Shongum Lake Minimony | Allison + Chris

Shongum Lake | Randolph, New Jersey

Chris and Allison had planned for their wedding day to be a grand celebration, surrounded by their closest family and friends. But like so many couples, their plans were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.  They had already sent out invitations, but as the pandemic worsened, they realized they would have to make some difficult decisions.

They didn’t want to postpone their wedding indefinitely, but they also didn’t want to put their loved ones at risk. So together, they decided to have a minimony — a small, impromptu backyard wedding on their original date, with just their parents as other family members and close friends joined via Zoom.

Their Wedding Day

The day turned out to be beautiful for their minimony celebration! You wouldn’t have known that just a few days prior, a wild thunderstorm rolled through town that Allison and Chris got stuck in as they went to pick up their marriage license from the town hall. Allison, Chris, and their parents gathered in Chris’s mom’s backyard near Shongum Lake for a sweet, heartfelt ceremony on this sunny springtime afternoon.

After the ceremony, we drove to the lake for some newlywed portraits!  Being by the water and taking in the beautiful surroundings was so serene. The combination of the lake, the shoreline, and even some little kayaks and canoes hanging in storage made the perfect backdrop for bride and groom portraits.

While Chris and Allison’s wedding was not the traditional celebration they had initially planned, it was no less memorable. While they eagerly await a larger celebration with their family and friends once it’s safe to do so, the memory of their intimate backyard wedding will forever hold a special place in their hearts. Their backyard ceremony is a reminder of their love’s resilience, offering hope and inspiration for the beautiful years of marriage that lie ahead.