RJ + Christina || Farmstead Golf and Country Club Wedding
Christina and RJ’s story began a little after college, when they met through online dating. Through that season in their life, they discovered so many more shared interests– good food, tasty beers, superheroes, and animals. Funny enough, all those interests were highlighted on their wedding day.
From the get-go, we had a very memorable time with this couple. Weather wise, we couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant autumn day. The fall colors were vibrant throughout the day, especially with all of the sunshine we had. We spent most of the day at the Farmstead Golf & Country Club, a beautiful gem nestled amongst the mountains and forests in northern New Jersey. Their ceremony took place outdoors, followed by a reception inside FGCC’s historic and very charming two-story barn.
Perhaps our favorite aspect of RJ + Christina’s wedding was all of the many details that were thoughtfully incorporated all throughout their special day.
First off, beers. It’s no secret that Christina + RJ love beers… Even their engagement session took place at a local North Jersey brewery. What better way to highlight that love than to include beers details in both their reception decorations, as well as the floral bouquets?
They also gave a big shoutout to DC/Marvel superheroes by giving the groomsmen masks as they paraded into the reception hall. When it was Christina + RJ’s turn to enter their reception, they wore animals masks and danced in to the tune of “What Does the Fox Say?” Not too long after, the bride and her father pulled a surprise dance routine out of their sleeves, followed by an evening of partying in every corner of the barn.
All the best to our newlyweds, Christina + RJ! #hopfuzzwedding
Karen + Steven || The Inn at Lambertville Station Weddings
We feel incredibly privileged to be sharing images from this past weekend.
Karen and Steve’s love story began during their university days, followed by a few years of dating, a surprise Time Square proposal (including a very Steve-style prank), and finally culminating to a beautiful wedding celebration last Saturday. Joined by loved ones from all across the country, the days’ wedding events took place in historic Lambertville, NJ. Perhaps most impressive to us were all of the handmade DIY details seen throughout the wedding day. In fact, while photographing their wedding, we made sure to keep a very comprehensive list on our iPhones for reference.
Thankfully, the weather held out for the majority of the wedding day. We were grateful to see a little bit of sunshine + cloudiness in the mix, and wrapped up all of our outdoor photos right before the rain came. The Inn itself has a superb variety of locations to photograph, and we were glad to be photographing their wedding after very recent renovations. By far, one of our favorite aspects of the day was seeing so many familiar faces at Karen and Steve’s wedding. We counted at least 5 other couples present who’ve graced our blog over the last few years, and that made our evening all the more special.
Special mentions go to:
–Esther Lee for all the details & decorations & designs
–DJ Robbie for the great music & evening entertainment
-the folks at the Lambertville Station for making the evening possible
Below are some of our favorite frames from the day. We’re also posting more, never-before-seen images on our facebook page too, so please visit us there!
Last but not least, a big congratulations to our newlyweds, Karen and Steve!
Seah + Robert || World of Wings Wedding Receptions
Seah and Robert’s incredible wedding celebration is finally on the blog! A few short days ago, these wonderful couple tied the knot and officially became husband and wife.
Vibrant colors and cultural traditions flowed throughout this day, and we sincerely wished the day hadn’t ended. The bride and groom crafted such a nice wedding day schedule (read: well-planned with lots of time devoted to photography) in order to accommodate plenty of time for portraits. We had a brief morning photo session all throughout the grounds of the World of Wings… perhaps most spectacularly, we visited the Atrium that contained a live butterfly exhibit. Afterwards, we continued on to a late afternoon ceremony at The Church of the Atonement in Tenafly, NJ. The rest of the evening including a beautiful Korean tea ceremony and topped off the evening with a grand reception at the World of Wings.
A very special thanks to fellow photographer Paul Kim of Bōm Photography for second shooting / assisting in translations for this one!
To see more of our images, be sure to stop by our facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/DreamlitePhotography
Ellen + Chris || Philadelphia Engagement Portraits
Last week, Ellen + Chris kindly met up with Jon for some adventurous nighttime portraits. Although the cherry blossoms had just begun to bloom, we managed to find some incredible spots to work with. Below is one of Jon’s favorite frames from that evening.
Thank you both for the opportunity!
Be sure to follow us on facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/DreamlitePhotography ) to see our latest work.
Josie + Jonathan || The Estate at Florentine Gardens Weddings
We’re very excited to be featuring images from Jonathan + Josie’s marriage celebration!!
It was only yesterday that we were hanging out with this amazing couple, documenting their beautiful wedding day + feeling the joy shared by all of their much-loved guests. Josie + Jon chose to have their wedding at the elegant Estate at Florentine Gardens. Their outdoor ceremony happened during the most exceptional spring day we’ve had all year– an absolutely perfect sunny day– just the way April weddings should be. Following their ceremony was an incredible reception, filled with great food, heartwarming speeches, and some seriously laugh-out-loud reception games. Beyond all of the fun and games, we were truly honored to be there for this couple. Not just because we photographed their autumn engagement photos a few months back, nor because we were there for Jon’s sister’s wedding 3yrs before that, but for something so much bigger. This bride + groom stood confidently as they declared their vows and entered into a covenant before their loved ones + before their God, and we are so very proud to have been a part of their wedding day.
