December 31, 2018
2018 was an incredible year over here at Bogath Weddings & Events! We were busy from start to finish! I thought I would take a moment, this week on the blog, to go back through our work this year and share with you in one fell-swoop, the year’s celebrations! I am so proud of the work we’ve been able to do. We have worked with amazing couples and their families! We have celebrated a bunch of times when BWE’s work has been chosen for publication in some of the industry’s most highly respected publications. And we had the opportunity to help a few close friends and family members celebrate those special life moments! The icing on the cake: We worked to pull it off with a team of amazing wedding professionals, many of whom have become friends in the process!
On a personal note: Richie and I celebrated our third anniversary. Caryn turned 14 last summer and started her first job as a Ship Bottom Beach Badge Checker, while also spending her fourth year with the Ship Bottom Junior Life Guard Training Program (super proud-mom moments!). She even worked her first event with me as my assistant this fall, after practicing by lending a hand with a handful of styled shoots! She did all that while also running cross country and playing for SRHS’s basketball team! Sydney will be finishing up college this year with a BFA in Photography and continues to amaze us with her talent and creativity! We also celebrated Richie’s parent’s 51st wedding anniversary! We attended my cousin Colette’s wedding to Gerard and we are looking forward to celebrating this summer when another cousin, Jeff marries Chelsea! In addition, the family is adding a “plus one” later this spring when my cousin Steve and Tara welcome their first child, a baby girl. You might remember their wedding at the Rams Head Inn in September 2017!
This winter BWE has been hard at work for our 2019 (and 2020) couples. But I thought with New Years approaching, it would be fun to take a short stroll down the 2018 memory lane.
Finding Farrell and Gary, editors and co-founders of Bay Magazine, has been one of the many blessings in my business. In 2017, I did one editorial shoot for their Fall 2017 issue. And when they asked me to do some more this year, I jumped at the chance. I am lucky that they just let me sort of “run wild” with my ideas. When planning this shoot, Farrell mentioned wanting an equestrian theme. Never did I think we would pull it off to such perfection! It still strikes me as fairy-tale-esque. The photos from Idalia Photography are simply stunning. Dante (the pony), was a dream to work with. And as a bonus, I had the chance to hand-deliver copies of the magazine and give a presentation to the local 4H club responsible for this sweet rescue horse’s care. They even took all my nieces and nephew, George horseback riding! In fact, later this year, Dante’s handler, Nora, will be giving a presentation to the NJ State 4H about the experience! And Nora, Dante’s Handler, presented at the NJ State 4H about her experience and won 2nd place! She’s now traveling to Japan (!!!) this coming year to share her presentation again!!!
I got to work not once, but twice, this year with the incredibly talented Susan Elizabeth Photography. This was just the first. She took challenging circumstances (not the first, certainly not the last, rainy day this season) and knocked it out of the park. If it rains on your wedding day, you’ll want the photos to look like this. And that will not be the only time I would utter those words this season. It’s seemed like almost every wedding had stormy skies or the threat of them.
This was one of those sweet events you just don’t pass up. It hit so many of the notes that are near and dear to my business. Family, friends, Long Beach Island. We worked hard to find just the right way to celebrate the annual vacation traditions of these two families. An intimate dinner party at the LBI Historical Museum photographed to perfection by the genius of Melanie Cassie Photography.
I don’t even know how this shoot happened. I know that it was about a year ago, this week, that I began planning with Delany Dobson. She had this idea to photograph a mermaid at the beach. There were so many times where the plans for this shoot could have been derailed. But sometimes it’s just this simple: the stars aligned. The weather, the perfect sunrise, the most amazing creative team, the sunrise (it was that perfect!), the publication, the end results. It all came together in a way that just makes you believe in the pure magic of life. I can’t share too much. But stay tuned, because this one will turn up on the blog again sometime in February!
