Courtney & Kevin :: Ryland Inn Wedding Photos

Courtney and Kevin’s big day was picture perfect: from the weather to the incredible amount of unique details, nothing was missed, and everything had a place. Bride Courtney was the perfect wedding planner and it shows in every photo! Take a peek for yourself…

Courtney and Kevin are the picture perfect couple: they are sweet and kind, active and fun-loving, and super adorable. They love to poke at how tiny she is compared to how tall he is, and even used it as a hashtag for their big day, #thetallandthesmall! They are such a special couple to me for many reasons, and I knew it from the moment I shot their engagement shoot at Princeton University.

The Ryland Inn is one of my favorite venues to shoot at: the location is gorgeous, with multiple spots around the property for amazing shots, the food is fantastic, and perhaps most importantly, the staff is unbelievably kind and caring. With weddings, come hiccups, and every single person at the Ryland Inn will go to great lengths to ensure whatever is thrown at them is handled with style and grace.

Courtney was super prepared and had such vision, that when it all came together, nothing was missed. From the colors she selected, to the record player with vinyl records of love songs used for the guestbook, to the family traditions throughout the day, each detail was selected with purpose, pride and joy.

Thank you Courtney and Kevin for giving me the honor of capturing your big day. I loved every second of it and look back at all of your photos with so much joy – I hope you do, too!

Vendors

Venue: Ryland Inn // Stationery: Minted // Florals: Bloomery Flower Studio // Cake: Palermo’s // Make Up: Beauty on Location // Hair: La Sorella Bridal // Wedding Atelier: Kleinfeld // Wedding Bands: Gabriel & Co. // Veil: Kleinfeld Bridal // Brides Shoes: Badgley Mischka & Kate Spade // Bridesmaids Gowns: David’s Bridal // Bridal Jewelry: Kate Spade // Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Calvin Klein // Bridal Gown: Madison James // DJ and Saxaphone Player: iReserve Entertainment // Cinematographer: Live Picture Studios //

How did you two meet and fall in love?

We met through a mutual friend.  Kevin was visiting his friend from back home, who was my neighbor and good friend in college.  I saw Kevin standing in the corner of the party and asked one of my friends who he was, since i hadn’t seen him before, and he walked me right over to him and introduced us.  After that party we kept in touch and our first date a short time later was a hockey game and pizza – Kevin did his research and found out that those are two of my favorite things!  It has been a decade of knowing each other since, and throughout the years, falling in love and really feeling an appreciation and respect for one another.  

What was your favorite memory from your wedding day?

There really are so many I can’t pick just one!  I loved our first look- to be able to see each other and have that initial reaction captured and shared in a smaller setting is something we will both treasure, and am really happy we opted to do one.  It was special getting ready that day with my mom and my sister in laws and all of us being so excited for the wedding.  A few of our dances were also highlights- we both loved our first dance, where we had sparklers timed with the transitions in the music, my father-daughter dance and dance with my brothers are moments that I will forever cherish,  and I loved that the end of the night was a huge dance circle of everyone (including my grandmother in her nineties!) surrounding us.  There was so much love in that room, and you could feel it in that dance circle.  We are such a blessed couple to have all of these amazing people in our lives to celebrate with.

What was most important to you when planning your wedding?

We wanted the day to be a true reflection of us! This also included incorporating the little details (having our favorite comfort foods at cocktail hour, creating a cozy feel with floating candles and lanterns illuminating the ballroom).

Was there a theme behind your wedding day? What colors did you choose? What ‘feeling’ were you going for?

Our theme was “falling in love” – we wanted to embrace the change in season in September and the romantic vibe of a fall wedding. Our colors were portobello, gold, and peach, with greenery and white pumpkins in our décor.

What made you choose your specific venue for your wedding day?

We toured the Ryland Inn and immediately knew this was the place we wanted to get married and the place that was the most fitting to symbolize the start of the next chapter of our lives together.  We selected their grand ballroom- in particular we loved the high ceilings, charming birdcage chandeliers, and rustic stonework surrounding the fireplace.  The Ryland ballroom offered us a touch of elegance, while at the same time being warm and inviting, and reflecting our personalities and how we wanted everyone to feel at our wedding.  Being able to have our ceremony onsite in the grand ballroom patio space provided the intimacy that we wanted for our vow exchange.  Last but not least, the food at the Ryland Inn is delicious – we loved the farm to table concept, the support of locally grown fresh ingredients, and the combination of textures and flavors in each dish making everything truly taste delicious and unique.  We appreciated having our wedding at a venue that could accommodate all of the personal touches we wanted to incorporate, and deliver an enhanced experience for our wedding guests.

What piece of advice would you give to future couples planning their big day?

Plan early and research your vendors well- remember, these are the people that are providing a service on the most important day of your life!  You will remember each other, your families, and your friends, but you also remember some of the people that do everything possible to make your day amazing, and we are fortunate that our vendors- photography, entertainment, makeup, hair, and the team at The Ryland Inn, all came together and were truly incredible and did this for us.  Create the day that you want to have and that shows your relationship as a couple, because everyone is there to celebrate you both!

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Ryland Inn wedding photos by New Jersey wedding photographers, Jaye Kogut Photography