Love Wins, Kris and Wes Wedding |Part 1|

It’s been one year since the Marriage Equality law passed in New Jersey. Finally, many couples are able to legally have the big day they deserve.

Well, Kris and Wesley were one of those lucky couples. Only they were doubly lucky as they were also the winners of a Same Sex Wedding Giveaway contest held at the Grand Wilshire Hotel in West Orange this past July 2014.

The contest also included receiving free professional services from a group of wedding vendors, and Al Ojeda Photography was thrilled to offer our services and be a part of this special day and to be the ones to capture their very special moments.

Kris and Wes are the nicest people you can meet, and their 25 years love story is a beautiful one.

From the moment we arrived at the Wilshire Hotel where they were getting ready, we were surrounded with this positive and loving “vibe”. They were enjoying every minute with their close family and friends. It was all laughs and fun, you could feel their happiness.

We did their “formal shoots”, starting with the family, following with the wedding party and ending with the couple shoots. We were also able to get a group shot in a private moment before the ceremony with just the immediate family that the two grooms requested. …a group “Dynasty” style shot…where everyone got into full character and they all looked like actors!

And then there was the ceremony. What can we say about the ceremony except that in 9 years of shooting weddings in the US, this was one of the most emotional and memorable we have witnessed. Tears, laughs, joy. Constant goose bumps and chills up our spine of the touching and tender moments.. These two were so truly happy to have this day come true, and Al Ojeda Photography was honored to be a part of it. Our friend Deirdre of DeeVa Beauty (who did the makeup for the couple and wedding party) wrote a great blog post where she tells their story, please read it here.

Part 2 coming up soon…

Here are the pros who made this perfect day possible:

1.Catering and Accommodations Wilshire Grand Hotel www.thewilshiregrandhotel.com

2. Photography: Al Ojeda Photography www.alojeda.com

3:. DJ Entertainment Ambient DJ Service (Gregg Hollmann) www.ambientdj.com

4. Videography: Gabelli Cinema www.gabellistudio.com

5. Makeup and Hair:  Deirde Mahon and Lillian Burgos from DeeVa Beauty www.deevabeauty.com

6. Photo Booth: Goodwin’s Goodtime Photo Booth (Gus Goodwin)www.goodwinsgoodtimephotobooth.com

7. Media Sponsor NJWedding.com (Erik Kent) www.njwedding.com

8. Invitations: RSVP to Me www.rsvp-to-me.com

9. Ceremony Officiant: Mitch the Minister www.mitchtheminister.com

10. Wedding Cake: Confectionary Designs www.confectionarydesigns.com

11. Cupcake Truck: Polka Dot Cupcake Shop (Little Ferry) www.polkadotcake.com

12.  Horse & Carriage: Tania Lawson of Dream Horse Carriage www.happytalespets.com/carriagerentals/

13. Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music The Smokin Section www.smokinsection.com

14. Event Planner Rothweiler Events

Ambient DJ, Wedding Vendor Goes Above and Beyond

How would a wedding photographer decide who to select to be in their “preferred vendors” list? Having known Gregg Hollmann of Ambient DJ for some time, he was a must choice to be in ours. The following story confirms what we already knew about Gregg: M & C booked us last year for their 4th of July wedding at the Perona Farms, they also found Gregg at our facebook fan page and decided to use him. The wedding day was going as smooth as you would expect, but at some point in the middle of the reception, little Jad (the bride and groom’s son), as any kid his age, was getting tired and cranky…

So the bride went to Gregg’s DJ setting/booth and asked him if he would let Jad see how a DJ’s gear works. While the reception was in full running mode as the dance floor was packed with guests dancing, Gregg made Jad smile again, actually, this effort made Jad happy till the end of the night. Here are photographs proving those special moments in which Gregg went above and beyond, proving wedding vendors can be sensitive to all human situations accommodating to people’s needs and why Gregg is in our preferred vendors list.

Al Ojeda Photography – New Jersey Wedding Photographers

Contact: ida@alojeda.com – 908.240.3240

The Avenue Wedding | Part 2 |

Brunch buffet, bride dancing flamenco, Mariachis, musical entertainment by Gregg Hollmann’s Ambient DJ and Gus Goodwin’s Good Time Photo Booth completed M & G’s big day at The Avenue…

Part 1 can be seen here.

Al Ojeda Photography – New Jersey Wedding Photographers – Also Serving NY, CT and East PA – Destination Weddings

Contact: ida@alojeda.com – 908.240.3240

Artistry in Wedding Photography and DJ Entertainment

Today, a Guest Appearance from our friend Gregg Hollmann who runs Ambient DJ:

Artistry in Wedding Photography and DJ Entertainment

Now more than ever, engaged couples are faced with a wealth of options for both wedding photographers and disc jockeys.  For example, a bride in Central New Jersey (New Brunswick) who visits WeddingWire.com and searches for a photographer will be confronted with 28 pages of wedding photographers, and 13 pages of disc jockey listings.  There are literally hundreds of wedding photographers and disc jockeys to select from! To provide some context, according to statistics published by the State of New Jersey, there were 46,643 marriages in the state during 2007 (the most recent year available).  What makes a great wedding photographer or a great wedding disc jockey?  Both of these professionals rely on expensive, high-tech equipment in practicing their crafts.  Both are expected to bring backup equipment to your once-in-a-lifetime celebration.  Of course, the cameras, tripods, speakers and CD players are only tools of the trade.  What counts is how a professional uses these tools of the trade to deliver exceptional results. In the realm of photography, an outstanding wedding photographer will not only capture the important moments of your day, but is able to visualize and then create timeless, artistic photos.  Similarly, on the music side, an exceptional disc jockey will draw from the many songs and musical genres on their palette, and present them in a personal and artistic way for the wedding couple and their guests.  At a wedding reception, the DJ helps to create the ambience, while the photographer captures it on film!

While found in different sectors of the arts, Al Ojeda Photography and Ambient DJ Service share many similarities. First and foremost, both of our companies are committed to delivering a high-quality and modern service with great emphasis on customer service.  Both of our companies tend to work at the finer banquet halls of Central NJ and beyond, for clients who are looking for an alternative to the traditional (and tired) offerings of some providers.  And finally, we both share a love of music and international travel!

Ambient DJ Service is proud to recommend Al Ojeda Photography to all of its current and prospective wedding clients!  Al and Ida are talented, experienced and passionate professionals who are at the top of their game.

With our passion being music, before signing off from this guest appearance, I will leave readers with ten suggested first dance songs to consider:

1. You are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
2. Two Love Birds – Robin Thicke
3. We Have All the Time in the World – Louis Armstrong
4. Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
5. Marry Me – Train
6. Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
7. The Way I Am – Ingrid Michaelson
8. First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
9. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
10. Crazy Love – Van Morrison

Gregg Hollmann is the President of Ambient DJ Service based in East Windsor, NJ

Website – Blog – gregg@ambientdj.com – 609-672-1270

To our Brides and Grooms: Make sure you use AmbientDj for High Quality Entertainment Services – Contact Gregg who will work on your DJ needs with Professionalism and top notch Customer Service, your day will be a memorable one !!!

Thanks Gregg for a wonderful guest blog entry in our place… We appreciate you stopping by !!!

Al Ojeda Photography – New Jersey Wedding Photographers