Emily + Mike | Long Beach Island

t h e s t o r y o f e m i l y a n d m i k e

Michael and I met a long time ago.  Our families were wrestling and field hockey friends. Mike wrestled at Rider University and I played field hockey at Indiana University. My dad was a long time wrestling coach at Rancocas Valley HS and his mom was the Executive Director of USA Field Hockey.  

Our paths crossed quite a bit. We connected through my youngest brother. It was his senior year in high school and Mike wanted to get updates on his matches. We eventually met up at the historical NJSIAA HS State Wrestling Tournament in Atlantic City. After watching wrestling all day we danced to Brown Eyed Girl at the Bally’s Casino. From that moment on we knew our connection was more than wrestling. Not you average romance story,  but it is ours. Wrestling has been a part of our lives since we were born. 

Michael proposed at our first date location in Beach Haven New Jersey at the Engleside Inn Restaurant on Christmas Eve. Whenever we eat there now it’s a friendly reminder of where we began. 

Mike and I have had the it factor since day one. He may or may not know this but I was so in love right when we met. When our families connected that was it. Mike is home for me just as much as New Jersey is. ♥️

Venue : Little Egg Yacht Club

Florist : A Rose in December

Dress : Grace loves Lace

Shoes : Seychelles Footwear

Jewelry : West Village Tribe [bracelet/necklace]

Hair : Billie Curtis

Bridesmaid’s dresses : Show me your mumu

Band : Captain Eric and the Shipwrecks

Bar : Barrel Mobile Bar

Amanda + Joe | English Manor | Asbury Park, NJ

Brittney + Ressie | Hamilton Manor | Hamilton NJ

How did he propose? : “It was at my nephews preschool graduation party, with all of my family. He put the ring box in my nephew’s legos because my nephew always asks me to help him build lego houses. So just like any other time, my nephew pulled out the legos and we were building away. My nephew picked up the ring box and was playing with it and said “what is this?!” I looked at it, turned around and saw Ressie on one knee.”

Unplugged Wedding

Oh, your wedding day! What a magical time for you and your loved ones! And such an important time for all those in attendance to be truly present and invested in the moment.

Sometimes I wonder, do we honestly even know what that feels like anymore, to really be in the moment? We are so over-stimulated with our phones and other wonderful devices that it feels like it has become an actual part of our experiences. I’m guilty of it, too! I carry my phone with me everywhere; it's always in my hand or at least in my sight [I can literally see my phone out of my peripheral vision as I write this]. As much as our phones have become a fixture in our every day lives, there's no denying that there is a time and a place for technology, but your wedding ceremony is NOT one! 

I have heard and unfortunately witnessed several horror stories where beautiful professional photographs have gotten ruined by eager guests getting in the way of the camera. People will literally lean out into the aisle, or even worse, stand in the middle of the aisle, to get their own [blurry, unflattering, amateur] photos of the bride. Sometimes, they stand right in front of the groom with their phones in front of their faces, oblivious to the magic happening all around them. WHAT?! I know! Guests, with the best intentions, often get so caught up in getting a quick snap for themselves, that they don’t realize that they are actually stealing that moment from the couple, AND the photographer!

In our digital world, everyone wants to be the first to post the best shot and get the most likes. However, chances are your guests don’t even realize they are sacrificing your most precious moments and memories in exchange for their own “perfect” photo. By standing in the way of your views of one another, or standing in the way of the photographer, or by hiding their raw and authentic reactions to the love story that is unfolding in front of them behind the screens of their ugly cell phones, they are ultimately missing all the good stuff! What they are forgetting is that they are very much a big part of the wedding day! Your guests become part of the backdrop. They set the mood; their faces are a part of the story. It’s really difficult to see your favorite aunt’s beaming smile when it’s hidden behind a giant iPad and it’s such a damn shame when the tears of joy that are streaming down your mom's cheeks as her actual dreams play out right in front of her are completely overshadowed by the Hello Kitty phone case positioned right behind her gorgeous up-do. Maybe we get lucky and no one dives out into the aisle during the first kiss and I have a clear shot, but then Uncle Bob decides to bring his entire camera set up and starts snapping photos on the side. His flash goes off at the same time I'm taking my shot. I wasn’t planning for that, so my settings are not set for someone else’s flash to blow out my exposure [photographer jargon, did I lose ya?!]. The entire frame is now just a white blur. I have now missed the photo of your first kiss as husband and wife, and it only happens once! You get the picture? It’s just NOT WORTH IT.

