Molly Pitcher Inn Wedding during Hurricane Joaquin :: Kellyann + Marc

Weddings

October 28, 2015

It was a cold, windy and rainy forecast as we arrived in Red Bank, New Jersey at the Molly Pitcher Inn. Hurricane Joaquin was in full effect and everyone was hopeful that it would push away from the Jersey Shore. The winds were up to 50mph and the rain had dissipated to a constant drizzle for most of the day. As soon as we arrived, Kellyann was in hair and make up and had a huge smile on her face. She immediately asked what we thought of the weather and we assured her that everything would work out the way its supposed to and she would still marry the man of her dreams. We were in a Penthouse suite that was the size of a home on the top floor of the Molly Pitcher. It had multiple rooms, bathrooms and so much space to play in. We were overlooking the water as 50mph winds were crashing the waves against the shore. It was dark and grey outside, but the vibe inside was happy and light. It would have been very easy for everyone to get upset, worried and throw a fit to get a warm sunny day, but this group was not about to let a little hurricane get in the way. Kellyann’s dad was like the overseer for the day. He was so cute running around making sure everything was taken care of and let us know that this view was very important to him. We had to…just HAD to get photos outdoors somehow. The pressure was on! Kellyann’s mom and sister helped her get into her amazing Tara Keely wedding gown. This was hands down one of the coolest dresses I have ever seen .The layers and layers of the skirt with the wide trim were absolutely stunning. Her best friends stood by wiping tears and cheering her on as she opened her gift and put on her final details before seeing her father. You could tell the minute that they saw each other- this was daddy’s little girl. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. It was truly special.

Across town, Marc was getting ready in his parent’s home. It was busy, crowded and full of excitement when we arrived. Marc was all smiles and excited to show us the matching pocket watches the guys were sporting. These guys were instant fun the minute we showed up which mad things so great. We set up in the room on your right after coming in the door. Apparently, everything breakable and meaningful was put in this room without my knowing! HA! Marc called it the “Culture” room. Marc comes from Egyptian decent and this room was kind of dedicated to all the stuff they had collected over time. Half of the stuff was definitely breakable…hahah! Tiny room, big guys, 2 photographers in a hurry- well, you can imagine! After referring to the Egyptian room a few times it was settled that this was the biggest topic of conversation for us all. We loved the Egyptian family. 🙂 Marc’s mom and dad came in the room to give him final wishes and love before he headed to the venue to get married. Marc was looking good and the weather was too. The drizzle was starting to slow down and it was time to get married.

The ceremony was moved indoors due to the weather, but that didn’t slow this wedding down. It was a small room full of big love. We even ran into one of our other future couples- love when that happens. Shout out to Melanie & Guy! Kellyann and Marc were finally here after all of this planning- they said their I do’s and came down the aisle all smiles! This was the moment we all gathered in the bridal suite to decide on what we should do with the hurricane weather. Jeffrey and I peaked out right after the ceremony and it was completely dry and very windy. Hey, no rain is all we could ask for. So, we ran back to the bridal suite and made a very detailed game plan on what we were going to do with the wedding party. We knew it was cold and we also knew the wind was not playing around. Luckily this wedding party was packed full of pros! In less than 5 minutes we had a few shots and they were all excused to get back inside and warm up. At this point, Kellyann and Marc were down for anything. Seriously, you can’t ask for anything better than a couple who will embrace a hurricane on their wedding day. Not only did they deal with it…they full gave into the fact that this was really happening. This was a first for me as a photographer. I have never dealt with or even been in a hurricane, much less shoot a wedding in one. We were going to need to use a soft box to light the couple because it was so gloomy and we would have to work with the wind and not fight it. The wind was consistently blowing. There were no gusts. It was a straight line wind that would blow you over. Jeff was struggling big time holding the soft box light and I was yelling at the top of my lungs to communicate with the couple. From a distance we probably looked out of our minds. Maybe we were. We waited. We were patient. We just kept shooting. To this day, these are some of our most unique and favorite photos. GO TEAM! Hurricane Joaquin made this wedding spectacular and different. Thank you mother nature. 🙂

We rushed inside to a loud applause. Everyone had been watching from inside through the windows! A few misplaced pieces of hair and a huge smile on Kellyann told me that it was all worth it. On with the show!! This wedding reception was UNFORGETTABLE. The band was crazy awesome with costumes, wigs and horns. The dance floor was always full and the singing was loud. The navy and gold touches were so beautifully done as they chandeliers lit up the night. It was absolutely perfect day despite what could have slowed us all down.

The first sneak peak went up the next day on social media. We will never forget the text that Kellyann sent. She was overwhelmed with joy because the photos were something she didn’t even think were possible. Hurricane wedding photos? Who would have thought?! She was so happy she had a hurricane on her wedding. Now how many people can say that and be happy? That made our whole year.

Thank you…THANK YOU so much Kellyann and Marc for trusting us and for embracing Joaquin! It was an honor to be a part of this magical day. Cheers to your future and new adventure in life. This is just the beginning. We will see you soon!

Leaha + Jeffrey