Intimate winter weddings are some of my favorites to shoot – especially when I’ve known the couple for a while. I met Brian for the first time many years ago at a business networking group. At the time, I was very early in my career as a wedding photographer and was interested to meet local entrepreneurs. He was representing his company mspire group. As life moved on, I became involved in other organizations and hadn’t seen Brian for years. Then, last fall, I saw his inquiry come through my inbox and immediately recognized his name! It’s always such a great feeling to hear from someone you knew years before and for them to remember you when they are searching for a wedding photographer.
Thankfully, I get to work with people through the happy moments in their life, and Brian was on cloud 9 as he told me all about the upcoming wedding he and his fiancee, Amanda, were planning. It turns out, they met online, a true fairy tale of the digital age, and were planning a larger wedding possibly in Lambertville, the town where they got engaged. As the saying goes, life happens while you’re busy making plans, and Amanda and Brian found out they were expecting their first child and they wedding plans took on a new direction. It would be in intimate cozy winter wedding at the Wine Cellar at Bernards Inn. Having been a part of their magical day, it’s hard to have imagined any other scenario for their wedding. The intimate wedding truly suited their personalities. You could tell their family and close friends were so important to them and spending quality time on their big day was a top priority.
Here are a couple highlights from their bright and sunny winter day!
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Amanda’s dress was from BHLDN – the anthropology line for weddings.
Amanda’s sister and mom helped her get ready. Every time the conversation turned to talk about Brian, this was the expression I got from Amanda… all smiles!!
Their first look was private, just the two nearly weds, so we got genuine emotions and lots of smiles.
Oftentimes when I shoot cold weather weddings, the couples tell me they want to do outside portraits (which I’m always pushing for!). Sometimes they chicken out the day of and opt for inside only photos, Thankfully Brian and Amanda kept their promise and we braved the cold for some portraits out by my favorite spot to shoot at the Bernards Inn, this little barn that makes for the perfect background.
While I was working with them during portraits, I kept noticing Brian quietly whispering something to Amanda. From far away it looked like he kept saying “I love you” to her. It was either that or he was talking about olive juice. I’m pretty sure it was the first one, though.
A little champs for him, a little sparkling cider for her.
When I was chatting with the groom during portraits earlier, he mentioned that he was feeling the nervous jitters. He said he wasn’t at all nervous about marrying Amanda, that was the easy part. It was just the events of the day that gave him butterflies inside.
Richard Cash was the officiant for the ceremony. He and I have worked together many times, but it’s been years since we’ve seen each other. One of the reasons I love to work with Richard is that he’s so down to earth and easy to work with. He and I both agree we are here for one reason, the couple, and we both can make the day perfect for them if we work together.
Amanda’s cousin is also pregnant and they are only a week apart in their pregnancies, built in best friends on the way!
Who said you can’t eat cake before dinner?
Those candles really tied together the feel of an intimate winter wedding.
Be careful who you ask to offer up a toast at your wedding. They just might dig up some stories from the past you forgot all about!
Vendors
Richard Cash // Officient
Bernards Inn // Venue
BHLDN // Dress
