Pendry Natirar Wedding | Sweet Alice Photography

Sarah and John met years before they ever started dating, during training at their job, and stayed close friends long before anything romantic came into the picture. They finally started dating in the fall of 2020, and got married on a gorgeous October day at Natirar in Peapack, New Jersey.

The Couple

Sarah is from North Carolina and John grew up in New Jersey, and after years of friendship and a few years of dating, got to settle into a wonderful routine in Tribeca, NYC. What struck me most about them, both at their engagement session and again on their wedding day, is how naturally kind they are with each other. Sarah talks about how steady and constant John is, and John describes Sarah as kind, selfless, and mature, a genuine ray of sunshine in his words. He mentioned that from the moment they started dating, he already considered her his partner. They're homebodies at heart, happiest with a cup of coffee, a quiet evening in, or a long walk together, and that ease between them was written all over their wedding day.

We actually had the chance to photograph their engagement session in Tribeca before the wedding, and it remains one of my favorite sessions to date. Getting to see them in the neighborhood they called home, walking familiar streets together, gave me a wonderful head start on understanding who they are as a couple long before their wedding day arrived.

The Venue

Natirar is such an incredible venue. The mansion has this romantic, almost gothic quality to it, all moody colors, dark wood, and old world detail, that pairs beautifully with golden October light. It's the kind of place that photographs well no matter where you point the camera, and I'm looking forward to being back there again in the future.

The Details

Sarah's gown was a true showstopper - a ballgown with a sculptural, folded bodice that felt architectural without losing any softness. It was unlike anything I’ve seen, striking in person and even more striking in photos. The wedding party wore navy blue and black, paired with bright, saturated florals throughout, except for Sarah, who carried a bouquet of soft white blooms that stood out beautifully.

The Reception

Their wedding party was an absolute joy to be around all day - warm, easygoing, and clearly there for the right reasons. Sarah and John were glowing the entire evening, the kind of happy that's hard to fake and even harder to look away from. Between the mansion's romantic backdrop and a couple this at ease with each other, the whole night had a warmth to it that carried through every photo.

Sarah and John's wedding was one of those days that felt like it had been years in the making, because in a way, it had been. Getting to photograph two people who've known and cared for each other for so long, now starting this next chapter together, was pure joy.