Ashanti & Christopher’s Wedding at Six Eighteen Restaurant in Freehold, NJ

Ashanti and Christopher were married on Saturday, October 17, 2026, and their Six Eighteen Restaurant wedding in Freehold, New Jersey, was built around the people they love. They got ready and shared their first look at the Radisson Hotel Freehold, then said their vows in front of family and friends at Six Eighteen Restaurant on Park Avenue.

Going back through their gallery, what stands out is how easy they are with each other. There is a lot of eye contact in these pictures, a lot of real smiling, and one moment by a fountain that says more about Christopher than anything I could write.

I have spent more than 30 years behind a camera, and my approach to wedding photography has stayed the same. I guide when it helps, then step back when something real starts to happen. This day had plenty of those moments.

Getting Ready at the Radisson Hotel Freehold

Ashanti’s morning started in a quiet room at the Radisson, in a white satin robe with lace trim, her braids already pinned up with small crystal pieces. In the frames from that hour she is smiling toward someone just out of view, completely at ease.

Her dress hung against the wall on a custom hanger lettered “Mrs. Santiago,” with the date 10.17.2026 written along the other arm. I always photograph a detail like that, because it tells the story of the day in a single line of lettering.

Once she was dressed, the strapless lace gown, the drop earrings and the long beaded veil came together in the soft light by the window. Those quiet portraits of a bride on her own are some of my favorites to make, right before the day picks up speed.

If you’d like to see how other couples’ mornings unfolded, my wedding portfolio has getting ready coverage from venues across New Jersey and New York.

An Emotional First Look by the Fountain

Ashanti and Christopher chose to see each other before the ceremony, in a courtyard at the Radisson Hotel Freehold with a three tier fountain and a wall of evergreens behind it. Christopher waited in a blue double breasted suit with a white boutonniere, hands in his pockets, already grinning before she reached him.

Then she was standing in front of him with a bouquet of blue hydrangea and white roses, and he lifted a hand to wipe his eyes. It’s a small gesture, and exactly the kind that makes a first look sequence feel personal.

A first look can give a couple a few quieter minutes together before the ceremony, away from most of their guests. For these two, those minutes looked like steady eye contact, small expressions passing between them, and Ashanti holding out her hand so they could both look down at it together.

If you’re still deciding whether to see each other before your own ceremony, I wrote about the pros and cons of a first look, including when I recommend one.

Portraits by the Fountain

The portraits that followed are simple: the two of them side by side in front of the fountain, her long tulle train spread across the stone, then turning toward each other. Ashanti’s lace sleeves and crystal hairpiece picked up the soft October light, and Christopher’s suit echoed the blue in her flowers.

A few frames later they were kissing in front of the water. I also made a more formal portrait of them indoors, standing together beneath crystal sconces and a tall silver mirror.

An Indoor Wedding Ceremony at Six Eighteen Restaurant

The ceremony began at 4:30 in the afternoon inside Six Eighteen Restaurant. The room did a lot of the work for this Six Eighteen Restaurant Freehold wedding: exposed brick, gold crystal chandeliers, and a sweeping floral arch of white and dark roses woven with string lights around soft blue drapery.

For couples considering a Six Eighteen Restaurant wedding, here is what this ceremony space gave us to work with:

• A brick wall that adds warmth and texture behind the couple
• Chandeliers and string lights that glow beautifully in wide shots
• Room for the wedding party to stand on both sides without crowding the arch

The officiant read from an open book while Ashanti and Christopher held hands, and they kept their eyes on each other through most of it. That kind of focus is a gift to a photographer, because it means the real expressions arrive without any help from me.

When it was over, they kissed in the aisle while guests on both sides applauded.

Celebrating With Family and Friends

Family was at the center of this real wedding at Six Eighteen, and you can feel it in the ceremony photos. Ashanti’s bridesmaids stood beside her in royal blue satin, and Christopher’s groomsmen were grinning through the vows.

When the couple turned and hugged after the vows, the room applauded with them, from the wedding party to the front rows. That’s the photograph I’d want on my wall, because it shows exactly who was there.

After the ceremony, the celebration continued at Six Eighteen with the people who mean the most to them. Couples who stay present with their guests, talking and making real eye contact, almost always end up with the reception photos that feel the most alive.

You can find more real weddings on the blog, from courthouse ceremonies to backyard and ballroom celebrations.

Six Eighteen Restaurant Wedding Questions

Where is Six Eighteen Restaurant in Freehold, NJ?

Six Eighteen Restaurant, which also goes by 618, is at 618 Park Avenue in Freehold, New Jersey. It is a full service restaurant that also hosts weddings and special events. Ashanti and Christopher held their indoor ceremony there, and the restaurant’s website covers its event spaces and booking.

Can you have your ceremony and reception at Six Eighteen Restaurant?

Yes. Ashanti and Christopher held both their ceremony and their reception at Six Eighteen Restaurant, which kept the day simple for their guests. Their indoor ceremony started at 4:30 p.m. in a room with exposed brick, crystal chandeliers and a floral arch, and the celebration continued at the restaurant afterward.

Where can couples do a first look before a Six Eighteen Restaurant wedding?

Ashanti and Christopher did theirs at the Radisson Hotel Freehold, where they also got ready that morning. The hotel courtyard has a three tier fountain, evergreens and stone walls, which gave them a private, green backdrop for their first look and portraits before heading to Six Eighteen for the ceremony.

Wedding Photography at Six Eighteen Restaurant in Freehold

Looking through Ashanti and Christopher’s gallery, I keep coming back to the same few frames: Christopher’s hands in his pockets before the reveal, his hand at his eyes a moment later, and a room full of family applauding. None of it was staged. It was two people who are comfortable with each other, surrounded by people who love them.

If you’re planning a Six Eighteen Restaurant wedding, or looking for a Freehold NJ wedding photographer for a celebration anywhere in the state, I’d love to hear about it. I’m based in Northern New Jersey and offer wedding photography in Freehold NJ, across New Jersey and in New York City. Tell me about your plans on my contact page and I’ll personally reach out.