Annie & Brian’s Shadowbrook wedding in Shrewsbury, NJ was a wedding never to forget! I photographed Annie & Brian’s GTKY session at Princeton University and loved working with them. Annie is so happy, bubbly and confident while Brian is cool laid back and shares my characteristic dry wit. We got along amazingly. They had their preps in a nearby hotel, and the bridal party was an absolute crazy fun group! We had a little dance party mix after the bride got dressed that you can see in the BTS video.
Shadowbrook is a private wedding and event venue nestled in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, right in the heart of Monmouth County about an hour south of New York City. The estate is well known for its indoor chapel-style ceremony room, a space with soaring arched windows and rich wood paneling that creates a warm, church-like atmosphere without requiring a church. Multiple outdoor garden areas give photographers plenty of room to work during bridal portraits and first look moments. The venue completed a significant renovation, updating its reception spaces and adding modern amenities while keeping the intimate, estate-style atmosphere that couples keep coming back for.
Two big reveals!
I love having first looks, but two is another level! The first was Annie’s father seeing her for the first time in her wedding dress. This one always gets me as your father seeing you for the first time is very emotional to me. Because I always imagine my daughter on that day. Secondly, Brian was able to have a private reveal with Annie off to the side garden area where there were no other people. It was beautiful!
Bridal Portraits at Shadowbrook Wedding
On to the portraits! The portraits are where I crack my knuckles and dig into some light, natural artistic insanity with a group of equally fun and insane people. I really loved working with this group, they were exciting, fun crazy and just like my good friend Katie’s company DFW (Down For Whatever)! Annie strutted her stuff with her simple bouquet of Calla Lilies, and we rocked these spring wedding portraits at Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury. The grounds at Shadowbrook give you a variety of backdrops within a short walk of each other, from the garden areas with their manicured hedgerows and stone paths, to the more natural open fields on the property edges. For a spring wedding especially, the mix of blooming greenery and open sky makes almost every shot look effortless. Annie and Brian were the kind of couple that made it easy: game for anything, always laughing, and genuinely excited about what came next.
It is a long day so I have to keep my energy up to keep the couples interested ;) Brian is obviously tired of my light metering! haha
Indoor Ceremony at Shadowbrook wedding
Brian’s father was a pastor and very religious man that performed the ceremony. There is a gorgeous indoor space for your Shadowbrook wedding ceremony if the weather doesn’t cooperate. I love the giant windows that backlight the ceremony and the rich, ornate wood that surrounds the room. Brian’s father brought something to the ceremony that no vendor can provide: real emotion and a lifetime of knowing the groom. It is a rare thing to see a pastor perform a ceremony for his own son, and the room felt every bit of that weight in the best possible way.
Shadowbrook Wedding Reception
What do you get when you mix alcohol, fun people, and loud music? “100% pure adrenalin.” ~ Patrick Swayze, Point Break. Damn, we had a good day, and I always love photographing a Shadowbrook wedding! The staff is so lovely and they even called to thank us when we sent them some stuff. I wish the incredible Annie and Brian a lifetime of happiness together as they deserve it.
Always try to put a few minutes in the timeline to dance the grandoms..
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Also they are currently working on a completely new renovation for Shadowbrook weddings due in a few months. See more info here!
Check out this other incredible central Jersey wedding at the Park Savoy in Florham Park
Shadowbrook Wedding Venue & Vendors
A quick shoutout to the Shadowbrook team, whose staff actually called afterward to say thank you. That kind of thing stays with you:
- Venue: Shadowbrook, Shrewsbury, NJ
- Officiant: Brian’s father (family ceremony)
- Bouquet: Calla lilies
Jordan photographs New Jersey weddings from the Jersey Shore to Monmouth County and beyond. See the 7 Best Jersey Shore Wedding Venues guide for more NJ venue inspiration.