Bradford Estate Summer Wedding | Hainesport, NJ | Dani & Patrick

September 13, 2022

On September 3rd, I photographed Dani and Patrick’s Bradford Estate Summer Wedding in Hainesport, NJ. These two had a classic and elegant wedding with a traditional ceremony at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Marlton, NJ. Their day was filled with tons of personalized touches from Dani’s godfather being the priest who officiated their ceremony, their escort card sign was old wedding photographs dating back to the 1800’s, sweet speeches and an umbrella dance to the mummers song to close out the evening! These two were so excited to celebrate their love with a formal vibe, great music and food surrounded by their friends and family – which they achieved!

Dani and Patrick, high school sweethearts met on the back of a school bus on their way to a field trip in Dani’s junior year and Patrick’s senior year of high school at Holy Cross.

Dani says that she didn’t know their first date was a date, but Patrick says it was definitely a first date! Two of their mutual friends also happened to be dating, so it was arranged for all four of them to go get frozen yogurt. Dani left that night thinking Patrick was definitely NOT interested in her because of how quiet he had been the whole night. Patrick says he remembers it had snowed about two feet the night before and he had driven everyone to go get frozen yogurt for the double date him and his friend had planned. He remembers wanting to look cool in front of Dani and her being the quiet one!

Dani says there was no specific moment where she knew Patrick was the one, but she knew Patrick was the one when she realized that she was making future decisions and imagining future scenarios with him in it. She began to notice that she was doing this in college, and also realized that Patrick had been making decisions in the same way. They had gone from being a couple to a team! Patrick agrees with Dani that it didn’t happen all at once. He just started to realize that he didn’t want to know a time, family, career or life without her in it. She was his best friend from early on and he still can’t get enough of just being with her.

Engaged on 4/2/2021, the proposal from Dani: “We went to Wissahickon Valley Park, and I knew he was probably going to propose, as we hadn’t done many dates outside of the home since COVID (also we had recently gone to look at rings). There was a big waterfall that had steps down to the front of it, and as we walked down and out in front, I saw him get down on one knee!”

The proposal from Patrick: “I was nervous, not so much that she’d say no, but that I couldn’t make the moment special enough for all the time we’d already been together and for the lifetime to come. It’s tough to surprise someone after almost 9 years of dating, but I’m so happy that we had that special moment alone to ourselves, just how we wanted it.”

Now that these two are finished planning their classic and elegant Bradford Estate Summer Wedding, their dreams include traveling and trying new things. Since they’re both from South Jersey they would eventually like to settle there. Their goal is to see as much of the country, and the world before then! They would love to have children down the road, and it is important to them that they grow up near their grandparents, as they both did! Their advice for couple’s currently planning is get the big things booked well in advance so you have time to think about the smaller details that will ultimately make your wedding more intimate and personal.

Dani was most looking forward to sharing the special love that she’s had with Patrick for the past 9 years with everyone else that she loves, and to begin their next chapter as Team Graham! Patrick was most looking forward to entering into this bond with Dani and be with her every day. He can’t want to adventure with her, make decisions with her, grow with her and continue to share the love they’ve experienced for a long time already.

Dani and Patrick honeymooned in Mexico! Thank you for choosing me to photograph your classic and elegant Bradford Estate Summer Wedding!