Janet and Mike's Backyard Wedding - North NJ Wedding Photographers - Sussex County

Janet and Mike were yet another couple who had to alter their wedding plans thanks to COVID-19. If they had to do it again from scratch, though, I bet they’d go the backyard route. Their ceremony and celebration was reflective of their laid-back, fun-loving attitudes, and it was more beautiful than anyone could have imagined. When couples are able to adapt, move on from disappointment, and just enjoy themselves, good things happen.

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Sara and Bryan's WEDDING ON A BOAT! - NJ Wedding Photographers - Historic Yacht Charters

When Sara told her original plans for her wedding were postponed due to COVID-19, I was pretty bummed for her and Bryan. Ten seconds later, when she told me they still planned on getting married on their original date with a smaller ceremony and celebration, I was thrilled again. Ten seconds after that, when she told me the smaller wedding would take place on the Naval War College charter vessel on the Navesink River, I was beyond pumped to be a part of it.

After their ceremony in a nearby park, we hopped on the boat and had a blast! Their wedding was unlike any other that I’ve photographed. I’m extremely grateful to Sara and Bryan for trusting me to capture this amazing day for them. I can’t wait to do it all again (minus the boat) in Pennsylvania next year!

Venue: Naval War College

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Amanda and Ryan's Central Park Engagement Shoot - NYC Wedding Photographers

Central Park is located in the heart of the busiest places in the world - New York City. Amanda and Ryan’s engagement shoot was in the middle of the summer at Central Park. Normally there would be hordes of people walking the grounds and not caring that they’re in someone’s engagement photos, but we arrived at 7am and it was 100% worth it. I’d never seen New York City like this!

Allie and Pete's Backyard Wedding - NJ Wedding Photographer - Intimate Wedding

When a couple is forced to change their wedding location from an actual wedding venue to a backyard setting, it’s understandable for others to see that as a downgrade. Personally, I think it’s great. I prefer the feel of backyard weddings more than anything. I don’t know if there’s anyone who thought Allie and Pete’s wedding location was a downgrade. The property was enormous and beautiful, the catered food was phenomenal, the day flowed wonderfully, and the company was top notch. To top it all off, Allie and Pete were up for every idea I had and then some. When couples are as easy going and fun as they are, good things happen. Check out the photos. You’ll see what I mean.

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Samantha and Nick's Backyard Wedding - NJ Outdoor Photographers - Northern New Jersey

Like thousands of other couples, Sam and Nick’s wedding plans changed due to COVID-19. They postponed their larger gathering at Waterloo Village until next year, but they still got married on their original date. Boy, am I glad they did. The location was beautiful, Sam and Nick were so laid back and easy to work with, and the rain held out until the second they were done with their first dance. I’m thrilled I was able to help them capture this day for them, and I’m looking forward to next year even more now!

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5 Tips for Couples Whose Weddings are Affected by COVID-19

If you’re reading this, that probably means you had to alter more than just your dress for your wedding--you had to alter almost everything. While I don’t know exactly what you’re going through, I can imagine it’s been stressful, draining, and immensely disappointing. Something that was supposed to be the happiest time of your life has turned into nothing but a headache.

It’s not all bad though. The state of the world might even allow you to really achieve perfection with the vision you have for your day - from decorations to vendors to attire and more. I’ve come up with a few things that might help you see the bright side of this dark time and make your delayed wedding even better than it would have been normally!

Northern NJ Weddings - Garret Torres Photography

• Communicate with the vendors you’ve already hired.

Just as with many things in life, communication is key! As soon as you know that you’re going to be postponing or as soon as you have a makeup date, let your vendors know! Better yet - ask your vendors for dates that they’re free in the timeframe you have in mind before you reschedule. Hopefully they all have at least one free date in common, and you’ll be able to have the same team of talented professionals as you would have originally.

Waiting too long can make things much worse. I know photographers who have had couples cancel on them because they were already booked on their rescheduled date. Now the couple is saddled with the task of finding another photographer that fits their style, personality, and budget, and the photographer has lost a job they rely on to keep food on the table. It’s a lose-lose situation. It’s not just photographers who are affected. Makeup artists, hair stylists, DJs, videographers, florists, caterers, you name it; they’ve all been hit with similar situations. The one way to make sure you don’t get stuck scrambling to replace the vendors you fell in love with is to communicate!

If things don’t work out with your original vendors, don’t lose hope! There are tons of us out there, and some are here to make the planning process easy and stress-free. I had the opportunity to speak with Brooke Heller, an esteemed wedding planner in my market. If you’re over the search to find perfect vendors all over again, you might want to get in touch with Brooke. Take it from her:

This business is not just a job to me, it is a passion. In these tough times couples are faced with the challenge of starting over which can be extremely overwhelming and discouraging, that is where I step in. My goal is to go above and beyond to recreate the visions of their wedding day while connecting clients with the appropriate vendors.

Whitewoods Weddings, eastern PA wedding venue- Garret Torres Photography

• Use this time to research.

The internet is overflowing with inspiration and resources for your wedding, and not just on Pinterest! Based on your vision, you can find inspiration pretty much anywhere.

Let’s say you’re a bride who’s planning a rustic wedding in a barn: obviously you’ve already searched Google, Pinterest, Instagram, etc for “rustic wedding” or #barnwedding, But dive deeper. The barn is probably not in a large city filled with office buildings, it’s most likely in a rural area where the people live the rustic lifestyle. That means there are woodworkers, gardeners, musicians, and general DIYers who are dying to share their talents with you. Ask the coordinator at your venue for their local recommendations! If you want to go one step further, ask other couples who have gotten married there who they used, why they loved their work, what they would have done differently, or how they found their vendors. It’s as easy as searching "#myvenuewedding” (obviously replace myvenue with the name of your venue) on Instagram and leaving a comment or sending a message. People are usually happy to help!

