2020 has been difficult for many people and many reasons but on June 20th in Watchung, NJ you wouldn't know know it. Here there was a celebration! Of love, of family, of close friends, all the important things in life. An intimate Catholic ceremony at Devon's high school was always part of the plan, the larger guest list and party just had to be scooched a bit down the calendar. They will have two chances to celebrate! This one, was a joy for me and obviously for them.

Devon, with her father, walked down the aisle to Rob with her best friend ( from the age of 5! ) singing "Only Fools Rush In." At the end of the aisle, there were HUGE smiles, on Rob's face, on Devon's face, on her Dad, even the Monsignor looked overjoyed. As it was a family affair, both of the sisters had readings and after the homily Devon and Rob exchanged rings and vows. The huge smiles came back again as everyone clapped them back down the aisle and outside as a married couple!

The first thing we did was a group photo of everyone. ( Which I always like to do at an intimate affair. Pictures of your people are important! ) With much joking and making sure everyone looked their best, we proceeded with pictures outside the chapel. Once we finished Devon, Rob and I headed over to Ninety Acres. Which was a nice drive because it was pretty hot and the air conditioning was a blessing.

Now it was just the three of us. Have you ever met a couple and think to yourself, "Wow, they really go well together!"? Well that's Devon and Rob. They met a mutual friends party and Devon agreed to go to a Springsteen concert, thinking it was a joke. Well, Rob bought the tickets for real and they've been together ever since. Ha! 

Devon, Rob, you are warm, friendly, funny, and amazing people, it was an honor to be included and I can't wait to see you again in November to do some more celebrating!

Hair and Makeup : Beauty and the Blush

Florist : Cassandra Shah Flowers & Events, Red Bank, NJ

Sign & Menu : The Jess Press, Middletown, NJ

Chapel : Mount St Mary Academy High School, Watchung, NJ

Dinner : Ninety Acres, Peapack and Gladstone, NJ

I love you and I like you

Courtney and Josh are so awesome, I'm not even sure where to start. They met at pub trivia through a mutual friend, own a cat, lift competitively, go to Harvard graduate school and technically got engaged with a cupcake on top of a ring pop. To me it sounds like a great movie!

My first meeting with Courtney and Josh was actually at another wedding ( shout out to Magda + Robbie! ) Courtney, there is no bigger compliment than that you wanted me at your wedding too and I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. You and Josh are really amazing people and it was my honor to be a part of your day.

Upon walking in to Courtney's hotel room, I knew we were in for a great day. Sure it was going to rain, but so what! Everyone was warm, welcoming and ready to party ( or have a cheese break. ) After finishing hair, makeup and getting the bride in a beautiful lace dress, we made our way to the Stone House at Stirling Ridge for the first look. It was as the time, quite rainy, so we picked a very pretty room in which to let Courtney and Josh have their a first moment together ( mostly private, I mean Lauren and I were there taking pictures. ) Josh playfully sneaked up on Courtney, tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around their smiles couldn't have been bigger! After asking the happy couple to sit on the backs of some chairs, the rain slowed and we were able to head outside. Special thanks to Lauren for letting me borrow her clear umbrella, it made some beautiful rainy portraits possible.

A private Ketubah signing was next with family and the bridal party. Courtney and Josh signed their marriage contract, witnessed by the matron of honor and best man. After being "technically married now" as Courtney said, you could really see how happy they were to be husband and wife. The public ceremony, had the most gorgeous chuppah with birch logs and flowers galore, under which was said personally written vows. ( Josh's actually had some blood on them from a papercut and Courtney's matched the lining of their invitation envelopes. ) My favorite part though, was at the end when Josh stepped on the glass and it went skipping away, twice! I'm not sure it ever actually broke, but after a shrug and grin they made it even more official with a kiss and headed back down the aisle.

While waiting for introductions to the reception, Lauren told me a story about how she had just witnessed one of the older male guests, swipe his finger through the cake and lick the icing off his finger! I was flabbergasted! We went over to look and sure enough, there was the finger mark, all the way down to cake! Lauren was not sure who it was, I think she was in shock. The reception was perfect. I learned about how Courtney and Magda ( the matron of honor) were originally frenemies, which I still find hard to believe as they are both extremely nice people. And that Josh's grandmother does not approve of the best man's facial hair. And that all of Courtney and Josh's guest know how to boogie. The energy on the dance floor was contagious and continued until the very end of the night!

