New Jersey Weddings

Well today’s the day. The day we’ve been waiting for. The day we get to see Mr. DiCaprio and Ms. Mulligan portray the infamous Gatsby and Daisy. This wedding blogger is excited as can be. Because if there is one iconic piece of literature the wedding industry just loves to recreate, it’s the grandeur and the luxuriousness of The Great Gatsby. So of course, we’ve got a little Gatsby-esque inspiration á la Robert & Kathleen Photographers, Pretty Little Details, and a whole host of other talented vendors. Grab a cocktail, pop into the gallery, then start donning your pearls for tonight’s show!

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From the planner … The Great Gatsby is one of those books that just sticks with you because of the visual images it creates in readers’ minds as they follow the characters through a tragic love story. When I re-read the story this past summer I knew it would be the perfect inspiration for a styled shoot because the time period evokes images of grandeur and glamour. Robert and Kathleen Photographers were really excited to jump on board and their vintage style fit this styled shoot perfectly. Peter James Floral Couture was really excited to help bring the vision to life through his use of beautiful ostrich feathers, pearls, peach roses, and green hydrangea. The color palette wouldn’t be complete without subtle touches of gold, which Twenty Four Seven Events added into the table scape with shimmery linens that completed the look. For the stationery we wanted to create an art deco pattern and Brielle from White Orchid Graphics created the perfect scalloped pattern. One of our favorite elements is the pearl wristlet programs! Each place setting featured a vintage toy car in gold metal as a favor for guests. To add a fun element, The Candy Chick created a fun and interactive sweets table with chocolate cigars and gold dusted truffles. And, we can’t forget the stunning five-tier cake with gold embellishments from the Chocolate Carousel!

When it came to period fashion, Exquisite Bride had the perfect Lazaro gown with the right amount of sparkle and pearl embellishments. We added a stunning pearl necklace and an art deco headpiece. Allison created a beautiful simple look with soft pin curl waves. The makeup was soft and natural with a smoky eye and red lips. The bridesmaid dress was a modern take on a flapper outfit, which could certainly be worn again! And finally, the white 3-button tuxedo jacket with notch lapel from ChazMaTazz added to the formal feel and completed the look.

The Berkeley Hotel in Asbury Park was the ideal location since it was built in the 1920’s and was recently renovated. Unfortunately, the original shoot was scheduled during the week of Hurricane Sandy. As we all watched the hurricane hit the Jersey Shore it was heartbreaking to see all the damage done to the so many of our historic landmarks. We were very thankful to hear that The Berkeley Hotel was spared by the devastating storm. Thank you to our amazing vendors for being so flexible with rescheduling and for showing even more resolve and excitement to capture all the beauty the Jersey Shore has to offer after such a natural disaster. Everyone involved continues to wish all of families, businesses and emergency service
workers the best as they continue the work of repairing and rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. As Jersey-based businesses we are proud to be Jersey Strong and are so happy to share these images with you!

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Venue: Berkeley Hotel | Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers | Tuxedo: ChazMaTazz Formalwear | Floral: Peter James Floral Couture | Stationery: White Orchid Graphics, Design by Brielle | Wedding Dress & Jewelry: Lazaro via Exquisite Bride | Cake: Chocolate Carousel | Candy Bar: The Candy Chick | Linen’s: Twenty Four Seven Events | Chairs: Paul David Partywares | Hair and Makeup: Allison’s Hair Creations | Planning and Coordination: Pretty Little Details | Bridesmaid Dress: Miss Selfridge UK

There is absolutely no denying that this wedding is a stunner. The images from Kay English ooze elegance, the flowers from Wallflowers are just dripping in gorgeous and this color palette? So dreamy. However, all those things combined don’t even touch just how lovely this Bride and Groom are. Not even close. Because with just one look at this gallery, you just know, their love outshines even the prettiest of details. See it all here.

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From the Bride… The theme of our wedding was simple elegance with a vintage twist. I always envisioned getting married in the beautiful church of St. Rose, where I had attended school for thirteen years. Walking down the aisle, I was flooded with memories of all the times I had spent at St. Rose and excited for the future memories we would create as husband and wife. My groom knew the significance of this ceremony site, and was so supportive in the entire planning process.

Being from small hometowns, our friends and family were all well acquainted. We chose the English Manor as our reception venue because the layout of the ballroom brought everyone together to be a part of our day. We are both very family oriented and it was important to have a reception site which would reflect our values. Moreover, the beautiful grounds fit perfectly with our theme of simple elegance. The landscaping and gazebos provided for breathtaking photo opportunities, which our photographer captured beautifully.

