Wedding at The Tides Estate in North Haledon, New Jersey

I got to know Bianca and Michael through Julia and Auroni — Bianca is Auroni’s sister. It seemed like such a long time before their wedding date would finally arrive. But when the day came, it was *so* worth it. In the months and weeks leading up to their The Tides Estate wedding, we had plenty of zoom calls, a Hampton Beach engagement session, and more. Come Memorial Day Weekend 2022, it was finally time for their ceremony and reception at The Tides Estate.

GETTING READY ON SITE

It’s super convenient that everything is able to be done on site at The Tides Estate. There are several spacious rooms and suites that are large enough to use for getting ready. For Bianca and Michael, there were a few instances during their wedding day in which they had to utilize this space for hair, makeup, & outfits. Once before the Jewish ceremony in the morning, once in the afternoon before the Indian ceremony, and once in the evening before the reception.

I’m almost positive after putting his shoes on for the photo, Michael instantly changed into a different, more comfortable pair. I highly recommend it.

The Tides Estate has a gorgeous staircase balcony that’s perfect for showcasing your gown. This was a must-have shot for Bianca.

Moments before the first look.

WHERE TO TAKE PHOTOS AT THE TIDES ESTATE

The space used for getting ready can double as a pretty good portrait-taking location, as you can see above. The venue is pretty huge, and every space is beautifully designed. Any room in The Tides Estate is honestly perfect for photo-taking. There is also a great little garden area outside just beyond the back patio. You’ll be able to see it in the first look photos below.

FIRST LOOK PHOTOS

Something I always do before a wedding: scope out the venue/grounds. I visited The Tides Estate about 2 weeks before Bianca and Michael’s wedding, so I could get an idea of where the first look should be. I knew if the weather was nice I wanted to utilize the garden area, which features a super cute fountain and lots of greenery.

We only had about 15 minutes outside — there was a BIG storm rolling in. It ended up being a perfect first look out in the gardens, and we beat the rain just in time.

Bianca walking to the first look.

Bianca’s veil had the most gorgeous lace detailing, I was obsessed.

Bianca’s bouquet was designed by Anjella of Florista Decor.

Bianca with her bridesmaids, right before the rain started.

We moved indoors for all the family photos, since it was literally downpouring. It’s lucky that the main lobby of The Tides Estate is gorgeous, though. Perfect for any photos!

THE JEWISH CEREMONY

After the first look and family photos, it was time for the first of two ceremonies. Michael’s family is Jewish, so the first ceremony of the day was the Jewish ceremony. Bianca and Michael exchanged their own vows, a friend of Michael’s did a reading, and then it was time for the glass breaking. The breaking of the glass during a Jewish ceremony symbolizes a few different things. Some view it as a reminder of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, others say the glass reminds us of the fragility of relationships. It can also mean that the couple is breaking their past lives in order to create a new one together.

GETTING READY, PART II

With the Jewish ceremony complete, Bianca and Michael had to get ready for a second time. Changing into traditional Indian ceremony attire takes a while, so their guests ate lunch in the meantime.

INDIAN CEREMONY AT THE TIDES ESTATE

There are several different traditions that take place during an Indian wedding ceremony. Up first. is the Baraat, which consists of the groom riding horseback and all the wedding guests dancing around him. It is so fun, and always has amazing moments for us to photograph. After the Baraat, each member of the wedding party took their turn to walk down the aisle leading to the Mandap. The Mandap is the structural altar where the wedding takes place, signifying a fruitful married life.

Traditionally, the groom waits at the entrance of the Mandap for the bride. For Bianca and Michael’s wedding, Bianca was carried to the altar by her brother and other men in her family, her face covered by leaves. Once at the Mandap, a canopy of sorts is placed over the bride and groom, where the they see each other and exchange garlands.

Oh, and before entering the Mandap, the groom must remove his shoes. This ties into the “everyone steal the groom’s shoes!” tradition. Whoever takes them gets to give them back in exchange for some cash.

The sacred fire ritual, known as havan or homan, is another central element in the Hindu wedding ceremony. To honor Agni, the god of fire, the couple offers handfuls of rice, and sometimes ghee, to the fire during the wedding ceremony.

WEDDING RECEPTION AT THE TIDES ESTATE

One of the biggest perks of hosting your wedding at The Tides Estate is: staircase reception entrance! All of Bianca & Michael’s wedding party entered through the double doors and the grand finale was a sparkler staircase entrance for the newlyweds.

Before the first dances, Bianca’s parents gave a welcome speech.

PLANNING YOUR WEDDING AT THE TIDES ESTATE

In conclusion: The Tides Estate is a beautiful, versatile venue. The rooms in the venue itself are perfect for getting ready, portraits, and indoor ceremonies/receptions. If you have good luck with the weather, the gardens/outdoor space is perfect for outdoor wedding festivities! If you’re planning a wedding at The Tides Estate, let us know! We’ll help you scout photo spots and use our past experience here to make your wedding day flow seamlessly. In other words: we can’t wait to come back!