Skylands Manor Wedding at NJ Botanical Gardens with a Disney twist.
It was a fairytale from start to finish. Tasha & Rob used various jewel tones as their color scheme because they really wanted the bridesmaids to have freedom when picking their dresses. A lot of things were DIY, and they have super creative and generous friends and family that helped us with that. It was an enjoyable process for Tasha & Rob to make things together while also watching their friends and family bring their ideas to life. For their attire, they stayed authentic to who we are. Rob chose green for his accessories since it was Saint Patrick’s Day. To ensure a stress-free experience, they didn’t focus on rigid coordination and planning, opting to focus more on what made them happy, and it came together beautifully!
I asked Tasha what it was about me and my services that told her I was the one.
“I’ve always felt that all weddings are magical and all brides are beautiful. The difference is in the personality of the couple shining through. Furthermore, weddings are such special, memorable days that go by in a flash. The only way to relive them is through pictures and videos. As a photographer, Daniel is definitely a storyteller. He is great at capturing personalities in photos. You can get a sense of who the couple is when looking through his pictures. Finally, the Castle at Skylands Manor was a beautiful venue with many gorgeous photo ops. We wanted someone who could really capture that and create artwork out of our pictures. When finding Daniel, we felt we were booking more than a photographer, but also an artist.”
Click any of the thumbnails to see each moment in its full glory, and to hear all about Tasha & Rob’s Love Story, read on below.
How did you meet?
Rob and I always lived in the same town. We had classes together in high school and shared the same friend group. But, through the years we never actually got to know each other. Finally in 2015, we met in a way that stuck when one of our mutual friends invited us both over. We started talking and both felt that instant connection that we still feel today. Our souls are definitely connected because despite not getting to know Rob all those years ago, I always remembered him. And we always seemed to cross paths until we finally fell in love.
How has your relationship grown over the years?
Rob has pure, unconditional love and patience. He has always said “we’re a team.” We were just starting to figure life out when we got together (like most people in their early 20’s). And it’s really cool how we have grown together over the last 8 years. We took turns finding ourselves. He supported me, and then I supported him. And back and forth it’s been. Right now, we have both accomplished a lot of our personal goals. So, we are riding this high of newlywed bliss and stability. It’s nice. But I know if either one of us waiver, we will always be there to support the other in finding their “happy” again. We really are a great team.
How did you get engaged?
We had been together for 6 years when Rob finally proposed. On Valentine's Day, I took our dog to the vet. When I got back, Rob was dressed up waiting for me with a bouquet of roses on the counter. I didn’t notice right away, but on top one of the roses was my beautiful engagement ring.
What are some fun things you do together as a couple and with friends?
In the last few years, we discovered traveling. We have the greatest friends and family and we look forward to going on vacation with them. That’s really what life is all about – making memories with each other and the people we care about. When we aren’t traveling, you can always find us home with our dogs relaxing. Occasionally, he’ll put on a documentary and I’ll learn more from his commentary than from the narrator.
What’s new since being married? What’s solidified/bonded/grown in your relationship since?
I smile a lot thinking that he’s my husband. I’ve imagined growing old with Rob for a long time, but being married reaffirms those dreams.There is no better partner for me to go through life with.
Why did you choose your venue?
We looked at castle venues because I’m a princess at heart, and Rob loves the historical aspect of them. When we walked into the Castle at Skylands Manor, we both fell in love. All the different rooms were so fun to explore and get lost in. It really felt like you were stepping into an old storybook.
What was your menu, what was your cake flavor?
Rob chose all the food options. We had filet mignon, salmon, chicken, and a vegetable option– the usual. Cocktail hour included a raw seafood station, a pasta station, a mashed potato bar, tuscan spread, corned beef (for St. Patrick’s Day), lobster risotto balls, mac and cheese bites, sliders, and a few other things. The cake was vanilla on vanilla– this was my contribution since eating cake on my wedding day was really important to me.
Description of your gown? Why was this “the one”?
Dress shopping was a blast. I loved getting dressed up in different wedding gowns. I knew I wanted a ball gown because when else will I get the chance to dress up like a princess? I chose a satin dress with a beaded top that really glistened when I moved.
What was your favorite moment of your wedding day?
Every moment.
But I think the single greatest moment was pausing with my dad right before walking down the aisle. Just after entering, I asked if we could stop and scan the room. Looking at everyone’s faces, holding my dad’s arm, and seeing Rob at the end of the aisle. My eyes get wet just thinking about it. Literally one of the best moments of my life.
One detail you couldn’t live without?
Rob and I can’t necessarily pick a detail. We both agree that the people we shared this day with were way more important than any detail.
Did anything go wrong?
Of course! There are so many moving parts and so many things being squeezed into a span of 12 hours. Thankfully, I was pretty oblivious to the things that went wrong. If I did notice something, I mentally moved on from it as soon as possible so I could go back to reveling in the beauty of the day. We also had this plan that if things went too terribly wrong, Rob would purposely cut his tie and I’d rip my veil (Pam and Jim style).
First dance song?
Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow by Nat King Cole. I’ve always wanted a classic love song as our song. Years ago before Rob and I were engaged, we listened to a playlist of romantic oldies one day. When this song came on (neither one of us had ever heard it before), we both looked at each other and knew it was our wedding song.
Where did you honeymoon?
Disney World and Universal in Florida. It has everything we both love– Star Wars, Harry Potter, Magic Kingdom. We had a blast.
Advice for other brides?
It’s one day and it’ll pass just like any other day. Pause, breathe, and look around as many times as you can remember. Make sure you get a great photographer so you can relive the day through your photos, but take mental snapshots as well. I also want to say that you shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting things to be perfect. No one cares about your day more than you do. Just do your best to plan before the wedding and don’t leave anything for the day of– you only have one job on your wedding day and that's to bask in it.
Venue: Skylands Manor by Frungillo Hospitality
Officiant- My Uncle Tommy and he was the best!
Invitations- Made by my bridesmaid’s talented mom :) LeeAnn Soriano
Gown- Bijou Bridal
Accessories- Pocket squares and ties from Azazie; The guy’s hats were from Village Hat Shop
Hair- Selina from Amac Hair Artistry
Makeup- Amanda from A Beauty by Amanda
Bridesmaids Dresses- Colors were narrowed down using Azazie, but bridesmaids bought dresses from various stores.
Groom and Groomsmen Attire- The Suit Store Outlet (And they got to keep them!)
Flowers- Roses from Lings Moments. Various greenery and accent flowers from Hobby Lobby https://www.lingsmoment.com
Cake- Frungillo Catering
Videographer- John Martin from Martin’s Wedding Videos
Music- Mike Badon DJ Iron Mike from Off The Chart Entertainment