Kellie and Karl walking away into thick fog on the beach at ICONA Avalon, the fishing pier barely visible behind them, by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

The fog never lifted on Kellie and Karl’s wedding day at ICONA Avalon. You could not see the fisherman’s pier from the beach. You could not see the far end of the sand. I have shot this venue in July heat, in low October gold, and in rain that pushed the whole afternoon indoors, and this is still the day people ask me about.

This is that one wedding, start to finish. If you are planning your own day here and you want the venue walkthrough, the ceremony options, the rain plan, and what an ICONA Avalon wedding costs, that is all in the ICONA Avalon wedding guide.

A Real ICONA Avalon Story: Kellie & Karl in the Fog

The fog on Kellie and Karl’s wedding day was so dreamy. I’ll be honest, I was a little concerned at first. They wanted to shoot down by the fisherman’s pier, and I couldn’t, because I could not see it. We kept it soft in the background instead. I couldn’t even photograph the wedding party out on the beach. I couldn’t see them. So we moved everyone onto one of the boardwalks and shot there.

And then the fog turned into the best thing about the day. It looked like Kellie and Karl were walking on a cloud. Walking into clouds. Nobody was expecting it, and it is stunning. In all my years shooting the Jersey Shore, I’ve only been on a beach in fog like that one other time, and that day was just as dreamy.

Bride and groom walking toward the camera hand in hand on the wet sand, her tiered tulle skirt swinging, on a fog bound Avalon beach

People freak out about rain on a wedding day. But look how cool rain looks in photographs, and look how cool this fog looks. You can’t order weather like this. The conditions you don’t plan for are usually the ones that give you something nobody else has.

Here is their full wedding day, start to finish.

Bride and groom seen from behind walking into the fog toward the Avalon fishing pier, her veil catching the light

There are not enough positive words I can say about Kellie & Karl and their Icona Avalon wedding. They have been phenomenal to work with, be with and shoot with! They are light-hearted, laid back, always positive and full of humor. You can view some of their GTKY session online here. I have footage of them from the sky of them jumping into the surf in Wildwood, NJ. But we are here to talk about their wedding day.

Ceremony & Reception: Icona Avalon Florist: Angela Nicole Design Band: Slippery Band Bride’s Dress: Stella York Bride’s Shoes: Nina

About Icona Avalon

Icona Avalon sits right on Dune Drive in Cape May County, one of only a handful of true oceanfront wedding venues on the Jersey Shore. The building is the old Golden Inn, purchased by ICONA Resorts in 2015 and renovated from 2016 into the contemporary resort it is now, with ocean-facing ballroom windows and a beach ceremony deck. The best part for couples like Kellie and Karl: the ceremony spot is a flat 30-second walk from the cocktail hour, which means foggy beach mornings do not turn into stressful travel-time problems. Fun planning fact: Avalon’s protected beach is one of the widest in New Jersey, so even with the fog rolling in, you get a long sand runway for portraits before the ceremony.

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff Groom’s Tux: ChazMaTazz Cake: Bake Works

Bridal bouquet of ivory roses in a florist box beside the Kellie and Karl invitation suite, ivory heels and drop earrings

The bridal suite at Icona Avalon

I need to start by expressing my absolute love for this blue velvet couch they chose to put in the bridal suite for all brides that have a Icona Avalon wedding. I wanted to drive my car up, load it in and take that puppy home. Space is great! It is large enough to fit 5-10 girls comfortably with hair/makeup artists. The front windows provide tons of natural light. The flooring is this gorgeous color textured wood. It is great for doing flat lay/detail photographs.

Close view of the letterpress invitation with fern illustrations, Kellie and Karl in script, next to a silver crystal bracelet Custom wire hanger reading Mrs Johnston with pearl trim and a blush fabric flower The Stella York ballgown hanging from a white paneled wall in the ICONA Avalon bridal suite White robe lettered The Bride, paired with the lace bodice of the gown on its custom hanger Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume bottle resting on a pale blue blanket in the bridal suite Ivory Nina heels for the bride beside a bundle of pink roses and gypsophila on a light wood floor Wedding rings for the bride and groom lined up in the beach sand

History of Icona in Avalon

This was the first time I have been to the Icona Resort in Avalon, NJ. Originally it was the Golden Inn until it was purchased by Icona Resorts in 2015 and underwent a 15million dollar renovation starting in 2016. The renovations turned the classic hotel into a modern contemporary hotel in South Jersey. The rooms are simply wow! They renovated the back by the pool where they have ceremonies onsite there. The inside when you walk in is a mix of pure white minimalism with touches that remind you that you are on the beach.

