Timeless Estate Wedding at Natirar

As I climbed Natirar’s steep hill last Saturday, I couldn’t help thinking about how perfect Amanda and Rob’s wedding day was. It hadn’t started yet – I had not even found Amanda in her makeup chair. The sun shone brilliantly, yet graced us with less intense heat than the week leading up to this day. It was going to be the perfect wedding day.

Amanda, with her bridesmaids and the Moms, were relaxing in Natirar’s bridal suite, sipping champagne and swapping hair/makeup chairs for their final touches before getting dressed. While the girls wore pretty pink silk robes, the guys across the street at Ninety Acres, also relaxed in their comfy terry cloth navy robes. Why not?

One of my favorite parts of the wedding day is seeing all of the carefully arranged details come together. I have an invitation, flowers, jewelry, a veil and other intricate details that I must arrange to match the overall feel of the wedding day. Amanda’s style was apparent from the start! The subtle details in her seemingly simplistic, yet classic style was so much fun to photograph! Amanda and Rob’s ivory invitation suite boasted blind letterpress reliefs to accent the paper’s design, rather than a printed design. So unique! I don’t know which decision came first, but it was a direct compliment to her sleek wedding dress and lace-edged veil (with blusher!)

Amanda specifically asked for “epic” bridal portraits, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to oblige! Natirar offers some wonderful opportunities for what I would consider epic and iconic bridal portraits. With its great hall of oak paneling and dramatic natural light, it’s the perfect recipe for beautiful and timeless bridal portraits. Amanda’s are some of my favorite ever taken in that room!

In a more traditional fashion, Amanda and Rob met each other at the aisle of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in Morristown. With little atrium room at this church, Amanda and her father waited patiently at the base of the stairs of the entrance of the church. Amanda is Daddy’s little girl for sure, and it was so sweet to see her with her father. As they waited, her father kissed her head and squeezed her arm gently as they waited their grand entrance into the church. And from her first love to her last love, Amanda was handed off to Rob who continued to steal looks and share smiles with his bride throughout the entire wedding ceremony. I love when my couples hold hands throughout the ceremony and Rob didn’t let go once.

As soon as they were married, it was onto the trolley and back to Natirar where we spent the afternoon with our intimate group of immediate family and wedding party before cocktail hour began. We found one little patch of shade from an overhanging tree that frames the landscape below and took almost every picture in this one perfect spot.

With family and wedding party portraits complete, we took Amanda and Rob to finish pictures as husband and wife before they joined their party at cocktail hour. The weather was not characteristic of a New Jersey summer, it was better. Heat never reaching 90 and no humidity in the air. All of the guests enjoyed the views and the outdoor cocktail hour, almost no one retreated indoors until the doors to reception opened.

As seemingly quiet and reserved as Amanda and Rob appear, they are actually party animals. These two got off the dance floor once – at our request for sunset portraits! Fortunately for me, they love and appreciate beautiful portraits, so that wasn’t a challenge. The rest of the night – they danced and didn’t stop with the exception of the five toasts given by their parents and siblings. To end a round of meaningful and emotional toasts, Rob’s brother concluded with what seemed like an emotion gesture. Having Amanda and Rob stare into each other’s eyes, he revealed that “statistically” they are staring at the person that will most likely murder them. I’ve heard plenty of toasts in my time. This was new. And I laughed. Hard. I love Amanda’s reaction so much – it shows up in a triptych below. I couldn’t choose just one.

Amanda and Rob, we are so happy for you! We loved being part of your beautiful wedding and wish you all the best for your future!

Venue: Mansion at Natirar, Peapack, NJ

Photographer: Lauren Kearns Photography

Hair: Kristen Okaly

Makeup: Lorena Ferreira

Wedding dress: Justina McCaffrey from Elizabeth Johns

Jewelry: The Ring Woman

Bridesmaids dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Groom’s attire: Alan David

Groomsmen attire: Biltmore Tuxedos

Florist: Dahlia Florals

Invitations: The Papery of Summit

Transportation: Skylands Trolley Company

Videographer: NST Pictures

Entertainment: Craig Scott Entertainment, MATTHEW FRIEDMAN & UPTOWN SOUNDS