Alyssa and Mike like all couples that had gotten engaged and planned a 2020 wedding had no idea what planning would turn out to be. With such an unknown state we were in, Alyssa and Mike decided to hang on tight and see what would happen. They had planned an end of September 2020 wedding so back in March they thought possibly it could go forward with many changes they assumed. They both felt strongly that this was their year to be married and were willing to do what it took to make it happen.
As New Jersey started to open up they were very hopeful that their original venue would be able to accommodate them. As it turned out, they were not. They immediately started shopping around to find another venue that could be perfect for their vision! They happened to find the lovely Oakside Mansion and it was available for their exact wedding date. It was such good news! The next step was their wish to be married in their parish, Our Lady of the Lake. It was something very special to them and it worked out perfectly that they could be married there. It was so wonderful for me, being such a part of all the planning from the beginning to see that my couple’s wedding dream was going to happen!
They found this lovely intimate hotel called The George that was just darling. Most of the day we felt like we were the only ones there and we found so many quaint places to photograph Alyssa’s details and we also had such pretty outdoor property as well. I loved the beautiful old brick that was in the suite where the girls were getting ready. It made for a beautiful backdrop for her wedding gown and bridesmaid gowns.
The morning was filled with laughter and joy and some tears. One of my favorite moments was when Alyssa’s mom presented her with a few beautiful heirlooms that had belonged to Alyssa’s grandmother. They were tightly attached to her bouquet and I think that Alyssa felt especially close to her grandmother having them so close to her.
The wedding ceremony was so beautiful and it was so wonderful to see Alyssa and Mike be married in the church. Afterwards, we all headed over to the Oakside Mansion for some fun photos with the bridal party, family and then of course Alyssa and Mike’s beautiful portrait session. One of my favorite photos with the bridal party was when they each had a cup of pretty confetti and tossed it up in the air, it was like clouds of confetti raining down on them!
Alyssa and Mike danced the night away surrounded by their closest friends and family and you could just see that their wedding dream did come true! Love is never cancelled!
