A Spring Garden Wedding at Hamilton Farm

I first met Tori and Peter at their engagement session in Morristown last summer. An unpredicted storm loomed in the distance with its black clouds slowly creeping in our direction. Now, if you’ve worked with me before, you know that the engagement session is the practice session. Most of my couples have never been in front of a real camera before. Everyone wants to look natural, but let’s be honest, getting your picture taken is a very unnatural thing! It can be intimidating, making even the most carefree of people look like a deer in headlights. This is precisely why these sessions are so important! Once you’ve had the practice session, you gain the confidence to be the center of attention (and everyone else’s camera) on your wedding day! Well, Tori and Peter had an abbreviated practice session. We moved as quickly as possible. As soon as they hopped out of the car, it was go time! I was so impressed with how quickly they picked up on every pose and instruction. I thought, if we crunched for time on the wedding day, these two are still going to nail their portraits.

Not only did they nail their wedding day portraits, but we weren’t crunched for time! No looming storms. Just bright blue skies and mild spring weather. When I arrived at Hamilton Farm for this gorgeous garden wedding, Tori had all of her details in a box waiting for me. Her hair and makeup were complete, and the girls were relaxing and drinking champagne. Tori described her wedding dream as “garden wedding” and every aspect of Hamilton Farm caters to that vision. From the sunroom off the entrance hall, to the slate pavers leading to the courtyard to the ivy wall on the west wing of the estate home. Hamilton Farm is the perfect garden wedding venue.

Tori and Peter first saw each other in the front of the mansion so they could enjoy all of their cocktail hour. They even decided to get married the day before! Their actual ceremony was at their church with just family. So today was about celebrating with family and friends. Tori’s continual smile is absolutely contagious. All day I could tell Peter he could look at his “wife” since they were technically married within the last 24 hours.

When it came time for the wedding party portraits, our sleeping beauty flower girl awoke for her closeup! Little Avery was a little ball of sunshine, calling everyone “Daddy.” When she ran down the aisle and saw her real Daddy, she exclaimed “Two Daddies” since now there were several in her eyes.

Tori and Peter opened cocktail hour up with specialty cocktails that even included dry ice for an impressive effect! The guests were also welcomed into the most beautiful white and green floral arranged ballroom with hanging tea lights from the ceiling. They lasted all night long! The Nerds entertained the guests and while Tori and Peter danced almost all night long, Tori’s parents never once stepped off the dance floor! We ended the night with a full sparkler exit!

Tori and Peter, we are so happy for you! Congratulations and thank you so much for having us there to capture your beautiful wedding and the start of your happily ever after!

Venue: Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, NJ

Photographer: Lauren Kearns Photography

Hair: Kristen Okaly

Makeup: Jamie Royle

Florist: Jardiniere Fine Flowers

Wedding Dress: Sareh Nouri

Invitations: Little Black Dress Paperie

Videographer: Carianne D’Alessandro, Carried Away Films

Entertainment: The Nerds