I am going to share with you all my Top 10 Wedding Registries! There are so many aspects that go along with planning your wedding. As a matter of fact, planning your registry is one of those things that just happens to be A LOT OF FUN! Did you know that you should actually have 2-4 registries? Always have at least one bigger store, and preferably one that is online, then two of your favorite little boutique stores. I am going to share my favorite 10 registries and maybe throw in some other fun things in the list that are great gift options as well! Enjoy the list and make sure you follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter! Don’t be afraid to strike up a friendly conversation about what registries YOU think are best!

Top 10 Wedding Registries:

1. Amazon Wedding Registry – Amazon is an amazing website where you can purchase practically anything you want. The amazon registry actually allows you to purchase ANYTHING you find on the internet. You can install a button on your browser, and literally add anything you find on the internet (on Amazon or not on Amazon) to your registry! This is why it is my number 1 favorite registry! You can also have things delivered directly to you, or to the person purchasing the gift, and you can even request gift wrapped option – which Amazon puts the purchased item into a beautiful, and reusable organza tie bag! It’s stylish and will leave the gift recipient super impressed! Click here to check it out!

   

2. Zola Wedding Registry – Zola just had to make it to my Top 10 Wedding Registries list! It is an amazing wedding registry that is clean and very organized! You can add gifts, gift cards, and honeymoon funds in one place!  It features coupon codes to save your guests money which is very nice! It also features the same internet button for your browser that Amazon does, allowing you to add virtually anything you find on the internet. What I really love about Zola is that there is free shipping (almost, some of the bigger stuff will require shipping) AND you get 20% off on the things that were not purchased. You can also do group gifting AND you will get a free thank you note manager! I’d call that a win! Click here to check it out! 

   

3. Blueprint Registry – This is a different one. The coolest feature about Blueprint is that you can “picture the items in your room”. It’s really great, if you’re registering for furniture or other big items. You can select to have up to 50 or more retailers for your registry as well, which keeps your guests on the registry without having to go shopping somewhere else. Also, and you may love this or hate this, on Blueprint you can ask your guests to help chip in on certain parts of your wedding, for example if you want an ice cream truck at the end of the party, you can ask for that. You can allow group gifts, as well as cash gift options if that’s more your speed. I will heed some caution here though, because it may not fit in well with some of your guests. Click here to check out Blueprint and click here to read my post that includes a book on Wedding Etiquette.

   

4. Honeyfund Registry – Lately, we have seen a lot of couples getting married who have already been living together and already have everything they need to live, cook, and fill their home. So “things” are really the last thing on their mind. Instead of buying them “stuff” that they don’t need, some couples are opting for cash gifts to go toward their honeymoon. There is nothing wrong with this, but some guests may want to gift you a physical gift instead. It’s alright to have a registry like this, but keep in mind having another registry will be a good idea. For the other registry, you can put down things like a tv, or new golf clubs for both of you. Things that will help you come together, and spend more time together, instead of a new pot set. Click here to check it out!

   

5. Jonathan Adler Wedding Registry – If you are looking for something seriously unique and upscale, this is the registry for you. From golds to deep navy’s with American modern flair, this registry has everything you’ve ever dreamed of and it won’t kill your guests pockets! This made my Top 10 Wedding Registries because I simple adore all of the little gold accepts and I am a true lover of art. From vases to fine art, to chairs and beds, gorgeous luxury rugs and spectacular lighting, you don’t want to let this registry pass you by. Check it out here! 

   

6. Sue Fisher King Wedding Registry – Do you appreciate the finer things in life? The birds chirping on a spring day? Do you notice the little details of a simple white bowl and just swoon over its beauty? Do you admire a gorgeous painting on a dish? This is luxury. If this is you, just register here:  Check it out here! 

   

7. Domino’s Wedding Registry – LOL okay, hear me out. This is hilarious, and I love every piece of it. Do you have everything you could have ever dreamed of and you really just want to Netflix and Chill? Get this registry, and have pizza for LIFE, okay maybe not for life, but like, all the time! I bet your guests will love how fun and honest you are about your love for pizza. Check it out here! 

   

8. Slowdance – This is a registry where Event Planner, Jung Lee has her team of designers create a registry based on your needs and wants. It is not a one sized fit all registry. This is the registry that will open your eyes to independent designers from all over the world. Instead of everyday items, and you will be guided on how to incorporate these speciality items into your home! Check it out here!

   

9. The Little Market – If you are a conscious shopper, and you are away of the difference between big stores and little stores, then you should consider this registry. Brought to you by Lauren Conrad, everything purchased from The Little Market helps create a meaningful income for their artisans partners and their families. Some items you will find on this registry, are ceramic kitchen bowls, hand blown glass pitchers, utensils, glassware, linens, pillows, furniture, you can even get custom totes for your eco friendly shopping trips. In addition to the housewares, you can also add spa products and candles to your registry as well! It feels good to help others and have a little piece of something special and handmade just for you in your home. Check it out here!

