In the midst of the busy summer wedding season of 2021, Alex and Brandon came my way through a referral by their wedding planner, Sonja DeGoria.  From all the way in Boston and with Sonja’s help, they were planning their outdoor wedding at Updike Farmstead in Princeton, New Jersey and they were in need of wedding officiant services on just five weeks’ notice!  Originally Alex’s sister was going to officiate for them, but she had to bow out because her pregnancy prevented her from traveling.  Fortunately, I was still available on their date.

Writing a highly personalized wedding ceremony on a five-week timeline is a tall order, and much, MUCH shorter than my ideal schedule.  Normally I ask my couples to send me detailed questionnaire responses twelve weeks before their wedding, and I deliver a first draft ten weeks before their big day.  So when Alex and Brandon booked me, we jumped straight into it, and planned for extra Zoom meetings so that we could tackle revisions quickly and trim email lag times.

The ease and affection between Alex and Brandon were apparent even through the video link during our first chat.  They met through a mutual love of volleyball, and they told me they absolutely planned on having a volleyball net set up on Updike Farmstead’s grassy field.  I asked them about wedding ceremonies they had previously attended, and what stood out to them.  Alex surprised me by recounting a clear gaffe during a wedding ceremony that in her mind “made the day.”  From this comment and her questionnaire responses, I understood a bit of her off-beat sense of humor, and that (in her own words) she “doesn’t mind a bit of chaos.”  She seemed to be looking for a way to shake things up a bit.  This certainly presented an interesting creative challenge when it came to writing their ceremony.  How could I capture this sense of the unexpected, this delight in the unusual without having things go off the rails in the middle of their ceremony?

I put on my thinking cap and came up with a few ideas, then pitched them to Alex and Brandon when we met again by Zoom.  One idea was just too far into the chaotic, and I was genuinely pleased when they didn’t hesitate to turn it down. When offering suggestions to couples, my goal is always to present them with options and follow where they lead.  Happily, they seized immediately on my second idea, and I got to work writing it into their ceremony. 

The venue: Updike Farmstead

Once I arrived at Updike Farmstead on the wedding day, I understood why Alex and Brandon had chosen it.  I really need to point out how beautiful this space is.  A late 18th century farm managed by the Historical Society of Princeton, Updike Farmstead is an amazing choice for a summer wedding.  The gently distressed barns and outbuildings, along with the wide-open spaces feel serene and removed from the hubbub of the world.  All is very green and quiet.  There’s a towering iconic windmill, a garden, the barn with massive slide doors and lovely natural light - all just begging to be used in your photographs. There’s also an expansive reception space and plenty of room outside to set up tents – and yes, a volleyball net.  Alex and Brandon also had lawn games and other outdoor activities prepared for their evening reception.  It was a sunny day with perfect blue skies, just right for a wedding. I love it when couples hit the jackpot with the weather for their big day!

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Little details

After completing all my pre-ceremony tasks, I had a little time to simply wander around Updike Farmstead and appreciate the gracenotes of the reception area. Some small detail invariably catches my eye at a wedding. This time, it was the beautiful dappled light falling on the wedding cake by Nutmeg Cake Design. I love the striking oil-paint look of the roses. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this sort of technique on a cake before. Doesn’t it look amazing?

Surprise!

So back to the wedding ceremony! What was it that we planned to give an extra bit of fun to Alex and Brandon’s celebration? 

Well, a lot of couples choose to have their guests blow bubbles or toss confetti over them as they recess down the aisle at the end of their wedding ceremony.  But Alex and Brandon chose to be serenaded by rude noisemakers!  I had suggested the old-fashioned rachet spinner toys for a bit of noisy fun.  But Alex immediately upgraded that idea to “fart whistles” which actually produce sounds closer to a Bronx cheer or a wet raspberry. Towards the end of their ceremony, I let the guests know that these whistles were taped underneath their chairs, and that they should reach underneath their seats to retrieve them.  I think everyone enjoys the idea that a surprise has been planned just for them. These smiles tell me that Alex and Brandon knew their guests, and that they’d be game to participate in some joyful noise. And rest assured, at no time did the words “fart whistle” pass my lips on the wedding day!

Taping the noisemakers under the chairs required some extra coordination and work from their planner, Sonja DeGoria. Being a seasoned pro, she didn’t bat an eye nor miss a beat.  (Working with a professional wedding planner is so worth it for couples!)  There was definitely a sense of fun all around as the guests discovered their hidden toys.

Although there was an extra buzz among everyone in attendance in the final moments of the ceremony, they politely waited for the pronouncement and first kiss before blowing their whistles.  Alex’s glee as she walked down the aisle accompanied by toots - and just a touch of chaos - was the perfect ending to the wedding ceremony, and perfectly set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Appreciation

A few days after the wedding, Alex’s mother reached out to me with an incredibly kind email:

Thank you so much for all you did to ensure Alex and Brandon had a memorable wedding!  The Ceremony was so beautiful.  I feel you really took the time to get to know this amazing couple and shared their story in such a heartfelt manner.  I know our guests were touched by the words and the love between Alex and Brandon.

I was thrilled that Alex and Brandon’s wedding at Updike Farmstead was able to come together so quickly. It was especially satisfying to add a twist to their ceremony that reflected their senses of humor and made such an impression on their guests. 

 Wedding Vendors

Officiant: Katherine Hunter Celebrant

Wedding Planner: Sonja DeGoria of Sonja DeGoria Events

Venue: Updike Farmstead

DJ: Silver Arrow Band

Florals: Viburnum Designs

Stationery: Wide Eyes Paper Co.

Cake artist: Nutmeg Cake Design

Attire: Reem Acra

Hair & Makeup: The Bridal Artistry Co.

Catering: Harvest Catering & Events

Rentals: Daylily Group

Updike Farmstead Weddings at a Glance

Information current as of May, 2022

Location - Princeton, New Jersey

Address - 354 Quaker Road, Princeton, NJ 08540

Phone - (609) 921-6748 ext. 105

Email - events@princetonhistory.org

Website - https://princetonhistory.org/rentals/weddings/

Capacity - 200 (indoors 150)

Starting facility fee for weddings - $8000

Exclusive caterers - Harvest Catering & Event, Emily’s Café & Catering

Exclusive rentals - Adams Rental, Party Rental Ltd.

Events - Rehearsal, ceremony, reception, cocktail hour, seated lunch or dinner

Amenities available - Ample parking, AV/sound equipment, accessible for guests with disabilities, day-of coordination by caterer, security

If you’re looking for a wedding venue closer to the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, you might want to consider these amazing New Hope, PA wedding venues. I can’t think of any other place with a higher concentration of stunningly beautiful venues!

Do you want a wedding day that breaks the mold and reflects something special about the two of you? Whether you’re planning an elopement or a grand gathering, I’d love to find out if my wedding officiant services are a good match for your special day!