Little Silver, New Jersey
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Where to even begin?! When Alex first reached out to me about her wedding day, she and her then-boyfriend Matt weren’t engaged yet but were beginning to think about their celebration (a Type A girl after my own heart). After looking at several venues, these two ultimately decided to host their wedding at Matt’s parents’ beautiful property in Little Silver. Alex and Matt’s vision was a “Hamptons garden meets Jersey Shore” vibe which was music to my ears, and I knew it would be an absolutely stunning event.
Alex and Matt have maybe one of the best, and most unique, how-they-met stories ever. As Alex tells it, “Matt and I met in college at University of South Caroline on a blind date mix up, my freshman year and his senior year. It was the night of a camo-themed party, and I was set up on a blind date with a guy named Matt. Matt texted me that he was outside of my dorm, when I walked outside a guy in camo said, “Hi darlin’, I’m Matt.” Naturally, I got in his car and we went to the party. About an hour later, I made the comment to a friend that Matt and I were really hitting it off at which point my friend informed me that this Matt was not the guy I was set up with. Turns out the “Real Matt” waited patiently for me outside of my dorm, and I had been on a date with the wrong guy. I felt awful for the mix up, but Matt and I have been together ever since!”
Matt officially popped the question in June of 2022! “We grabbed lunch to go and went to eat at a park on the Navesink River. When we got down to the water, he put the bag of food down and just went straight for the proposal. It was very sweet and then we went back to his parent’s house where my family was there to surprise me. It was the perfect weekend.” Alex’s ring is absolutely gorgeous. “I’m obsessssssed! We went shopping together and knew we wanted an oval with a thin pave band. After that, Matt met with a few jewelers and picked the specifics. He nailed it! I was still so surprised when I saw the ring. I literally look at it all the time and smile like a weirdo.”
Of all my weddings this year, I knew this one truly hinged on beautiful weather — although there would be a sailcloth tent in the backyard for the cocktail hour and reception, Alex’s dream was for the ceremony to take place in the front yard, totally al fresco. However, as we neared closer and closer to the day-of the forecast grew more daunting. I had the pleasure of photographing Alex and Matt’s rehearsal dinner the evening before, and although a symphony of thunder filled the air in the distance for most of the night we didn’t see a single drop of rain. This gave us great hope for the next day, despite the iffy forecast.
Although Alex and Matt’s wedding day started out sunny, as the hours passed and the thunder grew louder we weren’t sure what exactly was in store. Alex and Matt both got ready in separate areas of Matt’s parents’ house, Alex and the girls getting glammed upstairs while Matt and the guys chilled in the family room. As Alex stepped into her stunning, sequin-adorned Pronovias gown, Matt’s best men helped him into his tux. They came together for an emotion-filled first look, and we made our way around the property taking portraits as the storm clouds slowly rolled in. Alex and Matt’s wedding party and family joined them in the living room as they shared their vows, and there truly wasn’t a dry eye in sight. I absolutely loved how they chose to read their vows semi-privately — not in front of all of their guests, but those who mean the most in the world to them.
Before guests began arriving, we headed to a nearby dock for some portraits with the antique rented car that would bring Alex to the ceremony. As we headed back to the house with Matt, a few raindrops splattered on the windshield, but we kept hope that it would pass. As soon as the ceremony began, however, the skies began to open. Seated guests used clear umbrellas, and in truth it made Alex and Matt’s ceremony all the more dreamy. Alex and her dad arrived in the antique car, and her brother Vinny helped her get out and adjust her veil. In those moments, no one even noticed the rain — all anyone could focus on was the palpable love between these two as they made their union official.
This wedding day was absolutely unforgettable, filled not only with so much genuine emotion but also an endless amount of beautiful, thoughtful details — custom matchbooks and koozies, a roving bar, paper fans, parasols, rattan pendants, and more seating arrangements than I could count. Not to mention, the bride and groom jumped into the pool in their full wedding attire at the end of the night… what more can you ask for?!
At the end of the day it turns out the rain wasn’t a hindrance at all, and if anything it made this celebration even more magical. I am truly so happy to have been a part of such a special day, congratulations sweet Alex and Matt!
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Vendors:
Photography: Jill Sahner Photography
Planning & Design: Gilded Lily Events
Videography: Bernardi Films
Florals: Linden Co.
Hair: Top Knots by Aimee
Makeup: Beauty on Location
Band: Silver Arrow Band
Invitations: Empress Stationery
Gown: Pronovias, Kleinfeld Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: Reformation, Lulus
Groom’s Attire: Black Lapel
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
Cake: The Vintage Cake
Catering: Catering by Brennans
Rentals: Dovetail Rentals, The Roving Bar, Designs by Magnolia, BBJ La Tavola
Transportation: Shooboo
Tent: Sperry Tents
Lighting: Fabrico Productions
