Every wedding has its magic, but some stand out because of the tiny thoughtful details that reflect who the couple really are. For Jaymie & Ryan, a few of those stood out, and one of the most personal touches: Jaymie’s mother, who is a talented florist, was behind the stunning floral arrangements of the day. Her work added a heartfelt and personal touch to every bouquet, centerpiece, and floral accent throughout the venue. The love and care she put into the florals mirrored the warmth and emotion of the couple’s celebration.

These little choices made their wedding feel deeply personal. Not just a celebration, but a reflection of their story. 

We loved capturing the real connection between Jaymie and Ryan — simple glances, nervous smiles, loved ones gathering close. That’s what weddings like Jaymie & Ryan’s remind us of: that the best photos often come from the quietest moments. When a couple trusts you to hold space the images you capture become more than pictures. They become memories.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Venue |  Eagle Oaks Country Club
Photographer |  Idalia Photography
Bridesmaid Dresses |  Azazie (Bridesmaid Dresses)
Cake Maker |  Chocolate Carousel
Hair Stylist |  Brides By Revive
Invitations |  The Papery of Shrewsbury
Florist | Flower Cart Florist
Make Up Artist | Make Me Up Eva
Men’s Attire | The Black Tux
Transport | Shooboo Shuttle
Wedding Dress | Allure Bridals & Seng Couture
Guest Artist | Art by Sophie Fain

Wedding at Eagle Oaks Country Club

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This year, we will be offering three types of spring sessions:

• Motherhood Event at my studio in Point Pleasant, NJ
• Cherry Blossom Sessions at Branch Brook Park in Newark, NJ
• Spring Sessions at Divine Park in Spring Lake, NJ

These sessions will take place in April and are open to engaged couples, married couples, expecting couples, mommy and me, and families, too! They’re a great way to get updated photos of you and your loved ones.

The Details

Interested in learning more? Click here to access the sign-up page!

The post Spring Portrait Sessions appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

1. Some of these churches book up very early, so book them as soon as possible to secure your desired wedding date.
2. Leave yourself plenty of time after the ceremony to capture some bride/groom photos either at the altar or in front of the church. You’ll love having these images!
3. A lot of these churches don’t allow family formals at the altar, so make sure you ask your specific church what their guidelines are so you can plan accordingly.
4. Hire a photographer who has plenty of experience. Most of these churches don’t allow flash photography so you will want to work with someone who knows how to shoot in dark churches with little to no natural light.
5. Once you find a wedding photographer, ask to see a full gallery from a wedding shot at your church. A big red flag is a ceremony gallery that consists of photos that are mainly black and white photos. That’s a clear indication that the photographer is inexperienced and did not know how to edit properly in color, so they took the easy route and made the images black and white. Check to see that the editing fits your vision, skin tones are accurate, and color tones are consistent throughout the gallery.

And, now, with no further ado, here are some stunning churches and chapels for a traditional wedding in NJ and NYC.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart – Newark, NJ

This is the fifth-largest cathedral in North America and it is amazing. From the moment you walk in, you know you’re somewhere special. This church is in close proximity to Nanina’s in the Park. See a wedding at the Newark Basilica here.

St. Catharine Parish – Spring Lake, NJ

If you’re local to the Jersey shore, you have to check out St. Catharine Parish in Spring Lake. It’s one of my very favorite churches, and not just because it’s only 15 minutes away from my home! Many couples who get married at this venue have their reception at The Mill Lakeside Manor. View my most recent wedding at this church here.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church – Morristown, NJ

This church is really popular for weddings due to it’s beauty, but also it’s proximity to many upscale NJ wedding venues. View one of the weddings I’ve shot there by clicking here.

The Princeton University Chapel – Princeton, NJ

The Princeton University Chapel is located on that university’s main campus in Princeton, New Jersey. This chapel has been around since 1928 and you sense its importance as soon as you step foot inside. Check out a wedding at the Princeton Chapel here.

