A Country Private Estate Wedding in the Somerset Hills | Cait & Tyler

Some weddings feel beautiful.
Others feel meaningful.
And every once in a while, there is a wedding that feels woven into memory. Not just for the couple, but for me as well.

Cait and Tyler’s private estate wedding in the rolling hills of New Jersey was exactly that.

Tucked quietly into the countryside of the Somerset Hills, an area still traced by fox hunts and long stretches of preserved land, this property is a place many don’t realize still exists. A forgotten pocket of pastoral beauty. A well-kept secret. And for one season of my life, home.

When Cait first reached out, she followed her inquiry with a DM explaining the magic of the location. I knew it immediately. For four years after college, James and I lived directly across the street. Long before photographing weddings here, I dreamed of country life in this exact landscape—making this wedding especially meaningful to return to.

An Intimate Garden Party Wedding Vision

Cait and Tyler envisioned a formal yet welcoming celebration: an intimate garden party wedding with lavender and white florals, potted plants, and black-tie attire set against a natural outdoor setting. Their ceremony reflected that same intention. Guests seated in a half-moon shape surrounding them, with no aisle and no “sides,” ensuring everyone felt equally included.

The ceremony was officiated by Cait’s father, who also married her younger sister the year before, and included personal vows written by the couple. It was heartfelt, emotional, and deeply personal.

A Private Estate Reception Designed Like a Dinner Party

Cocktail hour invited guests to wander the gardens with Prosecco in hand, while bridesmaids in flowing chiffon dresses floated through the landscape like garden fairies. The reception followed as an intimate dinner party with U-shaped tables, no table numbers, and music by Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and James Taylor playing softly through dinner, before transitioning into a joyful dance party later in the evening.

Every detail, from the hand-painted invitations to the relaxed pacing of the night, reflected Cait and Tyler’s shared approach to planning and their desire to create a meaningful experience for their closest family and friends.

Photographing Cait and Tyler’s private estate wedding in the Somerset Hills felt like honoring two stories at once, the beginning of their marriage, and a small chapter of my own life that I’ll always cherish.
And now, it holds one more love story.

Photographer | Lauren Kearns Photography

Florist | Jardiniere Fine Florals

Caterer | Harvest Catering

Rentals | Party Rental Ltd.

Hair | JC Hair Design

Makeup | Beauty On Location NJ

Wedding Dress | Ti Adora by Alison Webb, Flair, Boston, MA

Rings | Kwiat

Bridesmaid Dresses | Azazie

Invitation Suite | Engraved Images, Far Hills, NJ

Entertainment | MTM Weddings, DJ Greg Cyp