Lisa & Justin’s Valleybrook Country Club Wedding

Lisa and Justin got married at Valleybrook Country Club in Blackwood, New Jersey, on September 19, 2026, and their plan for the day was pretty simple: relaxed, chill and FUN! My associate team had such a great time photographing their wedding!

They weren’t big on mood boards or trying to recreate every wedding idea they’d seen online. They wanted to spend the day with their people, get some great photos and make time for the things that mattered to them!

And they had a few specific things they were looking forward to. A first look before the ceremony. A photo with their cousins. A big group photo with their rollercoaster friends. And one reception moment that was especially important to Lisa: getting everyone together to sing “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. (Keep scrolling because this was SO much fun!)

These are the things I LOVE knowing about before a wedding! Of course we’re going to photograph your ceremony, family portraits and all of the big moments. But I also want to know about the people, songs and little traditions that mean something to you.

Because those are the things that make your wedding different from the hundreds of others happening that weekend!

A First Look at Valleybrook Country Club

Lisa and Justin decided to see each other before their 5 PM ceremony, and I love how much flexibility that gave their afternoon!

Their first look was scheduled for 3:15 PM, which meant they could spend some time together, take their couple portraits and get through the wedding party and immediate family photos before guests started arriving.

And here’s something I always tell my couples: a first look isn’t just about getting photos out of the way.

It’s about what you want the rest of your wedding day to feel like.

If you want to spend cocktail hour with your guests, grab a drink after your ceremony or simply have fewer things pulling you away from everyone, a first look can make a big difference! 

But that doesn’t mean you have to do one! Some couples really want that moment of seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony and I completely understand that, too.

But for Lisa and Justin, getting those photos done earlier meant they had more flexibility later in the evening. And when your entire goal is to have a relaxed, fun wedding, that matters! 

If you’re still deciding, you can read Why I Don’t Push My Couples Into a First Look.

Maroon Wedding Details and Fall Colors

Lisa and Justin chose maroon and wine tones for their September wedding, bringing some gorgeous fall colors into their wedding party and details! This was one of the first weddings of the year for us that really felt like Fall and we were HERE FOR IT! 

But what I loved most about their approach was that they weren’t trying to make every part of the wedding fit a particular theme! They knew what they liked, chose details they enjoyed and focused on having a great time with their friends and family.

And I think there’s something to be said for that!

You can spend MONTHS trying to decide whether your wedding colors match a particular aesthetic, whether your reception looks like something you saved on Pinterest or whether every little detail coordinates.

But when you look back at your wedding photos 20 years from now, I promise you’re going to care a whole lot more about the people standing beside you than whether your napkins were the perfect shade of burgundy.

Choose the things you love, have fun with the details and remember that the whole point is to get married!

Wedding Party and Family Photos Before the Ceremony

Lisa and Justin had six bridesmaids and five groomsmen, so we had a pretty good-sized wedding party to work with!

Because they chose a first look, we were able to plan their wedding party photos and immediate family portraits before the ceremony.

And this is one of those little timeline decisions that can make such a difference in how your day feels.

When you’re trying to fit every single family combination, wedding party grouping and couple portrait into the hour after your ceremony, that time disappears FAST.

Especially when you have a big family!

My approach is to keep formal family photos focused on immediate family: parents, siblings and grandparents. We organize those groupings ahead of time and my team takes charge of getting everyone where they need to be.

You don’t need to spend your wedding day calling out names, tracking down relatives or checking off a giant list of photo combinations.

For extended family and larger friend groups, I prefer finding time during cocktail hour or the reception. That way we can still get those important photos without turning your entire afternoon into one long portrait session.

If you’re trying to figure out how to fit family photos into your wedding day, I put together a wedding family photo guide that explains how I approach everything!

A September Wedding Ceremony at Valleybrook Country Club

Lisa and Justin’s ceremony was scheduled for 5 PM, with cocktail hour beginning around 5:30 PM.

One of my favorite things about their timeline was that we had already made room for the majority of their portraits earlier in the afternoon.

And that’s something I wish more couples thought about when they’re planning their wedding.

It’s SO easy to fill every available minute with something.