St. Peter the Apostle Church – New Brunswick, NJ

This gorgeous church is right on the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick. It was recently renovated and is absolutely stunning with its soft colors and stunning ceiling. This church is popular with couples getting married at the nearby Park Chateau Estate and Gardens. Check out a wedding there by clicking here.

Park Chateau Estate Chapel – East Brunswick, NJ

The Park Chateau Estate Chapel is exclusively for couples celebrating their reception at the Park Chateau Estate. If you’re lucky enough to have a wedding there, the chapel is very convenient, as it’s just a few steps away from cocktail hour and reception. There will also be a hotel opening on the grounds soon.

St. Vincent’s Roman Catholic Church – Madison, NJ

I shoot at this church often for my couples who get married at nearby Park Savoy Estate. Check out a wedding I shot at St. Vincent’s by clicking here.

Our Lady Star of the Sea – Long Branch, NJ

This is a popular church for weddings at venues such as Shadowbrook, McLoone’s, Sandy Hook, Molly Pitcher Inn, and Oyster Point. Check out this wedding for more photos taken at this pretty church!

Immaculate Conception Church – Montclair, NJ

I’ve only shot at this church once but it stands out in my mind for its ivory elegance. View a wedding at Immaculate Conception Church here.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral – NYC

Of course, this iconic NYC church had to make it on this list! I couldn’t pick just one photo from this gem, so here are three. Click here for more!

The Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral – NYC

Also called Old St. Patrick’s, this church is located in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan. I love all the natural light in this one!

St. Finbar Catholic Church – Brooklyn

As a light and airy photographer, I definitely prefer light-colored churches with lots of natural light, so this one is a perfect fit for my style of photography. Click here to see more from this church.

Croatian Church – Manhattan

What an honor to get to shoot at this church! And what are the chances one of my past couples would refer me to his sister who was marrying a Croatian! See more here.

St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University – NYC

This chapel! I shot there when I was first starting out as a wedding photographer and I remember having to pick my jaw up from the floor when I saw it, ha! I’d love to shoot here again some day so if you’re getting married here, get in touch!

About the Photographers

The post Stunning Churches and Chapels for a Traditional Wedding in NJ and NYC appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

You’ll save money!

Including an album in your initial wedding collection will ensure the best price, as all albums are discounted in collections. If you aren’t sure about the size you want your album to be, rest assured you can always upgrade or add on pages during your Reveal and Ordering appointment after the wedding.

You’ll ensure actually having a wedding album.

Back when I first got started as a photographer and used to offer collections without albums, most couples who booked me without an album never get around to actually making a wedding album. Things will get busy, you’ll buy a house, you’ll travel, you’ll have kids. All of life’s journey creates expenses and a wedding album rarely makes it to the top of the list once you’re married, but by ensuring that you have a wedding album in your collection, I’m ensuring you’ll have this treasured heirloom within the first few months of your marriage.

Professional wedding albums aren’t available to consumers.

You’re investing in high-quality photography so I want you to have a high-quality wedding album. The albums we offer as wedding photographers are incomparable to any album or photo book you could create or purchase on your own. By ordering your album through me, you’ll have access to a product that isn’t available to consumers. My album company only sells albums to professional photographers and I assure you that the quality is unmatched!

Your album will be unique to you, and my team and I do all the hard work of designing it.

All of our albums are custom-designed by a professional design specialist and presented to you for customizations during our Reveal and Ordering Appointment. You’ve likely never designed a wedding album before, so being able to sit down over a video call with our in-house design team is extremely helpful in ensuring your wedding album will be perfect and custom to you. During the design session, you’ll be able to share your input and see the design updates right then and there, as our design specialist makes your requested revisions over the video call. Not sure how to incorporate your favorite images to tell the story of the day cohesively? No worries, that’s exactly what the designer is there for!

Your wedding album will be made to last and it’ll be unique to you.