The same approach can be used for any kind of wedding theme. Just know and trust your vision, and dive in!

Rustic wedding decor at The Farm at Glenwood Mountain - NJ Outdoor Wedding Venue - Garret Torres Photography

• Try new things.

  I’m an advocate for staying at home and limiting the ways this virus can spread. That’s where the internet saves the day. Did you know you can still try on dresses and suits without leaving your home? Crazy stuff. Azazie, as well as other bridal shops, are shipping sample dresses for brides to try on at insanely low prices. For those who are searching for suits and tuxes, check out Menguin.

  Everybody is using Zoom or FaceTime these days to stay in touch. Why not use it as a way to meet potential vendors? If you’re looking to hire a photographer, videographer, DJ, whatever, set up a video chat! There’s no better way to get to know someone than by meeting in person, and there’s no better way to meet in person without meeting in person than video chatting. Emails can be tricky to pick up on personality, phone calls can feel like you need to rush through the conversation, but video calls offer a more intimate, relaxed setting for you to learn about a vendor’s mission and what they can offer you. We have no shortage of free time these days, so get in touch with potential vendors and set up those calls!

Finger Lakes Vintage Wedding Style - Geneva On The Lake - Garret Torres Photography

• Take care of yourself.

  Something that can get lost in all the chaos of planning a wedding is your own health - both physical and mental. While quarantining it can be easy to fall into habits of binging Netflix or playing video games for hours on end - both things I’m guilty of - but your free time can be used to make sure that you’re in a good place as well. Go for walks. Discover a new hobby or rekindle your love for one you had before life got too hectic. Have video calls with your bridesmaids and groomsmen. All it takes is a few minutes a day. There are plenty of yoga videos on YouTube to follow along with. Peloton is giving users a free 90-day trial of their workout app with no bike required! If all you’re doing is worrying and stressing about your wedding plans, it’s only going to make the process worse. If you’re in a good headspace, you’ll be able to tackle the tasks you need to with an open mind and a better outlook.

  And that leads me to my last tip…

I love taking walks around the neighborhood with these beauties :)

• Remember why you’re doing this.

  I give this advice to almost every couple I speak with who are going through a stressful time. I think now, more than ever, it rings true. The reason you’re getting married (hopefully) is because you’ve found someone you don’t want to live without, and you want the world to know it. You’re giving your heart to someone just as they’ve given theirs to you. Weddings are an incredible way of celebrating your love, but when the wedding’s over, you’re left with photos, videos, and a spouse. A teammate. A partner to stand beside you through the good times and bad times, all your lives. If you have to postpone your wedding, I totally understand the frustration. I get it. But remember why you’re doing this. Your love for each other won’t change if your marriage certificate has a different date than you initially intended on having. Making sure you and loved ones are healthy enough to celebrate your love once this is all over… that’s worth waiting for.

Natural views at Skyview Golf Club - Sparta, NJ - Garret Torres Photography

Palace at Somerset Park Wedding Photographer - Faith and Stevie - Winter Wedding

From the very first time I spoke with Faith about her wedding and her vision, I could tell that I would love working with her and Stevie. I wasn’t wrong. I’m a huge fan of couples doing things their own way, and that’s exactly what these two did. From all the homemade decorations, to getting ready together, to even performing their own ceremony (that was a first for me!), Faith and Stevie’s wedding was as unique as they are. It was the perfect wedding to end 2019 with, and I can’t thank them enough for letting me be a part of such a magical day!

Best of 2019 - NJ Wedding Photographer - Garret Torres Photography

My 2019 included:

20,048 photos delivered

2,415 miles driven

365 days worked

22 couples photographed

5 states traveled to

0 desire to change any of it

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love what I do. I’m so thankful that people trust me to capture their weddings and allow me to keep doing what I love for a living. Thank you to everyone who I had the privilege of working with. Another big thank-you goes out to everyone who helped me along the way this year: Dennis, Tommy, Brandon, Angela, another Brandon, Drew, Danny, and of course, my wonderful wife/assistant/accountant/social media manager/best friend, Melissa.

I don’t want to waste too much time with text when you’re clearly here for the photos, so here they are. I hope you enjoy.

The Garrison - NY Wedding Photographer - Sara and Pete

Sara hikes a lot, according to her Instagram username. So it was fitting that her and Pete’s wedding took place in the Hudson Highlands of New York with a stunning view of the Hudson River and the Catskills as the backdrop for their ceremony. It was such an enjoyable day for me and for everyone involved, mainly because Sara and Pete are just wonderful to be around. If you ever wondered what a, loving, happy, easy-going couple looks like, just scroll down.

West Hills Country Club Wedding Photographer - Chelsea and Greg NY Wedding

Chelsea and Greg were about the happiest couple I have ever worked with. This came as no surprise to me, however, as in the months leading up to the wedding, Chelsea shared with me multiple times how excited she was for the big day. I knew it would be a fantastic experience working with these two, but what I didn’t know was that their wedding would be one of my favorites of all time. Just being around people like Chelsea and Greg is a great reminder of why I love what I do, and knowing that I was able to capture one of the most important days of their lives for them is a reminder that I have the most rewarding occupation out there.