Think of it this way: You most likely spent hours going through websites and reading reviews before you booked your cake vendor. You thoroughly examined the menu, had a taste-testing to carefully chose your favorite flavors, and even showed them your wedding-cake Pinterest board. What if someone decided to take it upon themselves to bring their own home-made, clearly amateur cake and served it to everyone at your wedding? Even as a kind gesture, there’s no denying that would be absolutely ridiculous! Why should you look at your wedding photos any differently? So someone can Facebook blast an unflattering angle of you in your gorgeous wedding gown? You selected your photographer for a reason [it’s probably because we take professional pictures and would never let something like that happen]! Unfortunately, between all of the technology upgrades and updates, we haven’t really been programmed to think that way about our camera phones. A small sign at the entrance of the ceremony sight or a quick line addressing it on the ceremony program is all it takes to politely bring it to your guests attention. 

Again, you have invited your guests to your wedding to create memories with you; to step away from the rest of the world into a magical moment made up of two people's love for each other and everyone around them. I challenge you to have an unplugged wedding. This will require you to ask your guests to be fully present with you. To request that they take mental photographs and to allow themselves to feel everything that is happening. I promise to get all the shots of the ceremony and give you an opportunity to share them with your family with a sneak peak and your online gallery. They will certainly be able to view that special moment again. However, no one will ever be able to re-LIVE those moments, so it’s best to enjoy it as it unfolds before your eyes and let the professionals you chose do their jobs.

Seriously! I got this, you guys! I just want you and your guests to be able to relax and take in every single moment for exactly what it is. You have worked really, really hard to bring this day to life. It’s only fair that you and your hand-picked special guests get a chance to enjoy it to the fullest. So kindly tell them to put down their phones, iPads, and cameras and just be there with you!

Still not sure how to go about it? Try looking on Pinterest for “Unplugged Wedding” ideas and see how other couples made it happen! Click here for a great article by the Huffington Post about this very topic.

To look or not to look | A why to have a first look

I’ve ask you the “First Look” question and you either quickly answered “YES!” orrrrr you made the emoji grimace face and you’re just not sure, you really can’t decide. That’s okay, let’s talk about it! 

If you’re not sure what a first look is, it’s when the bride and the groom see each other a few hours before the ceremony and spend some time together before the events of the day begin. Not traditional at all— but what even is tradition anymore!? People are constantly coming up with new ideas and adding special touches to make their wedding more personal….more “them”. No disrespect to the olden days, but the whole “it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding” thing is a bit dated. In fact, the tradition of couples not seeing each other before the nuptials dates back to when marriages were more of a business deal between two families [not very romantic]. Apparently, there was often a fear that one of the parties would change their mind and back out once they actually saw each other [hence the veil], so it became customary for the couple to not even meet until they got to the alter and there was no turning back! [swear to go, google it!] It’s a very old and outdated tradition that is centered around an issue that you guys don’t have to worry about [you guys HAVE met, RIGHT?!]. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to go the traditional route— I will respect your wishes either way! I just want to make sure I lay it all out for you so you understand why I personally love first looks so much!