Black and white frame of the bride laughing with her mother, who wears a Mother of the Bride shirt Nine bridesmaids in navy robes crowded around the bride with champagne flutes, a large sailboat painting behind them Posed portrait of the bride in a white robe seated in a navy armchair with her bridesmaids around her

“After talking to Jordan on the phone the first time we knew he’d be the perfect photographer for our day – it was so easy to talk and joke with him. One of the main things we wanted out of our wedding photographer (besides amazing photos, obviously) was an easy connection. We wanted to feel as comfortable as possible and have our true emotions captured. Jordan was truly amazing to work with.” ~Kellie & Karl

Black and white frame of bridesmaids fastening the back of the beaded bodice Two black and white frames of the bride being helped into her gown and laughing with a bridesmaid at the window Black and white frame of the bride raising her arm as a bridesmaid works the side of the dress When your deodorant game is this strong!

Black and white close view of the hand of the bride held in the hand of her grandmother Two black and white frames of the bride fastening an earring and a bridesmaid setting the veil in place Black and white frame of the bride and her flower girl sitting quietly together on a tufted sofa Black and white detail of the tulle skirt beside the small white shoes of the flower girl Black and white close view of the bride holding a wristwatch engraved with the signature of the groom Yes. Karl got Kellie a watch from Karl Langerfeld that said Karl on it!

Father of the bride turning to see his daughter for the first time in her gown Father of the bride holding his daughter close during their first look Father and daughter looking at each other after the first look, her veil lit by the window Close view of the wristwatch of the father of the bride and a cufflink set with a family photograph Love these custom cuff links Kellie got her father as a gift. That is her with him as a little kid. Bride seated on a blue velvet sofa with her bouquet, veil spilling over the arm Two frames of the bride smiling in the suite and her garden rose and eucalyptus bouquet Close view of the lashes and ring of the bride beside a seated profile portrait on the blue sofa Full length bridal portrait in front of the large sailboat painting in the ICONA Avalon suite Two frames of the bride with her veil drawn forward, standing against the sailboat canvas

Groom Preps at Icona Avalon

Karl along with a few of his brothers, friends, and family had their groom preps in their suite that overlooked the beach. The guys were laid back, fun and were ready to party! Kellie got Karl a surprise white dinner coat for the reception as part of her gift. It was an incredible surprise and looked GQ cool for the evening. I wish more groomsmen did this. Such a great look!

Black and white frame of the groom in suspenders checking himself in the mirror

Two black and white frames of the groom fastening a cufflink and kneeling to tie his shoes

Black and white frame of a groomsman tying the bow tie of the groom

Black and white portrait of the groom laughing in shirtsleeves, bow tie already knotted

Two black and white frames of the groom fastening a cufflink on the balcony and straightening his collar

Two black and white frames of the groom leaning on the balcony rail and a close portrait in his tuxedo

Black and white frame of the groom holding a calligraphed card beside a wrapped gift

Black and white frame of the groom reading his letter on a white sofa outside the suite

Black and white close view of the hands of the groom lifting cufflinks from their box

Bride & Groom first look

I love the sand dunes and entrance onto the beach when I do first looks down the shore. The fog rolled in but the sun just came out which started to burn off some of the fog. Karl had the best expression when he saw Kellie for the first time. plus he was so happy that he couldn’t stop laughing. She was like why are you laughing.

First look on the dune path, the groom waiting at the crest as the bride walks up behind him, a frame by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

Groom smiling over the shoulder of the bride as they hold each other at the dune fence

Groom grinning at his bride during the first look, her veil turned away from the camera

Bride reaching for the hands of the groom as they both laugh at the first look

Groom holding the hand of the bride and looking down at her bracelet

Detail of the veil and beaded back of the gown with the arm of the groom around her

Bride and groom holding hands across the split rail fence with dune grass behind them

Groom lifting her hand to turn the bride, her skirt sweeping the sand path

Bride and groom walking away hand in hand down the sandy path between the dune fences

Bride and groom kissing on the dune path, fog erasing the horizon behind them

Two portraits of the couple together, one smiling and one with the groom pulling a face

Flower girl in a pink dress and white sunglasses carried along the dune fence

Beach wedding portraits Avalon, NJ

We went down a few blocks to shoot over by the pier. When we got on the beach it was so foggy that we had to pull an audible and shoot with the bridal party on the boardwalk. I did first do a few dreamy shots on black and white film of the groom and a bit with the couple. The boardwalk was fun and just wide enough to fit the bridal party on.

Bride and groom walking into the fog on the wide beach, the pier a faint line behind them This was the photograph they selected for their Canvas Wall Art Piece!

