Springtime: Chelsea Square NYC Wedding Photos

Springtime wedding photos in NYC at Chelsea Square

chelsea-square-wedding-photos-nyc-by-suess-moments-photographer

It’s springtime in May, and it’s raining on their wedding day; we got beautiful wedding photos in NYC at Chelsea Square. We think of it as good luck!

The wedding at Chelsea Square (also known as General Theological Seminary) is a ceremony and reception venue next door to the High Line Hotel in NYC. The historic wedding venue is a staple for vintage gothic architecture with a whimsical New York charm. Think Harry Potter much? Well, when I enter the reception space at Chelsea Square NYC, I do.

Where is Chelsea Square wedding venue located?

429 West 20th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenue

What Hotel is near Chelsea Square wedding venue?

Next door to the wedding venue is a gorgeous hotel, The High Line Hotel. You will want to request one of their larger suites for perfect bridal prep photos. At Chelsea Square, they also have ample space for getting ready and epic photos can be taken in there, too, as you get changed into your dress. It has an oversized mirror, plenty of natural light, and seating for your wedding party.

About this wedding

As mentioned before, it rained good luck on their wedding day. The couple came prepared with plenty of umbrellas for the wedding party as there isn’t coverage from the hotel/bridal prep suites to the ceremony and reception. They hired a great wedding planning team to keep the flow of the day moving despite the rain! The couple hired my wedding photography services in hopes for more of a photojournalistic style rather than a posed portrait style. Although we didn’t get much photoshoot time, we did the best we could inside, in the beautiful staircase entrance leading up to the reception space. It’s the best place to take photos when it rains and for an iconic first look.

The Photography Timeline

45 minutes | Groom Prep
1 hour | Bride Prep
40 minutes | First look & photos
30 minutes | Family, VIP photos
30 minutes | Prep for Ceremony, no photos of the couple
30 minutes | Chapel Ceremony
1 hour | Cocktail hour
2.5 hours | Reception photography in the Refectory

Wedding photos at Chelsea Square NYC

How it started

I was the only photographer, and I had my assistant with me to help with my gear and time management. The couple requested photos of their preparations, so I started with the groom’s prep in his hotel room at the High Line Hotel. However, the lighting wasn’t at its best potential due to the rain, so I suggested we move into the bride & groom suite near the Refectory (it did not require going outside in the rain). We finished off the groom prep photos there. Afterward, I went to the bride’s hotel room, where she got ready with her dear mother, sister, and adorable two nieces. She booked one of their largest suites with a feminine touch; however, my assistant and I had to rearrange the furniture for the best photo opportunities and fewer distractions. I loved their circular art piece in the room to frame the beautiful bride’s face in some shots!

Staircase photos

Because it was raining, we had to be incredibly strategic on where the couple could take photos, without stepping outside. So we decided on the staircase entrance near the Refectory/bride & groom suite. With the doors wide open to the staircase, I was able to get ample natural light on their faces for beautiful traditional and candid portraits of them.

Family photos

The family photos were taken inside the reception space, the Refectory, and against a wooden wall to stay clear of the vendors designing and setting up the tables for the reception. After family photos, the couple asked for a break to hang out in the suite with family before they married in the chapel.

Chapel Ceremony

One of my favorite parts of this Chelsea Square wedding day was the ceremony in the chapel. Not only does the chapel have an excellent setup for lighting at the altar/stage, but they also have a runway style of seating for the guests, making it easy for a photographer to stay out of the guest’s line of sight as they watch the ceremony! I loved how the couple elected their HILARIOUS brother-in-law to be the officiant to marry them. When couples often ask a family member or friend to officiate, the ceremony is so fun to listen to; everyone is laughing, people in the back are even crying, and it’s way more personable to the couple. The wedding party was just family – unique nowadays!

Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony, the guests were guided to the cocktail hour hosted in the staircase leading up to the Refectory. If it weren’t raining, the guests would mingle in a lawn with plenty of shade. Unfortunately, the grounds were too wet, and the chance of rain was too risky to have a cocktail hour there. The couple decided not to attend cocktail hour and enjoy the privacy in their bridal suite before entering their reception for a first dance!

Reception

The refectory is a LARGE wedding venue in NYC and reminds me of Harry Potter’s historic-whimsical architecture. The space was brightened up with springtime blooms. The couple had a smaller guest count (under 100) so there was plenty of dancing space! At one point during the wedding reception, a train of dancing people formed and walked around the tables to invite more people on the dance floor. It was a hoot! One of the coolest parts about having a wedding at Chelsea Square is that they have an ultimate dinner service experience where each side of the table will be served at the EXACT SAME TIME.