Some love stories take their time, and Abby and Will’s is one of our favorites. They met as juniors in high school and have been together for almost eleven years, which means Will has been making Abby laugh since they were sixteen. They even made it through long distance in college, she at Northeastern University in Boston and he at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and came out the other side stronger. On June 26th they got married at Christ Church Summit in Summit, New Jersey, followed by a reception at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster. A church ceremony followed by a country club celebration is a classic New Jersey wedding day, and this one had everything we love: happy tears, a first look, golden hour portraits on the golf course, and a dance floor that never quit.

The Morning Of

Abby started her wedding morning the way so many of our brides do: emotional in the very best way. She shared the sweetest quiet moments with her mom, Leslie, in the bridal suite while getting into her Justin Alexander Signature gown from Kleinfeld, all lace and romance. Meanwhile her 10 bridesmaids were buzzing with excitement, pressed up against the second story windows watching the first look unfold outside below them. There’s something about that bridal suite anticipation, the dresses in mixed shades of green lined up, the bouquets waiting, the group huddle before it’s time to go, that never gets old to photograph.

A First Look on the Grounds

Abby and Will chose to see each other before the ceremony with a first look on the grounds at Fiddler’s Elbow, and it was the right call. They got a quiet moment together on the path before the whirlwind of the day took over, and it gave us beautiful light and an empty golf course for portraits. Will had gotten ready in the glass atrium that morning, all sharp in his tuxedo, and seeing Abby for the first time stopped him in his tracks.

Golden Hour on the Golf Course

If you get married at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, you take your portraits on the golf course. It’s that simple. After the ceremony we stole Abby and Will for golden hour and the light did not disappoint. We shot on the fairways, on the stone bridge, by the flagstick, and in a field of tall golden grass as the sun went down. Abby’s veil caught the wind more than once, which is the kind of thing photographers dream about! These are the types of candid portraits that you just can’t “pose”. They popped champagne at sunset, danced on the bridge, and Will carried her across the fairway more than once. These are the portraits that make a Bedminster wedding look like a Bedminster wedding.

Their People

Ten bridesmaids in dark and light green, eight groomsmen in black tuxedos, and two families who clearly adore this couple. Abby’s parents, Leslie and Mark, and Will’s parents, Mary-Jo and Tom, were woven through the whole day, from getting ready hugs to the dance floor. The full wedding party portrait is one of our favorites from the day, all twenty of them together on the grounds, and the groomsmen’s walking shots have that confident energy we love.

The Ceremony at Christ Church Summit

Abby walked down the aisle at Christ Church Summit with her dad, Mark, and married her high school sweetheart at the altar of the church she grew up attending. Their kiss as husband and wife, and Will dipping Abby for a kiss in the aisle on the way back out, are the kind of ceremony moments we live for as a New Jersey wedding photographer.

Details at Fiddler’s Elbow

The ballroom at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club was set for a beautiful night. Jardiniere Fine Flowers filled the room with tall white centerpieces and candlelight, the tables were set with sage napkins, and the three-tier white cake waited its turn. Abby’s details were so personal: the green and white invitation suite, her emerald-cut ring, crystal earrings, and her classic white Jimmy Choo heels. Cocktail hour had a signature cocktail with the couple’s name on it, and guests found their way to a ballroom that looked straight out of a classic New Jersey country club wedding.

Toasts, Dances, and Cake

The toasts at the sweetheart table had the room laughing and crying in equal measure, from the maid of honor to the groomsmen to Abby’s dad. The sweetest moment of the night came from her dad, Mark. He told the room that when Abby was a little girl, he used to bring her along to Fiddler’s Elbow while he golfed. She would look up and watch the couples getting married, and she told her dad that one day she was going to get married there too. Almost eleven years into her love story with her high school sweetheart, she did. Then came the dances: Abby and Will’s first dance, Will’s mother-son dance with Mary-Jo, and Abby’s father-daughter dance with Mark. They cut their three-tier cake together, and Will made sure Abby got a proper bite. These are the reception moments that turn a pretty wedding into a meaningful one.

