The morning of their wedding in Katrina’s native New York City couldn’t have been any more beautiful, or any more promising as a metaphor for a strong marriage: There were a few clouds here and there, but in the vast backdrop of rich, almost-autumnal-blueness, those clouds were far from the defining trait in the sky. They were more like punctuation marks.
Katrina and Chris are a couple who definitely lead a life filled with punctuation marks — mostly exclamation points. (As evidenced during their St. Augustine engagement session!) They met years ago, on MySpace, and Katrina’s friend sneakily set them up by informing the boy from Florida that the girl from New York had a crush on him. Eventually, Chris realized that Katrina was a higher priority to him than just about anything else, so he left Florida and his family behind to be with her. Last year, they got engaged at 30,000 feet while flying home from a family vacation in Bermuda. Then, as this summer bled into fall, they got married in the middle of the city they both love, surrounded by the friends and family who love them even more. And it was definitely deserving of some exclamation points — a whole city’s worth.
Their wonderful day began at their hotel in Long Island City.
Katrina, could you have been any more stunning?
Chris was with his groomsmen, just a few floors away.
Once the guys were all spiffied up, they headed out to Gantry Plaza State Park on the East River for their portraits. Now, there’s something you need to know in advance about Katrina and Chris and their entire entourage: They’re crazy fun, and of all the bridal parties we’ve photographed, they’re probably the goofiest, silliest, and funniest. And their portraits had to reflect that. So Chris and his groomsmen all trekked out to the pier in their favorite basketball shoes and funny socks and — well, you’ll see!
Since Katrina and Chris weren’t having a first look, the guys had to clear out of the park when the girls arrived. Which worked out great, since all the guys had parked illegally anyway and wanted to leave before they got ticketed!
The girls’ pictures were slightly more subdued — no basketball shoes and crazy socks, but every bit as much laughter. And just like the groom and groomsmen portraits, these are some of my favorite bride and bridesmaid portraits of all time. They were just so fun!
And then this happened:
Smoothies in hand, we all hopped into the limo and headed to Katrina and Chris’s church — for what may go down in history as the most emotional wedding ceremony I’ve ever seen. Oftentimes people will insist, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the church!” In this case, we have the photographs to prove it.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen such a large group of people so deeply invested in the marriage they were witnessing beginning. The tears began right away. . . .
After the first kiss, there were no more tears. Just lots of smiles as Katrina and Chris and their sponsors signed their documents — and a bit more goofing off and having fun.
The groomsmen took some selfies, and Katrina and Chris high fived when the pastor told the congregation he was about to introduce the new Mr. and Mrs. for the first time!
After family portraits at the church, Katrina had carved out some time for pictures with the whole bridal party at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The day before the wedding, Danny and I had scouted the park, weaving our way through scores of tourists and sunbathers and city-dwellers who had flocked to this iconic stretch of riverbank between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. And we had found the perfect spot where we could place Katrina and Chris, and their whole entourage, to make sure there weren’t bystanders in the background, capture the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, and make sure the sunlight was in just the right place to make the photograph absolutely sing.
So, the day of the wedding, we trekked down the rocky kayak launch site, set the couple up exactly as planned, and bam — the shot I’d been dreaming about for an entire year turned out even more beautifully than I could have hoped for.
And when we put the whole bridal party on the rocky banks — wow!
Pretty good looking entourage, right? But wait — just wait. The bride and groom themselves were amazing!
If there were some sort of “happiest bride and groom” award, Katrina and Chris would be all over that!
The light that afternoon was absolutely heavenly, and so romantic. Not that these two needed any help looking incredibly in love.
Can you say breathtaking? 
And one of my favorites:
There was even more prettiness to come when we got to Stage 6 at Steiner Studios inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard. As the sun sank behind the skyline, Katrina and Chris ducked away from their cocktail hour for a couple more portraits.
Inside it was just as lovely, and from the tables named for different subway lines to their “Maagtrix” playbill menus to the Polaroid guest book, Katrina and Chris had sprinkled their personality and the things they loved throughout their reception.
As far as grand entrances go, this bridal party’s ranked high! Any time a reception opens with choreographed dances — dances choreographed to make the guests laugh, I should add — and an elaborate video from the bride and groom, you know you’re in for a fun night!
Katrina’s maid of honor, Denise, had Katrina in tears again — from crying and laughing — during her toast, which went something like this: (while sniffing back tears) “And while we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like . . . that’s okay. Because when we are together, you buy me things.”
The evening was filled with performances from Katrina and Chris’s friends — which was such a fun way to entertain their guests. (And us!)
But unquestionably, one of my favorite moments of the night was when we slipped back up to the rooftop deck for some incredible nighttime portraits against the backdrop of the Williamsburg Bridge and the Empire State Building.