The perfect day. I'm so happy for the two of you!!

Hair: Diaz Hair

Makeup: Sarah Munoz for Sarah Jeanne Makeup

Venue: Stone House at Stirling Ridge

Photographers: Barbara Wentzel and Lauren Kearns

Flowers: Jardiniere Fine Flowers

DJ: Anthony Battista for Eclipse Events

After talking to Anna, I knew we would be a great match. Which is, in my opinion, very important for your wedding day. When choosing a photographer, number one, you should like their images and number two, their personality. Not only will you spend more time around your photographer than anyone else that day, the more comfortable you are, the better the images. Anna and I had a lot in common, a love of art, video gaming and animals. We bonded over some Starbucks and I was very excited for her big day by the time we left!

After spending all summer landscaping and getting ready, the festivities were at Anna and Cosimo's house in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. The house is on a hill overlooking the lake and lugging rocks and mulch and flowers up and down that hill was some pretty serious exercise. They did all the work themselves and did an amazing job. It was gorgeous!

The things Anna and Cosimo love the MOST are each other, Dave Matthews (I know if they could they would follow Dave around all year, every year.) and their Morkies, Baxter and Dexter (Anna makes their food and they have a better wardrobe than I do.) It was very important for them to have both Dave and the dogs involved. 

With a Dave song playing and surrounded by their closest friends and family, Anna and Cosimo tied the knot with a friend officiating. Their fur-babies made two adorably clad (in custom tuxes!) ring-bearers. I love a small, intimate wedding. The vows were said, kisses shared and then it was time to party!

The first dance was, (you guessed it) Dave Matthew's "Steady As we Go" and everyone joined in towards the end. It was obvious that the whole group had such an amazing time eating, drinking and dancing the night away.

It was an honor and pleasure to be involved in telling their story.

Special thanks to Jeri Houseworth for the referral and Lauren Kearns for photographing with me!

Invitations: Tessa Brown

Dress: Galina Signature from David's Bridal

Earrings: Swarovski

Necklace: Amazon

Dog's Tuxes: Amazon

Cellist and Dad: Vladimir Panteleyev

Photography: Barbara Wentzel + Lauren Kearns

DJ: Nick Cavaleri - Be The Good Entertainment

Guitar: Nic Freeman

Catering: Chef Ken Salmon

Tower of French Macarons: Sweet Expressions

I'm very excited to share this Ryland Inn winter wedding! Jessica + Jon are an amazing couple who were not only up for anything, they are also awesome people who make you feel like a welcome friend. I absolutely loved being able to photograph the two of them. When we first talked, Jessica was hoping for snow and got her wish two days before the big day. Which was great, because on the wedding day they had both snow and almost 50 degree weather. Win, win! Everything was beautiful, from the bride's shoes, to the custom shirts and tuxes (which were made by a member of the bridal party, Mitch Gambert) and having George (the most handsome horse I've ever seen) there for pictures. Just make sure to keep an eye on your bouquet as George finds them tempting. ;)

Florist: Elise Holck- Calico Country Flowers, Hackettstown, NJ
Men's Tuxedos & Custom Shirts: Mitch Gambert - Gambert Shirts, Newark, NJ
Groom Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo
Bride Dress: Mira Zwillinger - Purchased at Elizabeth John's, Morristown, NJ
Bride Shoes: Rene Caovilla
Bridesmaids: J Crew Bridal
Pre-ceremony PJ's: Ralph Lauren
Band: Craig Scott Orchestra, Rochelle Park, NJ
Make-up: Jenny Mañe
Bride Hair: Heather Whitmer
Bridesmaid's Hair: Heaven Boutique Salon
Photographer: Barbara Wentzel Photography, Hainesport, NJ
Videographer: Michael Simons Video Productions, Belford, NJ
Venue: The Ryland Inn, Whitehouse Station, NJ
Horses: Five Star Equine LLC, Whitehouse Station, NJ
Jewelry: Martin Jewelers 

Special thanks to Rhiannon Livardo for being an awesome second shooter!!