As we end one year and begin another… strike that, as we end one decade and begin another, I wanted to take a few minutes to revisit our 2019 weddings and events. This year of LBI wedding planning was a truly special one! We had the privilege of working with amazing couples and wonderful families to celebrate major life milestones. I couldn’t be prouder as we enter our fifth season in business to say that we have been killin’ it. I have a feeling 2020, and the 20’s, will bring new challenges to BWE as well more wonderful couples and families to celebrate with. I’m looking forward to another year and working with some of the most wonderful wedding professionals the industry has to offer! Thank you all so much for your love and support this year! And now… for the recap! Enjoy the scroll!

Janine & Richie | May 2019 | The LBI Foundation for the Arts and Sciences

Richie and Janine were one of the coolest set of cats I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. Their wedding at the LBI Foundation for the Arts and Sciences included some of my favorite floral design and a stunning Sperry Tent. I had the luck to work with Sperry a number of times this season and every time, they impressed. They are going to have a pretty roaring start to their 2020’s! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two! I know they have the hippest dog, and they are going to be welcoming the hippest baby this June! Check out the full blog post for all the gorgeousness.

The Creative Team: Wedding Planner | Bogath Weddings & Events, Photo & Video | Love Sick Inc, Ceremony Venue | Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Reception Venue | The Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, Ceremony & Reception Entertainment | Love Sick Inc, Stationary Design & Illustration | Jaclyn Sinquett, Catering | Kate and Ally’s Restaurant, Liquor | Neptune Liquors, Officiant | Fred Boettke, Florals | @reynoldsgardenshop, Hair & Makeup | Artistry by Linds, Rentals & Signage | Rustic Drift, Vintage Dishes | Tea Party To Go, Tent | Sperry Tents, NJ, Cake | A Sweet Memory Cake Shoppe & Tea Room, Engagement & Wedding Bands | Do Amore, Wedding Dress Shop | Castle Couture, Wedding Dress Designer | Miss Hayley Paige, Bridesmaid Dress Shop | Bella Bridesmaids, Bridesmaid Dress Designer | Watters, Groomsmen Attire | Calvin Klein

Bay Magazine | Fall 2019 Issue | Mallard Island Yacht Club

BWE has enjoyed a beautiful relationship with Bay Magazine for the past few years. And this year we were able to continue working with them to produce some really beautiful editorial for their bi-yearly publication. This shoot, at Mallard Island Yacht Club was a fun one, because I got to work with a friend, Carly and her husband had been recently married, and really had a blast enjoying the opportunity to get dressed up in fancy dresses and pretending to get married all over again. They were so sweet and fun to work with. And so clearly in love. I also worked during the summer on thier editorial for Summer and Fall 2020, so stay tuned! If you’d like to see all the gorg from this shoot, check out the full blog.

The Creative Team: Planner & Designer | Bogath Weddings & Events, Photographer | Ashley Mac Photographs, Hair | Lavish Salon, Makeup | Beach House Spa, Bride’s Dress Shop | Free Love Bridal, Groom’s Attire | The Black Tux, Luxury Yacht | LBI Luxury Charters, Invitations | Crisp Designs by Britt, Venue | Mallard Island Yacht Club, Florist | Eastlin Floral Design, Cake | Sweet Melissa/The Goodness Café, Jewelry | Atlantic City Jewlery, Rentals | Rustic Drift, Table Top Rentals | The Vintage Table Company, Bride and Groom | Carly & Tom Hanscom

Ashley & Rob | June 2019 | Congress Hall, Cape May, NJ

Ashley and Rob worked with me for well-over a year. We began from the very beginning, by finding a venue. And while I typically work on Long Beach Island, when Ashley and Rob decided to plan a Cape May wedding at the historic Congress Hall! They wanted something historical, beach-coastal-inspired, and lots of flowers. And boy! Did they get it! We nailed Ashley’s vision of a beach ceremony followed by a tented reception on Congress Hall’s Great Lawn. After months of planning, the end results were simply stunning!

The Creative Team: Wedding Planner | Bogath Weddings & Events, Photographer | Ann Coen Photography, Videographer | Tony Coon Films, Venue | Cape Resorts Weddings, Congress Hall, Tent | Sperry Tents, New Jersey, Rentals & Signage | Rustic Drift, Rentals |Dovetail Vintage Rentals, Entertainment | EBE Talent, Ansterdam, Officiant | Rabbi Rayzel Raphael, Florals | Pink Dahlia Vintage, Hair & Makeup| The Updo Guru, Photo Booth | VW Booth Bus, Wedding Cake & Favors| My Daughters Cakes, Wedding Dress Shop | Free Love Bridal, Invitations | Kelmade Goods, Curated Postage | Magnolia Postage, Wedding Dress Designer | Stella York, Bridesmaids Dresses | Azazie, Groomsmen Attire | The Black Tux, Nordstroms

Heather & Keith | June 2019 | 101 Center Street

Heather and Keith were so sweet. We worked with them to provide Wedding Day Management. On their wedding day they were so in-tune with family and friends. They had the second cutest Goldendoodle (I’m biased) as a ring bearer. Their wedding celebration at 101 Center Street was a really fun party with a great crowd.

