It’s no secret that Van Vorst Park is one of my favorite destinations for a small wedding in Jersey City. It’s been featured on the blog many times, and that’s how Julie and Andy found me to photograph their wedding today! I was thrilled to be able to capture their wedding day (with all the summer sunshine that came with it) and their adorable sweet pup too! I can’t wait to share a few of my favorite shots on the blog here today.
Starting with a First Look
When it comes to smaller weddings, I am often shooting solo (without a second shooter). As you can imagine, this requires careful attention to the timeline and order of events. After all, I want to make sure that I capture every moment without a hitch. Those precious seconds where you see each other on your wedding day for the first time are fleeting (but I know how badly you want to remember them forever through your photos)!
For example, when shooting Julie and Andy’s wedding, I planned ahead of time to take the groom portraits first, followed by setting up for the first look and then taking Julie’s bridal portraits at the end in order to get a good mix of solo shots and couple photos (while still keeping some flexibility). After all, it’s always my aim to create a seamless timeline that allows for a relaxed atmosphere on couples’ wedding days.
Wedding Portraits with Your Dog!
I always love when my couples bring their fur babies to their wedding portraits. I know they are a part of your family too! Toward the end of our portrait time, Julie and Andy had a friend bring their dog Wally by for some family portraits. We had a great time capturing some fun memories with their pup! It was so special to see the look on Julie and Andy’s faces when they cuddled up with their furry best friend. And Wally looked so handsome in his tuxedo bandana!
Van Vorst Park Wedding Ceremony
The gazebo in Van Vorst Park provided a beautiful backdrop for Julie and Andy’s wedding ceremony. Between the peaceful atmosphere of the park and the lush greenery throughout the space, it really is the perfect outdoor venue for a small wedding in Jersey City. With Julie and Andy’s intimate guest list, everyone fit inside the gazebo as the two of them exchanged their vows.
After the ceremony, we were able to capture some lovely group photos of the newlyweds surrounded by their closest family and friends. This is one of the reasons I love small weddings so much – everyone played a big part in the celebratory atmosphere!
Franklin Social Wedding Reception
After the group portraits, we made our way to Franklin Social for cocktail hour and an intimate wedding reception! I hadn’t been back to Franklin Social for a wedding since Sarah and Amy’s wedding, and it was wonderful to be in such a charming space again. We started upstairs at The Junto Attic Bar (a hidden bar above Franklin Social) for cocktail hour and then made our way to a private dining area for the reception. I was able to soak up capturing those splendid candid moments while Julie and Andy enjoyed the company and love of their closest family and friends.
A Gorgeous Small Wedding in Jersey City
Julie and Andy met on an online dating app in 2019, and four years later, here we are! I celebrated my own wedding anniversary last week, and it’s absolutely crazy to me how fast time flies and how truly precious these moments are. For more love stories (and Jersey City wedding inspiration), make sure to check out my blog or come find me on Instagram for more daily moments!
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Mile Square Moments | New Jersey Wedding Photographer
Mile Square Moments is a New Jersey wedding photographer. We love telling our couples’ love stories through their photos. And we love getting to know each couple personally before we ever start taking photos. Getting to know our couples before the camera comes out allows us to better capture the chemistry that already exists between each couple. This is so, incredibly important to me. Do you love a night in binge-watching Netflix and aren’t afraid of a little PDA? Planning a wedding in Hoboken, NJ or beyond? Get in touch to inquire about our photography services. Or follow along for some fun love stories on Instagram. For more elopement inspiration, check out this fall wedding at Van Vorst Park.
