"How Hot Dogs Saved the Wedding"
Love, Vows, and Buried Hot Dogs
This is the blog for Maria Bellinger and Jared Baer…
Yesterday was their wedding day — October 13th, 2024 — and what a day it was! The celebration took place at the iconic Park Savoy in Florham Park, New Jersey, where we are grateful to be a recommended vendor. While the weekend forecast had predicted a Nor’easter in New Jersey, it turned out to be more of a "drizzle Nor’easter" up north — just enough rain to be cause worry, but not enough to stop this celebration! Maybe, just maybe, that’s thanks to an unexpected wedding tradition: the bride buried eight hot dogs the night before the big day, hoping to bring good luck and better weather, a modern wedding superstition, popular in the UK and sometimes seen in the US, to ensure good weather on the wedding day. Believe it or not, it seemed to work!
When we arrived, the energy from the bridal suite was contagious. Maria and her bridesmaids were absolutely glowing — singing, laughing, and doing TikTok dances like it was the pre-party of the year. The footage from those moments is pure joy. Meanwhile, the groom's side told a slightly different story — the groomsmen were quieter and clearly recovering from what must have been a legendary night. Still, spirits were high across the board. Maria finished up her hair and makeup and got ready with her mom — their bond was one of the most beautiful relationships I’ve seen between a mother and daughter. After helping her into her gown, they shared a sweet moment before Maria had a tearful and emotional first look with her father.
We had originally prepared to shoot indoors, expecting the weather to keep us inside, but there were some buried hot dogs that said “No, not on our watch!”. By the time Maria and Jared had their private first look and exchanged vows in the chapel, the skies had cleared. We were able to take full advantage of the Park Savoy’s stunning grounds for portraits. The couple had an amazing list of family photo requests they thought would spill over past the ceremony, but thanks to the cooperative weather (and maybe the hot dogs), we got them all done beforehand — meaning they could fully enjoy the cocktail hour. The bridal party brought high energy to the photo session, dancing and creating some unforgettable moments on camera.
The ceremony itself was held in the venue’s indoor chapel, where Maria’s family priest performed a heartfelt and personal service, blessing their marriage in front of all their loved ones. Afterward, it was party time! The entrances were lively, the first dance was flawlessly romantic (yes, they nailed every twirl they’d worried about), and the speeches — from the father of the bride, best man, and maid of honor — were touching and funny in all the right ways. DJs from Magic Moments kept the dance floor packed all night, delivering a perfect mix that had every guest on their feet. As the rain had completely stopped by evening, we wrapped up the night with gorgeous nighttime shots in the Park Savoy’s library and in front of the beautifully lit venue. From beginning to end, Maria and Jared’s wedding was full of love, laughter, and — apparently — the magical power of buried (as the kids call them) “Glizzys”.