Their Wedding Day: Verona Park, New Jersey

It’s hard to put into words how much this day and this couple means to me. Jen has been truly one of the most influential and inspiring people in my life, and I’m honored to call her one of my best friends. It’s been such a joy getting to see her and Ryan’s love story continue grow over the last few years. Honored doesn’t even begin to cover how it felt to get to photograph not only my best friend’s minimony, but also another wedding photographer’s big day! Whew – you’d think the pressure was on, but I felt so at ease and just grateful to be a part of it. Jen’s support for my business and her friendship means more than I can explain, but I hope my love for these two shows through in how we were able to capture their day!

Although COVID has thrown curveball after curveball their way, they handled every frustrating change with so much positivity. They had to make the hard decision to postpone their big wedding plans until 2021, but this minimony held so much significance and emotion in itself!

I LOVE how they truly wanted both days to be unique from one another while also making sure to tie them both together. Jen and Ryan chose to read the same vows this time around and will save personal written vows for 2021. They both wore different wedding attire than what they had planned, so they can keep those outfits special for next year. They founds such a meaningful and unique way to tie the two days together – for their minimony they asked everyone present to bring a small token or momento to place in their time capsule (a handcrafted box made by Jen’s grandmother!). They plan to open and keep the time capsule on display at their wedding day next August to commemorate their original wedding date! How special is that?! 🙂

I could go on and on about every tiny detail Jen and Ryan worked so hard on from the handmade signs to the DIY dried flower confetti cones and beyond. Everything was thoughtful. Everything was beautiful. Everything was SO them. It was perfect.

their love story

Jen dove deeeeep into their 11-year love story, but it’s a GOOD one! She said, “Ryan and I met my freshman year of college, on the first day of classes at Montclair State. Being my nerdy neurotic self, I showed up SUPER early for my Intro to Religion class, and there was one other girl waiting there in the hallway, too. Being both the early birds, we chatted and were friendly and decided to sit with each other. When the professor showed up to open the room we grabbed our seats, and she saved one extra for her friend Ryan, who was in the class, too. Ryan still remembers that I was wearing my grey vest. 🙂

The second class Ryan invited me to a party on campus, and we exchanged numbers. I was too nervous to go so I made up some excuse later that night, and stayed in my room eating easy mac and doing homework that wasn’t due for a few weeks instead of going out. LOL

I was also dating someone else at the time, and at some point during the semester Julie told me Ryan thought I was cute, but I told her I had a boyfriend. The three of us were friends, and sat together every class, did homework together, and Ryan and I would write notes to each other in my notebook all throughout class.

That whole first year of school we were just friends. Ryan was such a good friend to me, sitting in the lounge with me while I did my Industrial design sketching homework for hours. He would walk around campus with me to take photos for my photo one class. 🙂

Ryan will tell you how patient he was through this whole process. Some of his friends told him to give up on me, and some others encouraged him, apparently there was a whole saga about this, little did I know. I was clueless. But eventually I broke up with my boyfriend during the second semester. Ryan was a good friend and support through all of that, as well. He was a sounding board and encourager for me to switch my major from Industrial design to photo, too! He was there for me for everything.

My freshman dorm building was a huge 16 story building, that had lounges on most floors, and the high up ones overlooked the NYC skyline. We had our first kiss in the 15th floor lounge while watching this insane lightning storm over the city. 🙂 Our first actual date was in May after the semester ended, I had tickets to go see my favorite band Pearl Jam, and needed someone to go with so I invited Ryan to come. It was his first concert! It was amazing.  We hung out as much as we could that summer.

Ryan originally planned to officially ask me to be his girlfriend on July 4th.  I was sick a lot my freshman year – my immune system sucked, I got mono, was even admitted to the hospital for a really bad stomach flu… and on top of it, working in the Industrial Design program building models and stuff I inhaled a lot of chemicals, sawdust etc. which was super bad for my lungs. It was not good. Lol But I was really tired of not being able to do things because I was sick. So on 4th of July we had planned to go to MSU to see the fireworks together. I was working at my waitressing job at Friendly’s that morning and was so sick that they sent me home. I worked with my little sister, so I told her do NOT tell the parents they sent me home, because then they wouldn’t let me go up to Montclair. SO despite being sick, I pulled myself together enough to drive up north. We met at Ryan’s house, then headed to MSU. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot at MSU I started vomiting non stop (sorry TMI), but it was really bad. I spent the entire time in the bathroom and missed all the fireworks. I came back out, of the bathroom and ended up passing out. Ryan called my dad (who’s a doctor) and asked him what hospital to bring me to. My dad said, hmm can you bring her home? So Ryan drove down to south jersey (like 2 hours away from MSU), to take me home with me passed out in the back seat of my car lol. That was the first time he met my parents. I remember my stepmom saying to me ooh he’s really cute, are you guys dating, and I was so out of it, but was like no we’re friends. Haha. My dad hooked me up to an IV, and then drove Ryan back home the next day. Needless to say Ryan didn’t get to ask me  out that day.

BUT later that month (July 23rd) Ryan took me to the Quick Chek hot air balloon festival. I had told him how I had a fascination with hot air balloons, so he wanted to show me this festival he had gone to a long time ago with his dad. We had such a fun day, got to see all the balloons launch, and hang out. At the end of the night they had fireworks! I’ll never forget Ryan said to me, “These last few months spending time with you is the happiest I’ve ever been. The only thing that would make me happier is if you would be my girlfriend.” 🙂 Of course I said yes, and the balloon fest has been our anniversary tradition ever since!”

I actually got to be there when Ryan proposed to Jen! It was such a whirlwind and the entire room was in complete shock! We were at Jen and Ryan’s for New Years Eve just hanging out and partying. As the midnight countdown was happening, Ryan made sure Shout (Jen’s all-time favorite song) came on! We were dancing and counting down when all of a sudden, Ryan handed his phone off to Shawn, my boyfriend, without explanation – I quickly realized what was happening, snagged the phone, and we were able to catch Ryan down on one knee asking Jen to marry him! Her shock and surprise was UNREAL. It was so perfect, and we celebrated more than just the new year that night! <3

Jen and Ryan,

I adore you two with everything in me! Your love and connection is so special, and I love every second we get to spend with you. Thank you for allowing me to document this piece of your love story. I love you both so much! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hardin!

 

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