Want to see even more? Check out Katrina + Chris’s slideshow!
Katrina and Chris — we are so, so happy for the two of you as you begin your life together! We hope to see you again soon, whether it’s next time you come to Florida or next time we head back up to New York!
~ Laura + Danny
Vendors:
Church: Iglesia Ni Cristo, Forest Hills
Reception Venue: Stage 6 at Steiner Studios
Bride’s Gown: Sottero & Midgley
Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka and Toms
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay
Hair and Makeup: VickyC5
Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss
Groom’s Shoes: Aldo
Flowers: Madison Florist
Catering: Abigail Kirsch
DJ: Ultimate Sound DJ’s
Venue Coordinator: Eric Hoffman
Green Screen Photo Booth: Ovation Event Planning
Cinematography: J Castillo Films
Photography: Laura Yang Photography
[…] can see Katrina + Chris’s chic New York City wedding here. Jessica + Stephen – St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church wedding | September 14, […]
Awesome pictures!!! You look stunning:) congratulations.
Wow! You both look gorgeous, wish you both all the Best! Congratulations Kathy & Chris! Perfect pictures.
Tita Wena (Sotto) & Family
Toronto
Congratulations!!?!? And katrina… I told you that your day would be perfect !!! Awesome pics & you look gorgeous!?!?! Happy Marriage!
Congratulations! I love your wedding pictures.
Congratulations Kathy and Chris, you both look so beautiful!
How gorgeous! You look so stunning Katrina! For someone who could not be there I am sooo happy that you got a photographer that captured every moment so well. The best part is the series of pictures of your family crying. hahahha…that’s a whole lot of crying going on. lol. I love you both dearly and wish you two an entire life filled with joyous occasions like this one. x
I was in tears looking at these photos!! I want them ALL!!! They are gorgeous and you did an amazing job capturing every detail and especially the personality of all the wedding party and of course the bride and groom!!! Perfection!!! xoxo
These are some of the most gorgeous photos I’ve ever seen of a wedding! Each shot was thought out and the lighting was terrific. This does make your day brighter and believe in love and family – congratulations!
Beautiful wedding =) Congratulations!
beautiful pics! Maganda! 🙂
hope you have a great life together
Wow! What amazing wedding pictures! Not to mention awesome views! Congratulations to the beautiful couple! I was introduced to Chris at the Forest Hills chapel this past Jan 2013 as the youngest brother of my old time friends of his twin sisters, Cindy and Windy. So very happy for you and continued blessings to you both!
This is Camz cuz Karez hasn’t posted yet but I wanted to say, these pictures were stunning. I can’t stop looking at them!
Laura and Danny, I know many photographers yet your work stands out like no other 🙂 The two of you captured AMAZING pictures, provided a beautiful story line, and became close friends with the bride and groom which is rare. I know for a fact, the two of you will be my photographers 😉 Chris and Katrina keeps telling me wonderful things about you two. Can’t wait till my day comes! LOL
Congratulations and best wishes to the newly weds! The pictures are amazing! I felt like I was at the wedding witnessing the momentous event in person. Those beautiful pictures told your love story. Thank you for sharing.
Wow. Seeing these pictures on my laptop rather than my phone! Totally different dimension! Also i’m able to see the video now! Made me really miss that weekend. sigh. I want to get married now.
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!! <3
Thank you soo much for capturing the beautiful pictures of my son and daughters wedding….You did a outstanding job.
Amazing work laura and danny loved this day you captured it beautifully for my dear friends!!
Beautiful photos!! Excellent writing as well– felt like the joy was palpable through the anecdotes and accompanying pictures.
ATE KATHY! you are so gorgeous! These pictures are absolutely amazing! 🙂 They truly reflect the relationship between you and Chris. 🙂 Congrats again!!
Beautiful! Wish I could have been there!!
Awesome pix!!
Congratulations Katrina and Chris! Your photos are beautiful!
Amazing pictures and wedding! Congratulations Chris and Katrina!
Amazing photos! Great story telling!! Congrats to Kahtee and Chris!
Katrina…these pics are stunning! congrats 🙂
This is awesome, Laura! Cant wait to see the full gallery!
great photos! congrats again ate kahtee and chris!
Omg..soooo gorgeous. …you guys good
These are the most gorgeous wedding photos I had ever seen!! Congratulations, Katrina & Chris!! 🙂
CONGRATS! beautiful photos!
BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS! GREAT STORY TELLING!
Beautiful photos! The groom and groomsmen have awesome sneaker game!
Breathtaking views of the city! Awesome lighting and adorable couple! Job well done!
Very Lovely.
