When Kerri and Collin chose 618 Restaurant wedding photography for their December celebration in Freehold Township, they picked the venue where their love story began—their first date location. As a Freehold Township wedding photographer with over 30 years of experience and 580+ five-star reviews, I’ve learned that venues holding personal meaning always photograph better. This Monmouth County wedding delivered everything: an emotional first look at Thompson Park in Jamesburg, intimate wine cellar portraits, and a sparkler send-off that lit up the night outside 618 Restaurant.

Thompson Park First Look: A Unique Wedding Party Reveal

We started the day at Thompson Park in Jamesburg for their first look, and Kerri had this brilliant idea to line up the entire wedding party so they’d all see her exit the bus before Collin turned around. The bridesmaids in their dusty blue gowns with faux fur wraps, the groomsmen looking sharp—everyone facing forward except Collin standing in the middle like he was at the end of an aisle.

When Kerri stepped off that bus in her lace ballgown with the cathedral veil trailing behind her, the reactions were priceless. Then the best man cued Collin to turn around at just the right moment—that’s when I got the shot of him seeing her walking toward him for the first time. The whole setup created this aisle-moment feeling they wanted, and his face said everything.

The matching sneakers were a detail I loved—Converse for the ladies, Air Forces for the guys. After photographing 1,500+ weddings across Northern New Jersey, I’ve learned these personal touches are what make a celebration uniquely yours. We made sure to capture a shot showing everyone’s feet because they specifically requested it.

December Wedding Portraits at Thompson Park Jamesburg

December light in Central New Jersey hits different when you time it right. We had that golden afternoon glow filtering through the bare winter trees at Thompson Park, and Kerri’s veil became this incredible prop—especially when it caught the wind. That cathedral-length veil with the appliqué lace details practically floated on its own.

Getting them to relax was easy—they were just genuinely happy to be together. We walked through the trees, grabbed some candid shots of them laughing, and those in-between moments where they forgot I was even there. This Thompson Park Jamesburg wedding photography session gave us about 90 minutes of outdoor portraits before heading to 618 Restaurant for the ceremony and reception. If you’re planning a winter wedding in New Jersey this December timeline strategy maximizes your natural light window.

618 Restaurant Freehold Township: Where Their Story Began

Here’s what made this 618 Restaurant wedding even more special: this Freehold Township venue was the location of Kerri and Collin’s first date. Both their ceremony and reception happened here, which added this full-circle feeling to everything. As a New Jersey wedding photographer for three decades, I can tell you that emotional connection translates directly into better images.

The ceremony space at 618 has this exposed brick wall that photographs beautifully, and when they were pronounced married, Collin’s reaction—arms thrown up in celebration—was pure joy. Their wedding party was right there celebrating with them.

Cocktail Hour: Wine Cellar & Venue Photo Opportunities

During cocktail hour, we hit the spots Kerri had requested for their 618 Restaurant wedding photography: the wine cellar with its dramatic lighting and wine rack backdrop, the staircase, and the new bar at the entrance. The wine cellar shot was particularly striking—that chandelier and the floor-to-ceiling wine storage created this upscale, intimate backdrop that’s become one of my favorite spots at this Freehold Township venue.

We also snuck outside for their sparkler send-off during cocktail hour—they wanted to do it early so they could actually enjoy more of their reception. Standing under that 618 sign with sparklers lighting up the night and their guests surrounding them, Kerri in that massive ballgown—it was one of those moments worth planning for.

Reception Photography at 618 Restaurant

The reception at 618 Restaurant in Freehold Township had this energy you can’t manufacture. The live band set up against that exposed brick wall with uplighting, and when Kerri and Collin had their first dance, you could feel how present they were in that moment.

Then came the surprise Kerri and Collin planned—after the MOH and best man speeches, they announced they were “icing” the wedding party. Everyone grabbed their gift bags from their seats and met on the dance floor, opened the Smirnoff Ices, and kneeled to drink them together. The wedding party was laughing, the guests were cheering, and I was firing away capturing every reaction.

