Windows on the Water Sea Bright NJ | Jersey Shore Wedding

On June 5th, I photographed Alison and Dan’s Windows on the Water Sea Bright NJ wedding. They had a perfectly sunny and warm day for their June wedding that had a color palette filled with shades of blue which was perfect for their Jersey Shore wedding! Their happy day began at the Wave Resort for Alison and at a nearby Airbnb for Dan. Once these two were ready, we did their first look at the Wave Resort before doing portraits on the Long Branch boardwalk in front of the carousel – we even hopped on for a fun ride! Alison and Dan are so loved as a couple that not only did they have four bridesmaids and four groomsmen, but they also had an additional four honorary bridesmaids and four honorary groomsmen by their side. Their highly personal ceremony was officiated by Alison’s mom’s friend and they read their own vows through tears before ending the ceremony with a lavender toss! Once the reception started, the fun continued with emotional and fun parent dances, Alison and her mother danced to a choreographed “Fireball” together before opening up the dance floor to all their guests! My happy couple and their favorite people partied the night away to their live band, Brian Kirk and the Jirks before ending the evening with a sparkler exit!

Alison and Dan met in Dan’s childhood friend’s basement at a house party when they were both 19 and home from college for the summer. Alison’s friend from high school went to college with Dan’s friend from childhood and that’s how they both ended up at the party. They talked that night and bonded over the fact that they both were swimmers. Dan was a lifeguard at 7 President’s Beach at the time and Alison thought he was so cool for that. They exchanged phone numbers before leaving and started texting each other.

Their first date was June of 2015 and they went cliff jumping in a reservoir at Washington Valley Park a few weeks after meeting at the house party. Dan got the idea for this location from his cousin based on the recommendation that it was a great cliff jumping spot and had a rope swing. After dating long distance in college, they both realized they had found the one because they have the most fun when they are together and love spending time with each other. They then lived together during graduate school and there was no going back, that is when they decided they wanted to keep hanging out forever!

Engaged on 06/13/2020, the proposal from Alison: “We were supposed to take a 3 week trip to Italy in August 2020, but COVID cancelled our plans. Dan was planning to propose in Italy, but instead decided very spur of the moment that he would propose on one of their daily COVID lockdown power walks. The proposal was at Divine Park in Spring Lake on one of the bridges. Two bikers biked through the proposal and blocked the view in the video his sisters were taking while hiding in bushes. Also, because it was such a random Saturday, Alison thought Dan was kidding when he started to propose and told him to hurry up so her apple watch wouldn’t stop tracking the workout. Dan also planned a surprise celebration for their families right after the proposal in his backyard in Lake Como, NJ…a slight change of plans from Lake Como, Italy but it was such a beautiful and exciting day regardless and very memorable!” Last Summer, I captured their their engagement session in Sandy Hook!

Alison, a physical therapist and Dan, an attorney love to spend their time going to the beach, hanging out by the pool, working out, taking walks and playing sports together when they are not wedding planning. They also like going out for coffee and finding new restaurants. Now married, their dreams include continuing to travel, experiencing new things and adventures together, and hopefully getting a few cats and dogs in the near future. They cannot wait to travel to Italy, Greece, Iceland and Australia one day.

Alison and Dan spent two years planning their special day, so their advice for couple’s currently planning is to plan early so you don’t have to stress about things! They were most excited about the cocktail hour, dancing with friends and family and celebrating the official start of their future together!

Alison and Dan plan to take their honeymoon in September, thank you for choosing me to photograph your Windows on the Water Sea Bright NJ wedding!