson’s suit: Mango
Rings: Frank Darling & Costco
Shoes: Converse & Doc Martens