Spring Wedding at Oyster Point Hotel – Aileen & Jim

Aileen and Jim’s spring wedding at The Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank was one that will be remembered for years to come.

The best marriages are based on being best friends, and Aileen and Jim had that down from the start. They met at the College of New Jersey, assigned to the same engineering group, and had that instant friendship connection. The falling in love part came a little later (for Aileen, anyway).

Like something straight out of a great 90s rom-com, Jim asked Aileen on their first official date by passing a note during one of their college courses. He slyly snuck in, “You know that’s Valentine’s Day, right?” They had dinner in Old City, Philadelphia, and danced the night away at a piano bar. Continuing their movie-esque weekend, Aileen’s feet hurt so badly from wearing heels all night that she kicked them off and ran through the slushy streets on their way back. Now, absolutely sure, Jim professed his love that night, and the rest is history! Turns out sometimes life really is like a movie.

Here are some favorites from their wedding day.

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Last year, amongst all the craziness of 2020, Aileen and Jim adopted their Corgi puppy, Dug. He was a star of the show during their engagement session as a puppy, and he got to be part of their prep during wedding day too. Isn’t he the cutest?!

Over the last year, he brought them closer together, working as true partners, and makes them laugh all the time.

“Say Yes to the Dress” fans will gush over the fact that Aileen got to have the incredible experience of purchasing her beautiful dress at Kleinfeld Bridal– yep, the real deal in Manhattan!

Aileen shared a sweet moment with her grandmother as she saw her in her wedding dress for the first time. The look on Grandma’s face says it all – they share an incredibly special bond, and Aileen was so thankful to share this day with her. You can also spot a photo from their engagement session of puppy Dug up on the wall. 🙂

Jim’s late Father was with him in spirit on his wedding day. He carried a piece of him in the form of his watch, keeping him close.

Jim and Aileen took another big step in their relationship – other than getting married, of course- they purchased their first home! With it being a special place for them as a couple, Aileen decided to get ready for their nuptials there.

The guys started their day at Oyster Point Hotel. It was perfect weather to enjoy being by the water!

 

The Ceremony at The Church of the Nativity

Jim’s teary eyes said it all as Aileen walked toward him down The Church of Nativity’s magnificent aisle.

Aileen’s smile never fails to light up the room, and wedding day was no exception. Father Grogan even commented that he felt as though he “made up for a whole year of not seeing people’s faces” just because of Aileen’s incredible smile. She truly spreads happiness!

Family and friends celebrated Aileen and Jim being married with something fun and different- noisemakers! Let’s make this a wedding tradition!

Aileen and Jim had to change their original wedding plans, but that didn’t mean their ceremony was any less beautiful! They were so glad they followed their instincts and had this more intimate celebration. Not to worry, the big party is still yet to come!

Aileen changed into a shorter party dress after the ceremony. Why choose just one dress when you can have two!?

 

The Luncheon Reception at Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank

The day could not have been more beautiful. The weather was stunning and warm, especially for March! They were so excited their guests take advantage of Oyster Point’s fantastic patio over looking the Navesink River.

Using your engagement photos for decoration at your wedding reception is a favorite among many couples. Aileen and Jim got creative and had this puzzle out for their guests!

Aileen and Jim both have huge hearts and always want to make sure their family and friends are cared for to the max. Their wedding was no exception, and everyone was able to have a great time because of it!

Realizing you have a fun new piece of hardware on your hand to show off is so fun after getting married. Of course, it being a symbol of your eternal love is pretty amazing too.

Continuing to take advantage of the beautiful weather, we grabbed a few more portraits of the happy couple. We love how excited Aileen is for life, especially married life with Jim! She the true embodiment of Marilyn Monroe’s sentiment, “Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”

They were so excited about both their families being able to celebrate their love together. They can’t wait for an even bigger party in December when even more of their friends will be able to join in the fun and dance the night away!

Aileen and Jim’s love story will continue to grow for many more years of walking on the NJ boardwalk, cooking, and traveling. I can’t wait to see what this next chapter holds for them.

If you’re thinking of booking your wedding at Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, I hope Aileen and Jim can be an inspiration to you!

Get in touch with me today so we can start chatting about your photography!

Vendor Information

Venue // Oyster Point Hotel

Jeweler // Leonardo Jewelers for Bride’s Wedding Band & Anthony Jewelers for Groom’s Wedding Band

Dress Shop & Designer // Kleinfeld & Martina Liana

Groomswear // Groom: Nordstrom Groomsmen: The Black Tux

Ceremony Officiant // Father Jim Grogan

Hair Stylist // Christalla Philippou

Make-up Artist // the fabulous Lauren Tirpak

Bakery // Antoinette Boulangerie

Invitations & Stationery // Minted