Ramsey NJ Town Hall Wedding
wedding photography | ny wedding photographer | elopement photographer | apollo fields
Colleen & Anthony’s Wedding
Ramsey, New Jersey, with its quaint charm and serene atmosphere, offers couples a unique and intimate setting to exchange their vows. While some may dream of lavish ceremonies in grand venues, others find beauty in simplicity. Getting married at the town hall in Ramsey is a wonderful option for those seeking a meaningful and low-key wedding experience. In this blog, we'll explore why tying the knot at Ramsey Town Hall can be the perfect choice for couples looking to celebrate their love in a genuine and authentic way.
Intimacy and Simplicity: One of the most appealing aspects of getting married at Ramsey Town Hall is the intimacy and simplicity it offers. Unlike large weddings with hundreds of guests, a town hall wedding typically involves only close family and friends, creating a more personal atmosphere. The focus shifts from extravagant decorations and elaborate ceremonies to the essential elements of love and commitment.
Convenience and Affordability: Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but opting for a town hall ceremony simplifies the process significantly. Ramsey Town Hall provides couples with a convenient and affordable option to legalize their union without the stress and expense associated with traditional weddings. From obtaining a marriage license to scheduling the ceremony, the town hall staff is dedicated to ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Meaningful Ceremonies: While town hall weddings are often perceived as simple affairs, they can be incredibly meaningful and heartfelt. Couples have the freedom to customize their ceremony according to their beliefs, values, and preferences. Whether it's exchanging personalized vows, incorporating cultural traditions, or involving loved ones in the ceremony, Ramsey Town Hall provides a beautiful backdrop for couples to express their love and commitment in a way that feels authentic to them.
Picturesque Setting: Despite its understated elegance, Ramsey Town Hall offers a picturesque setting for couples to say "I do." From the historic architecture to the manicured gardens, the town hall provides plenty of opportunities for stunning wedding photos. Whether capturing candid moments with loved ones or posing against the backdrop of the charming town, couples can cherish these memories for years to come.
Focus on What Truly Matters: In a world consumed by materialism and extravagance, getting married at Ramsey Town Hall allows couples to focus on what truly matters – their love and commitment to each other. By stripping away the excesses and distractions, couples can fully immerse themselves in the moment and savor the joy of starting their journey together as spouses.
Santa's Christmas Tree Farm Engagement Photos
Santa's Christmas Tree Farm Engagement Photos | Greenport NY | December Engagement Sessions | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Bianca & Sal
Central Park Engagement Session
Central Park Engagement Photography | Bethesda Fountain and Terrace Wedding Photographs | NYC Engagement Photographers | Apollo Fields Husband and Wife Photo Team
Natalie & Eugene’s Engagement
Anytime I get to walk through Central Park it reminds me of my old running route. I’d start at West 112th Street and run down Broadway to 79th Street, cut across the avenues past the Museum of Natural History, and stop at a pull up bar near the Great Lawn to do some calisthenic exercises. I’d continue my run south towards Sheep Meadow to play Ultimate Frisbee with one of the best communities I’ve ever known. I’d eventually make my way back to the west side strolling by Bethesda Fountain, past the Bow Bridge, and along my favorite path on the south side of The Central Park Lake, the body of water where tourists take out the cute paddle boats. I can’t help but think about this time of my life without a great longing, reminiscing about the freedom of my twenties. It seems that no matter how old I am I always ‘[\want to be somewhere else or be older or younger. It makes me beg the question: is there any way to get over this “grass is always greener” mindset over the course of our lives?
Heather and I met Eugene over the summer at one of our friend’s going away parties, but this was the first time we met Natalie. We connected with them through our mutual friend, John, who went to Marymount Manhattan College with Eugene. We didn’t expect John to come along for the engagement session in Central Park but there he was, giving Eugene style tips and busting his chops like a good friend and quintessential best man. We started the shoot at Bethesda Fountain, dabbled in the Mall between street performers and skateboarders, then finished up by The Lake and Bow Bridge because Eugene and Natalie are set to get married at the Loeb Boathouse in just a few short months.
