Amanda and Jake’s wedding was the stuff of dreams. From the film-inspired vibes to the beautiful ceremony location overlooking the water, I am still OBSESSED with every minute while going through their photos. A & J definitely had a vision for not just how they wanted their wedding to look, but how they wanted their wedding to feel. The whole day had this effortless flow from the ceremony to the champagne toasts to the reception and dancing. They trusted me to capture their vision and the day was such a dream (even though it was the first day of hurricane Henri, more on that in a second).

A & J’s Love Story

A & J actually met through a mutual friend. Amanda explained, “They say when you’re not looking for love, love finds you. And that was certainly the case with Jake!” Isn’t that the sweetest? Every single person attending their wedding had the nicest things to say about them, and how perfect they were for each other.

When I first met Amanda, she told me she wanted the majority of her album in black and white. I was SO happy when she told me that, I almost cried! One of my favorite parts of the whole experience of working with A & J was how inspired I felt! A is a content creator, so of course she had the most perfect mood board ever for her wedding.

Vintage, Film-Inspired Wedding Day

Every moment of Amanda and Jake’s classic, film-inspired wedding was so intentional, I loved getting to spend the day with these two! They made sure that it was all about them and spending time with their people. The wedding started with the most beautiful ceremony on a private property in New Jersey, which actually belonged to a friend of the family. Their first look was on the dock that they’ve fished on before, and the nostalgia was so strong! The entire ceremony overlooked the water, with a beautiful string quartet playing softly in the background.

Amanda decided to do her own hair and makeup, and we got some amazing film photos of her applying her lipstick! She spent the morning with her bridesmaids, all getting ready together in the house while the boys played pool in the basement and smoked cigars outside. Amanda’s mom owns a jewelry brand, and helped make the jewelry Amanda wore on the big day (cue the tears).

Everything flowed so effortlessly, and right after the ceremony everyone joined in a champagne toast. While the guests made their way to the reception site, the country club on the water in Monmouth Beach, A & J and the wedding party stayed behind to take some photos. I loved that they took the time out of their big day to spend. quality time with their best friends and family, relaxing and reflecting on the friendships with each other. It was one of my favorite parts of the day to witness and capture. There was so much joy in it all!

A had the brilliant idea of renting a trolley to take them all to the reception site, so they boarded the trolley and we got some amazing photos of everyone having a blast! The country club in Monmouth Beach is near and dear to A’s heart, because she grew up going there. Coincidentally, the wedding day was on the first day of hurricane Henri, so it sprinkled a little throughout the ceremony. The rain really started to pick up, so they had to ditch the originally-outdoor reception plan last minute, and shift it to a covered area. Honestly, the switch was so seamless, you never would have known!

I didn’t even realize how hard it had rained until I left to drive back to NYC, and I realized everything was flooded! While we were on the dance floor, I didn’t even realize it was raining. That was the power of A & J, they could light up any room they were in. They know how to love people so well, and their people made me feel like I was part of the family.

Vendors

Jewelry: @mustardseedjewels
Wedding Gown: Lola Varma Bridal
Reception Dress: Shona Joy
Reception Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Florals: Cindy Hubeny Design Studio

Planning a vintage-inspired wedding?

If you’re planning a classic wedding, I’d love to chat with you! Click here to inquire with your dates, and I’ll be in touch as soon as possible! In the meantime, check out my portfolio for more wedding and elopement inspiration!