This Perona Farm NJ Wedding might go down as one of my top favorite days ever. From the rehearsal dinner to after party, everything was just phenomenal. Lauren + Paul got engaged in October and it was such a magical moment. If you missed that post check here. It was incredible to watch Paul to drop to one knee and propose! But, their Perona Farm NJ Wedding, was even more amazing.

Lauren is my cousin. We are more like sisters. I’ve known her, for her entire life. As kids we would play soccer in the backyard, and perfect our Backstreet Boy dances in our grandmother’s living room. You could always find us together, frequently crowding around the shrimp cocktail or Italian pastries at our big family holiday get togethers. As we grew up, we stayed close, even when I moved across the country. When I would visit, we would stay up late talking about what was going on in our lives and where we were headed. Lauren, has always known who she is and that is one of her many admirable qualities. I just think the world of her and am so proud of her! So, when she asked me if I would capture her Wedding, there was no hesitation.

They had their Wedding at Perona Farms in Andover NJ. It was an awesome venue. The staff was extremely helpful, organized, and professional. Perona offers 3 different locations: The Refinery, The Barn, and the Reserve. Lauren + Paul chose The Refinery, and it was beautiful! Their florals were done by The Little Wooden Flower, and came out perfectly. If you haven’t checked out the wooden flower trend and are in New Jersey or the surrounding area, I highly recommend chatting with Jen and her beautiful floral arrangements. DJ Ralph with Premier Entertainment kept the party pumping all night long. For real though, the vendors I got to meet and work with on this trip were fantastic!

Highlights:

Choosing a favorite moment of this Perona Farms NJ Wedding, is near impossible. So, I will just highlight some of them. First, Lauren was of course, a stunning bride. So, the getting ready process was really special for me. My two youngest daughters were her flower girls, and I got to help them get ready as well as Lauren. When my little two girls walked down the aisle, I unexpectedly started to cry! Yes, cry . . . I’m not a crier. I was not expecting that. I’ve taking photos of tons of flower girls. But, these girls were mine, and they just looked so grown up and so beautiful. I felt so many emotions, but mainly- I was just in awe that I get to be their mama.

When my Uncle walked my Aunt (Lauren’s mom) down the aisle, I just couldn’t stop smiling. Then, Lauren came down the aisle- I was just so honored to be there capturing it all. Here’s some info for you all- who don’t know me that well. My extended family- Aunts, Uncle’s, Cousins- they are my favorite people (besides my husband and kids) on the planet. As I’m typing this, I realize that- I might need a whole blog just on that. But to sum up, they are incredible people- and I am the luckiest to have them.

The bridesmaids were exceptional. They were truly some of the best girls to work with. They were helpful, fun, laidback, and just incredible people. We had fun ALL day. I couldn’t be happier that my cousin has these girls in her corner. What a gift! And the groomsmen, such a great group of guys, I’ll work with them again ANY DAY.

The Reception:

Lauren + Paul’s Perona Farm NJ Wedding reception was EPIC. When I asked Lauren what she was looking forward to most, she responded “Dancing with everyone” Let me tell you, this girl curated this playlist to perfection. She spent a good amount of time choosing songs to get the party going, cater to all the generations at the wedding (some boomer dancing is necessary with multiple generations) and did an amazing job with it.

One of her top requests was that her and I recreate our backstreet boy ‘larger than life’ dance from when we were 9. And, we did. Yes, I have the video. No, you can’t see it. (It was as incredible as you are imagining though) She was waiting all night to hear that song, and the second she heard it, IT WAS ON. No regrets. Throughout the reception, EVERYONE was on the dance floor- it was an absolutely blast. Shoutout again DJ Ralph.

Then, came the afterparty. We had it at the hotel we were all staying that night. Music, drinks, and for some reason doughnuts (no complaints though, I was a child and ate the chocolate frosting off one, who does that?) I have to say- the entire day was just awesome. Lauren, thought of everything. She spoiled my girls and made them feel like royalty and even had ‘morning after’ bags for each hotel wedding guest. She planned her wedding so well, and I know she enjoyed every minute of it. She’s a total rockstar and if she ever needs a side gig (from her music teaching) she could be a wedding planner for sure.

The Best of the Best

Writing this is also making me realize that this trip deserves a whole blog on its own. We made a whole mini vacation out of it and I can’t wait to share it! Drinking whiskey with my Uncles- who took care of me the whole reception! Honestly, they were getting me drinks, helping me move and break down my light stands, danced with my kiddos, and making sure I got to eat and enjoy the party, just amazing. Those guys are the best of the best.

And my Aunts, I could be here all day singing their praises. The bride’s mom, my Aunt Camille, even brought activities for my girls to do in the bridal suite and was a constant help throughout the day. My Aunt Paddy came early and watched my girls while I was photographing the first look. My Aunt Donna and Uncle Jerry own and run Creative Twist Salon in Hackettstown, NJ and Donna did an amazing job on Lauren’s hair and even did both my flower girls hair! They are terrific,

The weather that day was a bit colder and more overcast that we’d like, but it didn’t rain! Our sun didn’t poke through for our glow and sunset portraits, but we still managed to create some magic and get some stunning images.

I am going to overshare on these images because I just loved the day so much! Enjoy!