Our bridal party was a direct reflection on who we are; it was filled with lifelong childhood friends, college friends, and family members. We chose a trolley as our form of transportation because we wanted our bridal party and parents all together to celebrate between the ceremony and reception. The trolley was also a beautiful touch to our beach photos and fit perfectly with the feel I wanted for the wedding.

Everyone who knows the groom can tell you his favorite color is orange (mine is green). As soon as we were engaged, people were asking how we would incorporate orange into the big day. My response: flowers. Our favorite colors were the inspiration behind the dusty shale bridesmaid dresses, the green and blue groomsmen ties, the orange in the groom’s tie and the boutonnieres. Since the bridesmaid dresses were a lighter color, I wanted a bright flower to make everything pop; hence the pink peonies. Mixed in with them were elegant garden roses and dusty miller, which was a perfect match to the bridesmaid dresses.

The bridal gown was the finishing touch on my entire theme. The elegant lace entwined with beading, was a perfect match for me. It was truly my dream gown; I wish I could wear it to more events! My parents were truly amazing in helping us have our dream wedding, and the groom’s mother organized a gorgeous rehearsal dinner on the beach, which reflected where we had both grown up, and where we would now build a life together.

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Wedding Photography: Kay English | Ceremony Venue: St. Rose Parish in Belmar, New Jersey | Reception Venue: The English Manor in Ocean Township, New Jersey | Floral Design: Wallflowers | Trolley Service: Long Branch Trolley Company | Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones “Jesse”  via Kleinfeld Bridal | Bride’s Earrings: Kleinfeld Bridal | Bride’s Shoes: David’s Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew | Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire: JC Penney | Ties: Nautica via Macy’s

If I were to write a book about our next wedding, it would be titled How To Bring the Understated Elegance of Wine Country to the Jersey Shore. Ok, so my title might be a little long, but seriously, this wedding is a lesson in making your event a reflection of the things you love in life. And just because a California celebration isn’t in the cards, doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice one ounce of style. Captured beautifully by Images by Berit it’s laidback lovliness on the good ol’ east coast and it’s all right here for your viewing pleasure

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From Images by Berit… Laura and Joe got married in Spring Lake, NJ. They are NYC dwellers but both love the Jersey Shore – especially Spring Lake, which is where the bride’s family lives (and thank goodness were minimally impacted by S.S.Sandy). They had a beautiful, casual, chic wedding at the Spring Lake Country Club, and their ceremony was at St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church in Spring Lake, New Jersey. They are a very loving, passionate and lovely couple!

From the Bride… If someone were to tell me 10 years ago that a suburban girl from New Jersey would marry a man from a beautiful 400 acre farm on Maryland’s eastern shore, I would have never believed them … until I met my husband. Joe and I met at a party in Manhattan, where we both live, and immediately bonded over love of music, travel, and family. When the time came to plan our wedding, we chose the beach where my parents live and we spend each summer weekend – Spring Lake, New Jersey. My dream to be married in one of our favorite vacation destinations, Napa, California, was not feasible so I attempted to bring the simplistic elegance of Northern California to Spring Lake.

I wore a delicate lace dress and carried my grandmother’s antique handkerchief, with tiny blue flower stitching, as I walked down the aisle. Lavender, an abundant flower in wine country, was the accent color for the men’s ties as well as the flowers held by the bridesmaids. Our save the dates mimicked a wine label design, each table was named after our favorite vineyards, and corks were used as detailed accents as far as the eye could see. One more personal touch that we added was to have a favorite vineyard that we had recently visited in Napa engrave our names and our wedding date on a magnum of wine that we plan to open on our first anniversary in lieu of cake.

My favorite memory of our wedding day was walking into the church, which my family has belonged to since the 1920s, and a place that holds so many special memories. I remember standing in the vestibule, holding on to my parents’ arms, the doors opening, and seeing my husband … and at that very moment, nothing else mattered.

Photography: Images by Berit, Inc. / Wedding Location: St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church / Reception Venue: Spring Lake Golf Club / Event Planning: Joan Glenn of 6 Degrees of Celebration / Floral Design: Flowers from Hannah / Cake + Desserts: The Macaroon Shop / Invitations: Palm Papers / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Jewelry: Kwiat / Bridesmaids’ Dresses:  J Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Reception Band: The Infernos / Ceremony Musicians: Merynda Adams (Harp) + Mark Mataranglo (Organ) + Steve Jankowski (Trumpet)

It’s been a tough few months for the East Coast since Hurricane Sandy delivered her wrath, but when this shoot from Christina Lilly Photography graced our inbox, it was the perfect reminder of what was-and what will be again. The gorgeous light reflecting on the calm, coastal New Jersey water sets the stage beautifully for the lovely table design + florals by Gilded Lily Events. This shoot is filled to the brim with inspiration and loaded with hope…see the rest right here!

