Tara + Dave’s Sophisticated Winter Wedding at The Ashford Estate
Tara and Dave are the sweetest of souls, with the best of taste. They had the most magical December winter wedding at The Ashford Estate in Allentown, NJ. It was my first time photographing a wedding at the venue, and I very quickly realized why they chose it for their wedding day. The Ashford Estate has a timeless elegance with endless ceremony options, and beautiful grounds perfect for a wedding during ANY season. I had the opportunity to work alongside Michael Ramella of I Do Planning, who instantly became one of my favorite human beings, and it was obvious within minutes of speaking with him that he is an AMAZINGLY talented wedding planner.
Tara and Dave met at work. After a long time of working together, their coworker relationship turned into a romance. These two match each other on an intellectual and professional level, which can create the ultimate power couple. They are both creative individuals that appreciate fine art, which became very evident when speaking with them during our initial consultation. I was SO dang honored that they chose me to be their photographer, knowing the amazing taste that they both have.
I had the best time photographing their engagement shoot at SUNRISE in Cold Spring, NY. Which you can find HERE. They left their home at 3:00AM with their furbaby Fozzie in tow (and Tara’s bridesmaid Kendall - shout out to her!!! to help with him when he wasn’t needed for photos). I was so so honored and thankful that they made the trek to the Hudson Valley for their shoot, and I think we created the most beautiful of magic. I love sunrise shoots because there usually is not another soul in sight!
Tara wore the most beautifully elegant “Ceeylo” Pronovias wedding dress , A-line with lace sleeves and a high neckline (YES AND PLEASE). It was perfect for their winter wedding day, matched the vibe of their venue, and absolutely perfect for HER. Dave wore a classic black tuxedo and looked timelessly handsome. They had signature wedding day scents, and put a lot of thought into them. (They also had Voluspa Bourbon Vanille candles burning throughout the venue so that their wedding day had a scent for memory, which I think is just the coolest idea!!!).
Their DJ, Jeff Scott Gould, was beyond amazing. He made their reception absolutely perfect. It was truly a highlight of my 2024, and my wedding photograph career in general. We created so many timeless photographs and I am so so so proud of them all. During their first dance he had snow falling and it so majestic, especially for a winter wedding day.
In Tara + Dave’s words, here are their favorite memories from their wedding day, and scroll down to view their love story and wedding planning process and advice.
“Favorite Memories : There are so many, it’s hard to pick just a few! Getting ready with my girls was such a special part of the day, filled with laughter and the best energy. Seeing Dave for the first time was emotional and surreal, and the anticipation of walking down the aisle was something I’ll never forget. One of my most cherished moments was right after our vows when we had a few private minutes to soak it all in. We were tucked away with delicious food (because priorities) and my perfect dirty martini. It was just the two of us, finally letting the moment sink in before rejoining the celebration. And of course, our first dance was pure magic. We danced to “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke as soft snow fell around us, thanks to Jeff. It felt like a scene from a movie, and I wish we could relive that moment over and over again.”
“How We Met: Dave and I worked together for years before we ever truly connected. It wasn’t until we both ended up on the same marketing committee that we started to get to know each other. He quickly became my go-to person in meetings—the one I’d exchange glances with when someone pitched a ridiculous idea. After a few months of friendship, he asked me out, and the rest is history.”
“The Proposal : Dave planned the most incredible surprise proposal, and to this day, I still can’t believe he pulled it off. It started with a flower delivery to my office, with a note that was just cryptic enough to leave me intrigued. A few hours later, another flower delivery arrived at my hair salon, again with a mysterious little clue. Then, when I got home, there was one final note waiting for me, telling me to pack my bags because we were going on a trip. Turns out, he had already coordinated with my job to give me time off. When I got to Dave’s, Fozzie Bear greeted me with another sweet card (because obviously, he had to be part of the plan). I didn’t know our destination until we arrived at the airport—Colorado! As soon as we landed, Dave drove straight to the top of Mount Evans, over 14,000 feet up, where he asked me to marry him. It was beyond breathtaking and so symbolic of our journey together, like we had climbed our own mountain to get to this moment. We spent the next few days exploring and celebrating in one of our favorite places. It was nothing short of magical.”
We were so lucky it was a sunny and gorgeous December day, the tree lined entrance of the estate was the perfect place for their first look. Then we got to shoot their portraits on the grounds, that still managed to look absolutely stunning, even in the winter. It felt like we were in a dream world.
'“Wedding Details : We got married at Ashford Estate in Allentown, NJ, and from the moment we stepped onto the property, we knew it was where we were meant to say “I do.” We had toured a couple of other venues, but nothing compared to the feeling we had at Ashford. Every single detail was perfection—the stunning grounds, the incredible staff, the intimate and private setting. In my opinion, there’s no better venue in New Jersey! We kept our wedding on the smaller side with about 110 guests and had a wedding party of four bridesmaids and four groomsmen.”
Dave’s father was his best man, and I think that is the coolest.
Their ceremony took place in the barn, with a fireplace full of pillar candles, candles on the floral draped wood beams, and gorgeous white flowers with greenery. It was cozy and beautiful.
Right after their wedding cermony, they got to hide away with snacks and Tara got her dirty martini. The photo of her sipping is, instantly became so iconic to me.
Their cocktail hour took place in the conservatory, and their wedding reception took place across the outdoor path in the GORGEOUS ballroom with vaulted ceilings.
I love their vintage style wedding cake, and their first dance was something out of a dream when the snow started falling while they danced to Sam Cooke’s “Nothing Can Change This Love”.
“Our Vendors : We truly had the dream team. Caitlinn, you were one of the very first vendors we chose, and your joyful energy was everything we needed. Our wedding planner, Michael, was an absolute gem—classy, with a hilariously snarky side and the best sense of style. The Ashford staff made sure everything was flawless, and our DJ, Jeff, was beyond incredible. We still have guests telling us how amazing the music was!”
Venue : The Ashford Estate
Wedding Planner : Michael Ramella of I Do Planning
Second Shooter : Rachel Hoffman
Dress Designer : Pronovias
Party Dress : House of Harlow 1960 Elora Maxi Dress
Wedding Dress Shop : Castle Couture NJ
Bride's Wedding Shoe Designer : Emmy Longon
Bride’s Party Shoes : Christian Louboutin “Kate” Pumps
Suit/Tux Designer : Custom Jos. A. Bank
Groom's Shoe Designer : Ferragamo
Signature Wedding Day Fragrances : Tihota "Indult” and custom Replica “Maison Margiela”
Florist : Viburnum & Co Florals
Wedding Candle “Memory Scent” : Voluspa Bourbon Vanille
Wedding Catering Company : Merri-Makers
Vintage Style Wedding Cake : The Bake Works
DJ : SCE Event Group (Jeff Scott Gould)
Jeweler : Joyce's Fine Jewelry
Groom’s watch : Cartier
Day Of Design Items (guestbook sign, memorial table sign, menus, monogram, napkins, seating chart cards, table numbers, welcome sign, votive candles, drink signs) : Slate and Brush
Wedding Invitation : Sal Studios
