Windows on the Water Wedding | Sea Bright, NJ | Olga & JR

Last weekend, I photographed Olga and JR’s Windows on the Water wedding at Surfrider Beach Club in Sea Bright, NJ. Olga and JR had a beautiful Summer like day for their September wedding with a ceremony at Holy Cross Church in Rumson, NJ followed by portraits on the beach before these two danced all night at their Windows on the Water reception! I am so excited to share this joyful wedding.

Olga and JR met freshman year at Northeastern University, they had two classes together so it was hard to ignore one another, so that turned into a “hello”.  They soon realized they lived in the same dorm and they quickly fell into a fun routine between dorm, class, Dunkin’ Donuts, class, Family Feud, lunch. They soon also realized they attended the same Freshman Orientation weekend, and had some mutual friends. The friend groups merged, and their Northeastern friend group was made. They ended up liking the same classes, so their major of MIS & Finance was finalized. This made it easy for JR to benefit from Olga’s extensive schedule analysis, and Olga to learn from JR’s test taking skills. Shared schedules and endless study sessions were naturally followed by parties with all of their friends, and JR so kindly sharing his massive stash of Ramen when Olga wanted a late night snack.

Their first date was four years later, Olga graduated and JR returned from Co-op in New Jersey, and everything seemed different. They had tried to ignore it and were too good of friends and it was too much to risk. At Countryfest, they finally acknowledged that their relationship had become weird, their friendship had become something more, and they weren’t exactly sure what to do about that. At first they thought none of their friends noticed, but they later learned that they are not very good at hiding things.

Engaged on 12/15/17, the proposal from Olga, “Seven years later, two apartments, parents to handsome Kane (our dog), JR decided it was time. After a trip to California, we decided to have a night in and decorate the Christmas tree. Olga’s sister and her boyfriend were finally planning to go to the brewery near our apartment, so of course Olga extended an invite for them to come over first. After we put our last ornament on the tree, JR said he had one more for us to put on. He pulled out a gold circular ornament from a box, and gave it to Olga to hang. As she put it on the tree, he told her that it opens. Inside was a wooden heart, engraved with “Olga, will you marry me”. In actual shock, Olga looked for JR, who was now on one knee holding a diamond ring. She said yes, and then proceeded to not say any other words, for a very long time. After many tears, laughs, champagne toasts, FaceTime calls, and visits from friends, it finally sunk in, We’re Engaged!”

Olga and JR’s beautiful Windows on the Water wedding day started at an Airbnb for the ladies and JR’s parents house for the men. The Airbnb in Red Bank was the perfect location for details, hair and makeup and for Olga to get dressed, the house was filled with natural light and every room was perfect! Once of my favorite details was Olga’s gorgeous Christian Louboutin’s, these gorgeous red soled heels were the perfect amount of wedding day sparkle! Once the champagne was popped and lots of happy tears were shed, it was time for these two to get married! Olga and JR had a traditional Catholic ceremony at Holy Cross Church in Rumson, NJ, but before they said “I do”, Olga had a sweet and emotional first look with her father as she stepped off the trolley. Once married, these two made an epic bubble exit at their church with one of the longest exit paths I have every photographed! We had a beautiful Summer like day for their September wedding and after family portraits at the church, we stopped for portraits at the Welcome to Sea Bright sign as well as on the beach before these two danced all night at their Windows on the Water reception! Their live band, Silver Arrow Band kept the dance floor rocking all evening and they even closed out the last hour of night with a La Hora Loca, a fun tradition where everyone wore fun hats and masks! I loved photographing this joyful day and I am so happy to share this wedding!

Now that Olga and JR have finished planning their classic and modern wedding at Windows On the Water at Surfrider Beach Club, their dreams are to travel, creating a home, supporting each other’s goals and becoming a family. Thank you for allowing me to capture your beautiful day, enjoy your honeymoon in the Canary Islands!

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Contributing Vendors:

Photography: Susan Hennessey Photography

Ceremony: Holy Cross Church, Rumson, NJ

Reception Venue: Windows On the Water at Surfrider Beach Club, Sea Bright, NJ

Wedding Dress: La Reine Bridal – Paloma Blanca Style # 4754

Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Bride Earrings: Swarovski

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids – Monique Lhuillier – Smoke 

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux 

Invitations: Minted 

Hair Stylist: Dellaria Salons 

Makeup: Make Me Up Eva 

Florist: Cassandra Shah Flowers

Cake: Chocolate Carousel 

Band: Silver Arrow Band 

Transportation: Long Branch Trolley Company