The Couple
Lauren and Scott essentially met on J-Date but fate had a Plan B in place for making sure these two ended up together. If you haven’t heard the whole story yet, click here to view their engagement blog post and get all the details! We first met Lauren and Scott when we photographed the wedding day of one of Scott’s two brothers but I had heard about them a while before that since I used to teach in the same school as Scott’s mother. I remember hearing stories of these two during our Period 1 prep period in the copy room and when I finally met them in person, they were just as sweet, kind, and fun-loving as Scott’s mother had described them. It has been such a pleasure getting to know these two as well as their families and friends!
The Wedding Day
When choosing a wedding venue, Lauren and Scott wanted a venue that had easy access to a hotel for the comfort of all their guests. They were also planning to have a large wedding so when they found the Wilshire Grand, they knew they had found the perfect spot! Lauren and Scott had full access to the venue all day long so Lauren got ready with her bridesmaids in the bridal suite while Scott and his groomsmen got ready in the wine cellar. I settled into the foyer to photograph their bridal details and at one point, one of the bridesmaids ran into Scott while I was there and Scott made it a point to ask her how Lauren was doing and if she was having fun. I thought that was so sweet and telling of how much Scott cares for Lauren. She is always his #1 priority, even during the busyness of a wedding morning while he is surrounded by his twelve groomsmen!
When it was time for their first look, Scott and Lauren invited their rabbi to say a few words for them just before seeing each other. We’ve shot well over one hundred weddings already but this was the first time we had a rabbi present during the first look, and I thought it was one of the sweetest moments of the day. It helped Lauren and Scott stop for a minute and really think about the moment they were about to share and on a wedding day, when everything happens so quickly, I thought this was just about the sweetest idea. But my absolute favorite moment of the day was just minutes after the first look when Scott reached out to Lauren and kissed her hand. Can we talk about how romantic that is? I mean, this was totally unprompted! I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s not the first time he does this, either! Another moment I loved witnessing that day was when Lauren and Scott surprised Scott’s parents by honoring the fact that they were celebrating another event, too – their 40th wedding anniversary! They had a special cake made for them and had their wedding song played for them so they could re-live the memory of their own wedding day. They then turned it into an anniversary dance with all couples and ended it by honoring Lauren’s grandparents, who have been married 68 years and counting! I could go on and on about all the special moments of the day, but I think the recap below gives you an idea of how special the day really was. Enjoy getting a peek at these highlights!
Wedding Vendors
Venue | Wilshire Grand Hotel
Photography | Idalia Photography
Band | The Party Shop
Bridesmaids’ Dresses | Hayley Paige from Bella Bridesmaids
Cake | Palermos Bakery
Hair | Amanda Friedman
Invitations | Invitation Gallery
Florals | Connie’s Florist
Makeup | Makeup Luxe
Wedding Dress | Macy’s Bridal by Demetrius
Wilshire Grand Wedding Photos
Do you know Lauren and Scott? Leave them some love in the comments below!
Idalia Photography is a team of husband and wife wedding photographers serving NJ, NY, PA, and beyond. We specialize in romantic, timeless, and classic weddings. Are you planning a wedding? Click here to view our wedding portfolio or contact us for availability and pricing. Happy wedding planning!