Eugene and Natalie have one of those quiet connections, and according to them it’s been there since their very first date. One of the questions we ask on the questionnaire we send over to our couples is: “When did you realize that you loved your significant other?” Well, for Eugene and Natalie, all it took was one date, because afterwards they jokingly referred to each other as ‘husband’ and ‘wife.’ The way they interact with one another is intimate but casual, conversational and playful. There is an understanding beneath their every exchange that made them very easy to photograph through our walk in Central Park. We all decided to grab a drink on the Upper West Side afterwards.
The most unfortunate thing about love is that it all comes down to timing. The kind of understanding that Eugene and Natalie and Heather and I have all stems from meeting someone at a particular time in our lives when each of us 1) had a strong idea of who we were as individuals, and 2) had a strong idea of what we wanted our significant other to be like. The alignment of these two factors is critical to a healthy relationship with any hope of longevity. A lot of us spend most of our lives trying to figure our “who we are” and a lot of us are too wracked with doubt and insecurity to effectively learn what a good partner for our particular needs looks like. Every time I try to explain how Heather and I have such a working, loving relationship, there is a feeling of an insurmountably large chasm between being alone and being where we are. The best thing I can suggest is to start with a better understanding of yourself.
Despite always feeling like “the grass is always greener” most of my life, I can confidently say I am thoroughly enjoying my thirties. Heather and I have hit a stride in our business, and we have one happy, healthy boy. I still get frustrated and am overtired most of the time, but once I hear Capa giggle or see him peacefully sleeping any sort of bullshit stress just washes away. Capa helps ground me in a way that makes life feel finite for the first time. For as long as I can remember I’ve always felt that I’m going to live forever—and each day and year that passes its hard to wrap my mind around all that has changed—that is until you see a newborn baby become a ten-month-old. We all grow older everyday and it is up to us to appreciate the green grass beneath our feet.
Enjoy these images from Eugene and Natalie’s Central Park engagement:
New Jersey Family Photographer
Nikki & Leila | Family Photography | Fun and Sassy Toddler Session
We hate to play favorites, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves. Nikki has been a close friend for the past four years and we have been lucky enough to photograph her journey with motherhood, from her maternity session, to Leila's newborn session, and pretty much once or twice a year since this sweet and sassy wild child was born!
It's been so fun watching her grow up, both in person and from behind the camera. She is absolutely full of life and it makes it so easy to photograph her big personality. She is a little chatterbox, full of opinions and curiosities. Running all over the place and hardly stopping to catch her breath, she just fills any space with her huge persona.
Even though we specialize in weddings and don't see that changing any time soon, we do love finding the time to help our friends document the most important parts of parenthood and other special milestones.
The Importance of Capturing Your Family in Professional Photos
Kids grow up SO FAST. Almost faster than we can fathom. It's so important, especially in the first few years, to freeze these precious moments. We encourage you to photograph it all-- the messes, the tantrums, the baths, the playtime, and the snuggles. Looking back on those photos will bring you back to the memories, and is the absolute best way to honor your family.
Venue: Secor Farms | Mahwah, NJ
What's In My Camera Bag (That's Not Camera Equipment): Capturing Smiles Instead of Stresses
A little behind-the-scenes of me attaching the sleeves to a wedding dress in the midst of photographing my bride getting ready.
Being a wedding photographer doesn't necessarily mean shooting pictures throughout the whole day.
It means getting the shot no matter what it takes.
Sometimes that means putting the camera down for a second to help my brides get into their wedding dresses. Sometimes it's folding pocket squares, opening bottles of wine, showing them where to sign their marriage certificates, or bustling a train. The reality is, I am with my couples all day, and very much so on the front lines of whatever action takes place. Weddings have a way of bringing out the best and worst in people – emotions are high, sometimes there is family tension, a lot of opinions, and various moving parts.
