I love that Laura and Dan go back to the place where they had their first date: "We met through a dating app while we both lived in New Jersey. Our first date was at an Asian restaurant that Dan picked so we try to go back to this restaurant occasionally to remember our first date together". They are both incredibly sweet, kind people and the setting of their wedding day was an absolutely beautiful venue that fit them both perfectly!

The venue, Welkinweir, is 197 acres of preserved land featuring an arboretum and an estate house dating back to the 1800's. Laura and Dan's outdoor ceremony and reception were surrounded by stunning natural beauty and spectacular views of the rolling hills, ponds and meadows. It was my first time shooting there but I certainly hope it's not the last...truly a beautiful venue to document a wedding.

Here are some favorites from their Welkinweir Estate wedding beautifully captured by Ralph Deal Photography.

Getting Ready
Bride/Groom
Ceremony
Reception

Getting Ready

bride with her bridesmaid holding her dress

bride reading the groom's letter for her

bride and bridesmaids holding their drinks

the groom smiling at his reflection on the mirror

groom reading the bride's letter for him

The historic house on the property makes for a wonderful getting ready location. The home is comprised of quaint family rooms with stately fireplaces that look out onto a field of lush emerald green grass.

Bride and Groom

long shot of the couple looking at the scenery

backshot of the bride and groom walking hand in hand at the Welkinweir Estate

This passage sums up Welkinweir perfectly:
"Winding paths brimming with the vibrant hues and aromas of freshly-blooming flowers. A cobblestone stairway tucked beneath an intimate cluster of trees and foliage. The leaves shelter you before you enter out onto a grassy plateau overlooking a serene six-acre pond nestled in the forest. This merely begins to describe the beauty of the calm, pastoral environment of the Welkinweir Estate".