Many thanks to the staff from the Estate at Florentine Gardens for making the day run smoothly (especially, to Jeff, Denise and Nancy), as well as a special thanks to Marvin and Carlton from Lion & Lamb Productions for a great reception.
Last but not least, congratulations to our newlyweds Josie + Jonathan!
(Be sure to follow us on facebook to see more of our work from their wedding + many more)
Veronica + Mina || New Hope Engagements
The gorgeous couple that we’re showcasing below has got to be one of the bravest + strongest couples we’ve ever had the chance to work with. The first time we met Veronica was at Panera Bread. The first time we met Mina? Well, he was on a computer screen.
Long distance relationships are more than just the making of a Hollywood summer blockbuster romance– they’re difficult, scary, daunting, real… and also very admirable. From what they’ve shared with us, living on separate coasts of the USA means lots of Skype, lots of plane tickets, and lots of phone calls. If you want to know what devotion looks like, look no further than this couple.
The hardest part of our day was waking up and meeting Veronica + Mina in New Hope, PA a little before 7am. The easiest part of our day was hanging out with them. We journeyed through funky, modern New Hope, PA, and then ventured through the cozy little river town of Lambertville. At first, the fog covering provided us with an eery, unique environment to take photos. When the sun came out later on, the autumn colors shimmered and glowed.
We hope you all enjoy the engagement photos below. Once again, we congratulate Veronica + Mina on their engagement, and we look forward to their wedding this February!
(Want to see more of our work? Come visit us on facebook)
Moses + Tiff || UPenn Campus, Philadelphia
Jon’s first official tour of the University of Pennsylvania’s campus also happened to be for Moses + Tiff’s engagement session. We zig-zagged our way through campus, passing libraries, dorms, CHOP, beautiful architecture, and even took a visit to the “Dueling Tampons” . While Dreamlite won’t be there officially for their wedding celebration in the spring, Jon is extremely honored to be there as a groomsman.
Thanks again Moses + Tiff for getting engaged! 🙂
To see more of our work, visit our facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/DreamlitePhotography
Sonya + Corey || The Imperia in Somerset NJ
We’re extremely excited to share with you images from Sonya + Corey’s wedding celebration this past Friday. They decided to tie the knot at The Imperia in Somerset, NJ.
Our beautiful bride wore a stunning wedding gown–credit to Bijou Bridal of Paramus— and we could confidently add that folks didn’t stop complimenting her dress. During the couple’s ‘first look’, the groom even stumbled backwards (and nearly off the stairs) upon seeing his bride-to-be… she looked that gorgeous!
The evening wedding ceremony started a tad bit later than expected (the officiant was late), but as always, everything ending up flowing accordingly at just the right moments. The evening light was just enough to provide us with a beautiful ambiance, and the perfect night to celebrate with our bride + groom. Following their exceptionally delicious cocktail hour, the guests moved inside for a wonderful reception full of teary toasts, great food, and a whole lot of celebrating.
Thank you Sonya + Corey for allowing us to be a part of your wedding day.
We hope you all enjoy this preview from their wedding day. You can see more photos by visiting facebook fan page.
Jennifer + Kevin || New York City Engagements
Jen and Kevin are the sweetest of couples. At first impression, Jen’s outgoing persona aptly complimented Kevin’s very calm presence. After spending some time warming up with this couple, we realized quickly how at ease they were with each other. Their jokes morphed into giggles, and their giggles gave way to an abundance of laughter. We would be lying if we said they weren’t a lot of fun to pass time with.
We started our session in NYU’s Kimmel Center… but not just in any room. They made arrangements to occupy one of the music rooms, (a love they both share), and even played a couple of songs on the piano for us. We later learned this is how they first met– via a piano! Here’s an excerpt from their wedding website:
We met at OCM in September of 2000. Ironically, we met when I heard this random tall guy playing Canon in D. It was smooth but lacked some pizazz. So I decided to go over there and improvise on top of the original melody, something I love doing. “This is FUN! I have someone to JAM with! :)” – I thought to myself… and soon enough, we started playing together each Sunday after service for a while… I finally found out by chance that his name was Kevin… and he finally figured out my name was Jen…
We ventured the hallways, staircases, a study room, and eventually worked our way through the beautiful Washington Square Park. We ended our time at the nearby eateries (hint: peanuts and falafels), paying special homage to Mamoun’s Falafels on MacDougal– one of their go-to date spots while Jen was attending NYU.
Although we won’t be there for Jen and Kevin’s wedding day celebration this fall, we’re so honored that they asked us to photograph their engagement session. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your celebration.
