I cannot even begin to tell you what a beautiful, laid back, fun wedding Rachel and Nick had, but I have to start somewhere.  When I first met with them during the winter, we hit it off right away.  They're parents three hilarious and energetic little guys.  Nick's also a teacher, so I think we talked more about that than the wedding itself :)  The day of their wedding was beautiful especially for August.  Rachel got ready at her parents home with her two oldest while Nick got ready with Jaxx at their home where we did their first look.  My God, I was a weeping mess after that.  The instance Nick looks at Rachel you know he is so proud to be with her, and I'm pretty sure she feels like the luckiest lady being with him.  We did our portraits right down the road from Aldo's where the reception in Wyckoff was taking place.  My favorite thing about Nick and Rachel's wedding was that everything was so them.  From the kids in the ceremony, to the music, to the intimacy of the guest list.  The focus was on them finally coming together as husband and wife.  Congratulations you two, it was a blast!!

Megan contacted me shortly after she saw her friend Rob's wedding posted on my site.  She and her husband Sloane had their small destination wedding in the Florida Keys over the sumner, but wanted to celebrate with family and friends.  Already living down the shore, Sandy Hook seemed like the perfect location.  In fact the lighthouse was where Sloane proposed.  What I loved most about this reception was that it focused on family and fun.  It was casual yet with Megan and Sloane in their wedding attire, everyone got the feeling they took part in a special moment in their new life together.  Thank you guys for inviting me down, I loved every minute! 

I've thought about how I was going to start this blog post so many times, some of which were before the wedding took place.  No matter what I think of, it will never do justice.  Rob and Rachel gave me the chance of a lifetime.  They believed in me, they loved my work, and most of all, they have become great friends.  There was something that just clicked last March when Rob contacted me about shooting his wedding.  Although I had met Rob a few times before, I didn't know his fiancé Rachel.  The more he told me about the wedding, the more I fell in love...before even sitting down with them.  Once that happened, I was hooked, and the fact that they even wanted to work with me, "Ms. never shot a wedding before," was just the icing on the cake.  

As the months went on we'd meet up to plan out details, and then wedding meetings became mentioning details over wine. It certainly helped that Rob and Rachel literally lived down the street from my parents.  I have no other way to describe it than Rachel and Rob are good people. Plain and simple.  They are the people that invite you over for game nights, summer bbqs, and will watch your child when you're in a pinch (that really happened.)  

Rachel and Rob's wedding was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.  The scenery at Laurita Winery is just out of this world, the food from Branches Catering was impeccable, the Matt Bilyks Band had the dance floor packed all night, and the wedding crowd was better than you could have ever asked for.  Every detail was so well thought out and it was a true reflection of Rob and Rachel.  Enough of me rambling, let's get to the good stuff :)  Warning: MASSIVE over-share