This was another photoshoot for Bay Magazine photographed by Susan Elizabeth. You know what the funny thing was, I was dreading the idea of trying to top that horse. And then, one day, while driving on and off LBI for the gazzilionth time taking Caryn to/from work/LIT, I noticed this yellow Mercedes in the same shade as the yellow I had decided was my Fall 2018 inspiration. First, there was the yellow silk skirt from French Knot Couture (I’d been following them for years!). Then, there was the gorgeous yellow silk table runner I came across on Etsy. And then, the piece d’resistance, the yellow Mercedes. Sometimes these things just happen. I know that I do a lot of work in the back ground to make them happen, but seriously. I sit back and spend a lot of time wondering how these things just align. And all I can say is it’s the design Goddess. Or something like that. On a plus note, I got the drive the 1968 classic Mercedes 450 convertible in mustard yellow. I think it’s safe to say: that was a once in a lifetime moment.
Luci and Eric had quite a day for their wedding. There might have been a little rain. Well, there was a lot. No joke. In fact, the morning after their wedding, my sister nervously texted me a news story about a bride having to climb out of the sunroof of her limo during the ensuing flooding. Thank goodness, not my girl! But there was a lot of rain that day. It was no surprise to me that it did NOTHING to dampen Luci & Eric’s excitement. I had so much fun working with them for over a year to plan their day! And they had a beautiful one! It was filled with love, laughter, good friends, and a beautiful sunset!
I can’t share more than I already have in last summer’s “behind the scenes” sneak peak. But this shoot was one that, conceptually, has been on my mind for ages. Like, since I discovered The Mast in Barnegat Light. And it’s another example of the trust placed in me by the team at Bay Magazine. I also could not have done this one without the amazing support of my family, who dropped everything to lend a hand (and a dog) to make sure everything went off without a hitch. That’s my niece, Reece, with her dog, Murphy. He was a star model! My daughter, Caryn, niece Lexi, nephew George, my mom, and my sister all pitched in. But no one was more help that my husband, who lugged stuff ALL over that beach. And it was not easy! I am constantly amazed by the level of support I get from my family and friends. But NONE of it would ever have been (nor will continue to be) possible without the support of my husband. He really is incredible! I can not wait for Memorial Day (this is just one of the MANY reasons why!!) so that I can share these images with all of you! Trust me, Delany Dobson did an amazing job (I’ve seen the final product) and you are going to be bowled over! I am also super-stoked to be working with her in 2020! But hopefully, even sooner!
If nothing else this season (and trust me there was a lot more), I gained a ton of experience with rain plans. Even if some of my more daring couples chose to embrace the rain and roll with it. Take Hannah and Matt. They just fell in love with Brant Beach Yacht Club and a beach-front wedding. And in the end, and little bit of rain did not slow them down. Their photographer, the amazing Alexandra Peterson from Idalia Photography, and her husband, Jay, nailed it. They had clear umbrellas and this sweet couple got married in the drizzle. Ok, it was raining. But they didn’t care, their guests braved the rain, some cheered from the porch, and there was a smile on every single face!
Another opportunity to work with Melanie Cassie Photography popped up in September when we got to work with Tiffany and Jon on their wedding at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences. Tiffany and Jon were just the happiest sweetest couple. We had so much fun working through the details with them and helping them to have the wedding day of their dreams. In fact, the week leading up to their beach front wedding looked pretty awful. No joke. I worked through three versions of their rain plan. There was rain, wind, beach erosion (no joke, that beach got small that week!) to contend with. And then, on the day of their wedding, it was nothing but blue skies and perfection!
Annie and Tim traveled to LBI for their early October wedding from Australia! They came half way around the world to celebrate with their American family and friends (Annie grew up spending summers on LBI). They returned to Australia and celebrated again, in November. This couple was so much fun to work with. They also taught me a few important lessons. First, I can plan an amazing celebration and not need to work in person with my bride and groom. Annie and I first met (we talked on the phone a lot) to do a final walk through 4 days (!!!) before the big day. We sat at the Brant Beach Yacht Club and watched the sunset. And raved about its beauty! And then, on the big day. It rained. Again. But still, there was a pause in the rain storm that allowed for their ceremony and for some gorgeous photos from the talented Ann Coen Photography. Ann captured the stormy sky perfectly. Another lesson learned: I now have an extensive umbrella collection that will travel to all weddings with me.