   

10. Thankful Registry – Thankful allows you to create a very sleek, beautiful and clean registry where you can put absolutely anything on. What I mean by that is, any item from any store, any vacation, any experience and even any charity that you would like a donation for. They are open platform and all inclusive. They also accept any currency, so if you have family or friends from other countries, they won’t have any issue purchasing from your registry. What is really cool about this registry, is that if your guests find an item for less somewhere else, they can purchase it elsewhere and it still comes off of your registry! It’s very cool, and super thoughtful! Wait a minute, maybe that is a hint at their name? We are super thankful that they’re so thoughtful! How neat! It does cost a one time fee of $30 but it is a very beautiful and easy to use platform. No ads or anything to distract your guests or you. It’s a very nice experience to shop on. Check it out here!So that’s it for my Top 10 Wedding Registries! I hope you enjoyed my list, although it won’t be for everyone. I hope it had you thinking out side of the box to what kind of registry’s really are out there! And if you found one you really like, then yey! I am SO glad I was able to help you with a little part of your wedding planning! After all, I LIVE for weddings!

 

We talked about my Top 10 Wedding Registries, so here are some really good gift ideas: 

1. Amazon Prime Subscription – This may be a little bit of a stretch, but did you know you can give the gift of Amazon Prime? It may sound silly, but starting your life together as a husband and wife, you will need to do a lot of shopping for your home. Shopping on Amazon Prime is a great way to save money, and not actually waste gas or time to go to a store and get side tracked on what you really need. Amazon Prime is a yearly subscription, so giving the gift of Prime, will actually save the newly wed a nice chunk of money and allow them to have a very nice in home shopping experience! This would be a very well thought out gift. So think about adding this to your registry! I bet someone will be overjoyed to give this as a gift! Click here to check it out! 
2. Sur le table – Did you know that Sur le table offers cooking classes? How totally cool is this? You can give the gift of cooking to the newly wed and they can both learn how to cook amazing dinners and spend time with one another and really enjoy this new special time in their lives becoming a married couple! Even though Sur Le Table didn’t make it to my Top 10 Wedding Registries, I still absolutely adore them.  Click here to check it out!
3. Blue Apron – To go along with Sur le table, did you know you can order everything you need to cook at home, and there is no subscription necessary? That means you can buy 1 box, and it will be delivered to them with instructions on how to prep their food at home with each-other? There is nothing more delightful than sharing the cooking with your partner. Click here to check it out! 
4. Peek – Peek is  a website where you can purchase experiences, much like these other on the list only they are in so many different states and counties! If you know where the happy couple is going on their honeymoon, or even want to give them a special treat before or after their wedding, then this is the gift to give! Swimming with the pigs in the Bahamas, exploring a waterfall in the DR, or maybe an R- Rated Vampire tour in Philly! The possibilities are endless and you will sure to be able to find something that matches their speed! Check it out here! 

 

David contacted me earlier in the week to chat about documenting his Congress Hall Marriage Proposal to his girlfriend, Amy. (Spoiler alert, she’s a fiance now!) David had a few really amazing ideas on how he would propose. At first it was going to be on the beach by the lighthouse, but the wind was a bit much. He decided to propose on the lawn at their hotel, Congress Hall. Which by the way, is one of the most amazing Hotel’s in Cape May! (Good choice, David!) He planned out their entire proposal, down to the champagne, ice bucket and flutes (even the chairs that faced the beach for a gorgeous sunset!) I heard it was a very nice bottle of champagne, but you should know that David is one of the world’s leading wine writers and just recently wrote a book titled, “But First, Champagne: A Modern Guide to the World’s Favorite Wine”. (Seriously, what a lucky lady to have a fiance that knows all about champagne and wine!)

As I waited for them to arrive, getting text updates from David, I did my best to hide in the bushes by the parking lot. Hotel guests were staring at me, as I am sure I looked… well… pretty shady standing in a parking lot, hiding behind bushes with a hoodie up and holding a giant piece of black metal (yep, it’s my “stalker lens” as I like to call it. Perfect for documenting proposals from far away and not being noticed!) (Although Amy told me later on, that she saw someone in the bushes with a camera… I think she knew all along this would be the day for a marriage proposal!)

Congress Hall was phenomenal, I met with Casika who unfortunately couldn’t wait to watch the proposal, but she was so excited that this was happening at their hotel! If you are even THINKING about it, stop thinking and do it, have a Congress Hall Marriage Proposal! They were so fantastic and helpful! Ask for Casika!

So, When it came time to pop the question, it was magical. David and Amy hugged and kissed, and all the love was there! I was secretly crying in the bushes because well, who wouldn’t!? When I told the hotel guests, I wasn’t some crazy person, I was documenting a proposal that would go down at approximately 6pm… of course they stayed to watch! Everyone loves a happy ending! After that, we went down to the beach to take some beautiful portraits to capture their happiness! It could not have been a better evening for a Congress Hall Marriage Proposal!

David and Amy, Congratulations on your engagement! I wish you both nothing but success in love and your future together! Thank you SO much for trusting me to capture such an intimate moment between the two of you!

