David’s Country Inn Summer Wedding

March 2, 2023

David’s Country Inn, Hackettstown NJ August Summer wedding Paloma Blanca The Black Tux

Jess and Griffin’s beautiful Summer wedding at David’s Country Inn in Hackettstown, NJ took place last August. The previous Summer, we had met them at Jockey Hollow for their engagement session. We knew one thing was for sure, this couple loves to have a good time together. They bring out the best in each other and it was so sweet to watch it all unfold on their wedding day.

The Details

The bride got ready in the Warren Suite onsite at David’s Country Inn, while the groom prepped at the Holiday Inn Budd Lake nearby in Mt Olive, NJ. It was nice for the girls to have full use of the upstairs suite, even though we let Griffin do his finishing touches up there before portraits. 😉

The bride’s dress was Paloma Blanca from Tina’s Bridal and the bridesmaid dresses were from David’s Bridal. The groom’s tuxedo was from The Black Tux. The overall vibe the couple was aiming for was “rustic, country & farm-y.” The color scheme was dusty blue & slate blue with white flowers and mixed greenery including eucalyptus. Jess wanted a light and airy feel for a summer wedding. The couple chose David’s for its historical beauty and because it doesn’t feel like a typical banquet hall. They especially loved the new courtyard.

Their wedding day was more traditional in the sense they opted not to do a first look, so to save time later we did separated photos pre-ceremony. They bride and groom took shifts outside for their individual portraits and photos with bridal party. Later after the ceremony was over, we did everything else during the beginning of cocktail hour. A beautiful part of their wedding day was the interfaith ceremony. The ceremony was performed by both Father Tom Pendrick of St. Mary’s for Jess’s Catholic family and Rabbi Nat Benjamin for Griffin’s Jewish family. The two worked seamlessly together to conduct a very unifying ceremony for both faiths.

Since the couple opted not to do a first look, they instead shared a “first touch” prior to the ceremony. We found a quiet, private spot to do it by the stain glass windows and backed Griffin up to Jess with his eyes shut. They were both giggly and emotional. It was incredibly sweet. Since they did not see each other at all, Jess was really excited about Griffin’s reaction of her coming down the aisle during ceremony. It was a priority because they wanted timeless photos that were not overly staged.

Vintage Volkswagen Photobooth & Late Night Munchies

It’s always a good idea to surprise your guests. It was luckily such a nice night out, the staff at David’s Country Inn was able to open the doors of the reception room and allow the guests to hang outside. They could make use of the awesome vintage Volkswagen Photobooth provided by Metro Photo Bus. We also used it as a prop for Jess & Griffin’s portraits. 🙂 Later in the night, Curbside Confections arrived, and it was a HUGE hit! They provided candy & McDonald’s at the end of the reception. Guests could fill up goodie bags to take home with them. We also ended the evening with a night shot out by the firepits. Overall, it was just a really great day celebrated with Jess & Griffin’s friends and family!

How did you get engaged?

In February of 2021, the couple closed on their first house. Griffin proposed the day before and it became the “first memory” in their new house!

Tell us about yourselves!

“We met in 2016 while working for an aviation parts supplier in Yonkers, NY. There was an instant connection and familiar feeling that we have met before, even though we never did. I like to think of that as soul recognition. We purchased our first home in February 2021 and have spent every weekend since then trying to get organized lol. We enjoy spending time with our families, going on adventures and binge watching on the couch.”

David’s Country Inn, Hackettstown NJ August Summer wedding Paloma Blanca The Black Tux