How to Keep Your Wedding Day Simple & Meaningful | A Surprise Princeton Battleground Wedding

Like many couples in 2020, Covid-19 shook up their wedding plans and Megan and John were no different. When their dream of a destination wedding in Mexico came crashing down, they decided to swap their grand plans for something a little more effortless but a whole lot more meaningful.

After planning to use the guise of Thanksgiving to reveal their surprise wedding and ensure all their family and friends could be there, the couple announced their plans to wed the Saturday after Thanksgiving during Thanksgiving dinner (!) in an attempt to help things run smoothly. Their plan worked! Their families pitched in to make their day perfect- Megan’s parents set up the reception space in the backyard, her sister officiated their wedding ceremony- and after what could have been an overwhelming re-planning process, Megan and John finally knew in their heart that this small celebration was right. Keep reading to get a peek at Megan & John’s day and steal some tips on how to keep your wedding simple & meaningful. 

 

Megan and her dad had their first look inside Megan & John’s home just before John got to see his bride on their front porch. We followed up their first look with some portraits at home with their sweet quarantine rescue pup, Lulu!

 

The couple and their family enjoyed an intimate ceremony in their favorite park, Princeton Battleground, proving to be the perfect backdrop for their meaningful day. Megan graced the ceremony in her Bijou Bridal and John wore a BlackLapel suite. 

When you strip back a wedding day to its key and most important features, it all boils down to love. Love for each other, love for friends and family, and love for their new hometown of Princetown- the place where their love began and their roots will continue to grow deeper. Whether they are on a beach in Mexico or in their favorite park at home, this couple knew they had to do what felt right in their hearts. Their family proudly watched over their union, same as they always would, no matter the destination. My advice to all newly engaged couples, do what feels right for you and what brings you the most calm, not what you think your guests will expect. 

Covid-19 has changed our ideas of a traditional wedding and everything that entails, the large guest count and the grand gestures, but the important things remain; the radiant newlyweds, their family and friends, love, and precious memories. Whether it’s a crowded wedding in a grand ballroom or a small intimate ceremony in a park, as photographers, we get to flex our creative skills and capture each couple’s unique day in a way they could only imagine.

 

I love that trends are changing and despite the shake-up of the past year, I still get to walk through a wedding day with a couple and create legacy-worthy images for them to pass down and share for years to come. Thank you for continuing to invite me into your most intimate, precious moments, my friends. It’s my greatest honor and privilege. 

Are you struggling to make your day special now that your plans have changed? Are you stuck and overthinking things, trying to please everyone and listening to too many opinions? Don’t stress! Jump on a call with me and I can help you navigate how to pivot your day to be simple yet meaningful so we capture the things most important to you on your big day. Loving the feel of this intimate wedding day? Click here to check out this private wedding at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse!

Vendors-

Venue: Princeton Battlefield State Park

Megan’s Bridal Shop: Bijou Bridal

John’s Suit Designer: BlackLapel

Jewelry: Amazon 

Rings: James Allen

Flowers: Princeton Floral Design

Backyard decor: Goodwill