I remember watching TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress and seeing Lauren, and hearing her story. I remember laughing and really enjoying the show! I also said out loud, “Call me!” hoping she would somehow find me on the internet, and book me for her wedding. She sounded like the kind of bride I would love to work with. Well, as it turned out, I received an email from her! Out of the blue, and she booked me! She loved me and I loved everything about the wedding she was describing! She told me her wedding would be at a church, where she dreamed of getting married in since she was a little girl. Our Lady Star of the Sea. She told me she would have an amazing party (and she totally did) at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ. She told me how much she loved her fiance (now husband) and how perfect they are for each other. I developed a beautiful relationship with Lauren (we even share first AND middle names).

As I mentioned, Lauren was featured on Say Yes to the Dress on TLC. If you don’t recognize her, you could do a quick good search for “Say Yes to the Dress Classy Porn Star” or click here. You do have to purchase the episode since it’s been a few months since it’s aired, or if you own the dvd’s, etc. you could just watch it there. Anyway, to clue you in, Lauren wanted to look like a classy porn star, but all of the dresses she picked out looked like gorgeous ball gowns. She ended up with the dress she is wearing, and it doesn’t say classy porn star in my opinion, it says beautiful bride! Her wedding was also featured on another episode of Say Yes to the Dress, and you can find that by clicking here. It’s exciting because we get to relive her wedding at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ, and you get to see some video from the day!

Lauren is the kind of girl who lights up a room, it’s no wonder that Anthony fell madly in love with her! Lauren’s smile is so contagious, I found myself laughing behind the camera. The emotions in the room made me cry, made me feel like I was right there in the moment along side of her. Maybe I was extra emotional because I was 6 months pregnant, haha but I am totally going to go with the fact that they are amazing people! Lauren & Anthony’s friends and family are so lucky to have them both in their lives, and they are lucky to have so many people that love them in their lives as well. I felt nothing but love and support in the room. And when it was time to party, wow. This is a crowd that knows how to party! We had the SnapBooth there, and boy did it get used! So many people in such a small space, but they made it work and wow it was a blast! I stopped in a few times and couldn’t believe how much fun everyone was having!

Congress Hall is seriously one amazing venue. Lauren and Anthony had their wedding while it was decorated for Christmas! It is a tradition of theirs that they always have photos taken by the Christmas tree. Well, they had one heck of a large Christmas tree to take a photo in front of! I love Christmas, and Congress Hall, does Christmas RIGHT! It’s a serious winter wonderland inside. Even the doormen dress like toy soldiers. It’s adorable. I can’t help but mention that the staff is beyond amazing. Everyone is so helpful and kind. Lauren and Anthony had their dream wedding here, and it was SO worth it! If you want to have a wedding here, I highly recommend it! It’s definitely a phenomenal place to party your night away!

Lauren and Anthony, I wish you nothing but love, success and prosperity in your future together! Thank you so much for trusting me, and allowing me to take part in your special day, and for sharing your memories with me! I will forever cherish you both in my hearts! xoxo

Cape Resorts – Cape May
Lady Star of the Sea – Cape May
Kleinfeld Bridal – NYC

Sara Jean and Nick were married at Blue Heron Pines in Egg Harbor City, NJ on a beautiful crisp night in November! It couldn’t have been a nicer fall night! The air was cool, the sunset was gorgeous, and in the evening everyone gathered around a fire on the patio to stay warm. It was the kind of night where hanging out with close friends, dancing the night away and eating yummy cake was the best thing EVER!

If you couldn’t tell from their pictures, Sarah & Nick are Irish! Their wedding colors were ivory and kelly green! They are so many beautiful touches to their wedding that respresent their heritage, like their wedding rings in particular! They’re so beautiful. Nick had her engagement ring custom made in Ireland, as well as the bands! Instead of the typical diamon, they went with an emerald with diamond accents. I love when the ring is custom to what the bride likes, it makes it so much more personal and meaningful! (Good job, Nick!)

Blue Heron Pines is a local venue, 15 minutes from where I live, and where my studio is. I absolutly adore the people that work there, and enjoy photographing gorgeous couples on their property! Their willow tree is to die for, and their golf course goes for miles! I have never had a bad experience there and hope I get to keep going back! Sara & Nick really did pick an amazing place to say their vows and join their familes. This venue will always hold a special place in their hearts as it was the location that they joined as one.

Congratulations Sara Jean & Nick, and thank you for trusting me with your memories and allowing me to share this moment with you both! xoxo

Click here to visit the venue’s website.

Jillian and Ken decided to get married at Clarks Landing Yacht Club in Delran, NJ. It is an absolutely GORGEOUS venue with the most amazing staff! Their food is delicious, their ballroom is amazing, their rooms are just MADE for weddings, everything is so pretty. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have natural light in your getting ready room. This place was made with natural light in mind, and I couldn’t be happier with the images we’ve created. I love showing off all the pretty details that a bride prepares for her wedding day. The shoes, the veil, her dress, the flowers. Every little thing is just perfect!

If you want to have that ocean look close to home in South Jersey, check out Clarks Landing Yacht Club in Delran, NJ. It’s perfection!

Jillian and Ken, thank you for trusting us to capture your special day!

Venue