Our first wedding at the newly reopened Ryland Inn – a little bit of country with a lot of Rock ‘n Roll!
There are a few reasons why we were excited to photograph Katy and Brian’s wedding at the Ryland Inn. All of them have to do with things that bring back pleasant memories from our past. The venue itself has a past with some noteworthy bragging rights – it was one of the best restaurants in New Jersey! Due to a water main break, the Ryland had been closed for 5 years until it was resurrected by Landmark Hospitality. Restoring a 200-year-old building and returning a restaurant to its award-winning status is not an easy task. Based on reviews and our own personal experience, the Ryland is back and better than ever! While we cannot capture the incredible attention to service and amazing food in photos, we can show you its “modern rustic” chic. We know, we know, you’re probably thinking how can a place be both modern & rustic? Read on and you will see.
Enough about the Ryland. Katy & Brian are awesome. Not only for selecting such a fantastic venue, but also because they had one of our favorite party bands, The Nerds, play at their wedding. A band that is synonymous with fun times on the Jersey shore, something I know a lot about. You see, my parents met on the Jersey shore and we Thompsons have been fans of the Jersey Shore ever since. My parents actually met in the same town that Katy and Brian met (Manasquan, NJ). I can attest that my parents are nothing like Snooky and the other characters on the Jersey Shore TV show. And, as you will see, neither are Katy and Brian.
As the bride got ready in the Ryland Inn…
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
the groom and his groomsmen enjoyed the amenities offered by one of the Ryland’s cottages.
Katy looked stunning!
It was a beautiful day for an outside wedding ceremony.
Many congrats to Katy & Brian!
We had to take advantage of the rustic charm offered by the beautiful grounds.
The inn also offers some spots worthy of a Ralph Lauren photo shoot. One of our favorites is the Polo Room where a crystal chandelier adds some sparkle to the cathedral ceiling. It took us a little bit of effort to get this photo. Suffice it to say that it required both of us and a gigantic umbrella. The umbrella looked like it was bigger than Alice! But then again, Alice is only 5′ tall.
The newlyweds wowed us with their first dance moves in their beautifully-decorated room,
the Nerds rocked,
and impromptu horas were started.
When your college friends bring helmets to a wedding, you know they are ready to party.
Katy and Brian – it was so much fun to capture your festive wedding celebration. May your life together be as wonderful as that of my parents, another fun-loving couple who also met many years ago in Manasquan, NJ!