My job is to take beautiful and compelling pictures.
It is also to make sure that my couples feel excited, at ease, and most of all PRESENT in the moment. The day goes by so quickly, and it is easy to get wrapped up in greeting guests, checking on the caterer, and obsessing about timelines. Now, I am by no means a wedding planner. I am not a day-of coordinator. And I have no intentions of ever becoming one... but sometimes the planners are busy doing their jobs and situations arise. In those moments, it's about serving my couple. Sometimes that means taking pictures and sometimes that means lending support to keep things running smoothly, camera-in-hand.
The Importance of Hospitality...
I've worked as a bartender while building my wedding business cause you know, girl's gotta eat, and I do believe that it helped me become a better photographer. It has made me more sensitive to my client's needs. It could be as simple as realizing that my out-of-town couple from sea level is getting dehydrated up on top of a mountain in the Rockies and grabbing them a few waters. Basic needs sometimes go out the window when weddings are in motion and catching small stuff like that can prevent much bigger problems. It has given me a better sense of where the action is at in a busy room while only visually seeing things through my small viewfinder on my camera.
Additionally, being a great wedding photographer also means caring about your couples. So many of our clients have become friends, and this has just as much to do with the pictures themselves as it does with the ability to provide good service. It's also about empathy, understanding, and the ability to listen closely and read between the lines. Being able to put small fires out as the day unfolds is oftentimes what sticks out to couples as above-and-beyond the call of duty. It is something that really shows that we care about them as much as we care about making beautiful pictures. As a result, I always throw a few things in my camera bag to keep the day running smoothly:
What's in my camera bag besides camera equipment?
- A wine key. No, I'm not a raging alcoholic.. this is actually out of utility. I've had countless couples want to pop a bottle to celebrate or toast with, and find themselves without a bottle opener. Pulling one of these out on a whim is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and keeps the good times rolling! Also, the knife edge on them has come in handy for a myriad of non-alcohol related tasks.
- A lighter. Another crowd-pleaser! Sometimes, it is as simple as somebody wanting to step outside for a quick smoke. But mostly, I find this super helpful for staging my detail shots before the room is actually set. Venues and rental companies usually prefer to light the candles last (because they don't last that long), but I cannot wait until last minute to do my room shots and details because it is already too late. So I'll light a few candles on the table, snap the shot, and then blow them out. No hassle and no harm.
- Oil blotting sheets. Summers are hot and sometimes wedding dresses are even hotter. Nothing ruins a shot like a shiny face, but after your makeup is set, the last thing you want to do is take a tissue or cloth to your face. Oil blotters are easy, compact, and so helpful in these moments.
- A sewing kit. Why would a wedding photographer need a sewing kit? You wouldn't believe me if I told you how many dresses that I have last-minute mended! Nothing puts out a fire like being able to repair a dress right before the ceremony is about to begin. Buttons pop off, beads snag, zippers jam. Knowing how to solve these mishaps can prevent a full blown crisis in the moment.
- Bobby pins, hair spray, safety pins, small scissors, and rubber bands, fashion tape, and white duct tape. I literally wear half of these on my expodisc around my neck when I shoot! This is how frequently I find myself needing these items. Hair pops out, wind takes over, bow-ties are too big, tags need to get cut off... And the white duct tape? Let's just say that sometimes wedding dresses are more see-through than we realize and the built-in bra doesn't do the trick ;) A little square of duct tape can work wonders.
Again, stuff happens. To be able to put these fires out quickly keeps my couples happy and on schedule. If they are happy, the pictures are better. If we stay on the timeline, we have more time for pictures and we capture smiles instead of stresses.
