A Black Tie Renault Winery Wedding: Sydney and Antonio

Bride and groom by the tree line along the Renault Winery vineyard

Sydney and Antonio got married at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City on a July Saturday, black tie, all black and white, and it was just a really fun day with a really cool couple.

Their story is one of my favorites. They’re both Portuguese, and their dads have been friends since their early twenties. His grandmother owned one of the only Portuguese restaurants in their area, and Sydney had been going there since she was about ten. They went to the same high school parties. And somehow they never met, until the two of them matched online. When Antonio proposed, it was at sunrise on LBI, just the two of them, low key and perfect.

Here’s their wedding film. The photographs are below.

Getting Ready

Everything for this wedding happened on site at Renault, which makes the day so easy. Sydney got ready in the bridal suite at the venue, which is really nice, all white with big windows and a staircase coming down out of it. Antonio got ready over at the hotel.

Wedding dress hanging in the doors of the bridal suite at Renault Winery

Flat lay of pearl heels, the invitation, perfume and white flowers

Wedding bands and pearl earrings on the invitation suite

Pearl heels among white roses on a wood floor

Pearl strap heels and white flowers from above

Beaded clutch with a gold chain among white roses

Bride laughing as she puts on perfume in her gown

Detail of the bride's engagement ring against her lace gown

Bride smiling as her pearl necklace is fastened

Bridesmaids in black gowns reacting as the bride walks in

Bride coming down the staircase from the bridal suite in her lace gown

Bride laughing with her bridesmaids in black satin gowns

Bride holding her white bouquet in the bright bridal suite, her train spread behind her

Portrait of the bride with pearls and her white bouquet

A First Look at the Bottom of the Stairs

They did their first look at the bottom of the staircase that comes down from the bridal suite. Antonio waited at the bottom, Sydney came down, and we shot the whole thing in black and white. Afterward they read the letters they wrote each other, just the two of them.

Bride fanning out her dress in front of tall windows

Black and white photograph of the groom waiting at the bottom of the staircase as the bride comes down for their first look

Black and white photograph of the groom turning to see the bride at the bottom of the stairs

Black and white photograph of the couple embracing at their first look

Black and white photograph of the couple hugging at the foot of the stairs

Black and white photograph of the groom spinning the bride after their first look

Portraits by the Vineyard

Then we went out on the grounds, in front of the tree line that runs along the vineyard. It’s one of my favorite spots to shoot at Renault. The wind and the light were coming from exactly the right direction, pushing their hair back, and everything looked so pretty.

From there we worked with the wedding party all around the property. It was a big group, all in black, and they were game for everything.

Aerial view of Renault Winery with the ceremony lawn set with white chairs

Couple kissing between the vineyard rows at Renault Winery

Bride and groom walking down a row of pines along the vineyard

Soft portrait of the bride through her veil

Bride and groom standing under the pines in front of the vineyard

Couple kissing under the tall pines beside the vineyard

Black and white close portrait of the couple under her veil

Black and white portrait of the groom resting his head against the bride's

Black and white photograph of the bride's hand on the groom's face

Full wedding party in black on the lawn at Renault Winery

Wedding party walking across the lawn toward the camera

Black and white photograph of the groom with his groomsmen behind him

Black and white photograph of the groomsmen jumping and joking on the lawn

Bridesmaids laughing together with their white bouquets

Bride swinging her dress while the bridesmaids cheer behind her

Family Formals Inside

We did their family formals inside, in front of the drapes that divide off the main reception room. It was a cool setup, because the divider didn’t look like a divider at all. It looked like a backdrop someone had built on purpose.

Family formal photograph in front of the white drapes in the reception room

Bride with her parents in front of the white drapes

Couple with family in front of the white drapes

Groom with family in front of the white drapes

Couple with the flower girl and ring bearers

Large family group photograph in the reception room

A Ceremony on the Back Lawn

Their ceremony was out on the back lawn under a wooden arbor covered in white flowers, which was a little different from where I usually shoot ceremonies at Renault. The black-and-white theme against all that green looked amazing.

Black welcome sign with the couple's names

Mirror seating chart framed with white flowers

Welcome table, signage and seating mirror under the staircase

Ring bearers walking down the aisle, one carrying a ring security sign

Bride walking down the aisle on the back lawn toward the arbor

Ceremony under a wooden arbor covered in white flowers on the lawn at Renault Winery

Couple lighting their unity candle during the ceremony

First kiss under the flower-covered arbor

Couple celebrating with arms raised after the ceremony

Couple kissing as they walk back up the aisle

The Reception

Their first dance was so cool. The room had drapes running all the way up to the chandelier in the center, and the two of them were right under it. They loved one of those first dance frames so much they got it printed as a big, wide black-and-white piece for their wall. I rarely see a couple pick a reception photograph for wall art, and I love that they did.

Everyone was having so much fun, and people were out on the back porch smoking cigars.

Three tier white wedding cake with flowers and an S and A topper

Sweetheart table in front of a green wall with a neon sign and candles

Reception room at Renault Winery with a draped ceiling and a floral chandelier

Black and white photograph of the first dance under the ceiling drapes

Black and white photograph of the couple reaching for each other during the first dance

Black and white photograph from above of the first dance with guests all around

Black and white photograph of the bride laughing during the first dance

Out on the Grounds at the End of the Night

Right at the end of the reception we took them back outside. It was still light out, and we did a few black-and-white frames of the two of them on the lawn. Simple, and a great way to end it.

Black and white photograph of the couple walking hand in hand on the lawn at the end of the night

Black and white portrait of the couple on the lawn

Black and white photograph of the couple kissing on the lawn

Black and white photograph of the groom twirling the bride on the lawn

Black and white photograph of the groom smoking a cigar

What Sydney Said

“We were laughing and stress-free the entire day because they seamlessly orchestrated all of the photo and video opportunities.”

Thank you, Sydney and Antonio. I loved being part of it.

Ready to Start Planning?

Planning a Renault Winery wedding, or anywhere in South Jersey and Philadelphia? Tell me about your day.

Vendors
Venue: Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City, NJ
Photography and film: Jordan Brian Studios
Planner: Tutti Belle Events (Felicia Gentile)
Florals: Betina’s
Hair and makeup: Kiss the Bride Hair & Makeup Design
Band: Bachelor Boys Band
Cake: The Bake Works
Invitations: Sealed With a Kiss, Haddonfield NJ
Dress: The Wedding Factor
Tuxedos: Ozzy’s Tux
Cigars: The Mobile Cigar Lounge

Tell me about your day

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