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From Christina Lilly Photography… After the two weeks of devastation from Hurricane Sandy I wanted to reflect on the beauty that is … and was a New Jersey Beach wedding. As a photographer located on the east coast, it has been amazing to shoot along the beaches of New Jersey. This particular session was shot in Sandy Hook this past September. The golden light reflecting off the calm waters is the reason so many couples choose to have coastal theme weddings. They never seem to go out of style. I can only hope our shores continue to attract the couples that harbor a love for a beach wedding.

Photography: Christina Lilly Photography / Ceremony: Church of the Precious Blood in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey / Reception: Sandy Hook Beach, New Jersey / Event Planning + Floral Design: Gilded Lily Events / Invitations: Art Paper Scissors Design / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent / Makeup: Stephanie Vazquez of Smashbox

You’d never know by looking at these pretty images by Studio A Images that the weather was insanely hot that day. We’re talking 99 degrees and no a/c kinda heat. And the bride didn’t even break a sweat! She stayed calm, cool and beautiful from start to finish. There’s so much to love about this day but I think our favorite part was when the groom’s daughter sang a special song at the ceremony. How sweet! Click here for even more.

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From Studio A Images… According to The Weather Channel, the official temperature was 99 degrees for Michalina and Cliff’s wedding at The Water Witch Club at Monmouth Hills. What makes this noteworthy is that the historic Water Witch, built in the 1890s, does not have air conditioning. But Michalina and Cliff weren’t going to allow the excessive heat put a damper on their wedding day. Their ceremony didn’t just signify a union between the two of them, but the creation of a family with Cliff’s daughter, Justice, who sang a special song during the ceremony for the couple. In spite of the heat, it was a fun and romantic day from start to finish.

Wedding Photography: Adena of Studio A Images / Second Photographer: Carolina Wahnish Rivera / Wedding Venue: The Water Witch Club in Monmouth Hills, New Jersey / Floral Design: Whole Foods / Catering: Mumford’s Culinary Center / Wedding Invitations: Kay of Tying the Knot Invites / DJ: Eclectic Fit Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Bridal via RK Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / Hair: Salon Concrete / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal / Men’s Attire: J.Crew

Seaside chic just so happens to be this wedding bloggers favorite thing to see. Bonnet Island is the PERFECT spot for seaside chic. It’s fresh, it’s pretty, and it’s the perfect setting for a beach wedding with lots and lots of style. This soiree, captured by the fabulous eyes of 4Eyes Photography, is proof of that. It’s a sweetly nautical affair with so much love in the full image gallery!

We met at a birthday party in New York City in October of 2007. We had individual friends that happened to share the same birthday. Those 2 birthday celebrators were themselves good friends, but Jess and I weren’t. Oddly enough, at that time, we actually worked for the same company, in the same department, on the same floor, and didn’t really know each other! We talked for about 3 hours that night and we then decided to grab a few drinks after work sometime soon. I remember that we went for drinks, it was at a bar called Vintage on 9th Avenue. Jess had a martini and I had beer. We talked about dust and cleaning for hours (we are both very clean, neat, organized people). It was kind of a quirky conversation, but the time just flew by. I wouldn’t say we had love at first sight, but we certainly had a lot in common, had a strong connection, and really enjoyed each other’s company. Our first real date was 2 days after Thanksgiving 2007 at an Italian restaurant (now closed) called Arqua in Tribeca. Afterwards, we had desert and a nightcap at a lounge called the Brandy Library. We really hit it off and the rest is history.

Joe proposed on July 31, 2010 in Riverside Park in New York City during a picnic lunch. He had bought the ring the previous month and kept it hidden away in a safe in the apartment. Thankfully Jess didn’t find it accidentally! What I remember from the day leading up to the proposal was that Jess had left the apartment in the morning to go to a guitar lesson. In the meantime, I had prepared everything, including walking to Jess’s favorite bakery on the Upper West Side and buying cookies for desert at our picnic. I planned to hide the ring in the box with the cookies and have her open it as a surprise. Then I could properly ask her to marry me. What actually happened was that Jess was so excited about the fact that I went to her favorite bakery and prepared the picnic, that when she opened the box for desert, she looked right past the ring and said “is that their peanut butter chocolate chip cookie?!?!?” It was actually quite funny. Once we got past the excitement of the cookies, I was able to formally propose, and Jess said yes. One final surprise I had for Jess that day was a dinner planned at an Italian restaurant we liked in the West Village. She didn’t know that I had arranged for her younger sister to meet us there with her boyfriend. Jess was really happy that her sister was there to celebrate with us and the 4 of us had a wonderful time.

