When Veronica contacted me about photographing her engagement party on Long Island, I immediately liked her. I offered her a certain price for the party and she insisted on giving more, noting that I deserved at least that much just for my willingness to drive over the Cross Bronx Expressway to get there, haha.

When I arrived at the location for the party, Chi in Westbury, NY, I was taken aback by just how posh of an event this was. For someone who never had an engagement party herself, I had no way of predicting how grand an affair this would be.

The first to arrive as usual, I was able to capture the ambience of the location and some of the adorable details Veronica had set out earlier that day.

Shortly afterwards, Veronica and Larry arrived, and their full-house of guests began to make their way inside.

The beautiful Veronica asked me to get a shot of her ring before the action started. I thought it might be a nice idea to throw in the invitation and kill two birds with one stone.

The guests started to eat and drink

Veronica and Larry stood up to make a speech, which ended in an emotional hug, and the couple cut and shared their engagement-party cake wedding style!

When I asked the couple what they were planning to do for engagement pictures, they told me they had planned on using some of the ones I took that night. I was so glad I asked because knowing what they had in mind, I made it a point to pull them aside and take a few posed images to add to their collection of candids.

After that, it was all fun and games!

I never considered myself much of a nightlight photographer, but after catching the groom-to-be’s brother double fisting, one guest balancing a drink on his head, and another falling off her stool, I thought I might actually have a knack for it.

To my surprise, I became somewhat of a celebrity by the end of the night. Veronica would take me around the bar, and I’d be cheered in with each new room I entered. When it was time to move on to the next room, no one seemed to want “Photographer Lady!” to leave! Haha.

The guests were so friendly and my hosts so amazingly hospitable, I can honestly say that Veronica’s party was the most fun I have ever had photographing an event. But like all good things do, it eventually had to come to an end.

Having been together for over five years, I know Veronica and Larry are simply perfect for each other. They are one of those couples that look and act like they have already been married for a decade but are still so in love. Congratulations you two! I wish you the very best!