Location: Ringwood, New Jersey
Setting: Castle
Season: Summer
The number of guests: 130
Wedding theme/style: Romantic, classic, chic.
Alexis and Alex first met at 17, during their senior year of high school. Alexis was visiting New Jersey with her best friend to meet people from her friend’s hometown, and then she met Alex. The chemistry was immediate, making it hard for her to return home. Soon, Alexis moved to New Jersey to experience the northeastern lifestyle with her friend, and after a few years of playful friendship, she and Alex began dating.
Their relationship blossomed, and the couple eventually moved to Seattle to be closer to Alexis’s family. The proposal was as enchanting as their love story. While on a date, the lovebirds were looking at rings, and Alex secretly placed an order for Alexis’s dream ring. The ring arrived three weeks later, coinciding with a visit from Alex’s parents. He planned a visit to the Japanese Botanical Garden for Mother’s Day and proposed in the beautifully refreshed garden amidst a brief respite from the rain. Alexis’s lively “DUH!” was the perfect response to Alex’s heartfelt proposal.
Wedding planning discussions began immediately. The couple considered an intimate elopement abroad but decided on a larger domestic wedding to include their beloved people. Given that most of their relatives were in New Jersey, they chose a beautiful castle manor and botanical gardens in Ringwood.
The venue’s unique character and timeless elegance aligned perfectly with Alexis’s vision for a romantic and classic celebration. With its castle-like architecture and lush gardens, Skylands Manor felt like a setting straight out of a fantasy romance novel. The summer wedding was attended by 130 guests, who were invited to dress up and feel like royalty for the evening. The wedding theme was inspired by Bridgerton, Pride and Prejudice, and Marie Antionette, combining romantic, classic, and chic elements to create an unforgettable experience.
The lovebirds’ wedding was captured by Allie of Alexandrae Photo. Allie had previously photographed their engagement session at the Seattle Art Museum. Her ability to blend candid moments with elegant compositions perfectly matched the couple’s vision. The photographer expressed her delight in capturing the couple’s wedding week, emphasizing the magical rapport she built with their family and friends.
"Alexis and Alex's wedding day honestly felt like something out of a fairytale - much due to the venue's gorgeous aesthetic and the couple's romantic love story. It was an honor to capture these special memories for the sweetest couple and their loving friends and family."
Alexis’s bridal look was nothing short of spectacular. When she stepped into her strapless, open-back satin gown with a leg slit and the cathedral-length veil, she radiated elegance and grace. A sapphire bracelet, borrowed from the groom’s aunt, added a meaningful touch of “something borrowed and blue,” a tradition symbolizing love and fidelity. She wore her late grandmother’s ring, fulfilling the “something old” tradition and keeping a cherished heirloom close to her heart. These personal touches made her look not only stunning but also deeply meaningful.
The bride’s hair, styled in a modern French twist, and her glowing makeup complemented her look perfectly. With a spritz of Oriana by Parfums de Marly and an all-white bouquet, she felt every bit the bride she had always dreamed of being.
"As for the bridesmaids' dresses…it took a little longer to decide on. I dabbled with having her girls in white for a while, then moved on to monochromatic pink, but none of that felt right. After coming across a mirror selfie of celebs all dressed up in the Met Gala bathroom, I was inspired to let the bridesmaids choose their own dresses. A vision board was created and sent out to the girls, and after a few tweaks, the collection of dresses ended up being so beautiful that everyone was able to wear something that showed their individuality."
Alex looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo, as did all his groomsmen, fulfilling his vision for a timeless and sophisticated look. His Black by Vera Wang tuxedo and dress shoes looked perfect on him. The simple yet elegant white ranunculus boutonniere he wore perfectly complemented Alexis’s bouquet, tying their looks together beautifully.
The groom was very insistent on not wanting to see the bride until she walked down the aisle. However, the couple still wanted to exchange private vows before the ceremony. As a compromise, they chose to have a “first touch” moment and read their vows back to back with each other.
"We asked Allie, not only our amazing photographer but also a down-for-anything person, to judge a rock-paper-scissors contest to decide who would read their vows first. The moment was supposed to be private but there were a few family members who later admitted to sneakily listening to the vows and being brought to tears."
The ceremony took place in a meadow of the gardens on the property of the manor, and the aisle was straight out of a fairytale, lined with white roses and scattered with rose petals. For Alex, the most special part of the day was seeing his bride walk down the aisle. The couple decided to have not one but two officiants, both of their mothers. That detail alone surprised and made many guests very emotional. Instead of having the wedding party stand with them, they opted to keep it simple with them and their moms, giving them a much more intimate feeling.
The couple wanted to involve their parents in the ceremony as a symbolic way of the people who raised them handing them the torch to start a family unit. The bride’s father held the rings until they were ready to be exchanged, and the groom’s father performed a “blessing of the hands.“
The serene pathways, framed by lush greenery and blooming flowers, provided the perfect backdrop for the couple’s post-ceremony photos. They looked blissfully happy, stealing kisses and sharing tender moments as they walked hand in hand. Their groomsmen and bridesmaids followed, adding a touch of camaraderie and joy to the scene. Alexandrae Photo captured the love and happiness radiating from Alexis and Alex in every moment.
The connection with nature was profoundly important for Alexis. She slipped off her elegant shoes to feel the cool, soft grass beneath her feet, fully immersing herself in the natural beauty around her. This experience was a significant aspect of the day, emphasizing her desire to connect deeply with the environment.
Even at the beginning of the ceremony, the guests were invited to join the bride and groom in a moment of mindfulness, taking in the sounds, smells, visions, and feelings of the scene. Alexis recalls this moment vividly, saying she can still hear the gentle rustling of the trees in the breeze and the soft buzzing of bees among the flowers.
While everyone was at cocktail hour, the bride and groom even were able to have a moment alone to eat, drink, and soak in everything, which is still the newlyweds’ favorite part of the day months later.
The reception was held in the ballroom, which was transformed with rows of white roses in bud vases and soft amber uplighting, creating a romantic ambiance. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, including a rum and coke (Cuba libre) and ranch water with a Tajín rim. The couple’s entrance to Mariah Carey’s “Sweet Fantasy” set the tone for an evening of celebration. Their first dance to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green was so heartfelt and emotional.
The cake table featured an assortment of cakes because the bride couldn’t choose just one. The standout was an art deco heart-shaped cake with “Til’ Death” written on it, which quickly became a favorite. The cakes were beautifully displayed with fresh flowers and candles, making the table a charming and inviting centerpiece at the reception.
After dinner, the bride and groom sneak upstairs for a moment and allow the bride to change into her second look, a very fun mini dress made of bouncy feathers and sequins. Once they returned to the party, the night turned into a club feel with a mixture of EDM and disco hits, getting almost everyone on the dancefloor. The topic of the reception that is still talked about months later was the CO2 smoke machine guns the couple was able to blast into the crowd from the DJ booth.
Advice from the couple:
• Do exactly what you want, and don’t listen to anyone else’s opinions unless you are looking for them. Schedule alone time with each other throughout the day. Remember that you are the host of the wedding, but you are also the guest of honor. It’s okay if you can’t make it up to every guest to thank them for being there. Have as much fun as you possibly can!
PHOTOGRAPHY Alexandrae Photo | VENUE The Skylands Manor | FLORALS Flowers by G Bella | CAKE Jeanette Fletcher | DJ & PHOTOBOOTH Posh DJs| MUAH Alyne Halvajian, Lauren Fletcher | GOWN Madison James | BRIDE’S SHOES Ted Baker | TUXEDO Black by Vera Wang | GROOM’S SHOES Joseph Abboud
