Winter Catholic weddings present a specific challenge most couples don’t think about: Christmas decorations are either going to compete with your florals or complement them. At Emmanuel and Cynthia’s Westmount Country Club wedding, the red and white poinsettias at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church in Kenilworth became part of the story instead of fighting it. That’s what happens when couples trust their venue instead of trying to cover it up.

Getting Ready at The Watt Hotel

Cynthia got ready at The Watt Hotel in Rahway with her mother handling the last details- jewelry, veil, the button closures on her dress. The flower girl and ring bearer showed up between naps, which tells you everything about timing a wedding around small children. Everyone stays calm when the schedule has breathing room built in.

Emmanuel got ready at his family home in Bergenfield. Those monogrammed “RJT” cufflinks photograph better than most couples realize- they’re one of the few groom details that actually tells a story.

St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church Ceremony

St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church in Kenilworth was fully decorated for Christmas- red and white poinsettias, evergreen trees, wreaths, that mosaic crucifix as the centerpiece. Here’s what most couples don’t realize: when the church Christmas decorations already establish your color palette, your florals become part of the story instead of competing with it. Cynthia and Emmanuel’s white and green arrangements didn’t fight the reds and whites- they complemented them. The photos feel cohesive because the space was working with them.

Emmanuel and Cynthia requested minimal photographer movement during the ceremony, particularly near the altar. This is the right call for Catholic Mass. Constant movement breaks the sacred feel- couples feel it, guests notice it. Station yourself strategically and you’re anticipating moments, not chasing them. The processional, the ring exchange, the first kiss, the recessional- they happen from predictable positions every time.

The processional followed traditional Catholic order- parents first, then the two children (no bridesmaids or groomsmen for this couple), then Cynthia with her father. That moment when Emmanuel saw her coming down the aisle captured everything you need to know about why people still do traditional ceremonies.

The lazo ceremony- where family members drape a ceremonial cloth over the couple- creates a natural frame. Most couples don’t think about it photographically, but it’s one of the few moments during Mass where you get genuine interaction with family members at the altar. After the vows, they danced around the altar with their guests, which isn’t standard at every Catholic church. When the priest allows it, that joy is worth capturing.

Westmount Country Club Reception

Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park gives you natural light in the reception space. Those bay windows in the Grand Ballroom matter- winter light is soft and warm, creating dimension without harsh shadows. Combined with the crystal chandeliers, you get layers of light instead of flat overhead fluorescents. That’s why couples look like themselves in these photos, not washed out or artificially lit.

The outdoor gazebo works year-round, but at night with uplighting, the white columns and dome create natural frames. Blues, pinks, greens bouncing off the structure- it’s dramatic without being overdone.

The Reception

Emmanuel and Cynthia’s first dance used sparklers and a smoke machine. The smoke turns chandeliers into something more- it diffuses the light, creates that ethereal glow around them. You get atmosphere instead of just overhead lighting.

La hora loca is controlled chaos- a robot costume on stilts, CO2 blasts, strobing lights, guests everywhere. DJ El Bambino brought the full experience. You’ve got about forty-five seconds to capture the moment before the energy shifts. You’re not posing anything, you’re documenting it.

The hora puts the couple on chairs surrounded by family and friends. It’s one of those traditions where everyone knows what to do without being told. The energy builds itself.

Why Westmount Country Club Works

Westmount Country Club delivers consistently because the fundamentals are solid- natural light from bay windows, proper ceiling height, enough space that 220 guests don’t feel cramped. The outdoor gazebo works day or night. The staff understands timing. Those basics matter more than trendy decor.

Emmanuel and Cynthia combined traditional Catholic ceremony with modern reception entertainment- hora loca, smoke effects, the full celebration. The Christmas decorations became part of the story instead of something to work around. That’s what happens when you trust your venue instead of fighting it.

Westmount Country Club Wedding Photographer

I’ve been photographing New Jersey weddings long enough to know which venues make the day easier and which ones create headaches. Westmount Country Club consistently makes things work- the natural light, the space, the staff who understand timing. When the venue handles its part well, I can focus on yours.

If you’re planning a Westmount Country Club wedding, I’d be happy to talk through what you’re envisioning. I understand Catholic ceremony protocols, I know how to work with winter light, and I’ve documented enough high-energy receptions to know when to step in and when to let moments happen. Reach out at alexkaplanweddings.com and we’ll figure out if it’s a good fit.

Emmanuel and Cynthia, thanks for trusting me with your day.