Across the river in Hoboken, we photographed an incredible micro-wedding at Antique Loft. Josh and Ariel had had their wedding date canceled twice, and decided that their union mattered more than throwing a big bash. These two decided to have a stunning micro-wedding in New Jersey instead. With under 30 guests, this intimate wedding celebration was attended by their closest friends and family.

 

 

A Stunning Elopement at Antique Loft in Hoboken

How This Couple Kept Wedding Guests Safe During COVID-19. Forgoing their traditional wedding ideas, these two had a fun and safe elopement during COVID-19. With any pandemic celebration, there is some risk in having a gathering, but the couple and the staff at Antique Loft ensured that the most possible precautions were taken for their guests.

Having Guests Get COVID-19 Tests Ahead of Time

The couple requested that their guests consider a COVID-19 test ahead of the celebration. The couple in their family also were tested to ensure that nobody would be spreading coronavirus. With a small guest count, the couple made the suggestion to their guests, knowing the importance of testing and tracing.

Requesting Guests Wear Masks

During the majority of this pandemic micro-wedding, those in attendance wore masks. The only time that those at the elopement did not wear masks was during dinner and drinks. Even then, friends and family were dutiful and kept their masks on as frequently as possible.

Social Distancing Ribbons

While social distancing was definitely taken into account during the elopement planning, the couple also provided ribbons for guests to wear. The ribbons signified that the guest was taking social distancing extra seriously. If you saw someone wearing a ribbon, you knew not to approach and to stay away from their personal bubble.

Hand Sanitizer Stations

Antique Loft had set up hand sanitizer stations so that guests could frequently sanitize. This small gesture is a fantastic way to remind guests to stay sanitizing regularly. The sanitizer also smelled great, a small but sweet addition to these stations.

Staff Serving the Buffet

Instead of guests serving themselves at the buffet, the staff at Antique Loft assisted with plating food. Family and friends of the couple could communicate what they wanted, and the staff plated the food to ensure that multiple people weren’t touching the serving tools.

Rooftop Elopement at Antique Loft

One of the most magical parts about antique loft is the rooftop space. With stunning views of New York City, this extremely photogenic space is perfect for a rooftop elopement. With the space at antique loft being both indoor and outdoor, the couple held their ceremony indoor with air coming in through the doors. The cocktail hour and dinner were hosted outdoors, and held the first dance indoors. Despite the torrential downpour minutes before the ceremony, this rooftop space ended up being a magical view of a perfect rainbow across the Manhattan skyline.

Antique Loft’s COVID-19 Accommodations

The venue itself put in place precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. From their website:

“We have installed PHI Air Purifiers to all ductwork in the building. PHI filters remove dust mites, mold, toluene, PM2.5 particles and other pollutants while decomposing harmful gas at a 99% sterilization rate. The principle of the technology is that instead of waiting for the dust to pass through the filter, the filter itself produces particles that find dust and sterilize them.”

Josh & Ariel’s Micro-Wedding in Hoboken, New Jersey

This intimate micro-wedding was an evening to remember. About two weeks beforehand, Ariel called us to ask if we were available for New York elopement photography, and we had to say yes! She put together this incredible occasion in such a short period of time, and we’re so impressed with her initiative. As the days went by, Ariel kept in touch with us about how her planning was progressing, and her plans to keep her close friends and family safe.

The Rainbow After the Storm

About ten minutes before the ceremony, there was a sudden downpour out of nowhere. With a storm hitting exceptionally hard, we watched as it quickly made its way through Hoboken. But of course, with any rainstorm comes a rainbow – and that’s exactly what came next. Josh stared out the window at the expansive rainbow hovering over the New York City skyline.

The atmosphere after a rainstorm also creates some marvelous sunsets. Josh and Ariel’s wedding was no exception to this, with a vast, colorful sky as the backdrop to their NYC wedding photography. The sky cleared for their entire intimate wedding reception, making way for a lovely cocktail hour and dinner outdoors.

What The Couple Wore for Their Intimate Wedding

Ariel decided to wear the wedding dress she’d planned to wear for their initial wedding plans. It was a surprise to Josh, as he’d been expecting a separate dress she chose for the elopement. As Ariel approached the altar, Josh’s face lit up at the realization that this was the dress. She then changed after the ceremony into a dress she’d found just for the elopement. Josh wore a green suit with a bowtie, a suave and timeless look for this dreamy NYC area elopement.

Tips to Plan Your Micro-Wedding

Micro-weddings are an intimate option to celebrate your love. As New York City wedding photographers, we love to capture the romance of micro-weddings and elopements. When you’re planning a micro-wedding of your own, there are some things you must consider. Let’s run through the best ideas to plan a micro-wedding in NYC.

Limit Your Guest Count

Part of what makes a micro-wedding “micro” is the guest count. Limit the guest list to just close friends and family. Hosting an intimate wedding requires you to pare down your guest list from what a larger wedding would normally look like. With your micro-wedding, you’ll want to keep it under 50 guests. Also, be sure to chat with your venue about guest count limitations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Consider Morning Celebrations

As New York wedding photographers, we absolutely love morning wedding celebrations. We find that morning beautiful light for your intimate wedding photography. Additionally, some couples like to get their wedding done in the morning, and then have a smaller after party later in the afternoon and evening.

Look Into the Greater New York City Area

New Jersey isn’t exactly a destination wedding spot, but it is outside of New York City. Consider spots in Hoboken and Jersey City for a quick commute over the river. There are lots of beautiful options in both New York City and in New Jersey for a pandemic micro-wedding. As two of the top wedding photographers in New York, crossing the river is one of our favorite things to do – we love to see what creative ideas couples come up with in other places.

Look into Weekday Options

You may have initially envisioned your wedding on a Saturday, but consider Thursdays, Fridays, and Mondays for potential micro-wedding options. This may lower the rate on the venue as you were looking at, and also may allow you to shorten your guest list even further. Consider weekday options because we all need a reason to celebrate during this crazy time.

Find Venues with Outdoor Space

Look into venues with outdoor space. Outdoor gatherings are the safest option when it comes to COVID-19, so consider all the beautiful venues with rooftops in the greater New York City area. As NYC wedding photographers, we have tons of recommendations for wedding venues in the area. Let us know if you have something particular in mind, we would love to help you out!

If Your Wedding was Canceled by COVID-19, Elope Now and Party Later

If your wedding was canceled by COVID-19, you may feel a little disheartened. But why not start the next chapter of your story with your best friend? Consider eloping in Central Park or Prospect Park for a beautiful and intimate wedding ceremony. Your wedding photos will be absolutely gorgeous, and you can make a whole day of it. Finding reasons to be joyful can be difficult during this pandemic, but eloping with your best friend and starting on the next chapter is a great way to bring light into your life.

Megan & Kenneth – NYC Elopement Photographers

We’re two of the top NYC elopement photographers, and we want to make your celebration special. Whether it’s just the two of you or a beautiful micro-wedding like this one, we’re here to help. Let us know if your wedding has been impacted by COVID-19, or you’ve just decided that you want a small celebration. We have special packages for couples looking to tie the knot in this crazy time.