The quality of my albums will stand the test of time. I want you to be able to pass it on to future generations without pages falling out! You can be sure that I only invest in high-quality albums, and you’ll be able to customize the cover to your liking. You’ll choose between various colors and you’ll be able to add on cover customizations if you’d like!

A wedding album preserves your memories so you can reminisce about your wedding day and help you re-live it for years to come. It also allows friends and family to re-live the day with you, and loved ones who weren’t able to be there, feel like they were there. Your album is your first family heirloom, a tangible piece of your legacy, that you can pass down to future generations. I can’t wait for you to have it in your hands!

To learn more about my wedding photography collections click here.

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My biggest piece of advice regarding cakes from a photography perspective is to make sure your cake is out during cocktail hour so that we can photograph it when we photograph the rest of your reception day details. And my second piece of advice is to make sure you decide beforehand if you’d like to do a quiet cake-cutting or a more formal cake-cutting. Quiet cake-cuttings take place on the side and don’t interrupt the dancing. Formal cake-cuttings take place on the dance floor and interrupt the dancing for about 10 minutes. Both ways are fun, but you’ll want to decide how you want to approach it so that your Maitre’D and DJ/band can plan accordingly. With no further ado, here are some of my favorite NJ wedding cake designers!

Palermo’s Bakery

Website

Instagram

Chocolate Carousel

Website

Instagram

Carousel Cakes

Website

Instagram

My Daughter’s Cakes

Website

Instagram

Mueller’s Bakery

Website

Instagram

The Vintage Cake

Website

Instagram

Bovella’s Bakery

Website

Instagram

Loved this post? Pin this image, or any of the images above and , be sure to check out my cakes board on Pinterest for more cake inspiration.

The post 7 Talented Wedding Cake Designers in NJ appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

@bespokefloralinc

@bluejasminefloral

@cassandrashahflowers

@dahliaflorals

@fayeandrenee

@floralsbymagnolia

@flowersbymelinda_

@laurelwooddesigns

@frompeoniestopaintchipsxo

@pinkdahliavintage

@threegirlsgarden

@twistedwillowflowers

Loved this post? Pin this image, or any of the images above!

The post 12 NJ Wedding Florists To Fill Your Instagram Feed With Flowers appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

Honoring Dads: Tips to Include Dad in Wedding Photos

01. Getting Ready

One of my favorite ways to include dads before the wedding ceremony is while everyone is getting ready. For grooms, you can have your dad there as you and your groomsmen get ready! Having dad help with your tie or your cufflinks, is a great way to capture the two of you together! Brides, on the other hand, can do a first look with her dad, which I absolutely love! Seeing grown men tear up at the sight of their little girl never gets old.  The reactions are so sweet and genuine. I know the pictures are ones that will be treasured for years to come by both the bride and her father. 

02. Family Formals

Making time for family formals is another great way to include dads into photos. Typically, family formals occur right before or right after the wedding ceremony. Either way, everyone will be wedding ready and bursting with happiness and excitement! If it is before the ceremony, you might see the father of the bride preparing himself to give his daughter away to be married. The groom’s dad is usually instilling more wisdom into his son and telling him how proud he is! Whether the family formals are taken before or after the ceremony, this is a wonderful way to grab a few more photos with dad!

03. Reception

Once you’ve exchanged your vows, you will go to celebrate with all your family and friends at the reception! Many dads will get up and say a few words before the night begins! Once dad finishes his speech is the perfect time to grab a photo with him! I have captured many newlyweds wiping away tears as one of their fathers gave a heartfelt speech.

Another time-honored wedding tradition that I LOVE is the daddy-daughter dance. Seeing dads and their daughters share the dance floor together as they laugh, and sometimes cry, is one of my favorite wedding moments. 

Dads have a reputation of being strong protectors. However, on their child’s wedding day, I love seeing the softer side of dads. They are usually wearing joyful smiles with tear-filled eyes, as they watch their child start a new chapter in life. Dads are known for their wisdom, teachings, and infinite love, and I will always help my couples find ways to include their dad in photos on their special day! 

