HUDSON HOUSE
Jersey City, NJ
Starr & Nygel
A Love Rooted in Faith
What began online turned into a casual lunch on a summer afternoon, and that lunch turned into something neither of them saw coming. For Starr, it felt as though God whispered, "He's the one."
Nygel became her best friend and her calm in the storm. He proposed on the steps of the home they now share, and on a crisp fall afternoon, they stood under a canopy of white flowers by the water and made it official.
A Ceremony Rooted in Faith and Family
Without a home church, this couple wanted to be sure their Christian faith was woven through every part of their ceremony. We opened with a prayer asking God to bless their marriage and make it a great and holy adventure.
Family came next. Starr wanted to honor her beloved grandfather, the most senior member of her family, who was seated right up front. We also paused to remember the fathers who could not be there that day, so their love was felt by everyone gathered by the water.
Promises Made by the Water
Before the vows, I asked them to look down at the hands they were holding: the hands of a best friend, the hands that would wipe away tears and hold on tight through hard times, and the hands that would still reach for each other years from now.
I wrote their vows to reflect the two of them, with promises of faithfulness in the presence of God and a little humor too. He promised to laugh with her, and sometimes at her. She promised to laugh with him, and definitely at him.
The Candles and the Broom
Their mothers began the unity candle ritual, each bringing the light of her own family forward. Then the couple lit the center candle together, a picture of two lives and two families becoming one.
Right after their first kiss as husband and wife, they closed the ceremony by jumping the broom, honoring an African American tradition with roots that reach back to a time when enslaved men and women were not allowed to marry. It was joyful, meaningful and a beautiful way to step into their new life together.
Their Wedding Ceremony on Film
The sun was bright, the sky was clear and the breeze coming off the Hudson was colder than anyone had hoped. None of that mattered once Starr and Nygel were standing face to face under those white flowers. Watching them laugh their way through their vows, with the skyline behind them and their families close by, is a moment I still think about.
In Starr & Nygel’s Words
"In the wedding industry Aretha is a rare gem."
My husband and I could not have asked for a better Wedding Officiant for our wedding! We didn't belong to a home church but it was highly important to us that our Christian faith was incorporated into our ceremony. Our family voiced their concerns about us not being married by a Pastor early on, but after the ceremony they expressed how impressed they were with Aretha and they were glad that we chose her.
Aretha not only incorporated prayer with traditions we value such as jumping the broom and a candle lighting ceremony, but she also tailored them for us to add a personal touch. At the last minute I added my grandfather to our ceremony, and without knowing a ton of detail about his life she created a heartfelt way of including him. Despite the chilling breeze blowing from the water, Aretha carried out our ceremony as though we had the warmest of days. It was clear that Aretha cared deeply about making our ceremony personal and meaningful.
Starr & Nygel
Hudson House
Jersey City, NJ
Planning an Outdoor Ceremony at Hudson House
The outdoor ceremony space at Hudson House puts the Manhattan skyline right behind you, and it is stunning in any season.
If you are planning a fall or spring ceremony by the water, plan for the breeze. Wraps for the bridal party, a warm spot for older guests and a shorter wait before the ceremony starts all make a difference.
Planning your own wedding here?
Read my blog post: Getting Married at Hudson House in Jersey City, NJ.
