New Jersey Wedding Photographer | The Madison, Riverside, NJ | Bless the Broken Road
Can I tell you how excited I've been to blog this wedding? I can? Oh my gosh, I have been so excited to blog this wedding!!!
I need a bulleted list or I may get lost.
1. I just recently completed this beautiful couple's engagement session, so it's fresh in my mind how incredibly awesome they are. First off, they are incredibly photogenic when they express their immense love for each other. I love when I give directions for the couple to love on each other and they do, but I was so excited when I saw how....
look away, Father-of-the-Bride...
hot they were! I mean, steam was coming off of them! Hisss..ow!
2. Having just read my blog about their engagement session (or let's pretend you just did, just for the sake of this blogpost), you know that I have referred to the bride and her family as Cinnaminson royalty. Just try to find someone who has grown up in Cinnaminson who has not had French class with one of them, played baseball with one of them, or hung out at Whistler's with one of them. There are some families that everyone knows...and this is one of them!
3. Because of that fact, I knew this wedding was going to be a reunion, of sorts, for me! While this would normally fill me with glee, the fact that I was three months pregnant at the time of shooting (otherwise known as the "is she pregnant or did she just finish a bag of Doritos by herself" phase of pregnancy), I was a little embarrassed to see wedding guests in my current Dorito-fingers-tinged state. Which explains these mortifying conversations:
"Bonnie! Oh my gosh, how are you? It's been years! How are you? How is...?"
"I'M PREGANT! I'M NOT FAT!"
Ah yes...the day is all about me, isn't it?
4. The groom. Let me tell you a little something about him explaining why he is the epicenter of this bride's entire universe. Not only is this wonderful man a member of the illustrious FDNY, making saving the lives of NYC resident just another one of the tasks he performs when he clocks in, but he is the newest member of the USAF. Meaning, this man is choosing to not only protect the residents of the five boroughs but to go further and protect the residents of the entire fifty states. I mean, can you get more Prince Charming than that?? Handsome, kind, sweet, easy on the eyes, loving, nurturing, dang good looking, and he protects the lives of others, to boot?? Wow.
5. The bride. I love all my brides. I am way lacking in skills when it comes to disingenuity so I can't hide my true feelings, even the few times I tried. So if I didn't love my brides, I couldn't possibly shoot their wedding. But am I supposed to enjoy myself as much as I did in bonding with this bride? We had so much fun planning ideas for her wedding, playing tag on pinterest, and just enjoying this special time of life together. She was just so full of excitement and creativity that it just go my creative juices going haywire. I love that she appreciates the value of a photograph and its impact on the future generations of her family. I love that I was chosen as the one to give her these memories. I still pinch myself. And not for nothing, but wow does she make one stop-in-your-tracks beautiful bride. I mean that literally. I had to stop a few times and collect myself because I was so overcome by her beauty.
6. The reception. Definitely a game changer for me. I have had amazing experiences with almost every vendor I have worked with, but I was WOWED by the amazing lighting provided by Time Productions. They changed this couple's already gorgeous venue, The Madison, into a virtual wonderland of light. It was a sight to be seen (and photographed!) I just may have to have uplighting put into all my contract after this event.
7. The cake. Anyone with a Cinnaminson pedigree can recognize an L&M cake from a mile away and you're about to see why. A confection for the senses! Beauty and taste. Kapow!
8. This bride has five nephews and two nieces and every single one of them performed ON POINT the entire day. It's like they were paid to be there to bring this wedding up a notch with their interminable cuteness. Every single one of them gave me something to work with, to entertain the crowd with, to melt their parents hearts, to do everything JUST SHY of steal the spotlight from their beloved aunt and uncle. May have to include them in my future contracts, too.
9. This wedding gave me the opportunity to shoot with Laura Napoli of Laura Napoli Photography. We have worked many weddings together and she has been my saving grace more times than I can count, but now I get to have fun with our new name: TPP-Two Pregnant Photographers! Who knew we'd gestate at the same time!
10. Finally...two words. Horse head. Yes, I said horse head. You'll see why.