Dreamlite + 1
A special message from Howie:
My beautiful wife and I are expecting our first child. Diana is due later this month and we couldn’t be more excited. We have not found out the gender of our baby and look forward to the surprise. We wanted to share some great photos that Jon (the other half of Dreamlite) took of us both in New York City. We hope you enjoy these photos and we’ll update you soon with more photos of the new baby! (HC)
Ben + Fanny’s Wedding
In case you missed Fanny and Ben’s wedding teasers from a few weeks back, be sure to check them out here. Back in early September, we joined this wonderful couple for their wedding celebration. Their ceremony took place at RCCC, followed by a relaxing Crowne Plaza reception in Edison, NJ. The Matron of Honor’s speech was by far one of the funniest deliveries we have heard all summer. Among the “welcome to your new marriage” gifts presented by the Matron of Honor, she made sure to include a giant bag of nacho cheesy Doritos. Apparently these chips are the groom’s keys to winning over his new wife’s favor (and besides, you can’t not listen to advice given by the bridesmaids). In regards to the dance floor, it was pretty packed all night long. Special thanks to the guest entertainers of the night (aka one father in particular) for motivating all of the young children to stay on the dance floor.
Wedding bands: Fords Jewelers
Diamonds: Helzberg Diamonds
Vera Wang Dress: Isabelle’s
Music & Entertainment by DJ Jason Estes of Elite Entertainment
Congratulations once again to Fanny + Ben!
Karl + Michelle’s Wedding
In case you need a refresher, be sure to check out the teaser photos from Karl and Michelle’s wedding day. Karl and Michelle’s wedding day celebration was as smooth as could be- their schedule was simple, easy-going, and filled with a whole lot of celebration. The ceremony was held at the Calvary Baptist Church of Little Egg Harbor, followed by portraits at the nearby Freedom Fields Park. Although the weather was quite sunny and humid on the day of, our bride and groom handled the conditions wonderfully (and just as we assure all our couples, you can’t see “yucky weather” in the final portraits).
One of the most memorable aspects of their wedding day was learning that some of the bride’s relatives had come from Ecuador for the wedding. And for those of you who know about Jon’s three month photography work/adventures in Central America, this meant he was ecstatic to practice his Spanish with one of the bride’s aunt.
Once again, congratulations to Karl and Michelle on their beautiful marriage, and we hope you enjoy our latest photoset below.
Rowais + Marti || The Palace of Somerset Park
We’re very proud to showcase our latest set of wedding photos from this season. For all of you who have been waiting for this blogpost, well… it’s finally here! We were blessed with the opportunity to spend an entire day with our lovely bride and groom. The wedding day preparations took place at The Palace at Somerset Park, one of Central Jersey’s finest wedding venues. With an incredibly outgoing + friendly bridal party, we immediately felt at home even before things got busy. From the sporadic dance parties to the champagne toasts, their bridal party really knew how to have fun.
Having experienced so many firsts this year as a photography duo, we are proud to add “photographing a Coptic Orthodox wedding” onto our list. Rowais and Marti’s ceremony at St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church was unlike anything we had ever experienced before. A beautiful blend of culture, visuals, history, linguistic diversity (we spotted Greek, Coptic and Arabic among the church decor), coupled with a full house of wedding attendees, this is surely a wedding we’ll be reminiscing about for a long time.
The rest of the evening was spent in full-fledged celebration. From the great food (did we mention we love the food perks with our jobs?) to the dancing, we relished every moment of the night… obviously, behind our cameras. Other fun activities that our bride and groom had incorporated into the reception included a professional Caricaturist and a great photobooth.
Congratulations to our wonderful newlyweds Rowais + Marti, and we’re so thankful that you chose to include us in your wedding day!
Vendors:
Wedding Reception: The Palace at Somerset Park
Videography: Carlos of Iris Cinematics
Photography: Jon and Howie of Dreamlite Photography
Dan + Perla’s Engagement || Brooklyn, NYC
Dan and Perla’s engagement session this past weekend was amazing. Although the previous few days have been cloudy + gloomy, we were blessed with beautiful, sunny weather & clear blue skies. We started our session at D.U.M.B.O, and later ventured on a bit more south towards Prospect Park. Along the way, we had multiple encounters with the city garbage collection truck, of whom we were certain had been following us around.. On a lighter note, we also ran into a group of Boston Terrier-loving folks (Dan + Perla’s favorite dog breed) who were glad to join us for some photos. It was a ton of fun to photograph Perla and Dan- the best combination of relax, goofy, patient and romantic a photographer could ask for (and of course, a special thanks to Yanshu Liu for the lighting assistance).
Looking forward to your big day in October!
Bulldogs
We visited the city a few weeks back to attend a customer service seminar by Salesforce. Along the way, we stopped by our buddy Weber’s place in Greenwich Village and had lunch. Snagged this shot of their bulldog Zoe in all her beauty. (not posed~ she hopped on the bed and looked our way.)
