Monika and Scott chose three distinct New Jersey locations for their winter wedding – St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church in Trenton for their ceremony, downtown Princeton for portraits, and Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton for their reception. As a Trenton NJ wedding photographer, I focused on documenting the genuine moments throughout their day, from the traditional Catholic ceremony to the Polish cultural traditions at their intimate 41-guest celebration.

Getting Ready at Hyatt Regency Princeton

The day started at the Hyatt Regency Princeton, where Monika and Scott prepared separately before their ceremony. Monika’s suite provided warm natural light for getting-ready photos, while Scott and his best man used the hotel’s modern atrium for portraits.

St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church Wedding Ceremony

St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church on Brunswick Avenue in Trenton is the kind of traditional Catholic venue where the architecture does real work. The turquoise and gold altar, the painted dome ceiling with angels, the red poinsettias flanking the sanctuary for Christmas – this church was built when detail mattered, and it shows in every corner. The natural light through the stained glass peaks around 2-3pm, which is exactly why afternoon ceremonies photograph better here than morning ones.

The Ceremony

The traditional Catholic mass ran about an hour – processional, readings, vows, communion, the works. St. Hedwig follows standard restrictions: no flash during the ceremony, which is fine when you know the lighting. The moment Monika walked down the aisle with her father, the way Scott’s expression changed when he saw her – that’s why you photograph Catholic ceremonies at churches like this.

Family Photos at the Altar

After the receiving line, we did family portraits right at the altar. With both families comfortable at the church and the ceremony fresh, this is usually the most efficient time for formal groupings. It also meant we could head straight to Princeton with good light still available.

Winter Portraits in Downtown Princeton

After the ceremony, we had 30 minutes in downtown Princeton. Palmer Square in December gives you Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and that classic Princeton architecture all in one spot. The winter light that time of day has a particular quality you can’t get any other season, and it pairs perfectly with the seasonal atmosphere.

Rat’s Restaurant Wedding Reception

Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds For Sculpture does something most wedding venues don’t – it functions first as a restaurant, which means the focus stays on good food and actual conversation rather than wedding industry expectations about what a reception should look like. The reclaimed wood, the warm pendant lights, the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the sculpture park – the space already has atmosphere. The warm wood tones absorb a lot of light, so those pendant fixtures do more work than you’d expect. Evening receptions here have natural atmosphere without needing uplighting or additional decoration.

For 41 guests, Rat’s Restaurant hits exactly the right scale. Everyone’s close enough to hear toasts without a microphone. You can have a conversation at your table without shouting. Round tables with ivory linens, floral centerpieces mixing roses with greenery, those deep blue water goblets catching candlelight.

Polish Wedding Traditions

Right at the start of the reception, Monika and Scott participated in a traditional Polish toast. Her parents brought out bread, salt, and two shot glasses – one water, one vodka. The couple ate the bread and salt, then each took a shot without knowing which was which. The tradition says whoever gets the vodka will be the “boss” in the marriage. The bread and salt represent a wish for abundance.

This is the kind of cultural tradition that makes a wedding specific to the people getting married. Not something from Pinterest, but something that connects the celebration to where the family comes from.

Later in the evening, Monika and Scott presented flower baskets to both sets of parents. Three toasts throughout dinner, then cake cutting. No parent dances, no bouquet toss, no reception timeline manufactured for photos.

Wedding Cake

The three-tier white cake sat against the rustic wood wall, decorated with fresh roses, greenery, and small pinecones – elegant for a winter wedding without being overly Christmas-themed.

Why This Winter Wedding Worked

Monika and Scott’s wedding succeeded because they didn’t try to do everything. St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church provided the traditional ceremony their families valued. Downtown Princeton delivered winter portraits with actual seasonal context, not forced “winter wonderland” staging. Rat’s Restaurant gave them an intimate reception where 41 guests could genuinely connect rather than filling tables to meet a venue minimum.

The timeline worked because they prioritized what mattered – a full Catholic mass, quality portraits, time with family. Forty-one guests meant they actually spent time with the people who came. That’s not a limitation, it’s a choice that makes the day better. The Polish traditions added cultural meaning without turning the reception into a performance. The venue choices reflected their taste rather than what wedding blogs say receptions should look like.

This is what happens when couples make decisions based on what matters to them rather than checking boxes on someone else’s template.

Trenton & Hamilton NJ Wedding Photographer

Looking at these images from Monika and Scott’s day, this is the kind of wedding photography that happens when you’re not trying to recreate someone else’s Pinterest board.

If you’re planning a wedding at St. Hedwig Church, Rat’s Restaurant, or anywhere in New Jersey and value real moments over stiff posing, I’d love to talk. I’ve photographed over 800 weddings across NJ, NYC, Bergen County, and the Hudson Valley with a calm, documentary approach focused on genuine connection.

I work particularly well with couples planning intimate weddings, Catholic ceremonies with cultural traditions, and celebrations that prioritize meaningful moments over Instagram trends.

Contact me to discuss your wedding photography needs in Trenton, Hamilton, Princeton, or throughout New Jersey.