Marian Nucup is obsessed with the couple and wedding. We are in law school, and she looks through the pictures all day everyday. I now know all the names of the whole wedding party and families of the bride and groom. Congratulation Katrina Delosreyes Maag and Chris Daniel Maag!
i stumbled on this blog from my friends FB and this has probably been the best use of 15 minutes today.
everyone looks genuinely happy!
Beautiful!
Great Photos. Great Writing too!
A beautiful bride, a beautiful wedding, and a beautiful love story. Congratulations – enjoy the beginning of your new life together!
Congrats!!!!!!!! So beautiful!!!!
Beautiful and such an epic wedding! Excellent photos, perfectly told story. Great job! Glad to have been there to experience it! 😉
These pictures were so beautiful. The ceremony looked beautiful as well. 🙂 Congratulations!
AMAZING pictures! And awesome photographers! Thanks again Laura and Danny.. Best photographers I’ve worked with… I wish you guys did my wedding! Haha and Kathy and Chris.. Such a beautiful couple.. Congrats again.. I love you guys <3
Hey Katrina,
Congrats! The photos came out beautiful, they really did a nice job capturing all of your expressions. So happy for you two!
What a Stunning couple! Exquisite wedding!
Wow! Such an amazing wedding! Love the photos! Congrats again to the both of you!
Congrats to th beautiful couple!! Wishing you all th happiness and blessings in ur new chapter as husband & wife!!
Ate Kathy! I’m so sorry I missed this. I wish I was there but I’m glad I could relive your special day through these beautiful photos. Congratulations to you and Chris!
Wow, Ate Kathy, these photos are really great. You and Chris look awesome! Congratulations! So glad I was there to witness it.
Congrats again! Hope you win! Hehee
beautiful everything. the photos tell the story of love, laughter, and life. awesome job!
Luv thez pics.. dont leeve odin behind!
Congrats again to Katrina & Chris… Amazing photos… Everything looks great and organized well… Wishing ya’ll more blessings to come..=)
Very impressive photos…all those moments were perfectly captured! Love them! Great wedding, hilarious entourage and perfect couple. What else can you ask for? Congratulations!
Beautiful beautiful pictures and an even more beautiful couple! thanks for sharing!!!!!
Beautiful
I’ll say it again, best wedding, best couple, BEST ENTOURAGE and best photographers. This wedding just came together and it was everything everyone could have imagined. Everyone should take a look, leave a comment, tell us how much you love the entourage, because we were delicious. LOL
All jokes aside, I’m so happy this is finally up so I can relive the awesomeness. Katrina De Los Reyes and Chris Maag– congrats, you win the best wedding award…. until mine…. or Katrina Michelle Maranan.
I wanted to write barf but these pictures are too nice and too cute haha. Love you guys! Pictures came out amazing!
These photographs are beyond beautiful! Katrina, you look gorgeous! Congrats to the both of you! 🙂
Absolutely stunning!
I have been married for 23 years and I have seen alot of weddings, not to mention weddings on pintrest also. I have never seen such beautiful pictures. The surroundings and the couple. So lovely, along with the story. I am so happy that my cousin Mike married into your family. I pray you have a wonderful long marriage. You have some wonderful roles models to follow.
Amazing photographs for a beautiful day! Can’t wait to come up with an excuse to book Laura Yang Photography! 😀
Congrats what a beautiful couple and wonderful pics!
What a lovely pictures of two people in love. Guys you look awesome. All the best on your wedding!!!
Love these photos you look amazing!
Congratulations to Kathy and Chris!! Beautiful pictures taken by laura!!
I woke up to this and now my day will be brighter (even though I’m getting ready for work) Amazing pictures. I want to relive this moment. When I buy my wife from Russia, you guys will definitely be my photographers. haha thanks for telling an amazing story
I’ve come across a lot of photographers over the years, but you Laura Yang are impressive! Your vision and style is like nothing I’ve ever seen before 🙂 This wedding was nothing short of amazing and your photos are a great depiction of it. I’m still so happy that I got to experience it first hand and I thank God for great friends like Kahtee and Chris!
You’ve set the bar high Laura Yang Photography!
Beautiful pictures in every aspect. Love the colors!!!!
Congratulations Chris & Kathy.
Thanks Danny & Laura for being the photographers at my daughter’s wedding.
Professionally done!!!
Just had to put an official comment via Facebook plug in! You guys are awesome and thanks again soon much, but these pics made my withdrawals worse and I’m reliving the wedding all over again…love it! 🙁
Fantastic photos!
