Cozy and Intimate June Ceremony at Laurelwood Arboretum

February 17, 2022

laurwelwood arboretum wayne new jersey intimate private backyard ceremony wedding covid june wedding summer

Sarah and Joe wanted a very private and intimate, down-to-earth ceremony with just their closest friends and family present. They chose Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne, New Jersey for the ceremony last June. This is when Steve and I are most in love with our jobs. We get this voyeuristic peek into a snippet of someone’s life – on their most important day of unifying their relationship. There were countless special moments, especially between Joe and Sarah’s two daughters. The love and joy was palpable and very, very real.

The vision was a laid-back, colorful garden & backyard party. These two just wanted a fun day with close friends and family with lots of time to hang out, eat good food and enjoy the time together. The color scheme consisted of peaches, teals and ALL the colors of flowers. 🙂

For a Summer day in June at Laurelwood Arboretum, it was a bit of a misty and darker day. Sarah’s vision of vibrant flowers popped even more amongst the very green gardens. This modern garden is one of our absolute favorite places in general for engagement or portrait sessions. We were so excited to have the opportunity to photograph a small wedding here, followed by portraits of the couple. Sarah and Joe chose Laurelwood Arboretum because they wanted a beautiful space outdoors. Laurelwood was the best option because it’s not a full-fledged wedding venue and it’s not a public park. The scenery in the early Summer when everything was in bloom with lots of greenery was just gorgeous. It’s the perfect combination of natural forest and manicured garden.

The chillest backyard “reception”

If covid has taught us anything, is that a wedding day can look however you want it to look. It can be whatever you want it to be that’s meaningful for you as a couple. The private ceremony in Laurelwood took place within a meadow behind the sculpture trail and only had approximately 25 guests. After the ceremony ended, we did some family and friend group shots. It was easy and casual. The guests left and we walked around the gardens with just Sarah and Joe. They were so incredibly cute together. After we were done with portraits, these two hosted a dinner in their backyard afterward.

Upon arrival there was a roaring bonfire, lawn games and some killer hors d’oeuvres that all contributed to an informal, relaxing atmosphere. Guests sipped their drinks and chatted. The children ran around the lawn playfully. Desserts made lovingly from scratch were set out for everyone to enjoy at their leisure. We wish all weddings were this chill!

Tell us about yourselves!

“We met working together about five years ago. We love to spend time in the outdoors as much as possible! We fell in love taking hikes, going to the beach and exploring new campsites. We also are both creative and have collaborated on a few art projects. Our last binge was an old season of Top Chef but lately we have been taking a TV break and catching up on movies we missed this year.”