Ya’ll know how much I love a sentimental venue, and this sweet as summer pair wed right where their story began. Serving meaningful moments (the Bride’s garter was handmade from her Mother’s wedding gown!) and happy tears, it’s a ceremony graced with elegant Primrose And Company blooms at every turn. Kaitlin Noel was behind the lens sharing the memories, and you can witness all the beauty in the gallery!
From the beautiful Bride… Our wedding venue – The Windrift in Avalon, NJ – has a lot of meaning to my husband and I.
Four years ago, Shawn captured my heart behind the bar on a busy Saturday night in the summer. Apparently, I captured his as I patiently waited for my drinks to be made to take to my tables. Before this night, we were fellow employees working a summer job for some extra cash. That July night, we fell for each other. Today, we are husband and wife, who wed in the same exact place we first fell in love four years ago. The Windrift will forever hold a special place in both of our hearts.
The details of my day all came together so perfectly. It is a risk you take when you plan your wedding for 14 months, and hope that on that day, all of the details flow beautifully. I can honestly say that no detail went unnoticed. From my handmade garter from my mother’s wedding dress, to my trendy naked cake, to my beautiful Anna Campbell wedding dress, it was honestly a dream come true wedding.
The day I tried my wedding dress on I truly died and went to heaven. I had never seen a dress so incredibly detailed. The beaded cap sleeves and full lace train took my breath away. I felt like the ultimate bride in this dress. I began by choosing my dress and then choosing details from there. I paired my gorgeous gown with a cathedral veil edged in lace, along with sparkly Benjamin Adams shoes and drop earrings, both from the lovely BHLDN. On the day of my wedding shower, my mother surprised me with a blush pink clutch, made from my grandmother’s dress she wore the day my mother was married. Hanging from my bouquet, was a pendant of both sets of my deceased grandparents. There were so many memories with me on my wedding day.
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of my wedding day, my prince charming, and how perfect my day would be. Before I knew it, all of my dreams were unfolding right before my eyes. When planning my wedding, I took a lot of inspiration from the natural beauty that has surrounded me since I was born, the beautiful beaches of Avalon, NJ. I wanted to keep my color scheme and theme neutral and let the scenery do the talking. I can honestly say that our wedding was that of a fairytale. Nothing short of dreamy, and romantic, with a touch of vintage. Gorgeous hues of pinks, grays, and neutrals covered our ceremony and reception sites. The beautiful bouquets were draped in long streamers, which flowed perfectly with the style of the wedding. I met with my florist and told her what I was looking for. She went above and beyond to make the floral arrangements heavenly. The bouquets put the perfect touch of romance to my desired look. Slowly but surely, all the designs began to come together. My groom, styled in a Vera Wang tuxedo, was the most handsome man I had ever seen. His perfectly tailored tux, bowtie, and contagious smile blew me away the moment I saw him. My bridesmaids, who wore Dessy from Bella Bridesmaids, were so beautiful in their oyster colored dresses. The light gray color was perfect for the elegant, soft color tones I was inspired by. Looking back, I wish I could do it over and over again. It was perfect in every way.
Our wedding day began at St. Ann’s Church in Wildwood, NJ, where we were married in front of 185 guests. It was a gorgeous and sunny day to become husband and wife. Following our ceremony, we headed to the one and only, Windrift Hotel and Resort. Nestled above the dunes of Avalon, lies this gorgeous wedding venue, truly a hidden gem. The venue overlooks the Atlantic Ocean with one of a kind views. We had cocktail hour on the 3rd Level, where you can see from Cape May to Atlantic City. The vibes were topped off with a steel drums player – simply amazing. Following cocktail hour was our reception which, of course, was perfect in every way. We were surrounded by our most cherished family and friends the entire day on the beautiful beaches of South Jersey, what more could we have ever wanted?!
The most memorable part of my wedding day was the very beginning of the ceremony – Looking into the pews at all of the people there to see my husband and I wed, holding my father’s arm tightly, and gazing into my soon-to-be husband’s eyes at the end of the isle. It was a moment that literally lasted less than 2 minutes. I wish I could relive that moment over and over again.
Photography: Kaitlin Noel Photography | Floral Design: Primrose and Company | Wedding Dress: Anna Campbell | Cake: Chester's Bakery | Invitations: Minted | Reception Venue: The Windrift Hotel | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | DJ: DiNardo Brothers Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Vera Wang