The dance floor stayed packed all night. Between parent dances, the bouquet toss, garter toss, and just everyone genuinely having a good time, there wasn’t a lull. After photographing over 1,500 weddings, I know when a reception has that perfect energy—and this one delivered.

Why 618 Restaurant Works for Monmouth County Weddings

After 30+ years photographing weddings across Northern New Jersey, the NYC metro area, and the Hudson Valley, I can tell you venues that hold personal meaning always photograph better. When a couple chooses their first-date location for their wedding, that emotional connection shows in every image.

618 Restaurant in Freehold Township delivers on the practical stuff too—the indoor ceremony and reception spaces work perfectly for December weddings, the lighting is photographer-friendly, and there are multiple photo opportunities from the wine cellar to the exposed brick walls to the exterior for sparkler send-offs.

The venue accommodated all of Kerri and Collin’s specific requests, from the cocktail hour photo locations to timing the sparkler send-off early, and their staff kept everything running smoothly for their 104 guests. For Monmouth County wedding photography, this venue offers exactly what couples need: intimate spaces, dramatic backdrops, and a team that understands how to work with professional photographers.

What to Expect from Your 618 Restaurant Wedding Photographer

When you book 618 Restaurant wedding photography with my team, here’s what 30+ years of experience brings to your celebration:

Pre-Wedding Consultation: We’ll scout the venue’s best photo spots—wine cellar, staircase, brick walls, outdoor spaces—and build a timeline that maximizes your December light if you’re planning a winter wedding.

Coverage Strategy: From getting ready through your sparkler send-off, I’m thinking about the shots you’ll want on your walls in 20 years, not just what looks good on Instagram today.

Backup Equipment & Team: Every camera, every lens, every light has a backup. After 1,500+ weddings, I’ve learned nothing gets left to chance.

Vendor Coordination: I work seamlessly with 618 Restaurant’s staff, your DJ or band, your videographer—everyone stays on the same page so your timeline flows smoothly.

Post-Processing: Your images get my signature editing style that keeps skin tones natural, preserves the actual lighting and mood of your day, and delivers photos that won’t look dated in a decade.

This approach is why I maintain 580+ five-star Google reviews and photograph weddings for couples throughout Central New Jersey, Monmouth County, and beyond.

Planning Your 618 Restaurant Wedding Photography Timeline

If you’re planning a wedding at 618 Restaurant in Freehold Township or anywhere in Central New Jersey, here’s what I recommend based on 30+ years of experience: schedule enough time for first look and portraits before the ceremony. Kerri and Collin did their first look at Thompson Park in Jamesburg about 30 minutes away, which gave us that outdoor natural light before moving to 618 for the ceremony and reception.

December weddings in New Jersey mean working with winter light—it’s softer, the golden hour happens earlier (around 3:30-4:30pm), and bare trees create this beautiful, clean backdrop. Plan your timeline accordingly, and trust your Freehold Township wedding photographer to maximize that limited daylight window.

Recommended Timeline for 618 Restaurant Weddings:

• 1:00-2:30pm: Getting ready coverage (if doing first look)
• 2:30-4:00pm: First look + outdoor portraits at nearby park
• 4:30-5:00pm: Ceremony at 618 Restaurant
• 5:00-6:00pm: Cocktail hour (wine cellar portraits, extended family photos, possible sparkler send-off)
• 6:00-8:00pm+: Reception coverage

For Central New Jersey wedding photography, I always suggest scouting your venue’s photo spots in advance. The wine cellar at 618, the staircase, the brick wall ceremony space—knowing these locations helps us maximize your cocktail hour and get those portraits done efficiently so you can get back to your guests.

Ready to Book Your Freehold Township Wedding Photography?

Ready to talk about your 618 Restaurant wedding photography? With over 580 five-star Google reviews and three decades of experience serving Northern New Jersey, the NYC metro area, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, I’d love to hear about your plans and create images that capture your celebration as authentically as Kerri and Collin’s.

Whether you’re planning a Monmouth County wedding, a Central New Jersey celebration, or a destination event, let’s start the conversation about your photography.

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Alex Kaplan
📞 917-992-9097
📧 alex@alexkaplanweddings.com
🌐 https://alexkaplanweddings.com