Their Beginning:

It was freshman year of college. Tanya was working at the campus store when she laid eyes on her future–Abby. Abby quickly rejected Tanya’s attempt to help her find her books because she didn’t like getting help while in stores. As fate would have it, they saw each other again at the school’s LGBTQ+ Club and within 9 days, their love story officially began! Tanya probably would have married Abby within the first few months and that was solidified when she saw Abby’s plushy collection. It confirmed that they are both big little kids. Like Any big little kid, Disney is a big part of their lives. Abby knew Tanya was the one for her when they went on their first Disney trip together; instead of wanting to shelter from the rain, Tanya was excited to embrace the sparsely populated park. What big kid doesn’t want to play in the rain?

Being lovers of nature, bright colors, and all living creatures, they gave themselves the nicknames of Ducky and Flamingo. Since New York’s Old Westbury Gardens was one of their favorite places to frequent, that’s exactly where they went for their 13th anniversary. They were sitting on the grande lawn, under the canvas of a soft blue sky, when Abby, a talented artist,  handed Tanya her phone with an animated drawing that she drew. The drawing was of a duck proposing to a flamingo. Tanya was brought to happy, uncontrollable tears. It was the easiest yes she had aver given in her life!

Their Wedding:

While planning for their wedding, they knew they wanted their theme to stay close to nature, be full of bright colors, and living creatures! They chose to have a tropical garden wedding with details of ducks and flamingoes. When they saw The Conservatory at The Madison Hotel Morristown, in New Jersey, they immediately fell in love. It looked as if the outside was brought inside. They felt as if they had just stepped into a life-sized birdcage full of sunlight and greenery. The light was just right! The views of the cotton candy skies, the sunshine kissing their cheeks, the colors of flowers popping about was exactly what they envisioned for their tropical garden wedding. Before signing any papers, they asked, “can my dog, Kipper, be part of our wedding?” Once they heard that approval, they were sold! Abby was even allowed to bring her pet beetles! Tanya and Abby felt as if they were lucky because, not only, did they get perfect weather on their wedding day, but their ceremony also took place during sunset which allowed a beautiful glow to blanket the space.

Their wedding day was quite the unique one! Most people opt to follow the rules of not seeing each other before ceremony–or more modern times–before the first look. Tanya and Abby decided to throw that out the window! When I arrived to their venue, they were hanging out in the same room! I may have walked in with complete shock on my face with some confusion peppered in. Before I could say hi, Abby says “oh! I’ll go to my getting ready space now”. It took me a moment but I quickly assured them that they could keep hanging out. It made me happy to see them share their wedding morning together! Since they were already enjoying each other’s presence, I asked them how they would feel if they helped each other  get ready. They LOVED the idea and oh my, my, am I happy they did. It made for such meaningful, rarely seen photographs!

Tanya and Abby wanted to fully embrace the garden theme so on their wedding day, they headed to The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, in Morristown, New Jersey for their bride and bride portrait session. Tanya and Abby were in heaven at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum where they were able to behold an expansive 124 acres of formal gardens, woodlands, meadows, walking trails, and a historic mansion. They stopped to touch the soft petals of the flowers and say hello to any insects that would listen to them. Not only were they able to enjoy the gardens on their wedding day but they now have the luxury to experience The Frelinghuysen Arboretum every time they look at their wedding photos for the rest of their lives!

What they wish more people knew about the LGBTQ+ community:

“The LGBTQ+ community is extremely diverse. Our identities and experiences are not only shaped by gender and sexuality, but also by race, class, and ability. But what we all want and deserve is the right to exist fully as ourselves, free from discrimination and persecution. It’s why pride is so important.”

What they said about working with Jane D. Martinez Photography:

“I recently had the pleasure of working with Jane for my wedding, and I cannot express how thrilled my wife and I are with the photos. My wife had a very specific vision that was executed with finesse, grace, creativity, and sheer talent. Meanwhile, I just wanted my animals photographed…. (WHICH HAPPENED ALSO) Amazing, breathtaking photos aside, Jane is just super cool to work with. She gave clear instruction to the instructionless and directionless (Me) and she did it all while making us laugh. Would 100% work with Jane again! (not another wedding though)”

Why choose The Madison Hotel Morristown:

Not just a venue but also a hotel. You or your guests don’t need to do any traveling to get to your wedding or after a long day of celebrating! Stay right on the grounds! The Madison Hotel has spaces to host you for getting ready, portraits, ceremony, cocktail, and reception. Depending on your guest count and your preference, you can have a light and airy feel for the entire day with your ceremony in The Conservatory, cocktail hour in the gardens outside The Conservatory, and back into The Conservatory for your reception. If you want a moodier vibe, you have the option to have your ceremony in The Conservatory, cocktail hour in their Victorian Suite and Coach Room and Reception in their Glynallynn Ballroom.

Wedding Featured In:

New Jersey Bride Magazine 

Vendors:

Venue: The Madison Hotel, Morristown

Portrait Location: Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Planner: Jerry Arduino, Beardsly Events

Photographer: Jane D. Martinez Photography

Videographer: Sunday Born Films

Florist: Kim Auriemma Designs 

Hair + Make-Up: Weejae Joung

Entertainment: GBE_Events

 

A moment for the bloopers that never get seen:

Ready to talk about your wedding? Let’s chat!