Andover, New Jersey
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While we never wish for rain on during a wedding, sometimes it does add a little bit of magic! Leah and Michael were understandably stressed about the potential weather forecast leading up to their special day, but thankfully they had a venue with an incredible ceremony rain plan and many covered locations for portraits.
These two first met when Michael direct messaged Leah on Instagram! As Leah tells it, “We just texted for a while at first, met in person for the first time at Jets game (we’re both big Jets fans – I have season tickets), and he told his best friend “I’m going to marry her.” We became “official” about a year and a half later at a Sam Hunt concert (also fitting as we both love country music) and the rest is history!”
“Our proposal story is (kind of) funny! We had been talking about getting engaged for a while and I tried on rings with my mom and his mom back in July. After that, we kind of let the conversation simmer for a bit. As Labor Day weekend approached, everyone started acting really weird towards me! First, Michael asked me to rearrange my plans for Friday which I thought was very strange. He told me we’d be going to dinner with his parents in the city, but then he said we’d actually be going to the city with his parents on Saturday. This was normal; we go to dinner with his mom and dad in the city often. I got to his house Saturday afternoon and noticed his parents’ car wasn’t there. I thought this was strange since we were going to dinner, but assumed maybe they were out getting gas. Once I got inside, his mom called and asked me to go outside by the pool and take pictures of her flowers so her friend could see — also not weird, his mom LOVES her flowers!”
“I went out there and was taking pictures, and Mike kept telling me to move closer to the flower pot and I had no idea why. Turns out, the ring was in the flowers! It was so sweet and I was surprised! We laughed together and got to have that moment to ourselves, then we went to dinner (not in the city — that was a rouse to make sure I dressed nice and put makeup on), and had champagne and cake with his parents and my parents later at night. It was such a beautiful day too!” Leah’s ring is a round brilliant diamond in a yellow gold solitaire setting with white gold prongs and a hidden halo. “It is my DREAM ring. I tried on rings with my mom and Michael’s mom, showed him a picture of the ring I wanted, and he went back and made it happen! The jeweler is actually my mother-in-law’s cousin’s husband!”
Together these two love to watch football and movies, go to concerts, go out to dinner, spend time with our friends, go on walks, and go on vacation.
When I asked Leah what inspired their vision for their wedding day, she told me, “We chose the venue because it was the perfect combination of rustic and elegant. We loved the indoor/outdoor flow and when we toured the venue, it instantly felt like home. We wanted to have a timeless and elegant vibe which we hope to accomplish with our florals and decor.”
Despite the rain, Leah and Michael had the wedding day of their dreams. I heard guests commenting about how the indoor ceremony space was the most beautiful they had ever seen — and they didn’t even know it was Plan B! We were able to do all of their portraits, wedding party, and family photos under the multiple overhangs available at the venue, and by the end of ceremony the skies had cleared enough to do some photos of the two of them around the property.
Congratulations again to Leah and Michael on an absolutely incredible wedding celebration!
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Vendors:
Photography: Jill Sahner Photography
Planner: Honeycomb + Prince
Venue: Crossed Keys Estate
Hair: Victoria Vargo
Makeup: Makeup by Sabrina Lux
Florals: Crossed Keys Designs
DJ: Elegant Music Group
Invitations: Little Black Dress Paperie
Gown: Katherine Tash, Wander Atelier
Rings: Caldwell Jewelers
Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
