Before the ceremony we did a “first look” where the groom gets to see the bride for the first time. This is usually done when the family and wedding party photos are scheduled for before the ceremony. As you can see below I had the wedding party watch from atop some rocks while Shalako got to see Laurie in her wedding dress for the first time.

The party’s DJ was Dan of Love City DJ’s and he did a great job spinning some records. It was a really fun wedding and I thank the couple for having me there. Here is a handful of photos from the day. The full edit will be ready in a couple of weeks!

Bridal Party watched the "first look" moment from a distance.

Laurie & Shalako's wedding at McLoone's Pier House in Long Branch NJ

Brian and the guys pose for a quick shot at the Lobby of the Hyatt in Morristown

This past weekend I photographed a lovely wedding pretty close to home. It was Lindsay & Brian’s big day and everything got started in Morristown New Jersey.

First I met up with the Bride at the Hyatt in Morristown for some getting ready shots and then also visited with the Groom before we headed over to the Presbyterian Church of Morristown just a few blocks away. On the way there we did this shot in the Hyatt’s lobby and then a few more at The Green before going into the Church.

After the ceremony we headed over to the Lake Valhalla Club in Montville (next town over from me) where they had a nice outdoor cocktail hour followed by a really fun reception. The DJ had no trouble getting this crowd to party!  A big Thanks to Lindsay and Brian for having me there!

Here’s a little preview! 100′s more to come!

Lindsay getting ready and Brian & best man wait for the ceremony to begin

Flower girl minutes before the ceremony and Lindsay walks down the aisle of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown

The girls wait to be called at the Chapel next to the Church

Pensive Grandfather moments before the ceremony

Lindsays Mom (Left) and Brians Mom (Right) during a Toast at the Lake Valhalla Club

A Group photo at the Lake Valhalla Club just before Cocktail Hour

Lindsay with friend Laura and best man David during his well delivered toast

The dance floor at the Lake Valhalla Club was packed all night

Merri Makers at Waters Edge in Sea Bright New Jersey

Today I’m posting photographs from another venue I have worked at quite a few times over the last 10 years. It’s a popular spot in New Jersey for Weddings, especially in the Summer, the Merri Makers at Waters Edge in Sea Bright New Jersey.

Ceremonies tend to be on the beach, but if needed can be indoors. I have also seen receptions both in tents right on the beach or in one of their indoor rooms.

One particularly memorable wedding I photographed there was in 2006 during the passage of Hurricane Ernesto through the East Coast. Even though we were unable to go outside for photos the party went on as planned with no problems.

The photos below of the cake cutting are from that wedding and even though the bright windows make it look like it was a nice day outside the waves and wind were quite strong (as you can see in another photo where the waves appear in the distance).  As a photographer I enjoy working there since there are quite a few options for photos and I particularly like their upstairs ballroom as it’s cozy (but not small) and is set up in a way that is photographer-friendly. My overall experience there has always been pretty positive. The photos below are from a few different weddings spanning a few years.

The Remnants of Hurricane Ernesto did not affect the fun at this wedding, oddly enough the Groom's Dads name was also Ernesto!

In 2006 powerful waves can be seen through the windows at Merri Makers

Outdoor Ceremony at the Merri Makers

A late afternoon ceremony on the beach (left) & Couple is introduced at reception (right)

Table place cards and Ceremony on the beach

A very big Tent on the beach at the Merri-Makers in Sea Bright NJ

Indoor ceremony at the Merri-Makers

Indoor Ceremony and a stroll on the Beach

The Merri-Makers at Waters Edge

All Photographs by Louis Schroder NJ Wedding Photographer – Louis Schroder has been a Full Time Wedding Photographer since 2000

That got me thinking about all the other 4 legged friends I’ve encountered at weddings over the years.

While some like Petey have an important “paws-on” job to do at the wedding, others dress up for the occasion, give their support to the Bride or Groom and then stay home to protect their territory from any pesky squirrels!

Oh and let’s not forget the Cats also. They usually just stay home and mind their own business thank you very much!  Even still, I usually manage to grab a few shots of them also.

So as a tribute to our pets, here is a small collection of photographs from my archives of the furry friends that I have encountered over the last few years.

Petey the Pitbull is the first in the series wearing the bow tie and appears again later laying by a door looking outside.

This last photo isn’t from a wedding, it’s my two dogs. Suki (4 year old) and Freckles (1 year old) playing in our yard. They would be upset if I didn’t include them in the selections!

Louis Schroder has been a full time Professional Wedding Photographer since 2000 covering all of New Jersey and NYC
All photographs by Louis Schroder

Originally we were going to do the session in the Sandy Hook area but weather was a factor. Then we thought about in and around Red Bank, New Jersey. But once I sent Marie some samples from a previous shoot I did in Central Park they decided that’s where they would like to have them taken.

You really can’t go wrong with a photo shoot in Central Park. There are just so many options and you get to spend a nice couple of hours walking around with your fiancee taking in the sights and sounds.

We met up as a starting point at the Central Park Zoo. They told me they were not used to having their pictures taken in public like this and I told them that there was no need to worry. All they have to do is stay close together, walk around looking at the sights and have a good time. I would do the rest by photographing them doing exactly that. In fact that’s really about what 95% of an engagement shoot should be: A nice relaxing time together, so that both can feel comfortable and natural for the photographs.

