Yra and Fabion’s Rock Island Lake Club wedding in Sparta, New Jersey, balanced an elegant celebration with plenty of genuine emotion and a reception that was just plain fun. From a playful first look and traditional Catholic ceremony to glow sticks and inflatable sumo suits on the dance floor, there was a lot to photograph throughout this day.
I met them for the first time on the wedding day an my focus was on documenting the full range of the celebration—from the quieter moments early in the day to the traditions of the ceremony and the completely different energy that took over once the reception started.
Getting Ready and a Playful First Look
The beginning of the day felt relaxed as everyone got ready. Yra wore a white gown with dimensional floral lace, a full skirt, and a long lace-edged veil. Her bridesmaids wore satin dresses in varying shades of green, from soft sage to deep emerald.
Fabion went with a deep emerald-green three-piece suit, paired with a light tie and pocket square. His groomsmen wore light tan suits with green ties and pocket squares, tying the entire wedding party together without everyone matching exactly.
Before the ceremony, Yra and Fabion shared a first look that showed off the more playful side of the day. Fabion was blindfolded as Yra approached him, and she was already laughing before the reveal.
Those are the kinds of moments I’m always watching for—the portraits matter, but so do the expressions and reactions that happen in between them.
Catholic Wedding Ceremony at Our Lady of the Lake
The ceremony took place at Our Lady of the Lake in Sparta and brought a more traditional and meaningful feel to the day.
Family members were involved in the ceremony, including what appeared to be a rosary or lasso-style ritual. Rather than interrupting those moments, my approach was to document what was happening naturally—the traditions themselves as well as Yra, Fabion, and their families reacting to them.
After the laughter of the first look and the quieter moments earlier in the day, the ceremony added another side to the story of their wedding.
An Elegant Reception at Rock Island Lake Club
After the ceremony, the celebration continued at Rock Island Lake Club. The reception design centered around white and ivory florals, greenery, lanterns, candlelight, natural wood details, and warm amber lighting.
The rich greens used throughout the wedding party carried naturally into the reception space. Together, the greenery, white florals, and warm lighting gave this Rock Island Lake Club wedding an elegant look without making the room feel overly formal.
One of the standout details was the wedding cake. The large white tiered cake featured dimensional floral details, pearl-like embellishments, and tiny animal figures tucked into the design. It was polished at first glance but had a little personality hidden in the details.
Emotional Speeches Before the Party Took Over
The reception brought plenty of emotional moments, too. During the speeches, there were candid reactions and tears, including a sweet moment when Yra had her tears wiped away.
Then the mood changed completely.
Glow sticks came out, the dance floor filled up, and guests even climbed into inflatable sumo suits. After such an elegant start to the day and a traditional ceremony, seeing everyone fully embrace the fun of the reception made for some of my favorite candid photographs.
It’s exactly why I enjoy documenting the entire wedding day. The polished portraits and important traditions tell one part of the story, but the laughter, unexpected moments, and reactions on the dance floor tell another.
Photographing Yra and Fabion’s Rock Island Lake Club wedding gave me the opportunity to capture both. If you’re planning a wedding in New Jersey and want photography that documents the portraits and details along with the candid moments happening around you, I’d love to hear about your plans and photograph the story of your day.
Creative Team
Ceremony: Our Lady of the Lake — Sparta, New Jersey
Reception: Rock Island Lake Club — Sparta, New Jersey
