Outstanding in the Field // Chef John McCarthy at Beekman 1802

While I spent most of my time photographing weddings in California, I also work in the food space with chefs, producers and purveyors. One of my favorite events to photograph is Outstanding in the Field - a longtime roving dinner party hosted by Jim Denevan and his traveling team.  

I spent a summer afternoon with Outstanding in the Field, Chef John McCarthy, and the Beekman Boys themselves on the farm of Beekman 1802 in Sharon Springs, New York. Jim mowed a line in the rolling hills of the Beekman farm and set a table for 150. Chef prepared a beautiful dinner featuring Beekman goat cheese and other local goods.

Kate & Azam in San Francisco | A Restaurant Wedding at Trattoria Contadina

When Kate & Azam began planning their San Francisco wedding, they had three priorities in mind: to keep things intimate, giving them space to breathe and the time to spend with the people they loved most; to keep things close and simple, again giving them space to breathe and the luxury of planning a wedding without losing themselves to wedding planning; and to return to North Beach - where they had their first date, and Trattoria Contadina - where they shared their first bowl of spaghetti. 

They hosted sixty friends and family at their intimate marriage-themed dinner party, and the chef, owners and staff at Trattoria Contadina could not have made their lives easier. Kate & Azam brought florals and other final touches by, but otherwise left the decor of the restaurant as-is, and showed up fifteen minutes before their guests so that they could host them upon arrival. After an hour of hugs and catching up with their friends and family, they stood up in the front corner of the restaurant and recited vows they had written for each other. Kate's grandfather led their ceremony, and they ended with a big kiss and a short walk back to their table - where everyone shared a delicious, classic Italian meal.