Close profile frame of the couple nose to nose, both laughing Detail of the bare feet of the bride in the sand beside the patent shoes of the groom and scattered shells Distant vertical frame of the couple walking the empty beach with fog closing in above them Bride and groom walking together toward the surf line, dwarfed by the fog Bride and groom walking toward the camera along the shoreline, surf breaking to their right Bride and groom facing each other on the open sand, the Avalon pier ghosted in the fog Vertical frame of the couple standing close together on the beach, fog filling the top of the frame Two frames of a veil detail and the bride standing at the dune fence in the grass Two frames of the bride looking back along the fence and smiling under her veil Two frames of the groom waiting at the fence seen past the veil and the bride walking up to him Two frames of the groom turning the bride under his arm on the sand path The full wedding party in navy gowns and black tuxedos lined up on the boardwalk, a frame by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian The wedding party laughing between takes on the boardwalk with the flower girl in the middle Notice the bridesmaid on the far left. She sneezed right on the bridesmaid next to her 3 times in a row! I almost fell on the boardwalk laughing so hard.

Wedding party cheering with bouquets raised on the Avalon boardwalk

Bride with her nine bridesmaids in navy gowns holding garden rose bouquets on the boardwalk

Bride and bridesmaids all wearing sunglasses for a group frame on the boardwalk

Bride and bridesmaids walking arm in arm along the boardwalk past the beach houses

Two frames of the bridal bouquet and a smaller bridesmaid bouquet against a navy gown

Black and white frame of the groom and his groomsmen posed in a line on the beach

Black and white frame of the groomsmen walking away toward the pier through heavy fog

Black and white frame of the groomsmen walking back toward the camera across the sand

Black and white frame of the groomsmen gathered around the grandparents of the couple on the beach

When you find two complete strangers on the beach….You ask them to come in for a quick photobomb with the groom

Bride and a bridesmaid walking past Avalon Pizzeria on the boardwalk, skirt carried clear of the boards

Groom stepping up into the Great American Trolley behind the gown of the bride

Two frames of the couple on the rear platform of trolley T-62, standing together and kissing

Black and white frame of the bride opening champagne on the trolley while her bridesmaids cheer

Black and white frame of the bride laughing with the champagne bottle as the trolley rolls

Family Formals at Icona

Family formals are some of the most important photographs that I captured on the day. However, they need to be fun, quick, have a simple background, good lighting, and natural expressions. We had to place to captured these at the hotel and it was blazing sun in most spots. I found a little entrance way outside by where the ceremony location is by the pool. We rocked these in 10 minutes. This always needs to be done in a crunch sometimes as the guests start arriving and we do not want to shoot formals during the cocktail hour. It is always a frustrating nightmare for the bride to do that.

Family formal portrait under the white draped pergola at ICONA Avalon

Bride and bridesmaids leaning in around the flower girl wrapped in a pink shawl

Close view of the flower girl laughing between the bride and a bridesmaid

Empty ceremony setup at ICONA Avalon, white folding chairs facing the birch arbor with the balconied hotel alongside, by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

Sand ceremony vessels engraved with K beside a heart shaped glass carafe

Close view of the birch arbor dressed with ivory roses, eucalyptus and draped white fabric

Two frames of the full birch ceremony arbor and a trio of metal lanterns with hydrangeas

Navy ceremony programs for Kellie and Karl, April 27th 2018, stacked in a wooden tray

Two frames of the unplugged ceremony sign, a chalkboard seating sign and a succulent tied to a chair

Wooden welcome sign reading Welcome to our forever, Kellie and Karl, April 27th 2018

The ICONA Avalon pool with tall hedge panels lining the far edge

Two frames of the Salty Kisses signature drink sign and a single rose in a bud vase

Black and white frame of the flower girl walking the ring bearer up the aisle

Grandmother of the couple escorted up the aisle by two groomsmen

Father of the bride walking his daughter up the aisle between the seated guests

Groom watching his bride come up the aisle, groomsmen blurred behind him

Bride and her father partway up the aisle, her bouquet of ivory and blush garden roses

Wide view from the back of the ceremony, guests seated on the deck with the ICONA Avalon balconies rising alongside, by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

Bride and groom holding hands under the birch arbor as the officiant reads

Bride and groom during the ring exchange, the officiant between them at the microphone

Bride sliding the wedding band onto the finger of the groom

Two frames of the first kiss under the flowered birch arbor

Bride and groom kissing while the officiant and a bridesmaid applaud

Bride raising her arm in celebration beside the groom at the end of the ceremony

Recessional up the aisle, the couple hand in hand between clapping guests, a frame by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

Bride and groom walking the length of the ICONA Avalon pool deck, mirrored in the water

Bride and groom standing between the hedge panels at the pool edge, reflection below them

