Autumn Wedding at The Ashford Estate by Sarah Canning Photography

Diana and Chris are the kind of couple that radiate pure joy. They really make everyone feel so comfortable and loved and being there to capture their wedding day was a dream come true. I had actually shot their engagement session as well, so by the time their wedding came around we essentially were BFFs. When envisioning their wedding day they wanted something very luxurious, elegant, and modern so having their autumn wedding at The Ashford Estate seemed like the perfect choice. Even though it was fall and the air was crisp, that didn’t stop them from incorporating beautiful peach tones and tons of greenery to still showcase their personalities and style.

Ashford Estate | New Jersey Wedding Venue

The Ashford Estate is located in Allentown, New Jersey. You’re surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, stunning fountains, waterfalls, gazebos, gardens, and phenomenal views. Although the exterior isn’t the only thing that makes the Ashford Estate such an amazing wedding venue. Their well-preserved interiors and architecture is a stand-out feature that makes any couple eager to book their dream wedding here.

At the Ashford Estate they have everything you need to have for your dream wedding. An immaculate bridal parlor and groom’s lounge for the morning of your wedding. A preserved barn chapel that isn’t like any other barn weddings you’ve seen in the past. It’s elegant, and lush and is focused around the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that serves as your altar. You’re then able to end the night in their grand ballroom which will quite literally take your breath away. All of the ingredients to have a special and memorable wedding day if you ask me. More information about the Ashford Estate and their amenities can be found here!

Autumn Wedding at the Ashford Estate

Their morning started off with both Chris and Diana getting ready in the bridal parlor and groom lounge located at the Ashford Estate. One thing about getting ready spaces that not many couples think about during the planning process is lighting. Having beautiful natural light is incredibly important when it comes to your wedding day. Especially, if you plan on having a professional wedding photographer. In my opinion, you should. Natural light not only makes sure we don’t have any weird shadows, but it makes sure that we as photographers capture the most true-to-tone moments. So when it comes to looking for getting ready spaces think, of windows, windows, and more windows. Luckily for us, the Ashford Estate has got us covered which made these getting ready photos some of my favorites.

Diana & Chris’ First Look

Why first looks may not be everybody’s cup of tea, here at SCP we love first looks. They are a great way for our couples to have some alone time and privacy. If you are someone who is still debating on whether or not you should have a first look, we’ve dedicated a whole blog to it here! Looking at Diana and Chris’ special moment may help you make a decision – it’s in my top first look reactions EVER!

Wedding Portraits

Based on their pre-planned timeline, it was only appropriate to have Diana and Chris’ wedding portraits before the ceremony. Thankfully, the Ashford Estate has such beautiful landscaping that we were able to take most of their portraits outdoors. The bridesmaids wore these beautiful emerald green dresses that really just screamed fall tones. The groomsmen of course looked as dapper as ever.

Helpful Tip: If you plan on having a large wedding party on your wedding day, make sure you discuss this with your wedding photographer. Trying to coordinate everyone to do a similar prompt or pose can be difficult. So knowing in advance how many people will be in your wedding party will help us prepare and get some beautiful images.

Barn Chapel Ceremony

As I mentioned before, The Ashford Estate has a beautiful barn chapel located on the property. It’s here that they host their indoor ceremonies with such grace and elegance and that’s exactly what we got. The beautiful natural light and the white wood really bring this space to life and is definitely a focus for this wedding venue.

I bet you could imagine that Diana and Chris’ wedding was just as perfect as they are. Filled with tons of laughter and joy and friends and family who were there to celebrate with them. It was an absolutely perfect moment.

Grand Ballroom Reception

Now I’m not going to lie… ballrooms can be a hit or miss sometimes. Okay, there I said it. Sometimes ballrooms can have very minimal lighting and can be a bit “tacky” sometimes. There is nothing wrong with that though and if you are into the beautiful traditional ballrooms, more power to you! In the case of the Ashford Estate, they took their grand ballroom and made it modern and lush. Tons of natural light and floor-to-ceiling windows decorate the space. Even as the sun set and nighttime came, it was the prettiest scene and definitely one of the best ballrooms I have photographed. Diana and Chris spent the night dancing away with friends and family before we said our final goodbyes.

I whisked the newlyweds outside one last time for some final nighttime portraits. As I said, it was a beautiful day so why end it there? Underneath the autumn sky, they stood there locked arm and arm as I took some photos of the newlywed couple. I packed up my bags and headed home to begin going through these photos and to me, that was the perfect end to a perfect night.

If you’re loving this Autumn Wedding at The Ashford Estate, then check out Rosemary and Alex’s special day!

Full vendor list at the bottom!