Grove at Centerton Wedding | Pittsgrove, NJ

Last weekend, I photographed Kristen and Dave’s Grove at Centerton Wedding in Pittsgrove, NJ. Kristen and Dave’s elegant and classic wedding was filled with a neutral color palette and a slightly rustic feel, my happy couple thought of every detail down to a gorgeous dress change. They are another 2020 couple who’s original wedding plans were affected by the pandemic. They were supposed to be married on October 3, 2020 but moved their date to the Summer and I am so glad they did! I may not have been their original photographer, but I was more than happy to be there on their June 26th wedding day. I am so excited to share their Grove at Centerton wedding!

Dave and Kristen first met at Manayunk Brewing Company in Philadelphia in the summer of 2014. To quote their best man, “…I surveyed the place looking for somebody that matched Dave’s type. Kristen stuck out like a rose. Knowing Dave’s modest nature, I decided to expedite the process by letting her know she and he would be a perfect match. As it turned out, my suspicions were correct.”

Grove at Centerton Wedding | Pittsgrove, NJ | Kristen & Dave Their first date was a beach day in Ocean City, NJ where they both ended up with sunburn because neither wanted the day to end. They sat on the beach talking until they ran out of sunlight and then they went to dinner. Dave knew he wanted to marry Kristen on May 9, 2015, they were at the Florida Georgia Line concert in Atlantic City. Something about her standing there, smiling with the music playing, he knew she was the one. Kristen says it is hard to narrow it down to one defining moment where she knew Dave was the one because she knew pretty early on that they had something special. But she does remember a specific car ride where she caught herself showing her true colors, making up her own ridiculous words to a song on the radio, she stopped and looked at him, expecting him to be scared off, but instead he picked up where she left off and finished the song with his own made up lyrics! She knew then that he would never leave her hanging and she’d marry him one day. They now have rap battles all the time!

Engaged on 05/16/2019, the proposal from Kristen: “We were on vacation in Charlotte, NC. We went to a rooftop restaurant for dinner and drinks. Dave’s plan was to propose on the rooftop with the city views in the background, but Dave got nervous because it quickly got very crowded. After dinner, we went for a walk, and while in the park on a bridge over water, Dave told me to look at something in the water, when I turned around, he was on one knee. I have no idea what was said, but I know I definitely said yes!” Last Fall, I happily traveled to Frederick, Maryland to capture their their engagement session.

Kristen and Dave’s Grove at Centerton wedding was the perfect Summer wedding. They had a neutral color palette and thought of every detail with beautiful signage throughout the venue, their dog was even on their napkins! Even though my happy couple did a first look, Kristen had a surprise up her sleeve and surprised Dave with an outfit change! She removed the ball gown skirt to her dress for the ceremony. Guests were greeted with a champagne wall following their highly personalized ceremony which was officiated by a family member. They read their own vows and Dave even recited Eminem lyrics in his – hilarious and so memorable! Once these two said “I do” they partied the night away with a lively and fun reception!

When they aren’t wedding planning, they love going to breweries, cooking, dancing in the kitchen, going on walks with their puppy, and talking about their future together. Now married, their dream is to start a family, adopt more puppies and to one day have a big kitchen to dance in even when they’re old and gray. Kristen and Dave’s advice for other couples planning is to not get married during a pandemic! But in all seriousness, planning a wedding to have it cancelled and rescheduled has put a lot in perspective to them. Their advice is to keep in mind what marriage means to you, because that is what the day is really about!

Thank you to Kristen and Dave for allowing me to capture your elegant and classic Grove at Centerton Wedding!