Hudson Gardens Winter Wedding in Colorado
Mary & Brad's Winter Mountain Colorado Wedding | Hudson Gardens | Apollo Fields Photojournalism
Springtime weddings in Colorado can mean flower blossoms, cherry trees blooming, tulips sprouting, or blizzards. Mary and Brad got a little bit of everything on their wedding day in March at Hudson Gardens. The day began with full blazing Colorado sun, and by the afternoon had grown ominous and cloudy, then the skies broke into rain, which became hail, which became snow. It was crazy, but sort of perfect for them because they got SO many different looks for their photographs. And Mary, especially, wanted snow. So when the sun went down and we finally got these big huge snowflakes, we couldn't help but to run outside and snap some dreamy romantic snow pictures.
I loved the modern and simple touches of Mary's lace wedding dress. Personally, I've always loved lace sleeves, I think they are so classic and surprisingly sexy. Less isn't always more, and I just love the way that a delicate sleeve can flatter our brides. Her veil was also simple and classic, it was so fun to photograph through because of the shapes and textures that it creates, and her updo looked great with it on and off. Modern boho braids showed off her blonde highlights and beautiful cheekbones.
Their friends and family gathered for a sweet and heartfelt ceremony. We got to snap fun photos of their friends all gathering together to celebrate and toast their new journey, while kids got to run around and play, and a big fireplace kept everyone toasty as the weather began to turn. A cozy dinner and then dancing wrapped up their perfect night together, and everyone had such a great time coming together to celebrate their love.
Hudson Gardens is a great venue for weddings year round because they have acres of countryside gardens with awesome mountain views. There is a quaint red barn in the back of the property, which is one of my favorite rustic looks. The farmhouse feeling on one side of the property is perfect for country brides and the cabin in the front of the property is a warm and rustic mountain look. When the weather is nice, they have plenty of space to celebrate outside, among the trees and flowers and gardens. With manicured paths and woodsy retreats, there are so many different looks that can be photographed at this venue!
Hudson Gardens Winter Wedding
The day started out as many Colorado days do in March: A strong sun brought the daytime temperature well into the 60s and I got to ride my horse outside before heading out to shoot Mary and Brad's wedding.
By the time the afternoon rolled in, so had ominous rain clouds that lingered, but stayed at bay while Mary and Brad arrived at Hudson Gardens with their family and bridal parties. They say that rain on your wedding day is good luck, but Mary had her heart set on snow instead.
Here's what I love about shooting in Colorado though. By the time the night ended, we seemingly had all of the seasons in one day. Soon after the ceremony, the skies opened up into a hard rain that felt like every element of spring, which was right around the corner, as the little flowers that have recently popped up through the mulch have suggested. Then, for just a moment it seemed, the rain turned to hail, and then as soon as it started, morphed into big beautiful snowflakes. Mary got her wish.
Her elegant and timeless dress was so flattering, and classically beautiful. I am a sucker for lace dresses with sleeves because I just think they photograph so well, especially when they flow on the bottom without being this big cumbersome and heavy dress. Mary was able to dance and move effortlessly in her wedding gown. And her veil was light, simple, and classy.
The cabin at Hudson Gardens is cozy, with big fireplaces that were adorned with eucalyptus and other woodland greenery. The floral design was modern, with little roses peeking out around the bolder flowers. The gardens are beautiful, even in the off-season. It seems rare to find cactus growing around the evergreens, but feels natural there.
The big red barn in the back of the property rounds out the property to remind us of the working landscape and rural nature of a garden. With big open fields and manicured tree lines, we just loved this space for bride and groom portraits. Rustic details weren't forced in this setting, and the wedding guests had an amazing time celebrating and dancing the night away with their friends.
Photography: Apollo Photojournalism shot for Laura Anderson
Venue: Hudson Gardens
Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement Photographer
There’s something special about reaching high altitudes after traversing treacherous terrain that rewards tired legs and beating hearts. It could be as simple as endorphins being released from the exercise or something more complex like measuring our mortality against the backdrop of conquering massive mountains. Either way, climbing mountains and taking in epic views defines the meaning of awesome.
