We had such a good time photographing Valerie and Danny’s engagement session at Cross Estate Gardens last June! This is a great spot for kicking off the Summer. The gardens begin to bloom, everything is green and flower buds are beginning to pop with color. We love wandering around the grounds and through some meadows. Once you pass through a latched gate you discover a private little garden and vine-covered stone trellis. Cross Estate Gardens is one of our favorite places because we always encourage our couples to make a date night out of their sessions.

The Gardens are incredibly close to the Morristown area where there are tons of restaurants and bars to choose from (you can go before or after your session depending on the time of year!) Steve and I are partial to a spot called The Black Horse Tavern & Pub in Mendham, NJ. We usually stop here ourselves after working a session for a drink!

Tell us about yourselves!

“We met through a mutual friend at our local watering hole, where we quickly realized we shared the same passion for the New York Rangers and cooking. After a VERY romantic first date that included a 3D movie (Jurassic Park – not kidding) it was all she wrote. Coincidentally, we lived in the same town and graduated from the same High School 1 year a part, but never actually met until a couple years after college.

In our spare time we love cooking, relaxing, and venturing. I realize venturing is very broad but it’s pretty all-encompassing – whether it’s traveling to a quick getaway spot, finding unique trails/lakes, trying a new brewery, we love getting out of the house and seeing new things.”

And speaking of the NY Rangers, scroll to see their adorable pup adorned in a Rangers bandana!

We’re getting excited because as we write this blog post, Valerie & Danny’s wedding is already coming up fast in March next month at Rock Island Lake Club. They’ll be kicking off our Spring season at one of our favorite venues.

These two chose Rock Island because they love the view of the lake there and how free-flowing the grounds outside transition into indoor spaces. The open concept makes it easy to access everything like the outdoor firepits without breaking up the party. We can’t wait for March 19th!