A Midsummer Day Dream Wedding

When I first met with Lauren to discuss her summer Hamilton Farm wedding, she was concerned about what kind of weather she would be dealing with. I assured her that having gotten married in July myself, it could be wonderful! Sure, some July weddings are really hot. Some have thunderstorms. Some are super humid, and then others have wonderful cool weather with a gentle breeze. Lauren and Jeff’s wedding had all of the above. And then they had a double rainbow to top it off!

Lauren had always envisioned her wedding as elegant, classic and timeless. So, of course, we hit it off immediately! These are literally the three description words of my photography style! Add in the historic grounds of Hamilton Farm and we have a perfect recipe for a classically elegant summer wedding!

We started the weekend off with Lauren and Jeff’s rehearsal dinner at the Morris County Golf Club, which is one of my favorite ways to get to know the entire family! By the next day, I knew both families by name and whole lot of intimate details about Lauren and Jeff from the speeches the night before. I thought it was so sweet for Jeff to choose his Dad as his best man. It was also a very dangerous decision, because when his best man/Dad decided to roast him at the rehearsal dinner, he had Jeff’s whole life as a source of information! It was quite comical, and a good friend of Jeff’s Mom had to bring Jeff a shot to help him get through the whole toast!

While Lauren got ready at Hamilton Farm the next morning, Jeff and the guys got ready at the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, just a few blocks away from the church. Lauren and Jeff had sent letters to each other before the ceremony, and from their travels and tradition of sending postcards, Jeff wrote out a postcard to Lauren for her wedding day! How thoughtful and memorable!

When brides ask me to get the groom’s expression coming down the aisle of the church, I never know what to expect. Fortunately, with an extra assistant, we had two photographers focused on Jeff when Lauren walked down the long aisle of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Morristown. Jeff was brought to tears!

After the wedding, the entire party and family hopped onto a trolley to take us back to Hamilton Farm where we got some hot sun, thunder, and a heavy downpour! Fortunately, we photographed all of the large groups of wedding party and family members photographed before the heavens opened up! We took the opportunity to get some pictures of Lauren and Jeff under Hamilton Farm’s beautiful porch to keep them dry, with hopes of the rain letting up. That didn’t quite happen – the rain came down harder. The lightning came in closer. We even watched as the lightning struck the golf course behind the ballroom!

Just when I gave up an hope of the rain letting up, the sun peeked through and the most glorious full and double rainbow appeared over the estate. We quickly pulled Lauren and Jeff out of cocktail hour to get those last newlywed portraits on the golf course before the party began! And then these two danced the night away with all of their loved ones.

Congratulations Lauren and Jeff! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story and weekend with us! We love you guys!

Venue: Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, NJ

Hair: JC Hair Design

Makeup: Beauty on Location NJ

Florist: Conroy’s Florist & Tuxedo

Transportation: Jake’s Limo and Trolley

Church: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Morristown, NJ

Videographer: DigitalFirst Photography

Entertainment: Time Machine Entertainment