When people think about rustic weddings in New Jersey, what do you think comes to mind?
Perhaps old barn in a large empty field, likely with a new coat of red paint, and ostensibly filled with vintage furniture and signs?
Maybe there's a weathered oak barrel outside the front entrance, topped with a giant glass dispenser of ice cold lemonade for your guests.
There might even be a coterie of barn animals, which may/may not include an alpaca (or three!).
When newly engaged couples imagine hosting a wedding in the countryside, it might include many of those things, or none of them at all. All they know is that they're not looking for your traditional New Jersey wedding venue which features winding marble staircases, or extravagant chandeliers hanging from the ceilings.
Additionally, some may even have zero interest in celebrating their nuptials in a barn that looks like it's about to fall apart, or worse yet -smells like a petting zoo.
In these instances, the Ryland Inn offers newly engaged couples the best of both worlds: a sprawling country estate that is both luxurious and charming.
I remember when Ryland Inn first came into my orbit, and quickly found its place on my bucket list of wedding venues. It wasn't before long until I had booked my first wedding there, back in 2016. It goes without saying, this wedding venue was (and is) absolutely stunning. From the outside, it looks like your typical farmhouse: a charming country home with a fenced in pasture for ponies (should you decide to find one for your wedding day), a green silo, and rolling fields for as far as the eyes can see.
But once you step inside the property, you can't help but get lost in the elegant ballroom which features 30 foot windows, a stone fireplace, and towering chandeliers. All this eye candy is every wedding photographer's dream.
Since then, I've had the pleasure of photographing a number of weddings at the Ryland Inn. As a sister venue to the Liberty House and the Stone House at Stirling Ridge, you and your guests can expect the same level of exceptional food & service from their amazing staff.
Ready for the most amazing wedding photography experience?
111 Old Rt 28
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889
(908) 418-4186
Wedding cost: $$$
Capacity: Up to 250
Possible number of simultaneous events: 2
Venue Space Type: Rustic, cottage, farm house, mansion, contemporary, restaurant
Website: https://rylandinnnj.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/therylandinn
Facebook: https://facebook.com/therylandinn
All that gorgeous space.
When you come across this property for the first time (whether in person or online), you can't help but admire that home-y, charming feeling, that comes along with an understated luxury that simply can't be denied.
Couples who end up booking here are generally looking for something that is both timeless and elegant, but also something that is cozy and warm.
While my couples can certainly appreciate the finer things in life; but when it comes to their wedding day, they could probably do without the winding marble staircases, opulent chandeliers, or the smells and sounds of barnyard animals during an otherwise romantic outdoor wedding ceremony.
When you get married at the Ryland Inn, you have your choice a photo locations: whether you're looking for something that's more green, earthy (precisely how you would imagine a country wedding), or if you prefer something that is a little bit more refined, luxurious, and modern, you'll find exactly what you're looking for at the Ryland Inn.
Food & Service at Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station
As part of the Landmark Hospitality Group, and sister venue to Liberty House & Stone House at Stirling Ridige, you can rest assured that you'll be receiving some of the best food and service the wedding industry has to offer.
Comfort & Convenience
With several cottages to choose from, couples can opt to get ready on site. This means not needing to book a hotel 20 minutes away and potentially wrinkling your dress or your suit before picture time. This also means you don't have to spend your entire morning packing and unpacking, while trying to stay on time.
Understated luxury is everything
My clients who book the Ryland Inn are very much aligned with my general worldview: untraditional, laid-back, and generally more inclined to play along with a creative, spontaneous, composition-forward approach to wedding photography.
In other words - we love pretty things and pleasant surprises.
While we'll definitely take advantage of all the compositional gifts that Ryland Inn has to offer on the wedding day, my couples understand that there are opportunities for more fun, creative wedding photos.
That's where I come in :).
Variety of photo locations
Whether my clients are getting married at The Carriage House or The Grand Ballroom, I'll have no shortage of locations in/around the property for their creative wedding photos.
There are an abundance of colors, lines and textures, both indoors and outdoors, that would make my job as their wedding photographer a breeze.
Loving what you see here?
Here are some of my fave photo spots when my couples get married at The Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station
Your access to these locations will depend largely on which space you've chosen for your wedding. As I mentioned before you have two options when you book the Ryland Inn for your wedding (The Cottage House and The Grand Ballroom). And generally speaking, wherever you decide to host your wedding is pretty much where you'll be doing your photos for the day
Anywhere outside (really!). You can't go wrong shooting anywhere outside, weather permitting of course. Whether you're looking for white fences, country-home vibes, or just plain ol' grass, you're pretty much surrounded by it.
Courtyard. If you (and your wedding party) are a little hesitant about walking around the grass on your skinny heels, the courtyard makes a sensible alternative for those group and couple's photos. Additionally, the large open space and building facades make this an easy backdrop for any photographer to work with.
Cottages (indoors). In the event of inclement weather, any one of the cottages will do just fine as an indoor photo backdrop. In these instances, a skilled and experienced wedding photographer who can work with window light or artificial lights, is going to come in super handy.
Car port. Although not as popular as all the other spots on the property, the carport is one of my favorite places to photograph my couples because of all the compositional gifts this spot offers. In the event of inclement weather, the valet booth can also serve as an interesting photo location.
Want the best photos at The Ryland Inn? Then you'll want to read this!
The space you booked will largely determine where you'll be able to take your photos. If you book the Grand Ballroom, you might not have access to the areas in and around the Coach House, and vice versa. But the good news is that you don't have to worry; whichever part of the venue you booked at The Ryland Inn with have plenty of indoor/outdoor photo locations for you and your photographer to choose from.
The bridal suites are spacious and cozy. Whether you've only got a handful of people hanging out with you in the morning, or you have an entire entourage getting ready with you, there's a cottage on site that will accommodate your group size.
Shooting indoors will require a bit of experience & skill. In the event of inclement weather on your wedding day, your default photo option will be shooting indoors, and here's the cold honest truth: not all photographers excel at shooting indoors, neither with window light nor with artificial lights. And while this wedding venue does offer many compositional gifts, both indoors and outdoors, it would require a skilled & experienced photographer in order to take advantage of all of it. When in doubt, asked to see some portfolio for some rainy day weddings at the Ryland Inn, and specifically look for some indoor shots. For your convenience, I've included some of mine here.
Residence Inn Bridgewater
3241 US-22, Branchburg, NJ 08876
Hyatt House Branchburg
3141 US-22, Branchburg, NJ 08876
Courtyard Lebanon
300 Corporate Dr, Lebanon, NJ 08833
AC Hotel Bridgewater
600 Somerset Corporate Blvd, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Bridgewater Marriott
700 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
The Ryland Inn
115 Old Hwy 28, White House Station, NJ 08889
Colombian Steakhouse & Lounge
200 Talmage Ave, Bound Brook, NJ 08805
Thai Kitchen
1351 Prince Rodgers Ave, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Bridgewater Diner
1244 US-22, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Cafe Emilia
705 US-202, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Sri Venkateswara Temple
1 Balaji Temple Dr, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Bridgewater Commons
400 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
TD Bank Ballpark - Somerset Patriots
860 E Main St, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
If you are currently engaged and looking for a wedding photographer to help document one of the most amazing days in your lives, I would love to hear your plans and seeing what we can do to be a part of them!
- Ben