The ICONA Avalon cocktail patio with fire pits, draped canopy and lounge seating

Grazing table laid out on the cocktail patio under the heaters

Two frames of the four tier buttercream cake with the Mr and Mrs Johnston topper

Rose gold cake knife and server laid on white linen

Three engraved forks reading me too, me too and I do beside the base of the cake

Reception table set with a low garden rose centerpiece and a framed table number eight

Two frames of a silver lantern centerpiece and the framed number eight with its flowers

ICONA branded outdoor bar cart stocked with glassware and ice buckets

Model wooden speedboat on a polished table in the ICONA Avalon lobby

Escort card table with white coral, pillar candles and a sign about the dance floor

Two frames of the pink signature cocktails with sugared rims and the escort card display

Memorial table of framed family wedding photographs beside a candle and a remembrance sign

Card table with a wooden trunk, a framed Cards sign and wrapped gifts

The ICONA Avalon cupola and sign against a blue spring sky, by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

Stone heron statue in the planting beds outside the resort

Front entrance and porte cochere of ICONA Avalon seen from the driveway

I love this little flare from the film on the edges!

The ICONA Avalon ballroom set for dinner with silver chiavari chairs and plated salads

Icona Avalon Wedding Reception

Damn, they had a fun reception! Angela Nicole Designs did an amazing job with the decor in the room. They also did a stunning job with the bridal bouquets and ceremony decor. You will also love the contemporary look of the wood flooring for your Icona Avalon Wedding.

The first dance concluded with a surprise scooter ride from the bride’s niece and flower girl. This might have been the cutest thing ever for a first dance! Special thanks to the amazing Slippery Band. I have known them for years. Absolutely great people to work with!

The best man’s speech was also pretty epic. The two brothers talking about how they used to beat and destroy Karl. After their speech, I was just thinking to myself and tough Karl must be after some of these stories! They put him in a piece of luggage and threw him down the stairs! haha!

Sweetheart table with a floral garland and large K and K letters set on the floor Wide view of the memorial table with framed photographs of past family weddings First dance, the skirt of the bride blurred mid spin on the empty ballroom floor, by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian Black and white frame of the first dance with guests watching from the edge of the floor Black and white frame of the back of the bride and the hand of the groom during the first dance Two groomsmen giving a toast, one at the microphone with his notes in hand

Karl’s brothers absolutely destroyed it! Great best man/men toast!

Black and white frame of an older guest leaning on a chiavari chair through the toasts

Bride and groom laughing beside the cake, the groom now in a white dinner jacket

Bride and groom cutting the first slice of the buttercream cake

Close view of hands lifting a slice of chocolate and vanilla cake from the tier

Groom feeding the bride a forkful of cake

Bride and groom kissing beside the cake after the cutting

Black and white frame of the trumpet player and singer of the band mid song

Black and white frame of the vocalist of the band singing under the stage lights

Bride and groom dancing in the middle of a packed floor

Bridesmaids cheering with their bouquets raised on the dance floor

Groom holding a baby on the dance floor while the bride laughs beside him

Bridesmaid carrying the baby through the crowd with her bouquet still in hand

Guests dancing together in the middle of the reception

Groomsman in suspenders dancing as the crowd closes in around him

Guests dancing shoulder to shoulder while the band plays

Groomsmen hoisting the groom into the air on the dance floor

Bride sitting on the floor laughing as two groomsmen lean in with their ties

Groomsmen carrying the groom horizontally across the dance floor

Black and white night portrait of the couple on the pool deck with the lit ICONA Avalon balconies behind, by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian

Black and white night frame of the groom lifting the bride, hotel windows glowing behind

Black and white vertical frame of the groom lifting and kissing the bride at night

Black and white night portrait of the couple standing apart between tall hedge panels

Black and white night frame of the bride gathering her skirt with the groom against the hedge

I must say the Icona is an amazing jersey shore venue. Stylish, contemporary but not stuffy and a touch of laid-back NJ. I had the best time with Kellie and Karl. Their album turned about incredible and I absolutely loved the wall art canvas piece they got of them romantically walking together into the foggy mist

Flat lay of the leather Kellie and Karl wedding album with a print, starfish and palm fronds, made by ICONA Avalon wedding photographer Jordan Brian The craziest that they had a foggy day at the beach and they chose the light grey leather called “fog”! Perfect for this foggy Icona Avalon Wedding…

Check out this other amazing beach wedding Tia & Brian’s Windows on the Water wedding in Sea Brite, NJ

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Planning your own day at this venue? Everything I know about ICONA Avalon sits in one place, the ceremony options, the rain plan, the portrait spots and what a wedding here actually costs: the ICONA Avalon wedding guide.

ICONA Avalon Wedding Photos: A Foggy Beach Day in Avalon, NJ