There are weddings you photograph, and then there are weddings where you already know half the family before you ever pick up the camera. Janelle and Jim’s Park Chateau wedding was the second kind.
I first met Janelle a couple of years ago when I shot a small second wedding for her brother and his wife at Grounds for Sculpture. They had already gotten married in Mexico, so this was their NJ celebration. Then I did a fall mini family session with the whole crew. By the time Janelle and Jim’s day rolled around, it did not feel like work. It felt like hanging out with family who happened to be getting married.
That is honestly one of my favorite parts of this job. You spend so much time with the same people across so many different chapters that they stop feeling like clients.
A Quick Word on Park Chateau Estate
If you have not been to Park Chateau Estate in East Brunswick, here is the short version. It is a one-stop-shop venue on a serious scale. You drive up, park, and you are there all day. Hair, makeup, getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, even night portraits, all without leaving the property.
It is similar in spirit to Park Savoy (which I also love), but Park Chateau is a whole other level. Park Savoy is the older, high-end wooden venue with so much character. Park Chateau is bigger, grander, with way more grounds to work with. Both are gorgeous. They just hit different notes.
Janelle was already in love with the venue when we started planning, so a lot of our pre-wedding consult was mapping out exactly where we would shoot and when, based on light and timing.
Getting Ready, Two Very Different Suites
Jim was in the groom suite, which sits right near the bride suite. The groom suite has a contemporary, kind of moody vibe. Pool table, dark walls, a little bit of window light coming in but not a ton. It photographs cool and editorial. The bride suite is the opposite — bright, soft, and wide open.
First Look in the Gardens
We did Janelle and Jim’s first look out in the gardens. Overcast day, but in a really pretty way. Soft light, no harsh shadows, easy to work with. After the first look, they read their own private vows to each other.
Wedding Party in the Gardens
Park Chateau has a ton of really good shooting spots across the grounds. We worked our way through a bunch of them with the wedding party. Having everything on one property is such a gift on a tight wedding-day timeline.
Couple Portraits Across the Estate
We pulled Janelle and Jim through several of Park Chateau’s signature spots for their couple portraits. The grounds give you a ton of variety in a short walk.
The Ceremony, Chapel vs. Outdoor Lake View
Park Chateau gives you both options. There is a beautiful outdoor ceremony spot that overlooks the lake, and the smart play with that one is a late-afternoon ceremony so the sun sets behind the couple.
The Reception (and the Sparkler Cannons)
The reception was a blast. They had sparkler cannons, which are incredible for photos but only if your photographer knows how to handle them. The second those things go off, the entire room’s lighting changes. If you are not ready for it, you miss the shot.
The Cannoli Cart Guy
Okay, this one needs its own section. They had a guy walk in with a cannoli cart strapped to his chest, making fresh cannolis for guests on the spot. Janelle, Jim, and the whole reception had so much fun with him. It was honestly one of the highlights of the night.
The First Dance (and the Practice Run)
Janelle and Jim trained for a special first dance, and one of my favorite things to capture is the practice run beforehand in a quiet room. You get this whole other layer of moments — laughing through the steps, working out the dip, deciding who leads.
Night Portraits Under the Lights
We pulled Janelle and Jim out for a few night shots. The trees on the property are lit up with twinkle lights all year round, and it is gorgeous. We also shot in the library, which is one of the cooler spots on the property.
Why Janelle and Jim’s Wedding Stayed With Me
After the wedding, Janelle’s mom Karin asked if I would build her a custom album too. Not a replica of the bride’s, but her own larger version with her own picks. Of course. We made it easy. She pulled her favorites, I designed it around her. That kind of follow-up is one of my favorite parts of long client relationships. It is never just the wedding day. It is the whole arc.
Janelle and Jim, thank you for trusting me with another chapter. Park Chateau gave us the perfect canvas, but the day was yours.
Planning Your Own Park Chateau Wedding?
If you are considering Park Chateau and want a photographer who already knows the light, the timeline quirks, the best portrait spots, and how to handle sparkler cannons without panicking, let’s talk.
Vendor Team
Venue: Park Chateau Estate & Gardens, 678 Cranbury Rd, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Photography + Cinematography: Jordan Brian Studios
Planner: Luciana Gameiro
Florals: A Touch of Elegance (Laura Collins)
DJ: Eclipse Events (Anthony Battista)
Hair: Emboldened Hair Artistry (Meghan Salsbery)
Makeup: Ciara Poalillo
Dress: Galia Lahav NYC
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaid dresses: Bella Bridesmaids Freehold (Jenny Yoo)
Suits: Royal Tuxedo, Kenilworth NJ
Invitations: Creationari
Cake: Calandra’s Italian Village, Caldwell NJ
Hotel block: Chateau Grande Hotel, East Brunswick NJ
Theme: Bridgerton-inspired