Last year, I had the opportunity to be a part of a beautiful styled shoot planned by Dee Kay Events at Tyler Gardens, in Newton PA. This stunning wedding minimony is inspired by the traditions and culture of Croatia. As someone who loves to travel and learn about the world, this was a dream styled shoot! All of the vendors hope to inspire couples who are looking to feature their heritage here, in the US, if they can’t travel to Europe. Of course, we also hope to inspire anyone planning an event who simply loves the old world glamor of somewhere like Croatia. As of today, this styled shoot is now published in Destination I Do, too!! Our feature includes images from four of the photographers present, so it’s truly a beautiful collaboration!
Wedding Minimony at Tyler Gardens
Our planner, Diane Kolanović-Šolaja is a first-generation Croatian-American – and the owner of Dee Kay Events. With her knowledge, inspiration from her family, and her incredible style, she pulled together the aspects of this shoot seamlessly. Every detail is truly thought out in the images you’ll see. From the welcome gift with products from Croatia to the invitation insert that Suite Scape Design created from photos of her father’s village… Diane truly thought of everything! The team even ensured that the florals used would be found in Croatia, like rosemary, lavender, blackberries, carnations, cuscus, and iris Croatica. This level of detail made photographing our styled minimony even sweeter.
Tyler Gardens was the perfect place to plan a minimony like this one. With stunning gardens, an old mansion, and the beautiful grounds, it’s a wonderful venue for a romantic celebrations. When you’re planning a minimony, finding the right venue to provide the feeling you want is crucial! We held the ceremony in one of their gardens and planned the reception setup outdoors too. The grounds here are absolutely breathtaking – so we wanted to take full advantage of them all.
Croatian Inspired Wedding Decor
While we wanted to invoke the feelings of the old world Croatian experiences, we also leaned into fun modern touches like metallic gold to bring that hint of luxury to this minimony. One thing I love about more intimate days is that your details can truly be elevated because you’re creating an experience for fewer guests. Your budget can be used in a different way than with a larger wedding. This wedding minimony was the perfect example of that! With the gold accents, wood and stone pieces, the team really created a rustic yet glamorous wedding style.
To the entire vendor team: thank you for allowing me to photograph this beautiful Tyler Gardens styled shoot. This styled shoot is so special to everyone involved. I hope the images show you the level of thought and detail that was put into planning it all. If you’re planning a modern wedding that’s still inspired by old-world Europe, I hope you find something here that you can bring to your wedding day!
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Design & Planning | Dee Kay Events
Photography & Education | Idalia Photography
Additional Photography | Jocelyn Cruz Photography, Imagery by Marianne, Kartheek Photo
Venue | Tyler Gardens
Florals | Pretty Posh Events
Cinema | Sweet Start Weddings
Celebrant | Alisa Tongg
Linens | Nuage Designs Inc.
Tabletop Rentals | Magnolia Events
Rentals | Open Aire Affairs
Invitations & Flatlay Styling | Suite Scape Design
Calligraphy | The Markup Artist
Cake | Sugarush Red Bank
Croatian Desserts | Take the Cake by MC
Croatian Inspired Menu | Konoba Huntington
Makeup Artistry | My Beauty Makeup Artistry
Hair Artistry | Daneen Jensen Hair & Makeup
Dress Boutique | White House Bride
Dress Designer | Essense of Australia
Bridesmaids Dresses | Rent the Runway
Accessories | Happily Ever Borrowed and Nina Shoes
Welcome Gift Design | Dee Kay Events
Welcome Gift Jewelry | Eyesea Jewelry
Styling Mats | Stained by MRP
Models | Shannon Leigh Smith, Chris Smith, Rosie, Anselmo, Abayomi Crozier
Speakers | Idalia Photography, Dee Kay Events, Sweet Start Weddings, Pretty Posh Events, Alissa Tongg, and 5th Avenue Weddings
About the Photographers
Idalia Photography is based out of Central NJ and specializes in romantic, timeless, and classic weddings. Our photography style can be described as a perfect blend of classic, romantic portraiture and authentic, candid moments. Are you planning a wedding? We serve NJ, NY, PA, and beyond. Click here to view our wedding portfolio or contact us for availability.
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