We got married at Bonnet Island Estate on Long Beach Island, NJ. Joe’s family had been vacationing on LBI since he was a little boy and he felt a strong connection to the island. Jess enjoys the beach and the water and really felt that her mom did too. It was such a beautiful venue and the people there treated us so nicely, that it was almost a no-brainer for us. Out of all the places that we looked at, Bonnet Island was the only venue that really talked to us and cared what our vision was for the wedding. They wanted to help us create our perfect day and Jess and I left feeling really excited and happy. Bonnet Island treated us as if it would be a privilege to host our wedding. Most venues act as if it is a privilege for the couple to get married there. We really appreciated that approach.

The inspiration for our wedding style was “elegant beach.” We wanted to make our wedding beautiful and beach inspired. It was important that the venue be in good condition and Bonnet Island was perfect. The decoration style of the estate was amazing and we felt very comfortable the first time we walked in the front door – it spoke to our sense of style (clean lines, lots of earth colors with a bit of a rustic feel). One only needs to look at the boathouse chapel or the entrance foyer to get a sense of what Jess and I like as a couple. It was also important to us that we have personal touches in strategic spots throughout the day. That helped to make Bonnet Island our own place even if it was just for one day….

When we saw each other for the first time in the boathouse chapel as we began to take pictures. I was waiting for Jess in the chapel by myself and I had turned my back to the doors and covered my eyes. After a minute or so, I could hear her walk in and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and opened my eyes (nobody every told me I had to cover them actually, ha!) and quite simply put, my heart skipped a beat. I remember feeling completely peaceful and happy. We both smiled, kissed, and I remember twirling Jess around so that I could get a full look at her dress – it was beautiful.

At the ceremony, Jess incorporated some special touches to honor the memory of her mother who passed away. She wore a ring of hers, had a special picture charm attached to her bride’s bouquet, and we had our flower coordinator create a special hanging arrangement to go over the side of Jess’s father’s chair in the front row of the boathouse chapel.

At the end of our receiving line, guests where treated to a special drink called a Kiwi fizz which incorporated the kiwi fruit and citron vodka. We picked this drink because the kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand, where we were going on our honeymoon. Each cocktail had a little New Zealand flag drink stirrer.

Jess and I took some dancing lessons several months before our wedding. At that point, we were starting to get very stressed and overwhelmed with the planning of the wedding. So, we decided we needed to do something fun as a couple to take our minds off of the wedding planning. We decided that dancing lessons would be fun and help us at our wedding (we both have 2 left feet!) The song we picked was “Running on Faith” by Eric Clapton from his Unplugged album. Joe is a huge Eric Clapton fan and Jess really liked the acoustic guitar in the song. Needless to say, with all the lessons we took and practice, Jess and I did a really good job remembering the steps as we danced together for the first time as a married couple.

Both our lives, like so many other people, have been impacted by the loss of loved ones due to terminal illness. Jess’s mother passed away about 10 years ago from breast cancer and Joe’s grandmother passed away in 2010 from ALS. We decided as a couple to make a small donation, in the name of each of our guests, to charities leading the fight against both diseases (in lieu of giving them an actual wedding favor). We felt that these were 2 people that made a tremendous impact on our lives and wanted to do something to honor their memory at our wedding. It was an act that was important to us because it showed love and respect to those family members who were at out wedding in spirit only.

Photography: 4Eyes Photography / Videographer: Christine Duggan Films / > Floral Designer: MDS Floral Designs / Invitation Designer: Stephanie Somodi / Cake: Merri Makers Catering / Wedding Gown Designer: Rivini purchased from Kleinfeld Bridal / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Amsale

Oh goodness, this wedding by Kay English Photography is just prettiness defined. Pink perfection.Blush-hued bliss. Romantic done oh so right. It’s just a complete dream of a day, and every gorgeous picture tells the story of a couple completely in love and tying the knot in serious style.  So trust me when I say you’ll want to set aside some time for this pretty little number, because the full gallery is bursting at the seams with one pretty detail after another!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We had to travel 1,200 miles from home to find each other. Tony and I both grew up along the Jersey Shore, about 45 minutes from one another, but we met five years ago while both living and working in Florida. We had the connection of both calling the same place home but realized quickly we shared so much more — importance of our families, passion and aspiration for our careers, and a love of sharing great food and wine. When we began planning our wedding, we wanted it to reflect our roots, honor our families, and most of all exude the happiness, love and fun we have found in one another. Mallard Island was the first venue we looked at, and we immediately fell in love with the intimate ballroom, breezy feel and easy elegance of the waterside estate. The views and setting are spectacular and the reception truly felt like a big dinner party at our own home with all our loved ones over — it was the perfect place to celebrate. We wanted our wedding to feel springy, soft, elegant, romantic, warm and happy. It was the biggest compliment to hear from our guests that we accomplished just that.

