Palace at Somerset Park Wedding | Somerset, NJ | Melina & Bill

Last weekend, I photographed Melina and Bill’s The Palace at Somerset Park wedding in Somerset, NJ. Melina and Bill had a modern, elegant and romantic wedding at this stunning Central Jersey venue and I am so excited to share images from their joyful day!

Melina has been best friends with Bill’s sister, Katie, since they were in middle school, but they didn’t start hanging out with Bill and his friends until they were juniors/seniors in high school. Melina and Bill always had an instant connection from the moment they met but it was never the “right time”. She was on her way to college in NYC and he was at school in Massachusetts, but he was persistent. He wrote her letters, called her daily, surprised her in NYC and took her on dates only a girl could dream of. Melina couldn’t deny the connection any longer and they took the leap and began dating in September of 2011. This is when they began 5 years of long distance dating where they only saw one another on weekends until they graduated college. It wasn’t easy, but they made it work and they had some of their best memories on those weekends visiting each other.

The start of Melina and Bill’s relationship was long distance. They both knew they were meant for one another when they didn’t let the distance get to them in the early stages of their relationship. It wasn’t easy – it was long phone calls and endless texts between classes. They knew the connection they had was worth it and they didn’t want to let it go. They never wasted the time they had together, they learned to cherish each other in every moment they had. They are each other’s soulmate.

Engaged on 12/22/2017, the proposal from Melina: “Bill’s sister, Katie, hung out with me for the day. We took Sophie, our only doodle at the time, to the dog park and then I went home to shower and get ready. She took me out to get my nails done and to have lunch. Bill and I planned on going to NYC for the day and he told us to come home in the late afternoon and he kept texting me, ” come to the backyard, Sophie is being so funny!” In my head, I’m like she’s always funny, but I decided to walk out my back door and he is standing there in a suit jacket with the back deck decorated. I immediately start crying and he got down on one knee while our song, “You & Me” by Lifehouse, was playing. He had string lights hung up with a timeline of our pictures from all the nine years we’ve been dating and better yet, Sophie was wearing a “Will you marry my Daddy” outfit!! We popped champagne and celebrated with Katie! I was then surprised by my college bestie, Lexi, who came all the way to see me right after the proposal! After the proposal, our family stopped by. And then, out of no where, all of our friends started flooding the house and we had a HUGE PARTY!!! It was the most amazing day. I couldn’t picture his proposal any other way and I love that he did it at home because that is our favorite place.”

Melina and Bill had the most perfectly elegant and romantic wedding at The Palace at Somerset Park. Between their sweet first look, the gorgeous ceremony right before sunset on the terrace overlooking the gardens and the sweetest vows, I adored photographing this day! Their color scheme was mauve, gray’s and whites, which was perfect for their June wedding. Melina’s bridal bouquet was filled with faith roses, peonies and dusty miller, which was such a stunning combination! Once the portraits were complete and their loved ones raved about these two during their speeches, it was time for this group to party and my bride and groom never left the dance floor!

Contributing Vendors:

Photography: Susan Hennessey Photography

Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park

Wedding Dress: Castle Couture – Allure – Madison James

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Invitations: B Invited

Hair Stylist: Marlee Greenberg

Makeup Artist: make me up eva

Florist: Floral Sentiments

DJ: SCE Event Group

Officiant: Harris Bloom