When Melanie and Ryan came to us and asked for a holiday inspired engagement shoot we were so excited to embrace their fun and festive theme! Since I live locally in Hoboken, I had a few ideas, and after a fun night out in Jersey City exploring (and of course having a few cocktails) I was able to plan out the perfect little holiday experience, right outside of Manhattan.
We began our day at Van Vorst Park, which is about the size of a city block, and bordered by beautiful brownstones. It was a super cute little spot to start, with some greenery still lingering and pathways for romantic walking shots. After that we ventured across the street and "borrowed" a beautifully decorated brownstone stoop which gave us a nice classic Christmas in the city sort of vibe!
One of the highlights of our day was definitely our stop at Franklin Social, right near the park and located on the corner of Barrow and Mercer streets. They temporarily re-themed their restaurant for the holiday season to become "Miracle on Mercer", adorably decorated both inside and out with lights, a Christmas tree, wreaths and even fake snow on the windows. Melanie and Ryan popped inside and came back with mulled wine, one of their signature holiday drinks served in Santa mugs! This spot was truly filled with Christmas spirit, and had us all in a happy holiday mood.
As the sun set, we shot at the Exchange Place waterfront, with sweeping NYC views drenched in a warm glow. Melanie and Ryan popped some champagne and cheersed in front of a beautifully lit Christmas tree, their laughs and smiles made it obvious it was hard for them to contain how truly happy they were together!
The very last stop on our Jersey City holiday tour was the Newark Avenue pedestrian walk, where a portion of the street is permanently shut down to vehicles. It was lit with string lights, snowflakes and a big tree - a scene truly reminiscent of a hallmark holiday movie! This time of year it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I am so grateful we had the chance to take a step back, slow down and truly enjoy the magic of Christmas, and witness the love between Melanie and Ryan. We cannot wait to capture their big day - which will of course be winter wonderland themed!!
Jenna and I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season. Take the time to relax, reflect and enjoy being with the ones you love - we look forward to all of the stories we'll get to be a part of in 2021!
Cheers!
