Aleen and James tied the knot at the Armenian Church in NYC. Their intimate wedding was held with close family members at the Armenian church in Manhattan. Aleen and James chose to forgo a larger wedding in favor of a simple traditional wedding with their family. Small intimate weddings have become more popular in recent months, the sweating was cozy and sweet.

Wedding Photography at the Armenian Church in NYC

The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America is an architecturally gorgeous church in Manhattan. Located at 630 2nd Avenue, NY this church was a stunning place for these two to host their ceremony. For a couple like these two who decided to skip a larger wedding ceremony and plan a micro-wedding instead, these kinds of days offer a lower-stress alternative to a big wedding.

Capturing James and Aleen’s Traditional Armenian Wedding Day

Aleen arrived in a beautiful limo and was escorted to the church by her loved ones. Her wedding dress was stunning, perfect for this traditional intimate wedding. James was inside the church and waiting for his bride to arrive.

Forgoing the first look, these two saw each other for the first time when Aleen ascended the aisle. As NYC wedding photographers, we often do first looks. These moments are always extra special when the couple sees each other during the ceremony.

Their guest count was relatively small, with only family members attending. The church was able to broadcast the ceremony to their loved ones, which was a sweet way to include those who couldn’t be there. Traditional Armenian wedding ceremonies have a lot of ritual to them that was exciting for us to capture.

Armenian Wedding Photography in New York City

This was our first Armenian wedding ceremony, and we were so lucky to have captured it at the Armenian Church in NYC. Because of that, Aleen and James prepared us ahead of time for what we were about to capture. As New York wedding photography professionals, we wanted to make sure they were comfortable having us capture something new. We had a consultation before the big day, and Aleen outlined the different traditions that the ceremony would entail.

Wedding Traditions at Armenian Weddings to Photograph

Armenian wedding ceremonies are typically longer than most non-religious wedding ceremonies. They are about an hour long and involve lots of readings and traditions. One such tradition that we saw at this wedding was a crowning ceremony.

Crowns were placed on the couple’s head by the priest. This is a symbol of the couple’s little kingdom. The crowns are a significant part of the ceremony and are structurally important to many orthodox church weddings. These crowns belong to the church and will be used for other wedding ceremonies.

At the end of the ceremony, the couple departed the church for some formal photos outside. We took all the staged family wedding photos on the stairs of the Armenian Church in NYC. After we finished up the family photos, we took more portraits of the couple around the property.

Finally, it was time for the couple to head out for their wedding celebration! We capture them leaving in their special ‘just married’ Jeep, a great personal touch to their day. This was such a fun wedding to capture, and we can’t wait to photograph another wedding at the Armenian Church in NYC!

Why More Couples Are Choosing to Have Micro-Weddings

Having a micro-wedding is a great way to tie the knot without the stress of a larger celebration. That way, it cuts down on wedding costs, and it’s still a super fun way to celebrate your love story. Having a small wedding under 50 guests is perfect for some couples, which is awesome! We love capturing micro-weddings in New York City.

Consequently, many couples are also choosing to have micro-weddings or elopements now, and then celebrate in a larger way down the line. With uncertainty around restrictions in the city, it can be difficult to plan for a massive wedding reception. Couples who are opting for this more “micro” format may decide that they want to have a blowout vow renewal or delayed reception.

Taking Micro-Wedding Photos in New York City

There are tons of beautiful spots around NYC to take wedding photos. The joy of having a micro-wedding or elopement is that you can work with your Brooklyn wedding photographer to get a ton of fun photos to celebrate the occasion! We love when intimate wedding couples make the most of their day and take some fun, candid wedding photos with us.

If you’re thinking about having an intimate wedding in New York, let us know! This marriage at the Armenian Church in NYC was a true joy to capture. We love celebrating with all of our couples to document their love story in the best possible way. We’re ready to help you put together the intimate celebration of your dreams.