The post Tips to Include Dad in Wedding Photos appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

Honoring Moms: Tips to Include Mom in Wedding Photos

Moms also play an important role on their children’s wedding day. As a wedding photographer, I have the amazing opportunity of capturing mothers with their adult children on one the happiest days! Documenting these precious moments in the lives of families brings me so much joy. I love watching the genuine emotion of my clients as they interact together.

01. Getting Ready

One way to include mom in wedding photos is while you are getting ready! Tears of happiness are often shed as a mom helps her daughter get ready for her big day, assisting with the final touches of her dress and veil; as well as, when a mom helps her son pin a boutonniere to his wedding tux. It is in these simple, yet meaningful moments, that the essence of a mom is seen. They are always there, behind the scenes ready to help, encourage, and love in any way they can.   

02. Family Formals

On your wedding day, including a time for family formals is a great way to incorporate moms into photos and spend some quality moments with her on your big day.  By this point in the day everyone is dressed up and overflowing with joy! Usually bride and grooms are getting ready to head in to the ceremony or have just said “I do”  so there is always a buzz of excitement during family formals!

03. The Reception

When it comes to including moms in your wedding day, the reception is a great way to grab a photo of your mom if you are the groom!  I love watching moms and their sons take on the dance floor at receptions and share that special moment together! There is typically a mixture of tears and laughter from them both.  It is a sweet way to make mom feel special and included on this special day!

The strong and infinite bond between a mother and daughter, parallels the unbreakable relationship between a mother and her son. As I photograph weddings, I often see moms dabbing away happy tears, while simultaneously beaming with joy and pride as they stand by their child’s side. The smiles the moms wear on their faces say it all. I hope this post inspires you to include mom on your wedding day; it’s a big day for her too and I’m sure she’ll love being made feel special on your wedding day.

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What to Wear for Your Spring Engagement Session

Guest Post by Elaine Yu | Simply Chic Styling

Thinking about what to wear for your engagement photo session can seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of wedding planning. You have so many things to think about and detailed decisions to make. If your engagement photo session has been scheduled, outfit preparation shouldn’t be left to the last minute. Investing time in thinking about clothes for both you and your fiancé can make a huge difference in your photos – which you’ll have forever. So to help ease the stress and overwhelm, I’d like to share some engagement photo style tips with you!

Here are some ideas and tips to get you started:

1. Planning outfits for your engagement photo session doesn’t have to be a major project. Look through magazines, read your favorite blogs and save pictures of outfits you like for you and your fiancé. Use Pinterest to create a mood board of clothes you like. All of the individual outfits usually have a theme and seeing the pictures laid out in one place can be very helpful. For example, you might see that you really like denim and printed sundresses, or solid blouses paired with jeans.

4. Bride, be sure to try on your outfits with the right undergarments. Avoid bra straps that pop out (you might need a strapless bra) and underwear lines.

5. Outfits for you and your partner can be different colors, patterns and textures as long as they complement each other.

6. Or, if you prefer, your outfits can use similar colors. Try different shades of the same color if you go in this direction. Otherwise, you’ll look too matchy. The key is to coordinate, not match!

7. When thinking about your outfits as a couple, lay out your clothes, take pictures and look at them side by side. This will help you determine if the clothes look good together for your photos. 

8. Think about textures which look really great in photos.

9. Wear colors that complement your skin tone. Think about your favorite colors or the colors you feel the most alive in. If you wear a particular color and get lots of compliments from friends, that color works for you! If you put on a color and it makes you look pale, or washed out then it is not the right color for you. Avoid making this decision in the fitting room of department stores. The lighting is always terrible! Instead, use natural light. Have someone take a picture of you so you can have a clear perspective of how you look in the clothes.