One Very Good Dance Party

One Love Music took over and the dance floor never emptied. Will was twirling Abby and jumping with the guests. There was a conga line snaking across the floor, a guest breaking out an actual breakdance move, and a packed dance floor under the lights until the very end. This is what happens when a high school sweetheart wedding meets a live band: everybody dances.

Planning a New Jersey Wedding?

Planning a New Jersey wedding? We’re based in Sarasota, Florida, and still travel to New Jersey, where we’ve photographed weddings for 20 years. Inquire through our contact page to see if your date is available.

Where to Stay

• Pendry Natirar – A full resort in Peapack-Gladstone, minutes from Bedminster, with luxurious guest rooms and suites, a spa, and destination dining.
• The Bernards Inn – A classic inn in Bernardsville, home to the Red Horse by David Burke restaurant.
• Somerset Hills Hotel – A comfortable Hilton in the Somerset Hills, an easy drive from Bedminster.

Favorite Restaurants Nearby

• The Pluckemin Inn – In Bedminster, and a 2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award recipient. The special-occasion dinner spot.
• Red Horse by David Burke – A modern American steakhouse at The Bernards Inn in Bernardsville.
• Ninety Acres – Farm-to-table dining at Natirar in Peapack, set on the estate’s farm.
• Rat’s Restaurant – A French-country-style restaurant on the grounds of Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, about 45 minutes away, worth the drive.

While You’re Here

• Grounds For Sculpture – A 42-acre sculpture park and museum in Hamilton, about 45 minutes away.
• Burnt Mills Cider Company – A hard cidery right in Bedminster, great for a low-key afternoon tasting.
• Topgolf – Two locations within about 30 minutes (Edison and the brand-new Parsippany venue). Climate-controlled bays, food and drinks served while you play, and games that work for total beginners, which makes it perfect for a wedding weekend group outing.
• Neshanic Valley Golf Course – For the golfers in your group: Fiddler’s Elbow and Trump National are both private, members-only clubs, so book the tee time here instead. 27 public holes in Branchburg, ranked one of the top 50 municipal courses in the country.
• Mayo Performing Arts Center – Concerts, comedy, and touring productions in Morristown, about 25 minutes away.
• Duke Farms – A sprawling estate in Hillsborough with gardens, meadows, and walking paths.
• American Dream – About an hour away in East Rutherford, with shopping, an indoor theme park, water park, ski slope, and aquarium.

Getting Married at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club: What Makes This New Jersey Wedding Venue So Special

If you are dreaming of a classic New Jersey wedding with timeless elegance, total privacy, and endless portrait backdrops, Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club delivers. Tucked into the rolling countryside of Bedminster, this private club is built around a 40-room English manor, with manicured golf courses, the winding Lamington River, and meadows that glow at golden hour. It is one of those venues that photographs beautifully from every angle.

Here is why Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club is such a standout for weddings:

• One wedding at a time – Fiddler’s Elbow hosts only one wedding per day, so the whole estate feels like yours. Private getting-ready suites give you space to breathe in the morning, and there is never another party competing for your timeline.
• Portrait locations everywhere – Between the Lamington River, the manicured golf courses, the rolling meadows, and the manor itself, you never have to leave the property for stunning portraits.
• A ballroom made for golden hour – Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the golf course, with restored fireplaces and chandeliers setting a romantic, classic tone for dinner and dancing.
• Beautiful spaces for every part of the day – The airy Conservatory, the covered patio with bistro lighting, and the outdoor fireplace overlooking the river give you gorgeous options, rain or shine.
• White-glove service – Couples consistently rave about the Fiddler’s Elbow team and their one-on-one, detail-obsessed approach to the day.

Wedding Vendors

Photographer – Susan Elizabeth Photography

Ceremony – Christ Church Summit

Venue – Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club

Wedding Planner – A Guilded Wedding

Videographer – Jason A Films

Entertainment – One Love Music

Florist – Jardiniere Fine Flowers

Hair – JC Hair Design

Makeup – Beauty On Location NJ

Photo Booth – East Coast Photo Booths

Stationery – Paper Etc.

Bridal Gown – Kleinfeld Bridal, Justin Alexander Signature

Bridal Shoes – Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaids Dresses – Bella Bridesmaids, Jenny Yoo, LulaKate