I fell in love with my dress the second I put it on. I loved the lace, the lines — everything about it was perfect for me. The finishing touch was my “something old” — we had the seamstress attach the buttons from my mother’s wedding dress down the back, and they added a sweet, special detail that we both really cherished. I went with statement, vintage-style earrings from Tejani and a bold bangle from Nadri (my wedding present from Tony) to complement the dress. 

Peonies are my favorite and I knew I wanted them and other soft blooms — ranunculus, hydrangeas, astilbe, lily of the valley — to be the basis of our florals. For months, my mom and I collected mercury glass vases and votives, picking up varying heights and styles whenever we spotted them in stores. We liked the eclectic elegance they brought to the tables and were thrilled with how our florist brought our vision together so beautifully. My brother, who’s a designer, made our “happily ever after” signs and got us the ampersand symbol for some photo fun. We were blessed with a perfect spring day, stunning setting and no shortage of cherry blossoms outside our church — all of it was captured gorgeously by Kay English. The food was extremely important to us (a raw bar was a must), and we tried to choose a variety of our favorites that would be a hit with our guests. Our band was a no-brainier — Tony’s known some of the members of Facedown since he was a kid and we knew they would be a blast for all of our guests. We danced and laughed the night away with everyone we love — what could possibly be better?

Each of our vendors worked so hard to make the day seamless and special. Kristin and Adam with Bella Bridal Consultants went above and beyond, steering us through the process from start to finish to help us create and enjoy the day of our dreams with our family and friends. It was truly the most beautiful, fun, happiest, love-filled, fastest day of our lives, and we wish we could re-live every moment!

Wedding Photography: Kay English Photography / Second Shooter: Ben Tapper / Ceremony: St. Catharine & St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, New Jersey / Reception: Mallard Island Yacht Club in Manahawkin, New Jersey / Wedding Planning: Kristin of Bella Bridal Consultants / Floral Design: MDS Floral Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Endless Wave HD / Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Belletristics / Catering: Taste Catering / Band: Facedown / Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza “L192” / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire “Cristella” / Bride’s Earrings: Tejani / Bride’s Bracelet: Nadri / Bride’s Clutch: Nordstrom / Hair + Makeup: Expert Makeup Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein 

Really, who doesn’t love a nautical wedding? Especially when a couple infuses their own personality all over the day. This New Jersey Shore affair has the required navy blue deets, but the fun couple made sure to be present all over the place by inserting pops of bright color everywhere – in sunglasses, shoes, and flowers from MDS Floral Designs. Ann Coen Photography loaded a full image gallery with all sorts of pretty so click here for more!

Our (semi) destination wedding at the Jersey Shore really captured our love for the coast/ocean. Bonnet Island Estate was the perfect venue for our nautical wedding, complete with an actual sea Captain performing the ceremony! With several small DIY projects, such as our anchor place cards and with the help of many amazing local vendors, our September 17th, 2011 wedding was everything we imagined!

Although we stuck to lots of (nautical) navy, we had several bright accents colors which we showcased in our flowers (Hot pink, purple, orange and lime green), but more noticeable in the men’s footwear- hot pink custom Vans and the hot pink Knockaround sunglasses gifted to & worn by the entire bridal party and immediate family. 

Our detailed oriented wedding was all caught on film by our amazing photographer; the unexpected rain led to most of our favorite pictures, complete with a rainbow and a sunset none of our guests will ever forget.

Photography: Ann Coen Photography / Flowers: MDS Floral Designs / Ceremony & Reception Location: Bonnest Island Estate / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Groomsmen Shoes: Custom Vans / Dress: Melissa Sweet, Mila in Ivory / Officiant: Captain CW Davis, Nautical Star Weddings / Hair and Makeup: DeVenir Beauty / Caterer: Merri-Makers Catering & Special Events / Suits & Shirts: IndoChino / Sunglasses: Knockaround / Watches: Nixxon / Groom’s Cufflinks: Paul Smith / Ties & Pocket Squares: The Tie Bar / Socks: J.Crew / Mrs. Korinis Hanger: Floating Owl Designs