Callie & Josh's Intimate Mountain Wedding | Rocky Mountain National Park | Estes Park, Colorado | Adventure Wedding Photography | Apollo Photojournalism
Heather and I’s first hike together was near Lake George in upstate New York. It was short, but I remember scrambling up the last couple hundred feet, thinking that the summit was just over the next ridge quickly exhausting myself in the process. When we finally reached the top, I scanned the seemingly endless rolling green hills, panning across the horizon like my eyes were breathing in the refreshing mountain air.
There’s something special about reaching high altitudes after traversing treacherous terrain that rewards tired legs and beating hearts. It could be as simple as endorphins being released from the exercise or something more complex like measuring our mortality against the backdrop of conquering massive mountains. Either way, climbing mountains and taking in epic views defines the meaning of awesome.
We love documenting mountain weddings because they’re so organic and personal. When we immerse ourselves in towering pines and humbling rock faces, we stand in nature to celebrate love as members of our natural environment rather than separate from it. We say scrap the white tablecloths, vinyl tents, and stuffy reception halls and step into the woods and feel the rain. There’s a time to be clean and then there’s a time to feel something, celebrate, and cut loose – we believe your wedding day should be the latter.
Living in Arvada, Colorado, is like living in front of the armoire of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, because at a moments notice we can open up the doors and wander through a world of meandering roads, trickling creeks, and splashing waterfalls. Adventures are never in short supply when the beautiful unknown is less than an hour drive away. This proximity to the Rockies makes mountain weddings accessible realities rather than fleeting dreams.
Let us document your dream mountain wedding, but first... why do you want to get married on a mountain?
Some of our favorite mountain spots in Colorado:
Rocky Mountain National Park for it's famous landscapes and epic elopement locations
Pikes Peak for that "on top of the world" feeling
Guanella Pass for the best views of Mount Beirstadt without all of the hiking
Alderfer / Three Sisters Park for a close-to-Denver adventure and awesome 360 views
Some of our favorite mountain spots outside of Colorado:
Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia for those epic rolling mountains and blue hues that never disappoint
Buck Mountain in Lake George for some of the best Adirondack views
Breakneck Ridge in Cold Spring NY for a close to New York City adventure and cute town to explore
Mount Killington in Vermont for the best New England autumn colors
Sharp Top Mountain in Virginia for light-tight 360 degree views
We have gone on countless adventures and can help you plan your epic mountain elopement or intimate wedding! We've done everything from taking a tiny Cessna plane up to the summit of Mt. Denali in Alaska, to exploring the waterfalls in Telluride, Colorado. Contact us for a true adventure of a lifetime!
Lindsey & Jeff's Colorado Winter Engagement Photography at Lake Dillon
Lindsey & Jeff's Winter Engagement Session | Lake Dillon, Colorado | Mountain Engagement Photography | Adventure Couple | Dog Lovers | Apollo Photojournalism
Lindsey and Jeff are everything that I love about my Colorado couples: they are fun and easygoing, outdoor enthusiasts, dog lovers, and down to earth. Lindsey is bubbly and outgoing, and when I first met her she was planning a wedding while wrapping up her nursing degree. Jeff is composed and polite, and when they first met, it was only fitting that they hit a park together to take their dogs on a walk together.
They quickly connected over their love of dogs and nature, so we knew right away that we wanted the pups to be part of their engagement photos! They wanted those epic Colorado mountain landscapes and Lake Dillon was the perfect backdrop. It was a chilly Denver day, but the sun was out which made it surprisingly bearable. However, by the time we made it up the mountain and out to Lake Dillon, the wind had picked up and the elevation was doing us no favors. It was a balmy seven degrees Fahrenheit (are you picking up on the sarcasm yet)??? Oh my lord, it was FREEZING! With the wind chill coming off the lake, the "feels like" weather report was well into the negatives.