You get to spend more time with your partner

As you know [or will know very soon], weddings take months of planning. Weeks and weeks of making decisions and arrangements— all for one single day. Your wedding day will go by really, really, really, really fast [I would use more reallys but I think that you get the point]! Ask any newlywed couple. With as much time and energy that goes into putting this day together, I’m always taken aback at the little amount of time the couple actually gets spends together. As you’re planning that perfect sunset ceremony, it’s really common to overlook the fact that you won’t see your fiancé until the sun is actually going down. Most of the day has already passed and now you only have a few hours left of your wedding day to spend together! Not to mention, you’re spending it with tons of guests who also want your attention. Planning a first look a few hours before the ceremony gives you much more time with your love on the best day of your lives [so far]. Why would you want to waste precious hours of your wedding day avoiding the person you are about to spend the rest of your life with?! Because someone from centuries ago deemed it to be bad luck? I beg to differ.

It could be your only time alone all day

Okay so this one is super important! YES— this day is about you guys, but you can’t ignore the fact that you've invited all these people and they are going to expect you to spend some time with them. I know that you have, like, the rest of your lives to spend with one another, but the feels of your wedding day are so real and special, and it’s so important to get that time to connect! Doing a first look gives you guaranteed alone time. Typically, we plan the first look and then schedule about 30 minutes of portraits of you two before calling the rest of the wedding party to join us. If we wrap up this part before we were expecting to be finished, then you guys have time to hang out with your wedding party or maybe run off for some extra one-on-one time. If you want, we can even schedule in some chill time between photos and the ceremony! This is your day, let’s plan it exactly how you guys want it to go. 

It helps to melt away your nervous energy

Just being honest here, you’re probably going to be nervous. Not that you are scared to get married, but you want this day to go just perfect and you might be dealing with some flutters knowing all eyes will be on you. Nerves can consume you, especially if you are not a fan of being the center of attention or embarrass easily. Although it's all going to be perfectly FINE, I’m willing to bet that your fiancé will know exactly what to say to make your anxiety and nervous energy melt right away. Getting the chance to embrace one another and just be together will create a sense of calmness and help you to relax a bit. 

Eat, drink, greet your guests

First looks are typically planned about 3 [or more] hours before the ceremony. This gives us ample time to shoot portraits of the two of you, bring in the entire wedding party, and possibly get the family photos done before you even walk down the aisle. Now, assuming everything goes according to plan [because of course it’s going to], that means after the ceremony you're free to go enjoy your cocktail hour like it's meant to be enjoyed! Traditionally, most portraits and wedding party photos are shot during the cocktail hour, but let’s face it— you put so much time, effort, and money into all of this, you should get to party too! A first look gives you the opportunity to enjoy the amazing appetizers, drink the delicious drinks, and greet all the generous guests who came to love and support you on your special day. It’s always nice bonus to get the introductions and congratulations out of the way before the reception begins. That way, you can spend your entire reception boogying down without people constantly coming up to you, interrupting your dance sessions, trying to have a full-on conversation with you [NOW IS NOT THE TIME, CAROL! I JUST WANT TO DANCE WITH MY BABES!].

It gives us all the time for photos

Now this one might totally be selfish on my end but, like, it’s my job. I need to make sure that you get all the photos that you want on your wedding day, and if we only give ourselves the short time during cocktail hour, we will be forced to rush through things and are more likely to miss something. Getting most of the portraits done and out of the way before the ceremony leaves us a lot more time and opportunity to take more photos [if you're up for it]. Depending on the time of the year, first looks are the only way to get outdoor, naturally lit photos of you and your bae. With the sun setting so early in the winter months, we are extra pressed for time. I really, really hate to rush through my job and when it comes to the bridal portraits [bridal portraits include just the couple], I like to make sure that we have the most amount of time possible to get you the best photos ever. It also leaves room for any hiccups in the schedule, like if the weather isn’t cooperating or we have a wardrobe malfunction. I don’t want you to think of your wedding day as one big photoshoot, but giving yourselves more of a lax schedule gives us time to break up the photos and allows you to be present in the moment. With more time to spend, we will be able to capture REAL moments of the two of you. Wedding photography is an investment, why not make sure that you get the most bang for your buck?!

