A Winter Wedding at Rockleigh Country Club in New Jersey
A bright, cold February day in Bergen County brought together everything we love about a New Jersey wedding: a ceremony steeped in tradition, a family that celebrates with its whole heart and a reception at Rockleigh Country Club, with its columned rotunda, glowing fountains and chandelier-lit ballroom.
The morning started quietly, with the beaded ballgown hanging in the window and the details laid out: sparkling T-strap heels, the rings and a few pieces of family jewelry.
Getting ready
The bride got ready surrounded by family and bridesmaids, laughing through hair and makeup before the women closest to her helped with the finishing touches.
Across town, the groom and his groomsmen were in high spirits, pinning on boutonnieres and raising a toast before everyone headed to the cathedral.
A crowning ceremony in Tenafly
The bride arrived at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian in a vintage white car, her long veil catching the winter wind as her father helped her out.
Inside, the cathedral is breathtaking, with a golden dome of mosaics, a gilded iconostasis and white floral pillars lining the aisle for the day.
The couple were married in an Orthodox crowning ceremony. The groom was robed in an embroidered red and gold cape, and the priests placed jeweled crowns on the couple's heads, a moment full of meaning, and, as you can see, plenty of smiles.
Once the ceremony ended and the guests had filed out, we kept the couple in the aisle for a few photos under the dome, then caught them at the cathedral doors as the late-afternoon sun lit up the mosaic above.
Sunset under the rotunda
Rockleigh Country Club's columned rotunda is one of the most beautiful portrait spots in northern New Jersey, especially at sunset, when the stone glows warm against the evergreens. A gust of wind lifted the bride's cathedral-length veil at exactly the right moment.
A ballroom reception
Inside, the ballroom was bathed in purple and pink light beneath crystal chandeliers, with tall white floral centerpieces and a sweetheart table framed by flowers.
The couple danced into the room to a roaring welcome, then shared their first dance before dancing with their parents.
From there, the dance floor never emptied. Between the cake cutting and the dancing, we stepped outside one last time, where the fountains glowed in the dark.
More from the day
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