Jenn and Joe are a couple I got to know even better during their wedding planning. Jenn is the daughter of one of my favorite wedding vendors, Marilyn, the owner of Kate & Allys. And Joe, is an incredibly talented wood worker (follow him @wavesofgrainwoodworks). They had such a party! And I was so happy to have been a part of this family’s celebration. It was also the first time I had the chance to work with Olive Eye Photography. And the results have been so much fun to look through.
Becky contacted me last summer looking for a someone who could help her envision her wedding at the LBIF and tie up a few loose ends. We got right to work. And I couldn’t be happier with the results. And neither could Becky and Bobby. I will be sharing more of their wedding next week on the BWE blog. But for now, here’s a sneak peak form the talented photography team at United Elite Photography. Part of their story includes the family tradition and the importance of their venue on a personal level. One of my favorite things about their celebration: They chose details and moments that highlighted their love of family and created new traditions. I’m all about it!
This was one of my favorite events this year. Janine, my May 2019 bride, sent me the cutest email early last summer asking me to give her a hand planning her mother, Kathleen’s, 75th birthday party. Janine was in need of venue research and then help with all the details. It didn’t hurt at all, that she was already familiar with Aisle Planner, so getting her up and running took no time. In the end, they had a wonderful party photographed by Heather Palecek. It was just the sweetest theme of gold and gorgeous fall centerpieces. They used tons of family photos to highlight Kathleen’s “75 Years Loved.” It was so much fun to help plan and setup and then to see how much everyone enjoyed looking through the photos and walking down memory lane!
Alexandra Peterson and I have known each other for a while. She and I taught together, and when I started my wedding planning business, she quickly became one of my closest business confidents and go-to person to bounce ideas off of. Knowing how much she and Jay wanted a family, I was soooooo excited to find out last summer that she and Jay were going to have a baby this winter! I can not wait to meet baby Olivia! Seriously! I want all the cuddles! And Alex and I had so much fun working on her shower! I will be featuring the big day on the blog in the next few weeks, so hang in there, there is more to come! But for now take a sneak peak at these amazing photos by Idalia Associate photographer, Jocelyn. Jocelyn, captured so many of the day’s details brilliantly! I had so much fun working with her. She and I worked together last summer on a styled engagement photoshoot on Long Beach Island. And I am super excited to be working with her this summer with my July 2019 couple, Jeff & Chelsea, and again in September 2019 with Carter & Richard.
I don’t have any photos from Colette and Gerard’s wedding just yet, but I am hoping to soon! It was so much fun to help my cousin Colette pull things together! The added bonus: We got to celebrate, big time, with family!
It was truly a wonderful year. I think, without a doubt, out most creative yet! I am so excited for all that lays ahead in 2019. We have such wonderful couples that we are working with. It has been so much fun getting to know each and every one of them. It’s funny, after every wedding, I really miss talking to my couples. We spend so much time working together leading up to the big day. And when this time of year rolls around, it’s so sweet when I open up holiday cards with wedding photos in them. And (omg!) the baby pictures! To you and your’s, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy & healthy New Year surrounded by family, friends, and the (of course) the beach.
Thank you to the photographers who allow us to use their images on our site:
Ashley Mac Photographs, Heather Palecek Photography, Idalia Photography, Jessica Erb Photography, Susan Elizabeth Photography, Delaney Dobson Photography, Ann Coen Photography, Lovesick Inc., K Hulett Photography & Melanie Cassie Photography
BWE | 825 Devon Street | Forked River, New Jersey 08731
(973) 477-1392 | jeanne@bogathevents.com
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