Every so often as we walked around the park we would stop so they could enjoy the view a bit and take it all in as I continued to photograph them. I guess the best way to describe it is that I look at an engagement session less as a photo session and more as a Date between the couple. I just happen to be there to capture it. I look forward to just “happening to be there” at their August wedding!

Once Marie saw the photos a few days ago this is what she wrote me:

Louis, these are amazing!  Thank you so much!  We had a great time taking them, but didn’t think they’d turn out THIS good, because we’ve never taken good photos before.  All our years together we have maybe 5 good photos of the two of us.  Out of these 200+, more than half of them are awesome!  We are shocked – you are incredible.  Thank you!

Here are a few more shots from our walk in the park.

Colorful Wedding Name Card Table at The Manor in West Orange

Today I’m starting a new type of post here at the blog in which I show photographs from a specific venue in which I have photographed weddings a variety of times.

I decided to start with the classic and maybe of of the most traditional wedding venues in Northern New Jersey, The Manor located in West Orange (about 20 minutes from New York City…not counting traffic!).

The first time I ever heard of the Manor was as a kid some time ago. My Mom and I were in the area and she happened to have a camera on her, so she decided to pull into the Manor’s parking lot and take some photos of me by the various waterfalls and fountains. Little did I know back then that a couple decades later I would be photographing people in the same spots. Recently going through some old family Slides I found the photos my Mom took of me that day, one of which you can see at the end of this post.

As I mentioned The Manor is a pretty big place with lots of spots for photos. You have fountains in the back, on the side, big swirling staircases inside, plenty of flowers everywhere…in other words many many options for photographs. They probably have more locations for photos than any other place I can recall. So check out some of the photographs I have taken at the Manor the last few years.

Outdoor ceremony outdoors at The Manor in June 2010

Bride arriving at the Manor (Left) and Bride with Groom after the Ceremony at The Manor

The Manor by one of the fountains at Dusk

Pre-Ceremony Rose Petals (2005) & Bride gets ready at The Manor (2011)

Bride makes her way up the stairs inside at The Manor

Both of these were taken at The Manor in 2005

Ceremony at the Manor 2010

Champagne & Father Daughter Dance at The Manor

Father walks the Bride to the Groom (2011)

Sweetheart Table at The Manor with cake in background during Cocktail Hour

Early evening on the grounds of The Manor in West Orange, New Jersey (2005)

Main outdoor spot for ceremony's at The Manor

Bride and Groom during an outdoor Ceremony

Bride arrives at The Manor

Bride and Groom with Best man and Maid of Honor

First Dance at the Manor

Bride and Grrom by the waterfall at The Manor

Night at The Manor

Thats me at the Manor as an 11 year old kid!

Once again it was really a great year and I am always so honored to be able to photograph such special days in the lives of so many people. 2012 also promises to be a great year with over half of my dates already booked up. I have now been photographing weddings full-time since the year 2000 and I can look back at images from any of the weddings I have been at and remember vividly details from all of those days. It’s amazing to think that some of the couples I first photographed have now been married for over a decade, some already with many kids! Times flies, doesn’t it? I guess thankfully we have photographs we can look back at to remember Enjoy and check back to see more photos as I add them!

Lizzie & Jean-Edouard at The Palace at Somerset Park, NJ

Jennifer and her Girls at the Liberty House in Jersey City in April 2011

Chase & Karie got married at the Sussex County Fairgrounds

Nicole & Matt got married at the Primavera Regency

Sherri & Jeremy at the Dupont Hotel

More Photographs looking back at 2011 are coming soon, please check back!

Kristen & Michael’s ceremony and reception were both held at the PNC Reception Center this past Saturday the 26th of November. To everyone’s surprise it was a warm day in New Jersey with temperatures in the 60′s. A far cry from the Halloween weekend a month ago when we had a White Wedding!

This is a small preview of the day starting with this photo of their last dance. This time of year daylight is short but we still managed to get a nice sunset in the background. Enjoy!

Dress details and Sunset at the PNC Reception Center

The bridal party before leaving home

The Ceremony at the PNC Reception Center

Father-Daughter Dance and Cake Cutting later in the evening

The last photo of the night

Snow started early while I was still at the Brides house and the drive from there to the church was quite a journey. At the Church power suddenly was lost and the ceremony was held in near dark conditions with only a few candles illuminating the couple. After the ceremony which was held at St. Teresa of Avila in Summit we headed over to the Valley Regency in Clifton about 20 Miles away. Once at the Valley Regency everything went on as planned and with no power failures which was a big relief. We even ventured out in the snow for photos as the scene was quite beautiful. Gotta hand it to the Kristen (the Bride) that was game for going out in the snow (and Chip the Groom also, of course)!

Here are a few photos from a few parts of the day! More Previews have been posted on Schroder Photography’s Facebook page

Kristen & Chip on October 29, 2011.

Snow starts falling at Bride's house

During cocktail hour we ventured outside in the snow for some photos

Arriving at the Church and later during the first dance

Let it Snow...in October!

More Photographs have been posted on Schroder Photography’s Facebook Page.