Windows On The Water Wedding | Danielle & John

I first spoke with Danielle and John while I was in Cancún, Mexico! We had our initial call while I sat poolside, set to shoot a destination beach wedding a few days later, and we instantly connected over our mutual love of traveling and the beach. During our conversation, the two shared with me about their upcoming Windows On The Water wedding celebration and their exciting plans for the beautiful beach wedding venue. I instantly knew we’d be the perfect fit for each other!

A New Jersey Love Story

Danielle and John’s love story began at Richard Stockton College in NJ, where they met as neighbors in their senior year. After some time hanging out, they grew a strong connection and began dating the summer after graduation.

At the end of the summer, Danielle moved to California for grad school. So, Danielle & John grew their love as a long-distance relationship across the country. After a year of long-distance, John landed a job in California, packed up his belongings, and bought a one-way ticket to CA, where the two lived until the wedding. Following the big day, they moved back home to the east coast.

Proposal in Greece

In the fall of 2019, Danielle and John planned a trip to Greece. During their first stop in Santorini, John dropped to one knee and asked Danielle to marry him at the most picturesque cliffside overlooking the ocean. The newly engaged couple spent the rest of their vacation on cloud nine. How utterly romantic is that!?

The Wedding Day

On the wedding day, the weather was crazy, with heavy rains and high winds. While some plans had to be shifted, Danielle and John made the most of it and had a beautiful Windows On The Water wedding.

As soon as the skies cleared, we snuck outside for some quick and fun portraits despite the continued winds. Danielle & John were such troopers and truly embraced the wild weather. Thanks to their flexibility, we could still achieve the dreamy beach photos the couple had imagined for their day!

Danielle’s vision for the celebration had been romantic, with a soft beachy vibe and a white and light pink color palette. This vision was truly brought to life thanks to the florals by Zenplicity Florist, and, of course, their gorgeous Sea Bright wedding venue, Windows On The Water.

Personalized Details

Throughout the day, Danielle and John were supported by their wedding party. Danielle had nine of her best friends as her bridesmaids, while John had his four best friends as groomsmen. I love how the couple truly embraced their wedding party size. Wedding parties can be any size, and they don’t have to be even!

While getting ready, Danielle and John shared with me memories of being welcomed into each other’s families. I loved hearing stories and witnessing the special bond that Danielle has developed with her mother-in-law.

On the morning of the wedding, Danielle gifted John, her mother, and her mother-in-law with custom frames. Each frame was to be filled with a wedding photo and included the lyrics of a special song. John’s was the lyrics of their first dance song, Yours, by Russell Dickerson. (This is one of my absolute favorite songs, so I adore hearing it at weddings!) You just have to see the photos below — I think this is such a sentimental wedding gift idea!

Danielle’s mother-in-law’s frame included lyrics of the mother-son dance. Meanwhile, her mother’s frame was filled with the lyrics of one of their favorite songs. To Danielle’s mother’s surprise, Danielle later surprised her mom with a special mother-daughter dance at the reception!

I love any opportunity to photograph my couples at the beach, especially if it includes travel. Danielle and John’s Windows On The Water wedding was such a sweet celebration of their love. Thank you, Danielle & John, for choosing me to be a part of your day!

If you are looking for a destination wedding photographer who loves travel and the beach as much as you, I’m your gal! Be sure to reach out to see if I am a good fit for your wedding!

love always Avery