Rustic Fall Wedding At Waterloo Village | Sam + Mike

Sam & Mike’s Rustic Fall Wedding at Waterloo Village, NJ

If you’re dreaming of a fall wedding that feels romantic, warm, and wrapped in history, Waterloo Village in Stanhope, NJ deserves a look. Nestled inside Allamuchy Mountain State Park, this venue offers a rare mix of rustic character, authentic 19th-century architecture, canal-town charm, and lakeside serenity — all on walkable grounds. With indoor and outdoor options, beautiful natural backdrops, and a layout designed for seamless flow, it’s the kind of place where you can get ready, say your vows, enjoy cocktail hour, and celebrate into the night — without ever needing to leave the property.
Learn more about their spaces and offerings here: Waterloo Village Weddings & Events

Waterloo Village in Stanhope, New Jersey. Beautiful moment between Sam & Mike.

From Cheesecake Factory Co-Workers to Wedding Day

For Sam & Mike, this wasn’t just another wedding — this day had been talked about long before the proposal ever happened.

We all worked together at The Cheesecake Factory in Hackensack, NJ, and I still remember Mike telling me:

“When it’s time… you’re our photographer.”

He said this before they were even engaged and hearing that level of trust that early in my photography career was huge. By the time the wedding finally arrived, it already felt like documenting family.

Engagement Session at Skylands Manor & New Jersey Botanical Gardens

Before the wedding day arrived, we met up for their engagement session at Skylands Manor / New Jersey Botanical Garden. It was the perfect chance to ease into the experience, explore beautiful locations, and just spend time capturing who they are together without the pressure of a wedding timeline. By the time October came around, we already had a rhythm — and walking into their Waterloo Village wedding felt like continuing a story we had already started.

If you plan to shoot there, here’s something important:

📍 You absolutely need a photography permit — and they DO check. Because we got called out and luckily the worker was nice to let us slide this time but made sure to tell us we NEED a permit for next time.
Permit info & application:
https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/docs/ringwood-paidphotography.pdf

More about the gardens:
https://www.njbg.org/

Mike snapping a polaroid of his future bride at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens during their engagement session.

A Quiet Fall Wedding Day

Sam & Mike’s October wedding at Waterloo Village didn’t feel rushed, staged, or chaotic — it felt like the kind of day you actually get to live.

Crisp air.
Warm sunset light.
Everything right on property.
No one sprinting between locations or stressing over logistics.

Exactly how a wedding should feel.

Getting Ready - Slow, Easy, and Real

We started the morning in separate getting-ready spaces. My second photographer and I were in full creative mode with flat-lay details and shortly after she took off to hang with Sam and her bridesmaids while I walked a few steps over to Mike and the groomsmen. No vans. No traffic. No rushing. Just the ease of Waterloo Village doing what it does best: keeping everyone close and comfortable.

First Look on the Wooden Bridge

And then came my favorite part:
Their first look on the historic wooden bridge inside the village — the two of them, tucked away from everything, sharing private vows that were just for them. Ten minutes of peace before the world rejoined the moment.

Afterward, we explored the grounds for portraits (and yes, the alpacas absolutely made a cameo). We knocked out family formals, couple portraits, and scenic shots without ever feeling like we were working against the clock.

Sam & Mike embracing each other for their first look at the bridge in the historic village area.

A Personal and Meaningful Indoor Ceremony

As the temperature dropped and the evening set in, everyone headed indoors for the ceremony. Waterloo Village has a great indoor space that feels intimate without being cramped — warm light, wood textures, and a setting that already feels naturally emotional without needing a ton of décor.

Sam and Mike chose a close friend to officiate, someone who had known them since the early Cheesecake Factory days. It made the ceremony feel real and familiar, not stiff or formal. You could feel that the people in the room actually knew the couple and were invested in their story, and that made the entire experience land in a genuine way.

Mike smiling at his future bride as they’re about to say their ‘I Do’s’.

Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour at Waterloo Village was an instant win. Guests walked in and immediately had options and not just typical appetizers, but legit stations that people were hovering around all night.

JAM Catering rolled out a paella station, a pasta setup, charcuterie, and grab-and-go signature cocktails that disappeared fast. It had that perfect mix of good food, good energy, and people actually hanging out instead of wondering when dinner was coming. It created this easy flow to the hour; guests lingered, chatted, and actually enjoyed the moment instead of rushing through it.

JAM Catering:
https://jamcater.com/our-secret-mission

It set the tone for the reception in the best way: people were fed, relaxed, and hyped up to keep the night going.

Reception Vibes and

Inside the reception space, the room had that classic cozy fall atmosphere — warm lighting, rustic details, and a setup that felt elevated without trying too hard. After introductions and first dances, the speeches rolled right into the open dance floor, and from that point on the night didn’t really slow down.

Starshield Entertainment kept the floor packed all night, reading the crowd and keeping the transitions tight.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starshieldent?igsh=MWxqaWgxMG9maXMxdA==

Sam looked incredible in her gown from Vera’s Bridal, paired with clean and natural glam by @dreia.esthetics that photographed perfectly all day.
Vera’s Bridal: https://www.instagram.com/verasbridal_/
Dreia Esthetics (hair & MU) : https://www.instagram.com/dreia.estheticss?igsh=dXlpM2JldzZoaW14

Mike kept it sharp and classic in a Men’s Wearhouse tux, tying together a look that fit the venue and the day without distraction.

And because this wedding had personality from every angle, guests also enjoyed Metro Photobus — a retro-style photo booth setup that gave people a fun break from the dance floor and delivered those candid, goofy photos everyone ends up sharing later.
https://www.metrophotobus.com/
It added another layer of interaction and gave guests something to do in between drinks, dancing, and dessert.

By the end of the night, it was exactly the kind of reception every couple hopes for: people on the dance floor, people laughing, great music, great food, and zero stress — just a wedding that felt real and lived-in from start to finish.

Waterloo Village really brings everything together in a way couples immediately feel. You get a historic property with character, animals roaming nearby (yes, the alpacas make an appearance), a cocktail hour the guests won’t stop talking about, and a layout that keeps the whole day flowing without stress. It’s the kind of venue that feels welcoming from the moment you step on the grounds — comfortable, warm, and thoughtfully designed so you can focus on celebrating instead of managing the day.

If you’re looking for a wedding location that’s beautiful, easy to navigate, and genuinely enjoyable for you and your guests, Waterloo Village checks all the boxes.