An extra portrait location. Another family photo. A few more wedding party pictures. One more thing you saw another couple do.

And before you know it, you’ve planned a wedding where you’re constantly being pulled from one thing to the next!

I want you to have beautiful wedding photos. That’s literally why you’re hiring us!

But I also want you to remember what it felt like to walk back down the aisle together, hug your grandparents, laugh with your wedding party and finally get to enjoy the day you’ve spent so long planning.

A good timeline makes room for BOTH.

And if you’re still trying to figure out how to make everything fit, my guide to planning a laid-back wedding day timeline is a great place to start!

Wedding Portraits by the Lake at Valleybrook Country Club

One of the portrait locations Lisa and Justin wanted to use was the lake at Valleybrook Country Club!

Their timeline included a golf cart ride down to the lake and about 10-15 minutes for couple portraits after the ceremony.

YES, only 10-15 minutes!

I know that probably sounds surprising if you’ve been looking at wedding timelines that have you spending an hour or more taking photos after your ceremony. (Ahhh, why?! I’d never lol) 

But I promise, most times all we need is a few minutes in a beautiful location, a little direction and the freedom for you two to enjoy being together.

And you don’t have to know how to pose!

My team will guide you through everything, help you feel comfortable and pay attention to the little things that make a difference in your photos.

You get to focus on each other.

I also love having a quick portrait window later in the day after the ceremony, because it gives you another opportunity to step away, wedding rings on and a second together to soak into the “We just got MARRIED!” Feeling! 

A few beautiful photos, a little time together and then back to your people!

The Cousins Photo and Their Rollercoaster Friend Group

Okay, THIS is one of my favorite details about Lisa and Justin’s wedding!

When we were talking about the photos they wanted, they specifically mentioned getting a picture with their cousins AND their rollercoaster friend group.

How fun is that?! I of course was so intrigued about how they met their rollercoaster friends and it’s actually how they MET! Like just two people who love the thrill of adventure, meeting in their facebook rollercoaster group and now their whole group gets to come together on their wedding day. 

I love that these were two of the things they were most excited about.

Because your wedding isn’t just about the people standing next to you during the ceremony!

It’s also about your cousins you’ve grown up with, the friends you’ve spent years making memories with and the people who know you outside of being a bride or groom.

Maybe you have a group of friends you’ve traveled with every summer since college. Maybe your cousins are basically your siblings. Or maybe, like Lisa and Justin, you have an entire friend group that loves riding rollercoasters together!

THOSE are the people my team want to know about.

We don’t need to spend an hour taking every possible combination of friends and relatives. But knowing which larger groups are especially important helps us find a few minutes to bring everyone together.

And then you can get right back to enjoying your wedding!

A Billy Joel “Piano Man” Singalong at the Reception!

Now, let’s talk about the moment Lisa was REALLY looking forward to!

She wanted everyone gathered together in a big circle, singing “Piano Man” by Billy Joel, because it’s a tradition that Justin’s family does every wedding! It was finally their turn! 

When you think about the wedding receptions you remember most, it’s usually the moments when everyone is having the BEST time together.

Your college friends screaming the lyrics to a song you’ve loved for years, your parents dancing with their friends and your entire wedding party finding each other on the dance floor.

And in Lisa’s case, getting everyone together for Billy Joel!

I always ask my couples if there’s anything happening during the reception that’s important to them because I want to know about the things that have meaning behind them! 

If your family has a tradition, your friends have a favorite song or you’re planning a surprise for someone, I want to make sure our team is ready for it! 

Planning Your Own Valleybrook Country Club Wedding?

What I loved most about Lisa and Justin’s wedding was how much their priorities reflected who they are.

They wanted a relaxed day, time together before the ceremony, great photos with their favorite people and a reception where everyone could have fun. They chose the things that mattered to them and made room for those moments.

And that’s something I want every couple planning a wedding to think about! You can have an incredible venue, beautiful flowers, amazing food and a dance floor packed with your favorite people.

But if your entire day is spent worrying about what happens next, tracking down relatives for photos or rushing from one thing to another, you’re going to miss so much of what you planned.

That’s why my team and I put so much thought into the experience BEFORE your wedding day.

