When Caitlin and Derek got engaged in Spring 2020, they couldn’t wait to be married. It was just at the start of the pandemic, so they also felt uneasy about trying to plan a traditional wedding (and rightfully so!) and knowing they might need to reschedule or postpone like so many other couples have had to over the past year. Instead, they chose to plan an intimate Jersey Shore wedding in the spring of 2021. Then, they would wait to plan a larger reception when it felt safe to do so. One thing I really loved about working with Caitlin and Derek was that they seemed to just trust the process. They kept the focus on what they really wanted: getting married. That’s music to my ears!

Wedding Photo and Video Packages

I’ve talked before about my partnership with Mile Square Moments (read this post here!), but I want to reiterate it here again. When you book your wedding photographer and videographer, you want them to be in sync. A wedding day moves incredibly quickly and there are many points in the day when your photographer and videographer have to work in tandem.

I work well with other wedding photographers but the reasons I chose to partner with Mile Square Moments for photo/video services are: I can trust our styles work well together (your video should look like your photos), we have a system for organizing timelines and shot lists so the wedding day can be executed flawlessly, and last but not least: we both value authenticity above all. When you hire Murphy Studio for wedding videography and Mile Square Moments for wedding photography, we are here for the real. We love to document your wedding day exactly as it unfolds.

Jersey Shore Wedding Venues and Locations

Based near Hoboken, New Jersey, I don’t make it to the Jersey Shore as often as I would like. With that said, Caitlin and Derek chose absolutely wonderful wedding venues that reflected the intimacy they wanted for the wedding day. The day started at Oyster Point Hotel for getting ready photos, moved to the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church for the ceremony. I have to say, I love being a videographer at Catholic Church weddings. The architecture is often so grand, and especially with a small guest list, there is such a beautiful contrast in the space. It all feels incredibly meaningful.

Irish Wedding Traditions

I also loved how Caitlin and Derek made the day their own by incorporating in a few Irish wedding traditions. A bagpiper played as they exited the church after the ceremony. During the wedding reception, there was a really touching speech about the shamrock and how it represents good health, good luck, and happiness each and every day. Although I like to say I’m a wedding videographer for the untraditional and wildly in love, it doesn’t mean I think you should throw away all your traditions. For me, I want you to keep the traditions you want, because you want them. Because they reflect a part of you and your relationship. Then you can throw away the rest.

Planning a Larger Wedding Later

Over the last year, it has been so interesting to see how people change and adapt. What I loved about Caitlin and Derek, was that they were able to roll with the punches when planning. When they got engaged in the spring of 2020, the pandemic had already started. In that way, they knew what they didn’t want their wedding planning experience to be like.

The last year has also proven that you don’t need a long timeline to plan an incredible wedding. Caitlin and Derek ended up planning their “larger wedding” for August 2021 only a few short months ago as things started to open up. If you are debating between a Fall 2021 wedding, booking for 2022, or having an extended engagement and looking at 2023,  I want to encourage you to do whatever feels right to you. If you are looking at a 2022 wedding, you want to book your key vendors first. Many of us are finding ourselves with limited availability after a year of postponements.

If you have a certain vendor you would love to work with (whether that be a wedding planner or cake designer!), don’t be afraid to reach out and start the conversation. We all want you to get what you want.

New Jersey Wedding Videographer

Whether you are planning a Jersey Shore wedding, or getting married at one of the many incredible wedding venues in the North east, if you are looking for a photojournalistic wedding videographer, I would love to hear from you. To learn more about my wedding videography services and pricing (including wedding photography packages), click here.  The first step is contacting me here, and I can check availability for your wedding date. From there, I love to set up a call so we can get to know each other better. Part of documenting the “real” means that I love to get to know my couples ahead of time. I can’t just show up on the wedding day. If that sounds like what you value too, head here to fill out my contact form and let’s get started.