As soon as we stepped out of the car, I thought Lindsey and Jeff were going to want to reschedule. No way they were going to want to shoot in this weather, I thought to myself. But they just smiled and said, "Let's go!" I loved their can-do attitude, embracing the harsh Colorado sun that was bouncing off the pristine snow, and absolute chill that was running over the lake. We did take a few breaks to warm back up in the car and I kept having to warm my camera up in my jacket because it was struggling to keep up, but we got these awesome shots which made it SO WORTH IT!
Lindsey was so sweet because as we were headed back to Denver, she thought the pictures were going to be horrible. She said thought her face was all frozen and her eyes would be too squinty, but I sent her a sneak-peak that night and she was over the moon! This is one of my favorite parts about my job, when the conditions are less-than-ideal and we can turn around and make epic photos anyway. Any photographer can shoot beautiful pictures in optimal weather with diffused golden light, but I pride myself on being able to 'wow' my clients when it's freezing and we're only able to shoot in blaring direct sun, too!!
Colorado Engagement Photography: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Location: Lake Dillon, Colorado
Alex & Rae's International Wedding in New York State
Alex & Ragnhild's New York State Wedding | International Weddings | NYC Wedding Photography | Norwegian Dancers | Apollo Photojournlism
I met Alex on the Upper West Side in NYC at a restaurant. We got to chatting at the bar and I told him that I was a photographer, and as it turned out, he was engaged to his fiancé Ragnhild and looking for a wedding photographer. After talking a while longer, we realized that we had quite a few mutual friends from the neighborhood, and it all fell into place right after that.
Alex is a personal trainer and a former professional basketball player. He met Rae on the court, when her professional dancing career took her to one of his games. Rae and her daughter, Denise, were from Norway and literally packed up their lives to live in New York City with Alex. They have such a loving and playful relationship that made my job so easy!
Their wedding day kicked off with the guys hitting the basketball court, which was a fun alternative to traditional wedding mornings. Terrence was out there playing with the groomsmen, and it really reminded me of how much fun we have on our wedding days! The ceremony was officiated by a friend, who spoke of them so eloquently that it made me cry behind the camera. Yes, I still get emotional when I shoot!
The reception was one of my favorites to date. Rae's bridesmaids were all on her dancing squad and had planned a secret dance special for the couple. A room full of professional Norwegian dancers is just as much fun as it sounds. Oh my god they were talented! It was such a great party.
The importance of memories:
When you’re in a particular industry long enough, it’s easy to forget the importance of your job. You wake up on Monday, meet deadlines, schedule future goals, work through the drudgery, finish the week, and if you’re lucky, do it all over again on the following Monday. Wedding photojournalism is no exception.
Then, once in a while something happens, something that jars you out of your automatic work setting and you take a step back. Sometimes it’s good news like a family member is having a baby and other times it’s something tragic like someone has passed away. Whatever the case may be your life is drastically different than what it was just a few days before.
One of the defining things about wedding photojournalism is that we capture particular moments in our client’s lives where happiness and celebration are center stage. We have the luxury to see people at their best, laughing among their family and friends, assuming the roles they’ve carved out their who lives by sharing the stories that have made them into the persons they’ve become. When things inevitably change in their lives in the months or years that follow, we watch their stories unfold through the photos we’ve taken and we’re drawn right back to the happiness of that day.
Each story we relive is a jarring reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance that weddings hold in bringing people together, rekindling relationships, and the celebration of love and happiness. From budding romances to lost love ones, our photos travel across time, telling our present selves the story of our past, hugging our hearts with tangible memories and familiar feelings. It’s borderline wizardry how our inanimate pens and lenses can animate our past so vividly.
As wedding photojournalists we professionally tell love stories, but it’s as friends that we remember our client’s personally. Connecting with you all is what makes us remember that our jobs are important and our happiness immemorial. Thank you for your love.
New York State Wedding Photographer: Apollo Photojournalism | Erny Photo CO