The Civiletti Wedding Celebration at the Breakers On The Ocean | Memorial Day Weekend Wedding | Spring Lake, NJ | Kaylyn Ivy Photography

A few weeks ago on the Memorial Day weekend, I got to celebrate in one of the greatest ways I know how - shooting a wedding!  In Spring Lake, where I live and work many weddings, Memorial Day Weekend is considered the kick off of summer - it's a beach town on the Jersey Shore! So when Calleigh and Matt came to me to discuss their wedding at the Breakers on the Ocean a few weeks ago, honestly, how could I resist?! 

Calleigh and Matt were actually married when I met them - they had eloped, and were planning their larger wedding for when all of their friends and family could make it. With Calleigh's parents coming over the pond from China, it wasn't a trek that could be made at the drop of a hat! That said, the gift that Calleigh and Matt gave to their guests was delivered by her parents - hand painted Chinese kites! A recurring trend that you will find when I am working on weddings, is that I work hard to connect not only with the couple I am photographing, but also their families, their parents, and siblings, and any grandparents that they have. I was so honored to work with Calleigh and Matt's family, and truly, truly appreciate that Calleigh's father was so comfortable with me and my second shooter Marianne, that he sent us home with a handpainted kite of our own (each!). I truly appreciate the relationships that I am able to build with these families, even if only for a day and love that they welcome me and my team into such important moments in their lives!