The Creative Team: Wedding Day Management | Bogath Weddings & Events, Photographer | Jason Adam Photography, Ceremony Venue | The Ocean at Center Street, Reception Venue | 101 Center Street, Beach Haven, Catering | Beach Haven Catering, Liquor | Neptunes wine & Liquors, Ceremony & Reception Entertainment | Universal Entertainment, Hair & Makeup | Lavish Salon, Wedding Dress Shop/Designer | Grace Loves Lace, Bridesmaids Dresses | Kennedy Blue Official, Groomsmen Attire | Macys, Wedding Cake | Cake That, Invitations | Penelope’s Paper Pantry on Etsy, Rentals | Ocean Tents

Chelsea & Jeff | July 2019 | The English Manor, Asbury Park, NJ

Jeff & Chelsea’s wedding had to be my favorite of the year. Seriously, I can say that because they are family. I couldn’t be happier to have had the chance to help Chelsea and Jeff plan. And then to celebrate with them and the rest of my family. The English Manor is not one of my typical venues. But the staff there were top-notch professionals and made it so easy to plan and enjoy myself during the reception. There was not a single thing that their staff missed, and the party was rocking! My favorite design element of this wedding: the florals from Erin at Eastlin Floral Designs. Erin worked with us to stay on budget, without compromising design. And in the end every single elements was stunning. And to top it all off, I got to work with Alex from Idalia Photography who took gorgeous photos of all the gorgeousness! This is one of my favorite new family traditions: helping my cousins get married! If you want to see all the gorg from Jeff & Chelsea’s big day, click here.

The Creative Team: Wedding Planner | Bogath Weddings & Events, Photographer | Idalia Photography, Videographer | Vacad Films, Ceremony & Reception Venue | The English Manor, Entertainment | Elite Entertainment, Photo Booth | All About You Photography & Photo Booths, Florals | Eastlin Floral Design, Hair | Sweet Hair Peace, Makeup | Shelby Housley Makeup, Wedding Dress Shop | Nicoles Bridal and Prom, Wedding Dress Designer | Hayley Paige Occasions, Bride’s Shoes | Vince Camuto, Bridesmaids Dresses | Bella Bridesmaids, Groomsmen Attire | Dress Me Up, Wedding Cake | Tinton Falls Pastry Chef, Transportation | First Student Charter Bus Rental, Invitations | By Invitation Only Ink, Signage | The Shaded Maple

The Bitman Family Bar Mitzvah | August 2019 | Beach Haven & The Daymark

This Bar Mitzvah celebration was a one-of-a-kind, for sure! Jack’s family chose to celebrate this momentous event with an ocean front ceremony and an amazing hip party at the Daymark in Barnegat Light. They partied, ate, and hung out in a vintage VW photo booth bus, and ate ice cream! My favorite detail had to be the floral arrangements, on Rustic Drift’s wooden pillars, with large air plants. They were beautiful and masculine at the same time. Perfection. The pride evident on the faces of Jack’s parents was the highlight of this one-of-a-kind event. They have done a good job. Their son did a beautiful job. The entire event is recapped on our blog.

The Creative Team: Event Planner | Bogath Weddings & Events, Ceremony | The Ocean at 2nd Street/Center St., Beach Haven, NJ, Cantor Soloist | Suzanne Guinnane, Ceremony Music | Ceremonious Strings, Venue | The Daymark, Barnegat Light, NJ, Florist | Reynolds Garden Shop, Rentals | Rustic Drift, Photography | Ann Coen Photography, Videography | Tony Coon Films, Entertainment | All Around Entertainment, Invitation, Signage & Logo Design| Crisp by Britt, Wood Worked “J” | Waves of Grain Wood Works, Sweatshirts | Jetty Ink, Hair | Jenna Moore, Makeup | Kyle Nagle Beauty, Transportation | First Student Charter Bus Rental, Photo Booth | VW Booth Bus, Ice Cream | Ken’s Ice Cream, Dessert Display | The Goodness Cafe by Sweet Melissa, Donut Tower | Side Door Donuts, Stickers | Sticker Mule