I can never stress it enough, you guys really are the best wedding photographers I’ve seen thus far. And not just the photos, but just amazing people. Btw, just to let you know, I was the one who found you and pushed Katrina and Chris to hire you guys! And she definitely did not regret it one bit!! Amazing! 🙂
Woohoo!! Beautiful bride and groom! Congratulations Chris and Kahtee!
absolutely breathtaking.. beautiful pictures.
LOVE this beautiful couple!!!! And these amazing photos… You captured them so wonderfully! You definitely can see how fun and lovable they are 🙂
Congratulations again to Chris & Katrina!
Beautiful Bride & Groom love the pics
Beautiful pics of a beautiful wedding!! <3
Exceptional beautiful photos; so breataking that I am certain you Laura Yang would be my photographer if and when I need to. You are and would be highly recommended.
i loved each and every picture of the most beautiful day in your life, the photographer caught every lil emotion and it was so touching to see even if i wasn’t there, i felt the love…congrats on your marriage, may your love last forever!
Wedding of the year!!! Love the photos. You can really feel their love through the selection of images. Awesome photography!
Just so you know Katrina, my wedding will look very much like yours;) just kidding. Congratulations again!
Such a beautiful wedding in every aspect! Congratulations to you both!
Amazing pictures. Best I have ever seen.
Beautiful pics and LOVE Katrina’s dress!
God bless your union!
You guys look Taylor made for each other.
AN EVERLASTING LOVE NEVER ENDS
These are so gorgeous! I’m glad that Camille found you and that my cousin chose you to be their photographers! Laura, you were so great at directing us for the photos.
Thank you for taking such beautiful shots. I know Kathy and Chris will cherish them.
Awesome photos! Best wishes to you both and good luck!
WOW!!! You have captured some amazing photos and thank you for telling the story thru your pics AND your words!!! This being my baby brother getting married means so much to me and you’ve caught every moment that IS HIM and KATRINA!!! And then you throw in the slideshow with an awesome soundtrack at the end?? Thank you for bringing me to tears!! 🙂 Happy Tears of course!!! You two are the BEST!!! keep up the good work!!!
both of you look AWESOME! congratulations&best wishes cousin 🙂
take care 🙂
Congratulations Chris & Kathy! God Bless!
Beautiful pictures!
For the lovely couple, may you have plenty of Kids!
Take care
Beautiful photos, beautiful couple!
Great pitures! Tells a beutiful story
I don’t think I’ve ever smiled and teared up in one hit so much. The pictures are BEAUTIFUL!! I felt like I was at the wedding myself! 🙂
Wish your photographers were here in Australia I’d recommend them to everyone!
Gorgeous wedding you both had Kahtee and Chris! All the best guys 🙂
Great love story!!!! And amazing pictures. It doesn’t get any better than this! Congratulations. Wish you both the best ❤️
Congrats!!! 🙂
Congrats! My girl Katrina…love and kisses!!
Beautiful pictures!! What a Beautiful bride!!!
The most authentic photographic embodiment of angelic beauty I’ve ever seen
Congratulations!!! Beautiful pictures!!! 🙂
Wow!!! Superb photography skills. Amazing pictures. Love it! Love it! Love it!!!! Really beautiful pix.
Congratulations Katrina & Chris. Happy to be at your wedding and witnessed your most memorable day! We enjoyed your wedding party. This is one wedding I will never forget. Wish you the best in your married life!! Again congratulations!!
Ka Tang & Ka Charlie Aquino
Wow these pictures are awesome! Can’t wait to use one of them as my cover photo on facebook!!! =P
I love this couple, and your pictures truly capture how wonderful and beautiful that wedding was!!! you are super talented!! 🙂
Woooww!!! Laura and Danny you two are amazing with camera! Not only skill wise but def two amazing people to work with. Thank you soooo much for such a sweet blog and awesome pictures!
Such a beautiful wedding and awesome photos too! I love it
And the #maagwedding2013 fever continues. By far the best wedding hands down and Laura and Danny, you both have managed to capture how fun this day was!!! The photos are marvelous, and you two, are fantastic people!!!!
Now, lets try and get Katrina and Chris enough comments aaaaand share to everyone else what they missed out on hahaha.
Whooohooo!! Congratulations Chris and Kahtee! Beautiful bride and groom! 🙂 Best wishes to you and your new life together.
Thanks for the comments, guys! Katrina, your wedding was AMAZING! Feel free to comment using the Facebook plugin – this will count toward your comment count and also will help give your blog more air time for more comments! Good luck!
Wow guys wow. Officially my favourite wedding photographers ever! Thanks for capturing such an awesome day. The pictures are beautiful!
Beautiful NYC wedding! Glad to have witnessed it. ♥
Ahhhh love the photos and the story you tellLaura and Danny!!! Thank you soooo much for capturing our special day!!! 😀