We help build a timeline that makes sense, take charge of your photos and give you direction when you need it, so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time actually enjoying your wedding.

Because the goal is to have an incredible wedding day AND incredible photos to remember it by.

If you’re planning your wedding at Valleybrook Country Club or another South Jersey venue, I’d love for you to learn more about the KAP wedding experience.

And if you’re looking for a South Jersey wedding photographer who cares just as much about your experience as the photos you receive afterward, I’d love to hear what you’re planning! Click Here and let’s connect! 

Frequently Asked Questions About Valleybrook Country Club Weddings

Where is Valleybrook Country Club located?

Valleybrook Country Club is located in Blackwood, New Jersey, in Gloucester Township. It’s a South Jersey wedding venue with a golf course setting and a lake that can be incorporated into wedding portraits.

Is Valleybrook Country Club a good venue for wedding photos?

Yes! One of the things I love about photographing weddings at Valleybrook is having access to so many beautiful outdoor areas! You also can’t beat their adorable “just married” golf cart!

For Lisa and Justin’s wedding, the lake was one of the portrait locations they wanted to include. We planned a short portrait window and a golf cart ride to make time for those photos.

Should we do a first look at Valleybrook Country Club?

It depends on what you want your wedding day to feel like!

Lisa and Justin chose a first look before their ceremony, which gave us the opportunity to plan wedding party and immediate family photos earlier in the afternoon.

If spending more time with your guests after the ceremony is a big priority, a first look is definitely worth considering.

But if you’ve always wanted to see each other for the first time walking down the aisle, we can build your timeline around that, too!

How much time do we need for wedding portraits?

That depends on whether you’re doing a first look, how large your wedding party is and what locations you want to use.

For Lisa and Justin, we planned portraits before the ceremony and another short 15-minute window at the lake afterward.

You don’t necessarily need to spend hours taking photos to have a beautiful wedding gallery. It’s about planning those windows intentionally and making the most of the time we have!

How do we take family photos without missing our cocktail hour?

This is exactly why I like to organize immediate family portraits before the ceremony whenever the timeline allows!

My team handles the groupings and direction, so you don’t need to come prepared with a giant list of every family combination.

We focus on parents, siblings and grandparents during formal portraits, then make room for larger extended family groups and friends during cocktail hour or the reception.

If getting photos with lots of guests is important to you, we can also discuss table photos as a way to include more people without spending your entire reception posing for pictures.

Can we request photos with specific groups of friends?

Absolutely!

Lisa and Justin wanted photos with their cousins and their rollercoaster friend group, and I think those kinds of requests are SO much fun.

I always want to know if there’s a particular group of people you would be disappointed not to have a photo with.

We’ll figure out the best time to gather everyone so those photos happen without taking you away from the rest of your wedding for too long.

What if we have a special reception tradition we want photographed?

Tell me about it!

Whether it’s a particular song, a family tradition, a surprise or something you’ve been looking forward to for years, those are the details I want to know before your wedding.

For Lisa and Justin, that meant planning around the “Piano Man” singalong Lisa was so excited about.

We coordinate with your timeline and the other vendors involved so the moments that matter to you are part of our coverage.

When should we book our Valleybrook Country Club wedding photographer?

Once you’ve booked your venue and have your wedding date, it’s a great time to start reaching out to photographers!

Popular wedding dates can book well in advance, especially during the spring and fall wedding seasons in South Jersey.

And when you’re choosing your photographer, I’d encourage you to think beyond whether you love their photos.

You’re going to spend a LOT of time with your photographer on your wedding day! You want someone who can guide you, help keep things moving and make the entire experience feel easy.

Lisa & Justin’s Wedding Vendor Team

Venue: Valleybrook Country Club | @valleybrookweddings

DJ and Music: In The Mix Event Group | @inthemixeventgroup

Florist: Rosebud Floral Art | @rosebud_floralart

Cake: Stella Baking Company | @stellabaking

Videographer: Happy Tears Productions | @happytearsproductions

Hair and Makeup: Revelations Bridal NJ | @revelationsbridalnj

Click here to contact me and let’s start planning your Valleybrook Country Club Wedding!