Samantha and Stephen

Weddings

Princeton New Jersey Film Wedding Photographer Princeton University Wedding Photography by Magdalena Studios NJ Wedding Photographer43

A Romantic Garden Wedding In Princeton, New Jersey

It was such a dream to capture this gorgeous Princeton University wedding! Samantha & Stephen worked with Fête Urbane to plan the prettiest garden ceremony. Cherry Valley Country Club, a central New Jersey venue, was the perfect pick for their reception.

Samantha & Stephen had a pretty specific vision for their wedding. With the help of their wedding planner, Angie Rayfield of Fete Urbane, they were able to make that vision come alive! Everything started with Samantha’s gown, classic, off white, silk shantung ball gown with a plunging neckline from New York designer, Antonio Gual. The couple chose Cherry Valley Country Club because of its lush outdoor and indoor spaces that they could make their own. For the ceremony, Samantha wanted a classic and sophisticated, but natural, backdrop, so greens were the perfect setting. With Angie’s help, each space guests occupied flowed into one another. From the florals and cross-back chairs in the outdoor ceremony space, to the installations leading into the patio cocktail hour, to the linens and centerpieces in reception space – it was perfection!

Together, Samantha & Stephen decided on a color palette that would compliment and enhance the natural beauty of the Princeton wedding venue and the bridal party. No detail was left unturned. The couple wanted something unique in terms of table seating and wedding favors, and they were able to achieve that through a unique installation of mini limoncello bottles that had each guest’s name and table on it. Guests could grab and go on their way up to cocktail hour!

From Samantha

“My favorite moment was the first look between my husband, Stephen and I. Magi & Scott set it up in the most gorgeous spot in Princeton and made it so seamless. I was most looking forward to this moment, to see the look on Stephen’s face when I tapped him on the shoulder – and it did not disappoint! It was captured so beautifully on camera by both Magi and Seth from Sea Isle Films. I’ve probably watched it one hundred times already! Another favorite was seeing my bouquet for the first time. I mean, I remember wanting a very classic, simple and clean look for the big day, and namely for my flowers. Angie asked me to trust her and started recommending the most breathtakingly beautiful and vibrant colors that complemented the space, the bridal party and the season. I cannot tell you how blown away I was and happy I am to have trusted Angie’s keen eye. I still cannot get over the flowers in my photos.”

Samantha’s Advice For Future Brides

“Get yourself a planner! If not just for the sheer ease and support during the planning process, but for helping bring your vision to life and select the right vendors to make that happen. Important to note that like finding the right partner, you want to be sure to find a planner that you vibe with and gets your style and vision. Personally, I found it challenging to tackle wedding planning all on my own on top of finishing up my MBA program and a new role at work. We were fortunate to be able to hire Angie and her talented team at Fete Urbane. I felt like I shared a brain with Angie and so it was truly a match made in wedding planning heaven. She and her team are a group of talented designers with a floral background as well, so it made it that much more aligned. When budgeting for the big day, make sure you think about the things that will make your day memorable – what’s special to you and what you will remember 5, 10, 20 years from now. For me, the experience for my guests was super important. I wanted the space to come alive when people arrived at the outdoor ceremony, walked up the ramp to the patio for cocktail hour, entered the reception space, and made their way to the after-party. We were able to achieve that with unique installations, thanks to House of Catherine, that were a nod to our Italian heritage and honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast, gorgeous flowers, textured linens, and more.”

The Honeymoon

“Stephen took on the bulk of the honeymoon planning as he’s incredibly detail-oriented and organized. We booked the most magical trip to Italy; spending a couple of days in Rome and then the remainder in Positano with day trips to Capri, Amalfi, Ravello and Sorrento. I highly, highly recommend taking your honeymoon – or at least a mini-moon, post-wedding celebration. There’s so much work (and stress) that goes into planning that it’s such a relief to get away and spend that time together. We just kept riding that high of having just gotten married and it was an experience we’ll never forget.”

Want to explore more of our favorite New Jersey wedding venues? Check out Ashford Estate, The Reeds, Bonnet Island Estate and Mallard Island Yacht Club!