Megan and Alex’s wedding day was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Their March wedding day was met with a freak snowstorm so I had to think on my feet (and work fast!) many, many times throughout the day. I have never been more grateful for my experience over the last five years as a wedding photographer (and the fact that I always, always, have a backup plan). Ultimately though, their winter wedding at Rock Island Lake Club was absolutely perfect. The snowy backdrop made their portraits all the more stunning, and Megan and Alex cuddled up to keep warm.
I also had the chance to work with Alan over at Murphy Studio – my favorite New Jersey wedding videographer. We always work so well together and I love how our styles seem to blend effortlessly. After all, you do want your wedding video to look like your wedding photos! Below is just the teaser but make sure to scroll to the end to see the full highlight film.
A Snow Storm in New Jersey Wedding Review
This thoughtful review almost brings tears to my eyes! Although the snowstorm was uniquely challenging, I couldn’t be more grateful that Megan and Alex trusted my team and me to capture their memories.
Working with Mile Square Moments was a dream. From our very first phone call, MSM was professional, organized & personable. Devin made us feel heard & inspired as we ideated on everything from potential engagement locations to the timeline of our wedding day and how to get photos that really captured our love. I referred to Devin’s timeline as our wedding bible. Having this timeline allowed me & my husband to prep for every aspect of our wedding — even things that weren’t photo related! Devin and her team were extremely professional — they even remembered the names of our wedding party & family, which was so sweet as they kindly and efficiently directed folks when it came to getting portraits.
I could go on and on about the organization of this team. They allowed me to fully enjoy my wedding knowing that every moment was being thoughtfully and beautifully captured.
Devin even gave us a plethora of sneak peeks, which arrived to us while we were on our honeymoon. Devin’s style is exactly what we wanted and we are so thrilled with our beautiful photos. I look at them every day and will cherish them for the rest of my life. I should also mention Devin and her team navigated a Bomb Cyclone (winter storm) the day of my wedding and I wasn’t stressed at all because we were prepped for a plan B from the very beginning. The whipping wind and falling snow may have been harsh for us but it made for beautiful photos. I’d recommend Mile Square Moments to anyone looking for a kind, professional, talented photographer. Devin, thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. We love MSM.
New Jersey Engagement Photos
When couples book me to be their wedding photographer, they usually want to schedule their engagement photos right away! After all, your engagement is such an incredible time and deserves to be celebrated. You might want to use your engagement photos to save the date or share photos of your shiny new ring on Instagram.
For Megan and Alex though, we took their engagement photos less than two months before their wedding day. We met at a local bar and took a combination of cozy indoor photos and winter engagement photos by the Jersey City waterfront. I always love to book engagement sessions for a little extra time to get to know the couple personally (before I show up on their wedding day!) and so that we can mix and match outfits and locations. Megan and Alex were absolutely wonderful and I couldn’t wait for their wedding day. It felt like it came so quickly!
Before the Wedding at Rock Island Lake Club
When Megan and Alex met, she was a broke college student working as a waitress and he was that brooding bartender with a heart of gold. Fast forward ten years, he proposed to her during a photoshoot with her extended family. These two lovebirds have been through so much together, and the morning of the wedding felt like a full circle moment between the two of them.
Even the heavy snow felt serendipitous as the two of them always love a good snow storm in Jersey City (where they would always trek across the snowy street and end up at their favorite pizza place for slices of deep dish and Negronis). This was also where we had started their engagement photos just a couple months earlier. Everything truly felt like it was meant to be!
Ceremony at Queen of Peace Church
When we arrived at the church, we set up Megan and Alex for a “first touch” moment before their wedding ceremony. If you are considering a first look but aren’t sure how you feel about breaking tradition, this can be a nice alternative and was the sweetest moment ever to photograph.
Once their ceremony began, Megan and Alex exchanged traditional vows. Alex’s father is a Deacon so he was able to marry the two of them, which made their Catholic wedding ceremony even more special. Megan and Alex kept sneaking smiles and glances between each other throughout the ceremony and then they were announced husband and wife! After the ceremony, we took a few wedding portraits outside the chapel before heading to Rock Island Lake Club (their gorgeous winter wedding venue).
Rock Island Lake Club was about an hour from the wedding ceremony location, but it was worth the drive. Because of the weather, we took as many photos outside as we could, as quickly as possible. Then, we moved into the foyer of their wedding at Rock Island Lake Club for photos with their wedding party on the grand staircase. The snow made for some absolutely striking wedding photos but I think everyone was a little relieved when I said that we could finish indoors. The foyer was so gorgeous we ended up gathering their families for portraits, too. It really ended up being the perfect location for all the group shots!
Lively Winter Wedding at Rock Island Lake Club
One of the things I loved the most about Megan and Alex’s wedding reception at Rock Island Lake Club was just how fun it was. After a decade of watching these two fall in love, everyone was ready to celebrate. When I arrived at the reception location, I was instantly in love. Their rich emerald green color palette was stunning and suited the winter season. And of course – I was obsessed with the fact that a few of their engagement photos made it into the wedding decor!
Not only did their wedding reception include traditional elements like their first dance, toasts and cake cutting, Megan and Alex truly made it their own with some fun additions. One example? They had a telephone in lieu of a guest book (which I LOVE!). Once the more formal traditions were finished, you could not drag these two off the dance floor. They were busting moves with their family and friends all night with the BIGGEST smiles on their faces.
Wedding at Rock Island Lake Club
Before we met, Megan and Alex had really never posed for professional photos but honestly, they made my job so easy. Their love for one another came through in every photo. Looking back on the day, I would have never imagined that a freak snow storm wasn’t part of the plan. I don’t know how the day could have come together any more perfectly. It was both classically beautiful and uniquely theirs, and I was beyond honored to document this part of their love story. I can’t wait to see what these two accomplish together next!
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 fairytale winter wedding at Rutherfurd Hall.
