beautiful venue UGLY area

Knottie1444759754

I am moments away from booking my venue in Northern New Jersey. We love the venue and all that it offers the only problem is the location of the venue does not match its newly renovated interior. I wish I could pick it up and place it somewhere much more chic. I have no idea what to do for wedding photos! My wedding will be in the fall, the venue suggests going to a nearby park however we're not the outdoorsy couple we'd love interior photos or maybe outdoor with great architecture/buildings behind us. We know another option is to take pics before the ceremony at the hotel but we'd like to stick with the traditional order of things.

Has anyone else dealt with an ugly area for photos? and if so what did you do?
Any suggestions on great photo area near Bloomfield, NJ?

HELP PLEASE!

CMGragain

You do not need outdoor photos.  It sounds like you have found a bargain.  Go with it.

MobKaz

Knottie1444759754 said:

I am moments away from booking my venue in Northern New Jersey. We love the venue and all that it offers the only problem is the location of the venue does not match its newly renovated interior. I wish I could pick it up and place it somewhere much more chic. I have no idea what to do for wedding photos! My wedding will be in the fall, the venue suggests going to a nearby park however we're not the outdoorsy couple we'd love interior photos or maybe outdoor with great architecture/buildings behind us. We know another option is to take pics before the ceremony at the hotel but we'd like to stick with the traditional order of things.

Has anyone else dealt with an ugly area for photos? and if so what did you do?
Any suggestions on great photo area near Bloomfield, NJ?

HELP PLEASE!

The surrounding environment may look different in the Fall. 

Repost this on your local board to help with suggestions involving specific NJ insights.

[Deleted User]

If you're not outdoorsy, why do you want outdoor photos?  Take pictures inside your ceremony space, near a cool architectural element (like a flight of stairs or a cool window).  You don't need to go outside.  What if it's raining?  Then you wouldn't be able to take pictures outside even if it was a gorgeous outdoor space.  I think you'll be fine.

ernursej

I'd book it. Just make sure that you are not having a gap to take the pictures between ceremony and reception.

JediElizabeth

I'd look into the downtown Montclair area, just down Bloomfield Ave (in the direction away from Newark), or Upper Montclair around Valley Road & Bellevue Ave.  There's a lot of nice architecture down there, depending on what you're looking for: old churches and Victorian homes and such. 

Usually I'd say go to the local boards, but I used to live in northern NJ, so I know the area well.

STARMOON44

Bloomfield College has some nice buildings. 

thisismynickname2

Do you have a photographer yet? A good photographer can work with the surroundings. My friend and her husband were married at a hotel and most of the pictures were indoors. The hotel was on a major road near the on-ramp of a highway. Nothing picturesque around at all, just parking lots and some basic landscaping.
So, the photographer took photos of them from the ground up with only the sky and bright light in the background, and those shots are gorgeous. He took some from above so you only got some  grass in the frame. He took some straight on but close up so you only got brick wall behind the couple but good natural light. 
Definitely talk to your photographer about options. I will say I've seen some outdoor photos of couples in less picturesque areas and I've snarked on the photog's skills. Why have half a wall and half a parking lot behind a bridal party? Come on now. Composition skills are important.

Knottie1444759754

It's not that I want outdooes photos, the issue is that the area they offer for pictures is outdoors

[Deleted User]

Knottie1444759754 said:

It's not that I want outdooes photos, the issue is that the area they offer for pictures is outdoors

So you're not ALLOWed to take indoor photos?  That obviously doesn't make any sense.  If you have your ceremony and reception inside, you can obviously use the inside space to take photos either before or after the ceremony and reception.  If the venue inside is beautiful, walk around with the person who holds the contract, suggest that you want photos here, here, and here.  And if they don't allow that, don't sign the contract.

OliveOilsMom

You are probably getting the deal you are because the venue is NOT in a chic area.  If it were, you would probably be paying more.  Is there a reason you are not allowed to get photos in the ceremony area or hallways, etc of the venue?  Are you ONLY allowed to get photos outside?

MandyMost

I'd take your photographer with you on a tour of the interior and exterior of the venue. You want to make sure the lighting for any interior shots will work, and your photographer may be able to get great shots outdoors.

I don't know what the outside area of your venue looks like, but I LOVE wedding photos that aren't in the most traditional settings. Here's a few I found on google that look like photos you could get in a "not chic" area:

ILoveBeachMusic

That first photo looks like a place where one of my DD's engagement  pictures was taken and the third looks like her dress!

Knottie1444759754

You're clearly misunderstanding what I'm saying, but thank you for your help anyway.

Knottie1444759754

Thanks so much

Knottie1444759754

no we are free to take photos in the area, however there are no areas that I know of that we like (I'm from NY),and we's also prefer an indoor photo session.  I am open to suggestions of possible areas that would look great on photo. 

JediElizabeth

Knottie1444759754 said:

no we are free to take photos in the area, however there are no areas that I know of that we like (I'm from NY),and we's also prefer an indoor photo session.  I am open to suggestions of possible areas that would look great on photo. 

I forgot about it when you first posted, but check out Lambert Castle or Lambert tower  in Paterson, NJ. Maybe a 15-20 minute drive (so I'd suggest first looks there, not post-ceremony), but it's lovely. Both have interesting interiors, I think, which could be fun for pictures.

We used to go hiking around there (it's on a big preserve), so I know it's public space, but I'd still check with the historical society that owns it it you want to set up a big photo shoot, since they have a lot of community events. 

Lambert Castle:




Lambert Tower: