Fairy-Tale Summer Wedding, Park Chateau, New Jersey

Can you hear me say your name forever?
Can you see me longing for you forever?
Would you let me touch your soul forever?
Can you feel me longing for you forever, forever?

Can’t say I’ve ever seen a first dance to a classic metal band’s song, but Sam (she/her) and Connor (he/him) are special like that. And they made it look real good, too. They even walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of this song, “Life Eternal” by Swedish metal band, Ghost.

“It’s our wedding leitmotif,” they said, which I found unbelievably cool.

But that’s just what Sam and Connor are: unbelievably cool.

From their hobbies to their style, their taste in music, and their friends, they’re just genuinely rad people. I’ve become lucky enough to be their friend for the last couple years, spending time in cosplay or road trips to swimming spots in New Hampshire, or doing really rad photoshoots. So I can say beyond just the window of time I get on wedding days with couples that these two are the It Couple, for real.

“I want to always make you feel like the Main Character,” Connor read in his vows, which had them both choking up in front of their family and friends…who were choking up just as much themselves.

Their wedding was nothing short of being the It Wedding of the year, either. Situated in the lush summer gardens of Park Chateau in East Brunswick, NJ, they sought to immerse themselves and their guests into something that felt like a fairy tale. Marble floors and fountains; quaint chapels and blooming florals; chandeliers and a staff that would barely even let me lift a finger. It was pretty great. Not to mention — and you’ll see later — the food. The food was something these two were the most excited about. “Eat a light breakfast,” Sam had instructed her bridesmaids, who were jittery with excitement over what appeared to be a worldwide smorgasbord of delectable fare, presented beautifully.

I think everyone should take notes from Sam and Connor’s wedding: feed your guests like they’re royalty, reception by 2pm, literal wall of donuts to choose from, spontaneous abba flash mob (yeah, for real), and rollout by 5pm with enough time to relax and enjoy the evening after a whirlwind of a day.

One of my favorite things about the day was getting to photograph a “first look” with the Bridesmaids seeing Sam for the first time. That’s something I’ve never had the pleasure of doing and it was so, SO cute. Definitely some of my most treasured shots of the season so far. Sam’s bridesmaids had some of the BEST reactions of the whole day, too. And some of the best moves on the dancefloor, but I wasn’t surprised by that.

Sam and Connor’s wedding day was perfect from beginning to end. Surrounded by loved ones on all sides at all times, I felt so comforted and moved to know that my friends have an incredible, long life ahead of them together with some amazing people by their side. I felt very fortunate to capture their day for them, and I hope you enjoy the story.