RUSTIC WEDDING IN LONG VALLEY, NJ : HOLLY + CHRIS

When Chris met Holly, right away Chris knew he had found someone special.  Holly's contagious smile and obvious enthusiasm drew Chris in like the smell of a home cooked meal wafting through the house at dinnertime.  Calling up his best friend, Chris confessed, “Man, you have to meet Holly, I think she is the one”.  On July 8, 2011, Chris and Holly stood before their many family and friends and promised, through their own hand written vows, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives.  

Friday morning started out with a quick check of the weather channel.  Little grey clouds with tiny raindrops dotted the screen; things were not looking up for the outdoor ceremony Chris and Holly had planned in the Gorge later that evening.  At 9:00 a.m., Holly made the tough decision to move the ceremony and reception to their back up location, Abundant Life Community Church.  Friends and family gathered together to help move the reception site (already set up in the backyard of Chris and Holly’s house) over to the church in Port Murray, NJ.  Talk about teamwork!  Whew!!  Within six hours, every homemade detail was in place. 

Chris and Holly returned to their beautiful (and newly painted) home to get ready and relax a little bit before the ceremony.  Holly slipped into a delicate white dress with beautiful lace details and Chris put on his crisp white button down.  When they turned around and saw each other for the first time, the love and excitement in their eyes could not be missed.      

I have never met a couple with more kindness, love, and joy in their hearts for others than Holly and Chris.  I was honored to photograph their rustic wedding in Long Valley, NJ and I am very excited to share a few images from their special day.

Beautiful pearl necklace Chris presented to Holly as a wedding present.  

This delicate handkerchief belonged to Holly's grandmother and served as her "something old". 

Holly you are SO beautiful and talented!

Holly's "something blue".  The entire wedding party rocked these awesome converse sneakers. 

Beautiful bouquet make by the bride herself.  Holly, did I say you are talented?

DIY guestbook filled with pictures of the bride and groom.

Chris and Holly's dog Samuel was the ring bearer... 

...and he looked super cool doing it! 

The bridesmaids and groomsmen carried small vases filled with sand.  These were used in the presentation of the unity sand during the ceremony.

For the flower girl, Holly compiled all of her dried flowers from past relationships so she could walk over them on her way down the aisle to Chris.  Such a cool idea!

Huge smiles all around as father and daughter walk down the aisle.

Chris looking on as Holly walks down the aisle.  

Exchanging personal vows.

Kissing for the first time...as husband and wife!

What a wonderful bridal party!

I LOVE THE SHOES!!

What a happy time when the entire family came together.  

Holly and Chris chose to serve a family style, fresh off the grill home cooked meal. 

Rustic centerpieces.  

DIY wedding favors.  Fresh coffee beans, in Chris and Holly's favorite hazelnut flavor,  wrapped up for guests to take home and enjoy.

Delicious red velvet wedding cake.  Homemade cupcakes decorated by Nadine Holewski and Ying Williams.

I am ending this post with a precious picture from Chris and Holly's first dance. 

Thank you Chris and Holly for letting me be a part of your wedding day...it was amazingly beautiful and filled with love.

SEA SALT AND SUNSETS

The ocean breeze whipped through my hair as the smell of sea salt filled the air; it smelled like summer.  Standing on the beach in Cape May, NJ and watching the sunset was the cherry on top of a perfect Fourth of July weekend. 

We had just finished eating dinner at the Lobster House with our friend Ben (who graciously let us crash at his place over the weekend) when we decided to try and catch the sunset over the Delaware Bay.  It was 8:00 p.m. and we had just enough time to make it, if we hurried.  I ran to use the ladies room but of course the line was out the door so I decided to skip it. Obviously taking pictures at sunset was more important!!

As we walked down to the beach and the beautiful light filled my camera lens, I knew it was worth rushing to see this.  I quickly adjusted my settings and handed my camera to Ben, exclaiming, "quick, take pictures of Matt and I “frolicking” on the beach!"  Matt was so excited to frolic.  

By this time, I really had to pee and the crash of the ocean waves was NOT helping.  Matt, taking advantage of the situation, started poking me in the bladder, laughing at me as I tried to squirm away.  Matt’s playful personality is one of my favorite things about him, but come on, he was totally not playing fair!  

Good news, my tickle torture was so worth it!  When I got my camera back I was happy to see that Ben had been snapping photos of the entire scene.  Check out a few of my favorites below. 

I believe the most beautiful pictures are those that capture true emotion.  My goal is to capture couples on their most special day with laughter on their faces and love in their eyes.    

DIVING IN...HEART FIRST

Have you ever woken up one day and asked, what am I doing with my life?  What am I doing to bring happiness and purpose to those who matter the most, God, my family, and myself?

I graduated from college two years ago and I have been working at a tennis club in Chatham, NJ ever since.  While I am so grateful to have a job, and better yet, a job that allows me to work with my husband every day (I love you Matt!), I can’t help but feel a lack of fulfillment. I have been playing tennis my entire life and at the risk of drawing a few eye roles, it just seems too easy to take a job in an industry I am already so comfortable with.  I guess playing competitive sports my whole life has left me with that constant need to conquer the next challenge. 

I have recently been reading the book “TEN” by my wonderful pastor, Terry Smith.  His message centers around the verse John 10:10 which says, Jesus Christ came to give us “life in all its fullness” or “more and better life than [you] ever dreamed of” (NCV, MSG).   He makes the point that God has a dream for each of us and we can tap into this dream, if we want to.  

MY DREAM IS TO BE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER. 

I have been absolutely head over heals in love with photography since I received my first Polaroid camera at age seven. People probably assume I am a tourist everywhere I go because I love to document EVERYTHING, no matter how goofy I look doing it.  Being a newly wed, I am of course still majorly obsessed with anything and everything wedding.  I know there are others like me out there (at least there better be), still watching “Say Yes to the Dress” even though you bought your dress over a year ago, or sneaking a peek at the bridal magazines in line at the grocery store, hoping to pick up a new idea for a wedding that has already passed.  It is madness, I know. 

While all of these facts fuel my desire to become a wedding photographer, they are not the reasons I have decided to dive head first into this industry.  I want to take pictures that bring smiles to people’s faces each day.  I want to help capture and preserve one of the most special days in another’s life.   Mostly importantly, I want to live a “TEN” life, by using the talents I believe God has given me to fulfill a dream that will bring glory and honor to my heavenly father everyday.