Inside a City Hall + Restaurant Wedding: A 6-Hour Storytelling Approach
How Azania & Liam celebrated slowly, over two days
There’s something about split-day weddings that feels like a deep exhale. They leave room to breathe, to rest, to take in what just happened before rushing into the next chapter.
Azania and Liam got married on a crisp fall afternoon at Brooklyn City Hall on October 25, surrounded by their moms. The next day, they hosted an intimate dinner for thirty at Vinegar Hill House, tucked under the candlelight of the carriage house.
Two days. Two spaces.
One story told in rhythm, not rush.
The City Hall Day — 2 Hours of Soft Joy
The air was crisp, and the sun stretched just enough to warm the walk to Borough Hall. Both of their moms had their phones out, taking pictures and laughing along the way. It felt like watching two families fall into step with each other — gentle, proud, and present.
Inside, the ceremony carried a kind of quiet nervousness. You know that soft energy that happens when love and excitement meet. You could tell they were shy, but their laughter came easy. When they stepped outside, it was pure joy, the kind that feels like finishing something meaningful, like graduation day, but more intimate.
Their portraits were calm and playful, captured between giggles and glances. Every frame felt honest. It was the kind of feeling of the start of something they’d both been building quietly for years.
After the ceremony, they went off for lunch with their moms and sisters. Just that small detail. no rush, no next thing. But it says so much about what this day was meant to be.
The Dinner — 3 Hours of Warmth and Presence
The next evening, they gathered their closest thirty people inside Vinegar Hill House. The space glowed in candlelight. It was soft, rustic, wrapped in fall color. It felt like a cellar in a winery: intimate, alive, safe from the outside world.
Dinner was served family-style. There were heartfelt speeches, funny toasts, and a sweet blessing for their marriage. What stood out most was how connected everyone felt. There was no clear divide between “her side” or “his side.” It was one family, woven together by warmth and laughter.
They built a small wall of memories, photos of the people who shaped who they are, and ended the night cutting a small cake surrounded by candlelight.
A Photographer’s Reflection
What I loved most about Azania and Liam’s two-day celebration was how deeply it reflected who they are. They’re thoughtful, introverted, intentional people and this approach honored that.
They knew they needed space to rest between moments, to let their social battery recharge, to feel everything fully. And they trusted that slowing down wouldn’t make it any less meaningful. It made it more.
I kept my flash off the entire evening, letting the candles do the storytelling. The softness of film, the grain, the amber light, it all carried the mood perfectly. Everything was documentary-style except for a few guided portraits. The rest was pure presence.
Follow Your Intuition
If there’s one thing I want couples to take away from this story, it’s that you can follow your intuition.
You can design your wedding around what feels right, not what’s expected or common. Azania and Liam knew that splitting their celebration into two days would let them be fully present, rested, and connected. And it worked beautifully.
If this kind of storytelling feels like your pace — slow, intentional, and grounded in connection — take a look at The Intimate Collection.
It’s designed for couples who want to experience the depth of their day, not just the schedule of it.
