Do you remember Ashley and John’s dreamy micro wedding ceremony at Ryland Inn last year? I couldn’t wait for “the edit” this year! With COVID restrictions relaxing, Ashley and John were able to have the wedding they had always wanted. Let me tell you – it was worth the wait. Their wedding ceremony last year was emotional and beautiful, and after a year of marriage, Ashley and John were ready to celebrate with all of their family and friends together in the same room.
As we cram two years of weddings into one, let me just say – I am absolutely on fire about the work I do. If you are looking for a wedding photographer to capture your wedding day with a photojournalistic style and capture all of the wildly in love moments you’ll experience on your wedding day, I would love to hear from you. You can get in touch with me directly by clicking the button below, or learn more about our wedding photo and video packages here.
Last Year’s Ryland Inn Wedding Ceremony
Ashley and John held their wedding ceremony at Ryland Inn on July 18, 2020, when COVID restrictions forced them to cancel their original wedding plans. One of my favorite moments of the day is when these two sealed their wedding vows with a shot of tequila. If you keep reading, they brought this tradition back to this year’s larger wedding! I love when couples make their wedding day their own. They couldn’t have a wedding reception in 2020, but they did celebrate after the ceremony with a champagne toast.
This wedding was also another Mile Square Moments and Murphy Studio collaboration! You can check out their wedding video from their micro wedding last year below, and when the video from this year is ready, we will be sure to add it to this post. I love working with Alan from Murphy Studio because I truly believe he is a top New Jersey wedding videographer, and his style and priorities match my own. We both love to say, we are “here for the real”. If you are looking for a wedding photo and video team to document your wedding day exactly as it unfolds, get in touch with us here.
Getting Ready Photos at Ryland Inn
So much happens during your getting ready moments. It’s more than just candids of you putting on that last touch of lipstick (I promise). For Ashley, we were able to capture stunning detail photos (do you recognize the shoes below from their original wedding ceremony?), candid photos enjoying mimosas with her bridal party, and an emotional first look with her dad.
John and his groomsmen got ready at the Bridgewater Marriott, which was only 15 short minutes away from Ryland Inn. This group had just as much fun as the ladies and they looked absolutely dashing! Everyone was determined to get the party started and have a great time.
A First Look Outside of Ryland Inn
Even if you choose a wedding date in the middle of summer, the weather is never guaranteed. Fortunately, the weather held out for a majority of Ashley and John’s first look, with only a short sprinkle toward the end. we were prepared with clear umbrellas anyway! Because it was the 4th of July weekend, Aland and I brought smoke bombs to set off that were red, white, and blue. These are some of my favorite portraits from the day! After we filled up on photos of just the two of them (I could not get enough!), we brought back the wedding party for some shots of everyone together. It was honestly so much fun.
Ryland Inn Wedding Ceremony
Although their minimony last year was outside, Ashley and John held their wedding ceremony inside Ryland Inn this year, in one of the most gorgeous locations on the property. The wedding decor was incredibly romantic – with soft florals and lots of candles – but it was the intimate atmosphere that had me swooning. Even with the larger guest list, everyone felt like best friends. They had shots passed around so that everyone could join in the biggest celebration – one that definitely was worth the wait.
After the ceremony, everyone headed straight to cocktail hour!
One of the reasons I love when couples choose to have a first look is that a gap between the ceremony and cocktail hour isn’t required. In fact, you can actually enjoy cocktail hour with your guests! During their cocktail hour, we had a chance to photograph all of the incredible wedding decor details Ashley and John had put together over the last couple of years. They definitely made use of the extra time to plan! No detail was overlooked and the wedding was gorgeous. We were even able to sneak Ashley and John away for just a couple of minutes so they could appreciate how everything came together for the reception (before the guests were invited in). As you can tell from their smiles, they were thrilled.
Finishing the Night with a Ryland Inn Wedding Reception
After the sneak peek, Ashley and John headed back to cocktail hour to mingle with their guests. When it was time for the reception, they snuck away for Ashley’s outfit change! Once everyone had found their tables, the newlyweds entered to one of the loudest cheers I’ve ever heard. After their grand entrance, they immediately went into their first dance. It was the perfect balance of playful and romantic.
One of the things I absolutely loved about Ashley and John, is their trust that everything would happen right on time. They valued staying present in the moment. They did not want to stress over every minute of the day. Everything seemed to happen very naturally, from the Horah (chair) dance to their special dances with their parents to the incredibly sweet toasts from their family and wedding party. Even their cake cutting – which was a gorgeous 4-tier piece of artwork – was unannounced and relaxed. You could feel the unconditional love in the air, from two people who absolutely just want to be with each other at every moment. These are my kind of Mile Square Moments! I’m already ready for the vow renewal.
Cheers to a Stunning July Long Weekend Wedding!
As a wedding photographer, I am no stranger to working weekends (and most holidays). But honestly? I can’t think of a better way to spend a July long weekend. Ashley and John are a DREAM Mile Square Moments wedding for me. A stunning wedding venue, an eye for gorgeous details, and (most importantly) they are crazy in love. I’m kind of sad I only get to photograph their wedding twice. I can’t wait to see what these two do next.
If you are looking for a wedding photographer to capture your wedding (in New Jersey, New York City, and beyond!), I would love to hear from you. You can learn more about our wedding photography and videography packages here, but if you have a date set already, make sure to get in touch through the contact button below. If you love a night in with a glass of wine bingeing Netflix and aren’t afraid of showing a little PDA in your photos, you will fit right in here at Mile Square Moments. I would love to document the next step of your love story!
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. Currently planning a wedding in Hoboken, NJ or beyond? Get in touch here to inquire about our photography packages. Prefer Instagram? We love sharing fun love stories on Instagram. For more stunning venue inspiration in New Jersey, check out this stunning Antique Loft wedding.
