Before Their Park Loft Wedding: A Belmar Coffee Shop to the Beach

We started their engagement session at Turnstile Coffee Roasters, the Belmar coffee shop Dave owns. From there, we headed to a nearby park and eventually the beach for sunset.

Bri is naturally a little more outgoing, while Dave brings a calmer energy. The two balance each other incredibly well.

They talked with each other, talked with me, laughed, wandered around and let things happen. Their dog, Dottie, had no interest in sitting perfectly still for a photo either. Honestly, that only made the images feel more like them.

By the time we reached the beach, Bri and Dave were completely down to run around and chase each other through the sand. Nothing felt over-directed, and we never needed to turn the session into a giant list of poses.

I also discovered they’re big Yankees fans, which admittedly made getting along with them even easier.

So when their Park Loft wedding arrived, none of us needed to figure each other out again. We simply picked up where we left off.

If you’re planning your own session, I put together a guide on some of my favorite NJ Engagement Session Locations.

A Rainy Wedding Day at Park Loft

Rain is almost never Plan A for wedding portraits. Fortunately, Bri and Dave didn’t treat it like a catastrophe.

Their attitude made adapting incredibly easy. Park Loft also gives us some fantastic indoor spaces for wedding photography. Rather than force portraits outdoors in weather that wasn’t cooperating, we leaned into the architecture, windows and character inside the venue.

Bri’s morning gave us a pretty accurate preview of the day ahead. At one point, she was doing shoulder presses and curls while hair and makeup wrapped up. A little later, things grew quieter as she put on her jewelry and read a letter from Dave through very real tears. Then, almost immediately, the silliness came right back.

Meanwhile, Dave spent the morning shooting pool, laughing and having a few beers with the guys before getting ready for their first look.

When Bri and Dave finally saw each other, the reaction had everything you’d hope for: tears, laughter and that immediate sense of relief that comes with seeing your person. Then they did something we really love here at MZP…

Instead of saving their most personal words for a room full of guests, Bri and Dave read private vows to one another during their first look. For a few minutes, they created a quiet pocket of the wedding day that belonged entirely to them.

Afterward, we explored some of Park Loft’s best indoor spaces for portraits. Including the balcony overlooking the restored ballroom, the high-contrast wallpaper outside the bridal suite, and the deep navy leather seating nearby. The cocktail-hour space also gave us beautiful natural light through its large numerous skylights.

I’ve written more about Park Loft, its incredible indoor spaces, and why it works so well for weddings in my guide on why you should consider having your wedding there.

A Relaxed Park Loft Wedding Ceremony in the Belvedere

Because Bri and Dave had already shared their personal vows privately, their ceremony in Park Loft’s Belvedere could stay exactly what they wanted: brief, relaxed and celebratory.

Understated florals and simple decor complemented the room’s neutral classy architecture without overwhelming the space.

I loved photographing their parents’ reactions almost as much as Bri’s huge smiles and laughter throughout the ceremony. Those quick glances from the people closest to a couple often become some of my favorite photographs in a wedding gallery.

After the ceremony, Bri and Dave cheered their way back up the aisle together before stopping for a dip surrounded by everyone they had just married in front of.

Actually Enjoying Cocktail Hour

Here’s one of my favorite things about the way Bri and Dave planned their wedding: they went to their own cocktail hour.

That sounds obvious until you realize how many couples spend most of that hour somewhere else taking photographs.

Bri and Dave intentionally kept their wedding-party and family-photo lists short so they could spend that time hugging guests, catching up with people and actually enjoying the celebration they had brought everyone together for.

Their cocktail hour also included a strolling magician performing card tricks for guests, which gave everyone one more reason to gather, laugh and react.

Simple white florals kept the decor elegant without feeling overly stuffy. They also let Park Loft’s architecture and vibe shine without competing with oversized arrangements or too many colors.

There were a couple of short speeches, including a thank-you from the newlyweds themselves. Rather than focus only on the person holding the microphone, I kept looking back toward Bri and Dave and the people around them.

Their reactions usually tell just as much of the story as the speech itself.

A Packed Park Loft Wedding Reception

After dinner, Bri changed into a shorter, modern reception dress before she and Dave cut their cake.

From there, the dance floor filled up and barely slowed down for the rest of the night.

Bri stayed right in the middle of everything.

I also moved up to Park Loft’s balcony and nearby staircase throughout the night. Sometimes the best way to show the energy of a dance floor is to step away from it for a moment. From above, you could see just how packed the ballroom had become.

Eventually, Bri and Dave even made their way behind the DJ booth.

Nothing about the day felt like they were checking boxes for what a wedding was supposed to look like. They made room for the emotional moments, kept the traditions that mattered, skipped plenty that didn’t, and spent the rest of the night surrounded by their people.

Exactly as they intended from the beginning.

Bri + Dave’s Vendor List

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Park Loft

Video: Tony Rome Films

Strolling Magician: Magic by Marco

Florist: Desiree Dean

Entertainment: Lucas Walters

Makeup: Lorena Ferreira

Hair: Corinne from HairStyledbyK

Entertainment: Reel Productions