July Wedding at The Mill Lakeside Manor | Ashley & CJ

July 15, 2025

I photographed Ashley and CJ’s July Wedding at The Mill Lakeside Manor in Spring Lake, NJ on July 5th, 2025! There’s something so special about photographing a wedding that feels close to home—both literally and emotionally. This beautiful summer celebration began in Moorestown, NJ, where the groom’s family owns a beloved Italian restaurant in town. As a fellow Moorestown native, I couldn’t help but feel a personal connection to the day and all the warm, familiar energy that surrounded it.

The ceremony took place at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, a stunning and classic setting filled with tradition and emotion. The couple exchanged vows in front of loved ones in a heartfelt service that honored their roots and the strong bond they’ve built together. After the ceremony, we made our way to The Mill Lakeside Manor in Spring Lake—one of the most charming venues on the Jersey Shore. The peaceful lakeside views, the weeping willows, and the golden light of summer created a dreamy backdrop for portraits and cocktail hour.

The color palette for the day was soft and romantic, with shades of lilac woven throughout the florals, bridesmaid dresses, and reception details. It perfectly suited the elegant and joyful tone of the celebration. The reception kicked off with a bang—literally—when the bride and groom surprised everyone with a choreographed dance that had the whole room cheering. From there, the energy on the dance floor never slowed down. Guests of all ages joined in, dancing and laughing late into the night.

Between the meaningful ceremony in Moorestown, the lakeside elegance of Spring Lake, and a dance floor that brought the party to life, this wedding was the perfect blend of family tradition and unforgettable fun. It was a joy to capture each moment—and an extra treat to be celebrating with a family from my own hometown.

Late January 2023, CJ’s mom, Annette, was visiting her close friend from childhood, Nicole, in Florida. While there, they got on the topic of how finding the right woman in NYC was not working out for CJ. Nicole’s mom, Nancy, who was also in on this conversation, piped in and said, “He sounds a lot like my friend’s granddaughter. She’s also unimpressed with the city dating scene.” Nancy and Ashley’s mom-mom have been friends for over 50 years. Ashley’s mom-mom and her mom, Monique, also had plans to visit Nancy and Nicole in Florida two weeks later. Suddenly, Nicole exclaimed, “OMG! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. Ashley and CJ would be perfect together!” Nicole collected pictures from their moms and put together short bios to be fired off to the couple-to-be. As advised, CJ did not let too much time pass. He reached out to Ashley, and the two texted for a few days. On her walk home from work one night, Ashley saw a text from CJ asking if she’d like to meet that weekend. CJ picked a quaint spot – Moth Coffeehouse – in Allentown, New Jersey for their first date.

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, Ashley and CJ met for the first time. CJ still says he’s surprised there’s not a big hole in the ground of Moth Coffeehouse where he fell for Ashley when she said, “Hi CJ!” Ashley was smitten with CJ too. Several times during the date, she lost her train of thought looking into his eyes. Three hours flew by.

Engaged on 09/15/2024, the proposal: On Sunday, September 15, 2024, CJ brought Ashley back to Moth Coffeehouse for the first time since they had met. In the same spot where they sat on their first date, CJ proposed to Ashley. The owner of the coffee shop congratulated the newly engaged couple and let them know that she had a Ring camera in her shop and had captured this precious moment.

CJ and Ashley then headed back to the Stamboulian’s home. On the emotional car ride, Ashley had a major deja vu moment. Unbeknownst to CJ, long before he and Ashley met, she had an assignment in her high school art class to draw a city scene. She decided to paint the sky a unique blend of pink, orange, and yellow and included a coffeehouse in the corner of her drawing. Just before turning in her artwork, Ashley made one final addition: a couple getting engaged in the window of the coffee shop.

When they arrived, Ashley dug out her artwork to share with CJ, their parents, and their siblings. They were all amazed at how much this drawing proved fate at its best. Even the beautiful pink, orange, and yellow floral arrangement that the Passariello’s brought over coordinated perfectly with the sky in the painting. The newly engaged couple spent the rest of this amazing Sunday surrounded by love, joy, and laughter.

When Ashley and CJ weren’t planning their July Wedding at The Mill Lakeside Manor, they love spending time at the beach, trying new wine and coffee, rooting for Philly sports teams, and cooking together. Now married, their dreams include continuing to build their life and forming a family together. They enjoy all the moments – from Saturday morning coffee to exploring the world with each other. Above all else, being happy and enjoying all paths of life together are their dreams.

They were most excited to marry their best friend. Their advice for couples currently planning is to just enjoy this fun and exciting chapter of life being an engaged couple! And a tangible piece of advice for couples: create an email address just for wedding-related emails.

Here’s to hometown roots, lakeside views, and lilac-tinted summer love. Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Passariello!