A Fall Backyard Wedding - New Jersey Style | Kristin + Nicholas 9.26.20

The PhotosWeddings

Sep 28

Kristin + Nicholas New Jersey Backyard Wedding-18.jpg

My reaction pulling into the driveway for this backyard, New Jersey wedding reminded me of my husband seeing our wedding venue to the first time:

Marc didn’t come along to the first tour. It was just me and my mom…and this was the one. We NEED not go anywhere else in my mind. This was THE venue. There was a white Percheron horse to pull an open, white carriage to bring me to the ceremony and whisk us away afterwards for photos. We would be married in an orchard under the waving arms of century-old trees surrounded by nature and beauty. It was a dream come true I never knew I had. The reception would be in a pristinely re-finished, century old barn perched on top of a hill overlooking the pastures of the working ranch. (This was around the time when it was becoming popular to have a “barn wedding.”) As a horse-girl, it couldn’t have been more perfect. There were even donkeys that free-roamed the grounds. I mean, come ON! Amazing.

My big mistake came that night when I greeted my then fiancé at the door after work bouncing on tippy toes to tell him with clasped hands and stars in my eyes that I wanted us to get married in a barn on a ranch!!!!

You should have seen the look on Marc’s face. He was stunned silent for some time. Then, he half coughed, half cleared his throat and loosened his tie while saying,

“In a BARN you say?….Huh.”

I was so excited I didn’t even realize I hadn’t given him the whole story. When we arrived at the venue and pulled down the mile-long winding driveway through carefully manicured magnificence to the spot where we would be married, he audibly exhaled and laughed out loud. “Well this is REALLY NICE!” Basically, my reaction to Kristin and Nicholas’s wedding space.

All I knew was that they had decided to move their wedding closer to home in New Jersey due to COVID so that their friends and family wouldn’t have to travel so far. So….I pictured an average house with some folding chairs and plastic table cover with standing space for the reception. Maybe the catering would be set up in the family kitchen??? I mean, what do you think of when someone says “backyard wedding”? Certainly not what I pulled in to find. This wedding space was the combined effort of so many of Kristin and Nicholas’s friends and family. And it was beautiful. It was the wedding of their dreams that they didn’t know they had.

It was perfect.

From the getting ready spaces for both girls and guys to portraits in the field, twinkle lights all around the property and white party tent this wedding was 10 out of 10 in my books. Kristin was definitely princess status and Nick, her Navy knight in shining armor had the best time partying with his guys. It couldn’t have possibly been better.

Kristin and Nick, I’m so happy you two found each other. Kristin, the way you melt into Nicks arms is a beautiful thing to witness. Thank you both for trusting me with this most important of days in your lives. I had SO much fun with you and all your amazing family and friends. I hope you love this sample of my favorite photos from your day and there’s also a little surprise waiting for you in your inbox right now, so GO CHECK!!! XO - Megan