10. Avoid fussy clothes! If you have to fuss with a top, adjust the strap on dress, or you constantly need to tug this one piece to make a piece fit just right – that’s a deal breaker! That piece won’t work for your photos. Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy will definitely show up in your photos. You want to wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and most importantly, reflect your personality.

11. Try everything on. If you need alterations or find a stain, you want enough time to visit the tailor or dry cleaner.

12. Keep proportions in mind. You want your outfit to be balanced so if you’re wearing a top with a lot of volume, be sure to keep your bottom streamlined (pencil skirt or skinny jeans). If you decide to wear pants that have more volume like wide jeans, keep your top streamlined and fitted. If you wear both pieces with a lot of volume, you’ll lose your natural body shape.

13. Avoid shirts with writing. That logo you love or slogan that suits your life perfectly at this moment will probably look dated ten years from now.

14. Colors work really well in photos and will help you stand out. If wearing bright clothes doesn’t suit you, consider jazzing up your outfit with colorful accessories.

15. Think about getting your hair blown out and a professional makeup application for your engagement photo shoot. Remember, all of the little details matter!

16. Consider the location! Save the stiletto heels for even surfaces; avoid them if your location has lots of grassy areas and/or cobblestones.

Engagement Session Planning Guide

Did you find this post useful? Fill out the form below to get our free Engagement Session Planning Guide along with lots of tips and tricks for planning your wedding!

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Why do a sunrise session? 

Here are four reasons when I recommend a sunrise session:

• You’ve chosen a location where there is a lot of traffic. In this case, a sunrise session is ideal in order to avoid the crowds. Several years ago, my husband Jay and I had our 4 year anniversary photos taken in Vienna. We didn’t exactly want to wake up at 4am to get ready but we did want to have Vienna all to ourselves so we had a decision to make and it definitely paid off to get up early! The only tourists in sight were us two!

Photo Credit: French Grey Photography

• You’ve chosen a month when it is very hot. On a hot summer day with a high of 95 degrees, it may still be in the low 90’s or high 80’s in the evening but it may only be in the 70’s at sunrise. It may be to your advantage to do a sunrise shoot if you’d like to have the temperatures be 10-20 degrees cooler. For our anniversary shoot in the middle of August, Jay planned to wear a suit and we knew it would be much more bearable at sunrise rather than in the evening.

Photo Credit: French Grey Photography

• You love morning light. There’s something about morning light that you just can’t replicate in the evening, ha! It starts out nice and soft like in the images above and, if you’re lucky, it ends in an amazing morning GLOW.
• You’ve chosen a location where the light is better at sunrise. Sure, we can always find the good light in any place you choose for your session, be we can’t always guarantee we’ll be able to use the backdrop you’d like if it’s in bad light at the end of the day.

How to prepare for a sunrise engagement session

• Consider time and location.

If you want to get the best images out of your sunrise engagement session, timing is of the essence. I’ll use sunrisesunset.com to determine the sunrise time and determine a session start time based on that and on the location. If the shooting location is a wide open space (like the beach) or urban (with buildings shielding the first signs of sun) we may meet either right at sunrise or shortly after.

• Prepare the night before.

You’ve probably spent quite some time thinking about the outfits you’d like to wear, but make sure your fiance is on board, too! You don’t want to be waiting until morning to make any final decisions. Make sure you prepare outfits the night before, go to bed early, and set more than one alarm.

• Get there on time.

There is nothing more important than arriving on time for a sunrise engagement session. As a natural light photographer, I will depend 100% on the sunlight on the morning of your shoot. Arriving late only ensures that we’ll lose the very light we got up early to capture.

I hope these tips help you determine if a sunrise shoot is necessary and how to prepare for it if it is. Have fun planning your shoot!

Engagement Session Planning Guide

Did you find this post useful? Fill out the form below to get our free Engagement Session Planning Guide along with lots of tips and tricks for planning your wedding!

GET THE GUIDE

The post How to Prepare for a Sunrise Engagement Session appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.