A COLORFUL WEDDING AT THE MADISON HOTEL BY ALEXA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Kim was a student at Rutgers University and was tasked with giving the campus tour when Rebecca was interviewing for graduate school. “I remember knowing right away Rebecca was going to be important to me, but I don’t think I could honestly say she would one day be my wife,” Kim reminisced. For Rebecca, it wasn’t until she took a trip without Kim to visit family that she took a step back and thought about what life would look like if they got married. It was at that moment Rebecca realized she was ready to take the next step in their relationship. With a summer lake vacation in Maine planned, Kim knew it was the perfect opportunity to propose. Kim popped the question on the dock, Rebecca said yes, and then walked away. Little did Kim know that Rebecca also had a surprise up her sleeve. Rebecca proposed with a diamond infinity double-cross ring. Continue reading below to see Rebecca and Kim’s colorful, jewel-toned wedding at The Madison Hotel come to life through the lens of Alexa Lynn Photography.
From the couple…Rebecca loves all plants and flowers but likes to reject most feminine things. We tried our best to wind up at “moody greenhouse” – and we think we nailed it! We had a lot of jewel tones with the flowers to add some mood (orange-Kim’s favorite color, blues, deep purples, and dark greens) because our wedding venue was so light, bright, and airy.
The couple kept an open mind for the wedding location and even scouted the East Coast for venues that had a greenhouse conservatory style. Rebecca and Kim eventually landed on The Madison Hotel, which was not only located in the state where they first met, but also a middle ground between families, close enough to a major airport for out-of-town guests, and in a small town that loved ones would enjoy exploring.
Thinking about marrying Rebecca was the most exciting part of wedding planning for Kim, and after much anticipation, the two finally walked down the aisle together and exchanged personal vows in front of the most important people in their lives, with their close friend Janna officiating the ceremony. “We met Janna in graduate school and when we started talking about who we would want to officiate, we both had Janna in mind. Janna is super warm, loving, and always cheered us on, so it was an easy choice in the end,” the couple revealed.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and guests were ready to party. Organically arranged centerpieces in jewel tones were placed on the reception tables, along with taper candles, gray cheesecloth-style runners on white linens, and table numbers made by the couple. The ceremony arch was also repurposed as a focal point for the sweetheart table. “I was most excited to see the florals from Blue Jasmine after we met with Paulina and settled on our color scheme,” Rebecca shared.
When guests weren’t dining or dancing, they delighted in fun activities throughout the evening, including an I Spy game with hidden llama figurines, a photo booth, a temporary tattoo bar, and a crossword puzzle about Rebecca and Kim. “It was great to have something for people to do other than just dance and eat!” At the end of the night, Rebecca changed out of her beaded BHLDN gown into a satin jumpsuit for a sparkler send-off photo before they continued dancing the night away amongst loved ones. “It had been so long since we got to spend time with many of these people (because of covid) and them seeing Kim and I so happy and in love was the best part of the day!”
See more from Rebecca and Kim’s wedding day in the latest Spring/Summer 2023 print edition of Contemporary Weddings Magazine and on Alexa Lynn Photography’s blog
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Madison Hotel / Officiant: Janna / Photographer: Alexa Lynn Photography / Entertainment: Skylark Entertainment / Floral Designer: Blue Jasmine Florals / Wedding Gown Designer: BHLDN / Attire: Bindle & Keep / Wedding Party Dresses: Azazie / Invitations: DIY / Hair Stylist: Badass Bridal Hair Co. / Honeymoon Location: Iceland