Don’t worry, you’ll still feel all the feels

I think one of the biggest reasons people have concerns about a first look is that they fear that they will lose that “ WOW feeling” when walking down the aisle. Brides are always worried that a first look will ruin the “she took my breath away” moment when her love sees her. I will have to respectfully disagree. In fact, I would dare to say that it HEIGHTENS your emotions. I want you to think about that moment right now, seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day. Not in any specific situation, it’s not your first look and it’s not walking down the aisle. You are just two beings, in an unidentifiable space, getting to see each other for the first time on the most special day of your lives. What do you want to do when you see each other? Emotions are running high, nerves might be getting the best of you. Your answer is probably, “I want to give them a hug and a kiss and tell them how much I love them and how excited I am that I get to marry them TODAY!” Yeah— totally!! If you wait for the ceremony to see one another, you can’t do any of that! The first looks gives you guys the chance to hold each other close, take it all in, and spend some one-on-one time together before the day really takes off. I promise you will still have that amazing “this is actually happening” moment, even though you saw each other before the ceremony. Once you start walking down the aisle, IT’S ABOUT TO GO DOWN! That feeling can NEVER be replaced with anything.

Getting the chance to see one another before the ceremony will help calm the nerves, allow you guys some alone time, and give you the opportunity to slow down and be present during the day. It gives you the chance to breeze through the day a little easier and really enjoy everything that you've put so much of yourselves into creating. I’ve personally become a huge fan of the first look tradition, but I’m a way bigger fan of making your day go the way you want it to go! No matter what you decide to do on your wedding day, I am here for you 110%!

Sarah + DJ | Eagle Manor | Fairton NJ

“I really can’t say enough good things about having Stephanie as my photographer for my wedding day!! Her photos speak for themselves [they are amazing!!] but what you don’t see from the photos is how amazing Stephanie is to work with. She made the entire day, and experience go so smoothly! She made me, DJ, all my friends, and family feel so at ease and comfortable in front of the camera. [I know because they all told me multiple times after the wedding how much they loved working with Stephanie!] Stephanie was so organized and professional to work with but also felt like a friend who was meant to be part of the day. She made us laugh and kept it fun [even if it was freezing cold and 30mph winds], she even put up with the groomsmans silly antics [trying to include a creepy doll in our wedding photos] without missing a beat. I seriously couldn’t have picked a better photographer for our wedding day!!” -Sarah R

Deana + Drew | Terrain Cafe | Glen Mills Pennsylvania

“We want to start this by giving a huge thank you to Stephanie and Madison for photographing our wedding. From our very first meeting, we knew Stephanie had the right vision and style for the rustic Terrain wedding we were planning. Stephanie stayed in touch during the planning process which made us feel supported up until the big day. The morning of the wedding both girls fit right in at our parent's houses, capturing the feel of family and excitement. Our first look was arranged perfectly and we truly cannot wait to see our pictures to relive the entire day. Stephanie was incredibly professional but at the same time had us laughing throughout the day.  Both sides of the wedding party commented on how much of a perfect fit she was. Stephanie, you really exceeded our expectations and we really cannot thank you enough! We highly recommend Stephanie as a wedding photographer. She was incredible! xoxo, Deana and Drew”

-Deana C

Brittney + Ressie | Evergreen Dairy Bar Engagement Session | Southampton, NJ

"On the day of our engagement shoot I was so nervous and had no idea what to expect. My fiancé and I are not the most photogenic people (it’s quite funny actually haha). On our way there we were laughing thinking of how awkward we were going to be. When we arrived and met Stephanie for the first time I had an instant feeling of relief. She was so funny, bubbly, and laidback. I knew she would laugh at how nervous we were. For the first few pictures we were still nervous, but as it went on we started to just simply have fun. We really enjoyed our engagement shoot and realized how important it is to have a good photographer. We felt so comfortable with her and knew there was no judgement at all. She was seriously like just one of our friends! She had a certain way with things and it just started to feel so natural. I wouldn’t change one thing about our engagement shoot. I look back and smile about it all the time. In that moment I truly just felt very happy and it made me so much more excited to marry my best friend and have Stephanie capture it all!" -Brittney B