It’s just been one of those weeks where I can’t stop thinking about my time spent on the east coast. I used to frequently ride the train into the city from Greenwich, CT and people watch for hours. I’d walk The High Line with one of Bar Suzette’s famous chocolate crepes from Chelsea Market in hand, and take in the beauty of the city. It never got old to me.

Part of me wishes I was still back there to embrace the different cultures and see more of the country I missed out on. But then the other part knocks me back into reality. Do I really want to be buried under 5 feet of snow right now? No.

But on one of my countless trips across the country last year, I decided to gather my favorite vendors and do a shoot in the heart of Central Park. I picked up flowers from the cutest loft space in the flower district, gracefully transported them by way of subway and secretly set up a picnic behind a tree in a quaint spot of Central Park.

I can distinctly remember watching ballerinas perform at Grand Central Station, and it was their grace and beauty that ultimately inspired me to put together a “ballet” inspired elopement shoot. A friend of mine who I went to high school with happened to be living in the city and performing for a ballet company. I knew she would be perfect. She got dolled up at this chic salon, slipped into a BHLDN two piece tulle gown and pointe shoes and danced the afternoon away. She turned heads and grabbed the attention of passerby’s. It was at Bethesda Fountain that she danced to the sweet music of an opera singer in the distance and emulated what it would be like to get married in such a romantic spot. Don’t we all dream of something like that!

New York City will always hold such a special spot in my heart and I hope to return each year…relive old memories and make new ones. So excuse me as I go buy my plane ticket to NYC- should I go with Laguardia or JFK? Decisions, decisions.

You can also see the full feature on August Willows here!