When Julia and Robert chose a winter wedding, they knew exactly what they were doing. Their St. Catharine Church wedding ceremony in Glen Rock, followed by a reception at The Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, gave everyone a beautiful celebration on a crisp December evening. I’ve been photographing Northern New Jersey weddings for over 30 years, and this one had all the right energy from start to finish.

Getting Ready in Glen Rock and Morristown

Julia got ready at her family’s home in Glen Rock with her bridesmaids in red dresses- clean, classic, and perfect for a winter celebration. ProStyled Bride handled hair, Gina Ritacco’s team did makeup, and by the time I arrived, everyone was ready to go. Julia wore an Anthropologie Bridal gown with an off-the-shoulder design that caught the upstairs bedroom light perfectly.

Robert and his groomsmen got ready at The Westin Governor Morris- the same place where the reception would happen later. Black tuxedos, relaxed vibe, and a party bus waiting to take them to the church. I caught some candid moments before they left, then met them at St. Catharine Church.

Ceremony at St. Catharine Church in Glen Rock

St. Catharine Church is Julia’s home parish. It’s one of those churches that just works for photography- tall windows along the sides, vaulted ceilings, and enough space to move without being intrusive. The ceremony had Christmas poinsettias and wreaths still up, which added some warmth to the stone and wood. Sweet Harmony Music played during the ceremony, and the whole thing felt personal and intentional.

When Julia came down the aisle, Robert’s face said everything. No posing, no prompting. Just a real reaction in a quiet second, and those are always the frames that matter most later.

The ceremony had all the traditional Catholic rituals. The church’s vaulted ceilings and altar gave us clean backdrops for the formal moments.

After they were pronounced husband and wife, the energy shifted. The recessional was all smiles, and you could feel the excitement from the 220 guests.

Family Portraits at St. Catharine Church

After a quick receiving line, we moved into family portraits. Julia’s sister Tess and Robert’s brother James helped wrangle everyone, which always makes things go faster. We knocked out parents, siblings, grandparents, and the full wedding party in about 45 minutes. The church’s holiday decorations and stone architecture gave us some nice variety without having to move locations.

Reception at The Westin Governor Morris in Morristown

The Westin Governor Morris is about 35 minutes from St. Catharine Church, which gave everyone time to regroup before the reception. Julia and Robert picked this venue for the ballroom layout, the dance floor size, and the overall feel- elegant but not stuffy, and it photographs well in both window light and mixed venue lighting.

Before cocktail hour started, we grabbed a few couple portraits around the hotel. The lobby has a statement chandelier and some clean architectural lines that work well for formal shots.

This elevator moment wasn’t planned. Julia and Robert snuck away for a second, and I followed. These in-between moments are why I shoot the way I do- you can’t script them, but they’re usually the ones couples remember.

The Reception

East Coast Band kept the dance floor packed all night. iPic Photo Booth was set up during cocktail hour, and Olivia’s Floral Design handled all the arrangements- red accents with the black and white theme worked perfectly for a winter wedding.

Their first dance was straightforward and genuine- no choreography, just two people enjoying the moment. The ballroom’s dance floor was one of the main reasons they chose this venue, and it got put to good use all night.

The energy stayed high. Later in the evening, Julia changed into her second Anthropologie Bridal dress and the party kept going without a pause.

The celebration ended with confetti, champagne, and a room full of people celebrating them- exactly what a wedding night should be.

Why This Venue Pairing Works

If you’re planning a Northern New Jersey wedding, St. Catharine Church in Glen Rock and The Westin Governor Morris in Morristown make sense together. The church gives you a traditional ceremony space with real architectural character, and the hotel gives you flexibility for a reception of any size- Julia and Robert had 220 guests and the space handled it comfortably.

The 35-minute drive works fine, both locations have parking that actually works, and the church’s intimate feel contrasts well with the hotel’s more open ballroom. As a wedding photographer who’s worked throughout Northern New Jersey, the NYC metro area, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, I can tell you The Westin Governor Morris is one of the venues that just works- the staff knows their job, the lighting cooperates, and everything flows.

Vendor Team

Julia and Robert worked with a solid vendor team. ProStyled Bride handled hair, Gina Ritacco’s team did makeup, Sweet Harmony Music played during the ceremony, East Coast Band kept the reception moving, and Olivia’s Floral Design handled all the flowers. BBZ Limo coordinated transportation, and iPic Photo Booth gave guests something to do during cocktail hour. Everyone showed up on time and did their job well.

Final Thoughts

Julia and Robert’s winter wedding at St. Catharine Church and The Westin Governor Morris had everything you’d want- a meaningful ceremony, efficient timeline, great energy, and real moments throughout. From the church in Glen Rock to the celebration in Morristown, it felt like them.

If you’re planning a wedding at St. Catharine Church, The Westin Governor Morris, or anywhere in Northern New Jersey, I’d be happy to talk. I offer photography, video, and content creation-documentary-style coverage that focuses on real moments without getting in the way. After 30 years, that’s what I’m good at.

Congratulations, Julia and Robert.

Venue: The Westin Governor Morris, Morristown, NJ | @thewestingovernormorris
Ceremony: St. Catharine Church, Glen Rock, NJ
Photography: Alex Kaplan Photography
Hair: ProStyled Bride | @prostyled.bride
Makeup: Gina Ritacco Makeup | @ginaritaccomakeupteam
Ceremony Music: Sweet Harmony Music | @sweetharmonylivemusic
Reception Music: East Coast Band | @eastcoastband
Florist: Olivia’s Floral Design | @oliviafloraldesigns
Photo Booth: iPic Photo Booth | @ipicphotoboothnj
Transportation: BBZ Limo | @bbzlimo
Bridal Gowns: Anthropologie Bridal