💋 White Cadillac convertible with red interior and matching hair to boot– what a dream it was for me to be a Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer on Marissa & Anthony’s big day!
Also, I photographed at least a dozen of the wedding guests before, including 4 couple’s weddings and came in knowing most of the kiddos & parents at this wedding!
Classic Details: Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer
Marissa shares, “We wanted a classic, timeless, and elegant feel to our day. Roses are my favorite flower and Anthony always finds the most beautiful bouquets of them for me.”
Just look at Marissa’s rings!! The cut of each diamond is amazing and so unique!
She Said Yes to the Dress
This dress was made for Marissa! She looked absolutely stunning in it! I love to capture candid moments like this one of Marissa giving her dress a big hug before putting it on, haha!
Men’s Preparations: Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer
Marissa smiles, “Anthony actually picked out his tuxedo completely on his own– it was custom-made for him. I didn’t see it until our first look on our wedding day and WOW it was PERFECT. The velvet jacket was AMAZING and the red leafing on the inside was also a nice touch.”
She adds, “Renting the Kimblewick Suite was also a GREAT decision. There was plenty of space for us to get ready and spend the day preparing with our families.”
I’ve Literally Photographed All of These Kids’ Parent’s Weddings!
Marissa laughs, “We LOVED the bubble chair and each had several photoshoots sitting in it– some professional and some not-so-professional, haha.”
First Look: Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer
Marissa recalls, “It started when we were teenagers working for Anthony’s parents’ seasonal pool business, and rekindled in our twenties with date nights that could’ve been straight out of a romantic comedy and tons of traveling. Fast forward to my relocating to New Jersey to live with Anthony and pursue a new career, to Anthony’s fairytale proposal on the Brooklyn promenade followed by an after party at a rooftop winery– really the kind of stuff you see in the movies.”
Same Background, Different Vantage Points
When I saw this red tree, and the white venue, I knew they would fit perfectly into Marissa’s color palette!
Here the couple is in the same location, I’m just using different lenses, and angles, and standing at different vantage points.
When I look at a space creatively, there is a lot I can do! I also have an eye for *your aesthetic* and incorporate it into my photography!
White Cadillac Convertible, Red Interior, and Matching Hair to Boot!
Marissa shares, “Uncle Bobby is a phenomenal mechanic and car collector. He’s not *really* our uncle, but we have A LOT of extra aunts and uncles, lol. He has been friends with my dad since they were in grammar school. While the red interior was something he had restored years ago, the convertible top was re-done in red JUST FOR OUR BIG DAY! And yes to match my hair! I couldn’t even believe it, it was an amazing surprise.”
She continues, “Uncle Bobby has the biggest heart and he puts it into everything he does. He actually rebuilt a matching El Dorado (with the help of my dad) to gift to his brother Michael to enjoy while he was still healthy enough– we unfortunately lost him to cancer last year. He wouldn’t have missed our wedding for the world, and we all miss him very much.”
“Reflecting” Back on Some Key Moments!!
I love to get creative with photography, and one of my favorite elements to use is reflections, and cars give me so much to play with!! From the rearview to shining chrome and glass, Uncle Bobby gave us so many reflective surfaces. When he wheeled the car out, it was gleaming! Of course, the beaming couple was incredible to work with, too!
Ceremony: Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer
Marissa says, “The second we set foot on the Ryland Inn’s property we knew we found our place. The grounds were picturesque. The Coach house was comprised of all the modern amenities we were looking for in a venue, but still kept the classic and timeless elements we had been searching for to bring our vision to life.”
It’s the Little Things: Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer
Marissa says, “ALL of the decor was handmade and designed by me (with some help from my worker bees aka mom, dad, and Anthony LOL)!”
She continues, “The seating chart inspiration: Anthony gifted me a one-of-a-kind manuscript copy of my favorite book, The Great Gatsby, for our first Christmas. It’s so special to me and I knew I needed to find a way to incorporate that into our day. The idea for the books was born! We spent DAYS painting those in our dining room, and guests used them at the end of the night to carry out sandwiches from the after-party– dual purpose I loved it!
Officially for The First Time as Mr & Mrs
Marissa shares, “We are polar opposites but somehow it works. Anthony is calm, cool, and collected at all times. I am not, haha! I am very type A. The sky could be falling and Anthony would shrug his shoulders and say ‘Well, we will figure it out’.”
Unique Traditions: Ryland Inn Wedding Photographer
Marissa smiles, “My matron of honor and I have been best friends through MANY different phases of our lives. I will never forget when she first started hanging out with her now husband she would constantly say ‘he’s just a friend!’. We laugh a lot about that now– they just celebrated five years, they had 3 beautiful babies in between all of that. Unfortunately, they never got around to having a big day of their own.”
She continues, “Loren and Pete have always supported me and loved me like a sister and when Anthony came into the picture they were elated and supportive of that relationship. Sometimes friends can see/know things from the outside looking in before it even dawns on us ourselves. They quickly became our rock. Their marriage is one we both look up to.”
Marissa smiles, “Deciding to give them a first dance on our big day was an absolute no-brainer. They have done so much for us through the years, we wanted them to have this special moment on a day when there was SO MUCH to celebrate. When we decided we wanted to do this, I managed to get Loren to tell me what their wedding song would’ve been had they had the opportunity (we pretended we couldn’t decide on our own song LOL). I wrote it down and saved it for the DJ when the time came. There were some naysayers who suggested we shouldn’t do it; saying that the day was supposed only to be about us– we both have NO regrets about it, it was arguably one of the best moments of the night. We all still can’t talk about it without crying!”
Let’s Get this Party Started!
Marissa says, “I don’t know many people that can say they enjoyed a beautifully lit fireplace throughout their wedding reception– but we had one inside AND outside— complete with fireside s’mores. We also loved the idea of farm-to-table food being served to our guests.”
She continues, “A big hit was the audio guestbook, After the Tone. We had 20 minutes of voicemails recorded from the wedding that we can listen to whenever we want. The messages got better as the night went on and people kept drinking, lol!!”
At the End of the Day
Marissa adds, “As far as the newspapers, I wanted something different from a traditional wedding program that would also illustrate the magnitude of our love to our guests that day.”
Marissa smiles, “Our wedding day was nothing short of perfect. I think it’s safe to say we both experienced a wide range of emotions that day. Excitement, nerves, sadness for those who couldn’t be with us, and indescribable joy. After our ceremony concluded and we had a second alone to be like ‘holy crap we really just did that!?’ We both instantly felt at peace and that was truly magical.”
Working with Me: A Family Tradition!!
Marissa laughs, “We chose Rhinehart Photography keeping with family tradition, lol! After seeing our family members’ and friends’ wedding photos the choice was a no-brainer. Working with you on our wedding day was a breeze, we were able to keep to a schedule, and it was seamless. We cannot wait to see what you were able to capture with your creative eye! We are hoping to be able to relive our day by looking through these photos.”
It was such a pleasure for me to see so many familiar faces at this wedding! It all started with photographing Lori & Thomas’s wedding then Christina & Pete’s wedding, and then Donna & Nick’s wedding. Telling your friends and family members about me is the greatest gift you can give me, and truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!
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