I had been to Forest Lodge in Warren NJ a few years back, I always knew it as a location with wide open spaces that hosted picnics for large groups and company outings. The Sherwood Chalet at Forest Lodge started popping up on my radar more frequently a couple years back and I have been receiving more bookings at that location in recent months. This was my first wedding here and I was immediately impressed by both the location and the staff.
The day started at the Courtyard Marriott in Basking Ridge, they have great suites for preparations and it’s one of the only Courtyard Marriott hotels I know of that actually has a courtyard! It’s very nice and has been a great setting for group photos in the past. Today though, we had the open spaces of Forest Lodge for our backdrop, we headed over there after prep for the “first look” and photos with the wedding party and family.
I don’t think Megan & Billy could have had a more perfect day at Forest Lodge, the weather in New Jersey can be erratic to say the least, just a couple days prior it was very cold and rainy. This is one of my favorite times of year, when the trees have bloomed but not fully so you can still see a lot of branches, and the flowering trees still have their color, everything is vibrant and new. The bride and groom’s color choices for their attire, flowers and overall theme of the wedding were complimented perfectly by their surroundings.
Our day was planned with a first look and a lot of extra time for wedding photography, as well as relaxation time for the bride and groom. I strongly encourage this for all my couples, you will enjoy yourselves more and we will have an easier time accomplishing our photography goals. The first look is essential in a wedding day when your ceremony and reception are all in the same place. There is no break between the ceremony and cocktail hour, and you need to put that wedding photography time back into the day. Most New Jersey wedding venues provide great spaces both indoor and outdoor for your photography, and you want to take advantage of all they have to offer.
The outdoor ceremony location at Forest Lodge in Warren is really wide open with beautiful landscaping, it was prefect for Megan & Billy’s wedding vows. Ceremonies of this type are typically much shorter than those taking place in a church so I have to move around quickly to capture all the angles, which was no problem here. We finished the wedding ceremony with the bride and groom’s first kiss as husband and wife. Megan and Billy requested that I reposition myself to capture their kiss from the officiant’s position and the results are really fantastic.
The reception space at Forest Lodge is perfect for your intimate wedding in a natural and rustic surrounding. There are both indoor and outdoor spaces for your guests to relax and have fun. The ballroom itself has a great space for your entertainment setup, sweetheart table and dancefloor, with lots of room for your guests to party.
One of the most important moments of the day for a photographer and his bride & groom is the sunset. I had planned out these photos prior to the day, carefully checking the sunset time and making sure it would fit into out schedule. We actually got up to our sunset spot a little later than I had intended but it worked out perfectly. The New Jersey sky that day was so dramatic and beautiful, the resulting photos are my absolute favorites from the day. The staff at Forest Lodge was so helpful in making this happen, our bridal attendant for the day zipped us up the hill to our location on a golf cart and also assisted me by holding my light stand!
The evening ended in a sparkler send-off and smores by the fire pit. I am so thankful to have been a part of Megan & Billy’s wedding day, I’d do it all over again if I could. A big thank you to everybody at Forest Lodge in Warren for their help in making their day a perfect one, and helping me to capture it!