Getting Married at the Whythe Hotel?
Taryn and Eric with the bridal party at the Whythe Hotel in Williamsburg. © Dan Wagner 2023
Every bride and groom planning on getting married at the Whythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are sure to love these photos of Taryn and Eric’s beautiful wedding. Having had my hair cut and styled by the groom for over a dozen years, I was thrilled when he asked me to photograph his wedding. As he was holding a sharp razor and a pair of scissors, I immediately agreed—forgive my barbershop humor. Seriously, they’re a great couple! Even better, they were getting married at a place I’d longed to photograph—the Whythe Hotel.
Even though I’m primarily a Long Island wedding photographer. I don’t mind enduring a bit of traffic for special New York City locations such as the Whythe Hotel. Fortunately, on the day of Eric and Taryn’s wedding the traffic was pretty good, and I was able to park nearby without any difficulty. Also, there’s something about their wedding attire, flowers, and other details that look so contemporary and fashionable in the wedding photos. See for yourself.
Night photo of the Whythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. © Dan Wagner 2023
The History of the Whythe Hotel
Seeing how tastefully and reverently the trio of Australian hotelier Peter Lawrence, developer Jed Waltentas, and restauranteur Andrew Tarlow have breathed new life and purpose into the Whythe Hotel’s early 20th century industrial beginnings is a true testament to inspired creativity.
From the ground looking up, your eyes travel the brick facade dating from 1901 when the Whythe Hotel was a barrel and cask manufacturing facility, to the new, glass and steel structure of today that crowns the top. There’s something compelling about this view that I find difficult to pull away from.
That is until I go inside and see the original exposed brick, cast iron columns, arched windows, and other treasures for the eyes. There are so many fantastic spots for wedding photos. The same is true for the top floors, that feature huge windows with spectacular city and waterfront views.
Detail photos from Taryn and Eric’s Whythe Hotel wedding. © Dan Wagner 2023
Something Old and Something New
In weddings we say something old as a way of honoring our ties to the past. Strong foundations, both in families and buildings are vital for the future. We also say something new, because it represents our hopes for the future. This may be one of many reasons why couple’s are instinctively drawn to the Whythe Hotel.
Since their wedding in 2019, Eric and Taryn have created two beautiful children. That’s one of the joys of photographing weddings. Better yet, Eric and Taryn live in my neighborhood, so my wife and I frequently see them during local walks.
Be it people, places and things, I guess we all have a hunger for nostalgia. I hope it’s not too strained an analogy to suggest that spending time at the Whythe Hotel for a wedding, or a simple hotel stay, can momentarily satiate our nostalgic hunger. At the very least, it’s a very cool place!
By the way, during haircuts it’s fun to relive Eric and Taryn’s wedding through the photographs bordering Eric’s barbershop mirror. Every visit features new photos of their kids, and newspaper clippings when his beloved Giants are doing well.
Wedding Boutonniere Tip
Rather than risk drawing blood during the pinning of the boutonniere, you can always ask the groom and groomsmen to remove their jackets—it’s not mandatory to pin it while they’re wearing their jackets. Pretty common sense, but it’s something I didn’t give a second thought about for years. As a wedding photographer, I’ve gotten very good at helping with this task. You also want to pin downward so the sharp end goes through the lapel, into the thickest part of the stem, and back through the lapel. This way, there’s no risk of the wearer getting jabbed by the sharp end of the pin. It’s worth practicing.
Where to Hold Your Wedding Bouquet Tip
It’s funny, that after going to so many wedding during their lifetimes, how many brides and bridesmaids—and even wedding photographers are confused about the “correct” spot for holding a bouquet. In general, bouquets should be held at naval height.
Where Men Should Place Their Hands During Formal Photos Tip
During every wedding I’ve ever photographed, I’ve been asked by men where they should hold their hands. This also happens during corporate event photos. I’ve been tempted to respond with mischievous answers—for humor. Here’s what I tell them, “To get that GQ / Esquire look—place the hand closest to me in your pocket. Ideally, their thumb and top of the hand will remain visible. Simple things like this really improve wedding photos. Stay tuned to this blog for future wedding photography tips!
“Dan Wagner was the photographer for my wedding, and he was amazing! You could tell he loves what he does, and he brought creativity and romance to my photos—especially to my albums. It poured on the day of our wedding, and we did a wedding re-shoot so that we could take outside photos. Dan was happy to spend the whole afternoon with us traveling around Manhattan taking all sorts of fun photos. Both days were so memorable for us. My husband and I are so pleased that we used Dan as our photographer, I would recommend him to anyone! Thanks Dan!”
—Yvonne and Jason
Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!
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