Zoë and Sylvan are one of those sweet couples you just know right away were meant to be. They connect so effortlessly with one another and as a wedding photographer that LOVES to document real love and connection, I was beyond honored when they hired me to photograph their wedding at Burkestone Estate. They were well worth the drive to beautiful Upstate New York! These two were #loveatfirstswipe (though they wouldn’t admit they met on Tinder when they first started dating!). From their first date at the Bronx Zoo four years ago (they each brought a friend!) to their wedding day (where those same friends joined them in their wedding party), it just goes to show that sometimes love meets you in the most unexpected places. I can’t wait to share some of my favorite moments from their wedding day with you today!
Hoboken Wedding Photographer and Videographer
Zoë and Sylvan were another Murphy Studio x Mile Square Moments collaboration! If you are looking for a Hoboken wedding photographer and videographer team, you can learn more about my partnership with Alan here. We created magic together during several weddings this past year, and I’m excited to work with him again for events this year! If you are looking for a New Jersey wedding photo + video team, you definitely want to find two people who love to work together (and do so often!). It feels so effortless with Alan and I am beyond grateful to have worked with him this year! Now, I will just gush over this sweet review that Zoë left me after Alan put us in touch. It’s always such a pleasure working with Murphy Studio and I just love the magic we can create together!
Looking for the perfect photographer for our wedding was so important to my husband and I. When Devin was recommended to us by our videographer, Murphy Studio, we knew right away that we had the ultimate dream team to capture our wedding day. Devin offers more to your shoot than a typical photographer. She really got to know my husband and I and made us feel so comfortable and natural. We have received SO MANY compliments for our photos from friends and family. The quality is stunning and the angles, lighting, etc. capture the day perfectly. We truly feel like we are relieving the day over when we look through our wedding album. Devin is an amazing photographer – we highly recommend using Mile Square Moments for your wedding.
Below is their wedding video teaser but make sure to scroll to the end for the full video of Zoë and Sylvan’s wedding at Burkestone Estate!
Getting Ready Photos at Burkestone Estate
You’ll see throughout the day that Zoë and Sylvan put an incredible amount of thought into the details of their wedding day. One of my favorite wedding day details during their getting ready photos was a sweet handkerchief with “happy tears” embroidered on it. Zoë and Sylvan both got ready right at the wedding venue so there was plenty of time to capture both photos of the details, but also some precious candids (like Zoë’s bridal reveal with her bridesmaids and the groomsmen first toast of the day). I think Zoë was my only bride this year who did her own makeup and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. Not only did she look simply stunning, but her makeup look lasted the entire day, like a professional!
Once they were ready, we set Zoë up for a first look outside with her father and it was an absolutely precious and heartfelt way to kick off the wedding day. There is just something about that father-daughter love and I was so happy they had a moment together to soak it all in.
Outdoor Wedding Photos at Burkestone Estate
Zoë and Sylvan wanted to take their wedding photos before the wedding ceremony so by the time their wedding began, they could stay present and enjoy the time with their guests. When they first reached out to me to photograph their wedding day, they mentioned that they already had an underwhelming experience with another photographer for their engagement photos. They didn’t want to feel awkward in front of the camera and gave me full permission to take control so they didn’t have to stand around wondering what they should do next. I was happy to direct them and encourage them to just have fun in front of the camera – and I think their photos reflected that! We started by setting them up for a first look, transitioned into classic wedding couple portraits, and then met their wedding party and family for group photos before the ceremony.
Stunning Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Burkestone Estate
Zoë and Sylvan got married at the Hidden High Point at Burkestone Estate. When Zoë and Sylvan planned their wedding day, they really wanted to share their faith and what God has done in both of their lives with their family and friends. Their ceremony felt incredibly intimate, with less than 100 guests, and they had a family friend officiate so the words exchanged before them were incredibly personal. Zoë and Sylvan had an unplugged ceremony, and everyone in attendance was completely in awe as the two of them exchanged personal vows during their Christian ceremony, complete with communion. It was everything they wanted it to be and more! As their wedding photographer, the 45-minute ceremony gave me ample time to capture their wedding photos from several different angles and capture an abundance of genuine reactions from everyone in attendance.
Wedding Cocktails at Burkestone Estate
Another advantage of taking photos before the wedding ceremony? Zoë and Sylvan got to enjoy cocktail hour with their guests. I oscillated between cocktail hour capturing their cocktail hour moments and sneaking off to capture their wedding reception details. For the most part, Zoë and Sylvan kept things classic (with both Jack & Coke and Tequila Sunrise signature cocktails) and a stunning display of wedding photos from both their parents’ and grandparents’ wedding days. Their color palette of sage and terracotta was stunning for their summer wedding on the cusp of fall.
A Fun Burkestone Estate Wedding Reception
Finishing off the evening, Zoë and Sylvan’s Burkestone Estate wedding reception was filled with joy. Their were a few unique elements we worked into their timeline which I want to share because if more people took control over their wedding timeline and scheduled in a few extra minutes of one-on-one time with their new spouse, I wouldn’t hate it. First, they made golden hour sunset wedding photos a non-negotiable. We only had a few moments to spare (they wanted to spend as much time with their wedding guests as possible, naturally!) so we grabbed the golf cart and headed to a dreamy outdoor photo location as quickly as possible.
A second favorite moment of mine, was when Burkestone Estate cleared out the barn and got their guests ready for their sparkler exit. Zoë and Sylvan took advantage of those few minutes and enjoyed a last dance, with just the two of them, in the empty barn. It was an incredibly sweet moment. After this dance, they joined their guests for their sparkler exit outside. Burkestone Estate has such great outdoor spaces for a wedding day, and we also took photos near the fire pit. I loved that we were able to change up the backdrops and scenery, while still enjoying every minute.
Upstate New York Wedding Success!
I hope you loved reliving this sweet wedding at Burkestone Estate as much as I did. Zoë and Sylvan were such a sweet couple and I was beyond honored to venture up to Upstate New York to document their love story. As promised, below you’ll find the full wedding video from Murphy Studio! I’m always grateful to capture wedding days with such an outstanding creative partner.
Vendor Squad
Mile Square Moments is a wedding photography company in New Jersey. For more information on our packages (including a Photo/Video package with Murphy Studio), you can head to our services page here. As you can tell, we love getting to know each couple personally. You might be a MSM couple if you love a night in binge-watching Netflix, but you also aren’t afraid of a little PDA in photos. Prefer Instagram? We love sharing fun love stories on Instagram. For more stunning Hoboken wedding inspiration, check out this stunning Antique Loft wedding.