A Union League Cafe Wedding | Robyn+Maor

Robyn and Maor were married at the Union League Cafe in New haven, CT. Everything about it was so cool to me, as it was extremely unconventional. They saw each other before—we then WALKED from their place to downtown New Haven, affording ourselves a million cool locales along the way. They had a cocktail hour FIRST—THEN had a ceremony ( over which Robyn’s good friend presided—hence the ocean of tears) i Loved it—it was so different it REALLY made it interesting for me, especially being one of the final events of the season…

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Jay Fleming ( who was helping out) and I  were joking that this was the ‘light absorbing dog’ as he was so dark he seemed to suck up any light from the flash!

 

 

my FAVORITE building at Yale to photograph… the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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I’m going to stop here for a moment and go off on a tangent— and that tangent is how AMAZINGLY well the folks at the Union League treated we ‘vendors’.

The manager asked “would you like to eat?” We naturally answered, “Yes!” But I added, “i’m afraid if we eat now we may miss something in the dining room ( was he REALLY going to feed us BEFORE everyone else so we could get back to work? Did he REALLY understand that concept??? And if so, could he call every other venue and explain to them why that makes so much common sense?)—assuming i’d be sitting in a damp, dimly lit hallway sitting on a filthy ice chest eating a chicken salad rollup (sound familiar, fellow photographers???)

“NO!,” he said, “we have a table set for you right over here in the bar…what would you like?”

“What are you offering?” I asked.

He looked at me puzzled, “Why – what everyone else is having,seabass, lamb or lobster in chestnut sauce.”

I’m sorry—did you just offer us lobster? Lo and behold out comes 3 hot lobster meals seconds later as well as—are you siting down—our choice of white or red wine.

Now look —I just gotta say—that after a season of 30 weddings and often not being fed, or being herded into a tent to gather whatever ice cold sludge remnants were left over–or being given 3 minutes to scarf down some crappy meal—this was a revelation. Venues and caterers seem to forget that couples frequently ask US our advice as to what we think or a particular venue, yet frequently  treat you like you are nothing more than a burden.

So my suggestion: HAVE YOUR EVENT AT THE UNION LEAGUE CAFE!!!!! They are wonderful, and the food is outstanding. Ok, off my soapbox and back to the photos…..