ICONA Avalon Wedding | Jersey Shore Wedding | Laura & Matt
A little over a week ago, I photographed Laura and Matt’s ICONA Avalon Wedding at the Jersey Shore! Laura and Matt originally had a destination wedding planned for November 2020 in Mexico, but due to the pandemic, they canceled it and planned a wedding closer to home at ICONA Avalon. My happy couple were finally able to celebrate the wedding of their dreams and it was worth the wait, they had the most perfect beach wedding!
Laura and Matt’s story began years ago when their mutual friends began dating, both Laura and Matt joined their friends at a bowling alley where they had a lot of fun. At the end of the night, Matt walked her to her car where she quickly said good night and hopped in her car and drove off. About a year later, Laura began hanging out with a guy at her friends parties, it turned out to be Matt but she didn’t realize it was the same guy from the bowling alley! She found him very easy to talk to and when their friends moved in together after becoming engaged, they both helped them move in. Matt asked Laura to be his date for his cousin’s wedding and she politely turned him down. After talking to her friend, she agreed on a real double date where they went out for Mexican near the shore. It was fun night and when their friends left together, she stayed and talked to Matt in the parking lot and then the rest is history!
Their first solo date was July 7, 2017 in Freehold Boro. They walked the small town center and after a lovely dinner, they got ice cream and then found a bench and sat and talked for hours.
Engaged on 05/25/2019, the proposal from Laura: “I almost messed up the proposal big time. The night before, I had gone out with my sister and mom for a movie and on the way to the movies, a spider got really close to me in the car. I had to pull over and I barely made it there. They asked if I wanted to get up early and go to the beach to collect white stones for their patio. I loved the beach, so I said sure! In the morning, I tried to go meet them but chickened out, I was too afraid that the spider was still in the car, so I had Matt help me take EVERYTHING out of my car. I texted my sister that I’d have Matt drive me instead and she got annoyed and said that they’d come pick me up instead. We drove to the beach and stopped at a garage sale on the way. I was chilly as we walked to the beach, so I put an old sweatshirt over my cover-up dress and my sister asked if I wanted to wear her sweater, I just thought we were walking the beach so I stayed messy. The tide came up and we had no luck finding stones. I kept looking, but my mom and sister told me to stop. I look up and see Matt approaching us and figured he decided to join. That’s when I noticed a cute little set-up with a blanket, flowers and a sign over to the side. I think I said something like “that’s not for me, right?” and he led me over halfway until he couldn’t wait anymore and got down on one knee. I was so surprised that when I hugged him, I knocked him over before he could get the ring on! Thank goodness we didn’t lose it in the sand! He remembers there were people clapping for us, but I must have been in shock, because I just remember us and my mom and sisters in the background. I didn’t think he’d ever be able to surprise me since I usually know him so well, but he pulled it off and it was great! We had brunch with our families and then met the friends who got us together for lunch. When we got home, we walked into rose petals on the floor, balloons, flowers, candles and gifts set up by my mom and sisters.”
Laura and Matt’s ICONA Avalon wedding was the perfect day. Laura described their wedding style as a little bit of this and that, it had rustic flair, but was also filled with lively colors. Bridesmaids were in light periwinkle dresses and the bouquets were filled with warm sunset colors with flowers that were yellow, orange and pink. It was the perfect combination for a beach wedding! Laura was most looking forward to getting to walk down the aisle and to promise Matt her forever. She was also grateful that they chose to do a first look as she couldn’t wait to hug him on their day. My couple love the beach so it was no surprise that they had a beach ceremony and chose to do all their portraits in the sand! Their ceremony was personal and memorable and after they said “I do” we had the entire beach to ourselves where we captured a few more just married photos of my happy bride and groom before they enjoyed their reception!
Laura’s advice for couple’s currently planning their wedding is to hire a wedding planner or elope. She couldn’t wait to say “I do,” but planning a wedding in Mexico, postponing it because of the pandemic and then moving their date and location to the Jersey Shore was a lot of work!
Now that they are married, their dreams are to start planning for a family soon and they would love to buy a home within 2-3 years. They’d love to travel, but after their 10 day Hawaiian honeymoon in July, they will focus on family and will take smaller trips closer to home.
Thank you to Laura and Matt for having me photograph your perfect ICONA Avalon Wedding!
Contributing Vendors:
Photography: Susan Hennessey Photography
Venue: ICONA Avalon
Bride’s Dress: Hearts For You – Stella York style # 6958Â
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Men’s Suits: Tuxedo by SarnoÂ
Invitations: Basic Invite
Hair: Say I Do Hair
Makeup Artist: Caleigh Roselle
Florist: Coventry Crossing
Cake: Chocolate Carousel
Videographer: Nathaniel BradyÂ
DJ: Elite EntertainmentÂ
Officiant: Tyler Mizglewski
Arch Rental for Ceremony: Rustic Drift
Steel Drums: Soular Rhythm Music
Are you planning an ICONA Avalon Wedding? Click here to view all the stunning weddings I have photographed at this Jersey Shore venue! Ready for more info? Click here to fill out my contact form.
