I was introduced to Veronica and Mike by my good friend Taylor Galloway, a photographer in Los Angeles. Taylor and I are both alums of Montclair State University and have stayed in close touch since graduating. When Taylor mentioned that he was going to be a guest at the wedding, I was excited that I would get to see my old buddy. I was even more excited when Veronica shared with me that her and Mike were going to surprise Taylor by asking him to be a groomsman in the wedding party! 🎉 I was able to keep the secret and when Taylor told me he was going to be one of the groomsmen for Mike, I told him that I has been in on it for quite a while. 😉

On the day of the wedding, I (and I think everyone) had silently been hoping, praying, wishing, etc… that the rain 🌧 would hold off. We were not awarded that great fortune to say the least. Some people say rain on a wedding day is good luck, but no bride wants to hear that. I do whatever it takes rain or shine, to get the best photos possible, and Veronica and Mike had to endure a lot of rain on their wedding day. ☔️ I don’t mention this to lament the day or speak negatively about it. In fact quite to the contrary, Veronica and Mike became were the super hero couple who didn’t complain about the rain even once during the entire day. Beyond that, they also both got out in the rain for photos! I did my part by using an off camera flash and colored gel to make it look like there was a sunset for some of the photos. While this is not a technique I have the luxury of using all of the time, I felt that this was the right time to do it. Mike and Veronica were even patient enough to trust me to cut out of their reception for 5 minutes for a quick night photo (also in the rain) which is the first image I put in this blog post. My second photographer Christina Meerloo expertly helped me throughout the difficult parts of the portrait session with the lighting. Thank you Christina!

As the day progressed I realized more and more, just what a solid group of people Veronica and Mike surrounded themselves with. ❤️ I of course thought highly of them because of how close they both are with Taylor, but everyone else who I came in contact with was super friendly including both sets of parents, and the very eager to help bridesmaids! Taylor warned me that Mike might be a little shy for photos, but he loosened up pretty quickly and he was such a good sport about doing the photos even in the rain. I am calling out every groom who has ever complained about photos – Mike should be your role model! 🤵

I also want to give a tremendous shoutout to the staff at Bear Brook Valley who were so kind, accommodating, and helpful to both Veronica/Mike and the vendors. This is a terrific venue that is beautiful, clean, and perfectly located for a rustic, yet sophisticated New Jersey wedding. I know those two descriptions could be considered conflicting, but in my eyes Bear Brook Valley brings all of the modern amenities couples expect from their venues, while maintaining the classic country/off the beaten path aesthetic. Also the food is just fantastic. Best cocktail hour I’ve ever had. Thank you Veronica and Mike for letting me indulge after a hard day of work. Thank you to everyone who helped make Veronica and Mike’s day a resounding successful. Pink Dahila Floral & Event design really hit it out of the park as well. Veronica and the bridesmaids all had vibrant flowers, and the reception area was perfectly decorated. I really hope to work with both Pink Dahila and Bear Brook Valley again!

Make-up Artist: Make Me Up Eva
Venue: Bear Brook Valley
Florist: Pink Dahlia Floral & Event Design
Videography: Reggio Productions
Bakery: Palermo’s Bakery
DJ or Band: LJDJs