Christine & Jeff | August 2019 | The LBI Foundation of Arts & Sciences

Christine and Jeff celebrated their wedding on a really (really) windy August day surrounded by friends and family with a tented wedding at the LBIF. They filled their celebration with love, tradition and family (that’s the wedding trifecta, people!). And boy was it a party! Chrissie and Jeff needed LBI wedding planning for the six months leading up to their big day. My favorite moment, when Chrissie got up on stage and sang with the band. She sang with the band!!! Chissie, she belted one out!!! I was in awe. So were her guests. And the look on Jeff’s face… priceless! You can check out the full post here.

The creative team: Planner | Bogath Weddings and Events, Photographer | Photography by Kim Angelo, Video | PF Films, Reception Venue | LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Tent & Rentals | Ocean Tents, Bar Rental | Rustic Drift, Catering | Kate and Allys Restaurant, Liquor | Neptune Liquors, Entertainment | The Mighty Spectrum Band, Officiant | Pam Martorana, Florals | Reynolds Garden Shop, Hair | Denise Osborne, Makeup | Beach House Spa, Wedding Dress Shop | Kleinfeld Bridal, Wedding Dress Designer | Allure Bridals, Bride’s Shoes | Keds, Groomsmen Attire | Jos A Bank, Wedding Cake | A Sweet Memory Cake Shoppe and Tea Room, Invitations | Minted, Photo Booth | VW Booth Bus, Calligraphy | The Shaded Maple

Carter & Richard | September 2019 | The Brant Beach Yacht Club

Carter and Richard got married this past September at the Brant Beach Yacht Club. I worked with these two for over a year to plan the sweetest classic wedding and they were such a pleasure to work with. Carter is sweet, genuine and has a great sense of humor. Richard has a British accent that made planning conversations extra fun. Their wedding design included classic navy and white elements along with stunning florals from Lily in the Valley. All captured to perfection by Jocelyn, an associate photographer at Idalia Photography.

The Creative Team: Planner | Bogath Weddings & Events, Photographer | Idalia Photography, Ceremony & Reception Venue | Brant Beach Yacht Club, Brant Beach, LBI, New Jersey, Ceremony Music | Ceremonious Strings, Catering | Kate and Allys Restaurant, Liquor | Neptune’s Liquor, DJ | Off Beet Productions, Florals | Lily in the Valley Florist, Photo Booth | Idalia Photography, Hair & Makeup | Lavish Salon, Beach Haven, Dress Shop | Jennifer’s Bridal, Wedding Dress Designer | Pronovias, Bride’s Shoes | Ninas, First Dance Dress | Lulus, Bridesmaids Dresses | Bella Bridesmaids, Groomsmen Attire | The Black Tux, Wedding Cake | A Sweet Memory Cake Shoppe & Tea Room, Transportation | Lacey Limo, Get-Away Car | Antique Limos NJ, Invitations | Minted, Calligraphy | The Shaded Maple

Jillian & Justin | October 2019 | The Gables, Beach Haven

I worked with Jill and Justin for over a year planning their cocktail style reception and beach front wedding at The Gables in Beach Haven. We worked really hard to infuse their wedding with fun elements like the VW Booth Bus and Rick Welch a caricature artist. Guests had a blast. But I think one of my favorite elements in their wedding day was their dessert presentation. This cute couple has a great sense of humor and chose to have cookies with their faces on them. They had a variety of cakes that tasted amazing. Thy had a candy bar. And my favorite, a dessert bar for guests to take a fun treat home to their dog, curtesy or Rosie and Maisey the couple’s dogs. The full wedding recap will be on the blog in the next few days, so stay tuned for all the beach-ceremony perfection and to see the amazingness that was The Gables.

2020 & Beyond

This upcoming year will be filled with more beautiful events and celebration! I can’t wait! We have also partnered with Bay Magazine and Weddings of Distinction to bring an amazing wedding event to LBI, the Wedding Bliss Expo. We are sure to stay busy! We are working to provide expert planning to even more couples. We are expanding our offerings to include workshops and online planning options for those who are looking to work with a wedding planner while still planning their own wedding. This year, we will celebrate Sydney’s graduation from college in May and Caryn’s Sweet 16 in July. Caryn will learn to drive (God help us all, lol). And I will turn 45, with, I promise, as much dignity as I can muster. Richie and I will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary this October. I’m really looking forward to the year. From my family to your’s, all our wishes for an amazing, happy & healthy 2020 filled with family and love! Photos below: Katie Bellini Photography