Ivy and Misa's late summer wedding day was perfect in every way.  The sun was shining, the skies were blue and family and friends came from far and wide to help them celebrate their day.  At beautiful Sayen Gardens in Hamilton, New Jersey, the bride and groom had a family brunch and then got ready in separate sections of the historic Sayen House.  

The bride was surrounded by her sisters, helping her with every last detail.

How cute were these flower girls?

The groom had some help with ties and cuff links from his groomsmen, including his uncle and brother.

Mom & dad came in for the finishing touches.

After an emotional first look between the bride and her father, it was time for the wedding to start!

The ceremony took place in the beautiful Temple Gardens, under a lovely gazebo.  The sun peeked through the trees as the guests waited for the bride.

The bride made her way down the aisle...

to her waiting groom 

Pride showed in his eyes as the father of the bride handed his girl over to the groom.  Pride and maybe a few tears.

A beautiful ceremony commenced, filled with laughter, tears, advice and kind words.  

Just like every other aspect of the day, the receiving line was filled with emotion.  Hugging, laughing, crying and more hugging.

We made good use of the many scenic areas of the park for formal portraits.  This shot of the family doesn't even include everyone - thankfully Sayen Gardens is a park full of open spaces!  Family members, some from as far away as Germany, cheered on the bride and groom as they celebrated the fact that they were officially husband and wife.

While the guests headed to the reception, the bride and groom explored the grounds with their bridal party and we captured some spectacular moments.  The walking paths and fountains were the perfect backdrop to accentuate the Victorian theme of the wedding.

Before heading to the reception, we took a few minutes for some fun.  The bridesmaids all had a surprise under their beautiful aqua dresses - bright red heels!

And as the groomsmen often do, these guys started out smooth and then went a little crazy.

They still managed to pull themselves together for a few more formal shots

And then the girls started to twirl and we knew it was time to wrap things up and head to the reception.

As the sun was setting, we headed across the street to the party awaiting us at the Nottingham Ballroom.

The bridal party started things off with an elaborate Victorian group dance.  

Followed by the bride & groom's special dance together.

The bride had an emotional dance with dad.

And the groom with his mom 

And then it was time to party!!  After a delicious dinner catered by Mafaldas of Hamilton, the night was filled with every type of music, in honor of the different cultures represented in both families. 

The wedding cake was lovingly made by the bride's sister, and so beautiful!  

After the cake, more dancing, including this special dance for all the married couples.

The couple married the longest gave their advice to the newly married couple at the end.

And then it was over.  The night ended with the bride and groom surrounded by loved ones, thanking special family members and friends for all their support.  Congratulations to Misa and Ivy, your day was beautiful and your life ahead promises to be just as lovely.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your amazing special day.