Same-Sex Wedding in New Jersey

Justin and Roberto’s Hoboken Art Gallery Wedding

On the morning of their wedding day, Justin and Roberto awoke to rain. With the plan to take their wedding portraits along the Hoboken waterfront where Justin had proposed, they got ready for the day and crossed their fingers that the rain would subside. Moments before they began to take pictures, they got their wish. The rain stopped, allowing Studio A Images to capture some gorgeous photos of the grooms before the ceremony.

The weather continued to be on their side that day as it started pouring just after they ducked into Barsky Gallery for the ceremony, and it only briefly stopped at the exact moment guests were heading to the reception venue a block away. It seems everything about Justin and Roberto's wedding day was meant to be!hoboken-wedding-portriats-studio-a-imagesJustin + Roberto's Hoboken weddinghudson-river-wedding-portraits-studio-a-imagesJustin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding

The Love Story

Just and Roberto both had an affinity for poetry, so when they enrolled at The New School in New York City to study poetry, it was inevitable that their paths would cross. They first met eyes at a David Trinidad poetry reading and continued to run into each other at other readings throughout the city, and when they finally went on their first date, something clicked. Four years laters, Justin brought Roberto to the Hoboken waterfront and surprised him by getting down on one knee while Justin’s sister and husband hid nearby to capture the special moment on camera.

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The Ceremony

When Justin and Roberto were planning their wedding, they knew they wanted a celebration that was different from the norm. “We wanted an unconventional, secular and small venue for an intimate wedding ceremony with family and close friends,” they say. “We had initially identified Barsky Gallery in Hoboken as the location for our engagement party, but we soon decided to convert the engagement party we were planning into the wedding itself.” Surrounded by beautiful pieces of art, Justin and Roberto tied the knot in an emotional ceremony that was filled with poetry. Both of their sisters read poems by Ann Lauterbach and James Schuyler, and their close friend and poet Brooke Ellsworth officiated. “The ceremony concluded with us sharing our own vows,” Justin and Roberto say. “The vows got…real. There were tears.”

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Justin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding
Justin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding

The Party

After the ceremony and a cocktail hour at the gallery, guests joined the newlyweds at Jack’s Cabin, a cozy restaurant a block away. Wildlflowers decorated the tables and custom chalkboard signs helped guests find their seats. A delicious choice of entrees was served, including vegetarian options for the grooms, and sides of caesar salad, veal ricotta meatballs and mac and cheese were served family-style. In addition to the naked chocolate wedding cake that was topped with a Mr. and Mr. cake topper, there was bread pudding and half-baked cookie dough for dessert. The newlyweds shared their first dance to Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” and then spent the rest of the night on the dance floor with their friends and family as the DJ played a mix of Sylvester, RuPaul, Krystle Warren and Rufus Wainwright.

Justin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding
Justin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding
Justin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding
Justin + Roberto's Hoboken wedding
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Memorable Moment

“When we first walked into the gallery for the ceremony, all of our loved ones were standing in a line to greet us,” the grooms say. “We had never seen all of these people in the same room before — Justin’s friends and family from Chicago and California mixed in with Roberto’s family from all over the country, a friend who flew in from Australia standing with our co-workers from New York City. It was a really stunning and unforgettable image.”

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Written By:

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Wedding Vendors!

Ceremony Venue: Barsky Gallery

Reception Venue: Jack's Cabin

Photography: Studio A Images

Floral Design: Joseph's Florist

Stationery: Paperless Post

Wedding Cake: The Hudson Cakery

Wedding Suit: Zara

Wedding Ring: Tiffany & Co.

Wedding Accessories: The Tie Bar

Wedding Vendors from this location

Luna Wedding Studio

Artistic, Contemporary, Destination Photography, Engagement, Lifestyle Photography, Photography, Photojournalistic, Wedding Photography

Brad Resnick Photography

Contemporary, Engagement, Photography, Photojournalistic, Portrait, Traditional, Wedding Photography

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