Windrift Hotel Wedding, Avalon NJ – Brenda & Robert

July 25, 2017

Last May, I captured Brenda and Robert’s Windrift Hotel wedding in Avalon, New Jersey. I absolutely love photographing at the Windrift Hotel, not only am I a preferred vendor there but their ballroom is one of my favorites! Brenda and Robert planned a gorgeous elegant beach theme for their wedding day and even though Avalon, NJ had a nor’easter that day, their theme was evident in all their details!

Rob and Brenda met in a health policy class at the Harvard Kennedy School in Fall of 2012. During the second week of school, Brenda’s friend Bernie pointed Rob out to her by sending a text message during class that said, “What about that guy in the 2nd row named Rob?” As the story goes, Brenda looked over at him and his baby face, and typed back, “Bernie! NO! He is 12 years old!” Bren and Rob did eventually get to know each other and shared their first kiss at a Halloween party that fall. Neither of them thought too much of it at first, it turns out Rob “wasn’t looking for anything serious” and Brenda had just met someone else in New York.

As the semester went on, they remained casual friends and took another class together in the Spring. They each had some unresolved feelings for the other, but didn’t know it. At the end of the school year, Brenda presented Rob with a little gift, she gave him a small rubber duck dressed as a doctor. It turns out, Brenda remembered that he had a collection of them in his bathroom and thought it would be a funny little send-off gift as he headed back to North Carolina for his final year of medical school.

A few weeks later, Rob texted saying that he missed her. Brenda wrote back and said that she missed him too. Rob flew to New York City shortly after and they have been together ever since!

Their first date was in Philadelphia at Mercato, a rustic Italian restaurant in Center City. Rob loved it so much that he decided to later propose over their meatballs on February 11, 2015. He hid one of his friends to take pictures, and the whole staff was in on it. Brenda was very surprised and very happy!

Brenda and Robert’s most memorable moment of their Windrift Hotel wedding was their ceremony. Their officiant, Matt, is a dear friend of theirs. His words were sweet, smart, and funny. Our couple loved being surrounded by their closest friends and family to exchange vows. One of Brenda’s bridesmaids is also a professional violinist and played while Brenda’s father walked her down the aisle.

My favorite moment of Brenda and Robert’s Windrift Hotel wedding was when they announced the gender of their baby. They set up two baskets where their guests could guess boy or girl (I guessed girl!) and halfway through the evening, they had both their mother’s open up an envelope. It was an amazing moment to capture – IT’S A BOY!

Any advice for future couple’s planning?

Wedding planning can be crazy, but it’s important to remember the day is a celebration of you as a couple. Our advice is keep it simple and authentic to you.

Now that these two have finished planning their wedding, Brenda an urgent care pediatrician at CHOP and Rob, a resident at UPenn in general surgery are looking forward to expanding their family when their baby boy arrives this August (who I cannot wait to meet!). Due to Brenda’s pregnancy, no honeymoon immediately after the wedding, but they plan to vacation in the Cayman Islands in December, one of their favorite destinations!

Thank you to Brenda and Rob for allowing me to photograph your day, despite the rain, we captured so many images I love, scroll through to view my favorites from their Windrift Hotel wedding!