This touching summer wedding day took us from The American Hotel in downtown in Freehold to a ceremony in Princeton and back again for a beautiful reception. We met the Caitlin in the midst of hair and makeup in the bridal suite of the historic American Hotel in the Freehold Borough on a rainy morning. Originally built in the 1840s, the exterior and many interior touches of the hotel are nearly unchanged from when it’s origins as a tavern for travelers through central New Jersey. After hair and makeup was complete, her mom helped put on the finishing touches just as Steve arrived. Taking shelter from the rain, we used one of the beautiful front porches of the hotel as a spot for their first look.
As the rain clouds parted, we made our way through the farmlands of central NJ to the beautiful Princeton University campus for family and bridal party photos. The amazing architecture of the stone buildings served as an amazing backdrops and provided unique natural lighting to help us create one-of-a-kind photos. The traditional catholic ceremony and a full mass took place at the vast St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church located just off of Nassau Street. The giant stained glass windows flooded the church with a beautiful blue light giving an amazing vibe to the guests and a unique look to the photos.
After a handful of family photos on the alter, we drove back to The American Hotel where a huge buffet of cocktail food and a full wine table was awaiting the guests and couple in their grand ballroom lit up with pink and orange up-lights. Soon, the couple made their first entrance as a married couple which flowed directly into dances, toasts, a blessing, and dinner. The dance floor opened and all in attendance ate, drank, and partied late into the night. We had a great time photographing this wedding day and wish the couple the best in their new lives together going forwards!
We always look forward photographing weddings and engagements right in our hometown of Freehold and the nearby historic Princeton. Both towns have a deep history going back to the colonial era of the New Jersey which is preserved in many buildings and parks that serve as a backdrop for many marriage celebrations. If you are looking for a wedding photographer or an engagement photographer, Contact Us for more information about or packages.
See Caitlin and Steve’s engagement session at Sandy Hook HERE.