In September, I photographed Amanda and Ryan’s gorgeous Windrift Hotel Avalon wedding in New Jersey! These two hosted a rustic and laid back beach wedding for their Fall day that felt like Summer. Amanda was a bohemian bride with a gorgeous floral crown crafted by Leigh Florist and their reception decor was filled with greenery and vases filled with babies breath. I am so excited to share this fun and happy Jersey Shore wedding at the Windrift hotel!
Amanda and Ryan met first met at their company holiday party in 2011. Amanda had just started working for the company so was busy making her rounds getting to know all her coworkers. Ryan and her ended up talking for a while that night but didn’t reconnect until much later but still ended up becoming good friends. Their first date was nearly 2 years after they met in August of 2013 at the Chart House restaurant in Philadelphia. That’s also where they dined the night after we they were engaged!
Engaged on 04/01/2017, from Amanda: “The proposal was out of a fairy tale. I went to my mom’s house Saturday morning to visit with my twin nephews. Ryan was going to meet me there after his haircut. After hanging out at my mom’s for a while, she ran into the other room and came back with an envelope and a #1 on it, surrounded by a heart. I didn’t understand what she was giving me. I opened it up and it was a clue! Ryan was sending me on a treasure hunt. My first stop was the salon where we both get our haircut (we’re good friends with our stylist there and she has been there through our relationship from the very beginning). We hugged (and cried!!) and she gave me clue #2, which led me to get my nails done. After that, the nail technician gave me my third and final clue which led me home, but not before I got my hair blown out for the impending engagement photo! I left the salon and pulled up to our home, in Moorestown, New Jersey, I could already see red ribbon inside. I walked in to “Secret” by Maroon 5 playing. There were rose petals on the ground and a long red ribbon leading me to our back door. All along the ribbon were note cards that led me through our life together. The very last note card said, “Open this door to the rest of your life.” I opened our back door and there was Ryan (and my dog, Scruffie!). We hugged and cried and eventually pulled apart so he could ask me to marry him. It was the single most romantic moment of my life and I will never forget it. My dog passed away 2 weeks later and I feel so grateful to have had her there, too.” Check out their beautiful Moorestown engagement session here.
Their Windrift Hotel Avalon wedding day was filled with emotion and lots of happy tears! Ryan thankfully came prepared to the first look with tissues as these two couldn’t stop crying once they saw one another! Their ceremony continued to be filled with emotional as they said their “i do’s” on the beach in front of their most important people. Amanda was most looking forward to marrying her best friend on their day and these images did not disappoint.
Now that these two are married and have had their honeymoon in Italy, they are eager to start their family.
Contributing Vendors:
Photography: Susan Hennessey Photography
Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Windrift Hotel
Wedding Dress: Bridal Garden – Watters
Bride’s Shoes: Sam Edelman
Wedding Bands: Bottoni Jewelers
Bride’s Earrings: David Yurman
Men’s Attire: SuitSupply Philadelphia
Invitations: Minted
Florist: Leigh Florist
Hair: Courtney Reynolds
Makeup: Taffeta Design
Donuts: Federal Donuts
DJ: Remixologists
Officiant: South Jersey Officiants
Photo Booth: Vintage Print Photo Booth
Are you planning a Windrift Hotel Avalon wedding? Check out more weddings I have photographed at this gorgeous Jersey Shore wedding venue by clicking here!