Saint John's Lutheran Church

Wedding Day

Gathering

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Dinner

Dessert & Dancing

Our Wedding

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Wedding VenueAll elements of our wedding celebration will be held at <a href="https://www.stjohnssummit.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Saint John's Lutheran Church</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Summit+Station,+Union+Place,+Summit,+NJ/587+Springfield+Ave,+Summit,+NJ+07901/@40.7164304,-74.3674098,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c3ae4d244ef657:0xd5cf339ebf42cb6f!2m2!1d-74.3576807!2d40.7166975!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c3afb0da767f95:0x6342e3a33c6809db!2m2!1d-74.3680486!2d40.7157704!3e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">587 Springfield Ave. Summit, NJ 07901</a>. There is ample parking in the church parking lot as well as along Springfield Ave. The church is an easy 15-minute walk from the Summit Train Station. By TrainSummit is very well connected by train with direct trains to NYC Penn Station and Hoboken at least once an hour. If you are traveling on Amtrak trains, book your travel to New York Penn Station. From Penn Station, <a href="https://www.njtransit.com/trip-planner-to" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Jersey Transit</a>'s Morris &amp; Essex Line travels to Summit (weekend trains take approximately 50 minutes to get to Summit.) By AirNewark Liberty Airport is a short 20-minute drive from Summit. Unfortunately, the New Jersey Transit does not connect Newark Airport to Summit, but Uber and taxi rides are easy to catch from the airport. JFK Airport is on the other side of New York City from us. From your arrival terminal, take the air train to Jamaica Station, and then take any Long Island Rail Road train heading West to Penn Station, approximately 20 minutes away. From Penn Station, take the Moris &amp; Essex line to Summit. Getting from La Guardia airport to Summit is tricky, and we do not recommend flying into this airport. LodgingThere is one hotel in Summit proper, <a href="https://www.reservationdesk.com/hotel/5ff5a83/the-grand-summit-hotel-summit-nj/?cid=sem::TPRD::AW::Reservation_Desk_US_Northeast_New_Jersey::US_New_Jersey_Summit_The_Grand_Summit_Hotel_did-5ff5a83::the%20grand%20summit%20hotel%20summit%20nj::e&amp;creative=474494305850&amp;device=c&amp;AdPos=&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_term=the%20grand%20summit%20hotel%20summit%20nj&amp;utm_campaign=Reservation_Desk_US_Northeast_New_Jersey&amp;iv_=__iv_p_1_a_809079961_g_53755178149_w_aud-377566997990:kwd-339153663256_h_9003741_ii__d_c_v__n_g_c_474494305850_k_the%20grand%20summit%20hotel%20summit%20nj_m_e_l__t__e__r__vi__&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtp2bBhAGEiwAOZZTuHXDSY-42-rfLRKDgiKY2kIIrvBvQUrgACAkIw0Hh2oqZykZJ_ANIBoC-KcQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Grand Summit Hotel</a>, which is located directly across from the wedding venue and a fifteen-minute walk from the train station. This is the easiest hotel option, especially without a car. The next nearest hotels are the <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ewrshhh-hilton-short-hills/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hilton Short Hills</a> and the <a href="https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-new-providence/the-hub-murray-hill-bw-premier-collection/propertyCode.31029.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Western</a> in New Providence. Both of these are a short car ride, approximately 10 minutes, from the wedding venue. Other options, might include Airbnb or even accommodations in NYC given the relatively easy access to the city.

Travel

In Summit

Summit is a quaint suburban town in northern New Jersey, 25 miles outside NYC. The downtown is very walkable with lots of shops and restaurants. <a href="https://www.reeves-reedarboretum.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reeves-Reed Arboretum</a>, a 13.5-acre garden and forest preserve within Summit, makes for a lovely hour or two spent in nature. Right downtown is our local brewery, <a href="https://bullnbearbrewery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bull-n-Bear</a>, which is perfect for a nice pint or two. For some nice hiking/walking, the <a href="https://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/paths-trails-greenways/watchung-reservation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watchung Reservation</a> and the <a href="https://summitparkline.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Summit Parkline</a> are both great places.

Close to Summit

Within 30 minutes or less, there are several things to do and see. For history buffs and fans of Americana, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/morr/index.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington's Headquarters</a>, part of the National Park Service, is 20 minutes away in Morristown. This is where Washington and Continental Army spent the winter of 1789--fun fact, Summit is called the Beacon Hill because it was a watch point in case the British left New York to attack the Americans. <a href="https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/libertystatepark.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Liberty State Park</a> in nearby Jersey City is THE best place for viewing the Statue of Liberty (while officially in NY it is actually much closer to NJ). If you want to visit <a href="https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Liberty Island and Ellis Island </a>you can catch the ferry from Liberty State Park, this option is much faster and far easier than catching the ferry from NYC.

Day Trips--Farther Afield

Into the City

Summit is integrally connected the New York City, or colloquially just the City. You can see part of the Manhattan skyline from parts of town and local trains on the <a href="https://www.njtransit.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NJ Transit Morris &amp; Essex lines</a> make at least hourly trips into NYPenn Station and Hoboken carrying commuters and pleasure seekers alike. There are endless things to do in the city, here are a few of our favorites: exploring the <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MET</a>, the <a href="https://www.moma.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MoMA</a>, and the <a href="https://www.amnh.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Museum of Natural History</a>; sitting around <a href="https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/attractions/bethesda-fountain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bethesda Fountain in Central Park</a>, seeing a performance at the <a href="https://www.lincolncenter.org/home" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lincoln Center</a>, walking around <a href="https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Union Square</a> and <a href="https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/washington-square-park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington Square</a>; browsing "18 miles of books" at the <a href="https://www.strandbooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Strand</a>; seeing a Broadway show (use <a href="https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tkts-by-tdf/tkts-live/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TKTS</a> or TodayTix); walking the <a href="https://www.thehighline.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">High Line</a>.

Down the Shore

In the summer in Jersey, everyone goes "down the shore." From Sandy Hook all the way down to Cape May, the <a href="https://visitnj.org/article/jersey-shore-trip-all-seasons" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jersey Shore</a> is a continuous stream of beach towns and vacationland; however, no two places at the shore are alike. Our favorite day trip options from Summit are Asbury Park/Ocean Grove and Point Pleasant Beach. Asbury Park and Ocean Grove are neighbors and you can walk from one to the other but they have very different vibes. Asbury Park is hip and a little edgy (also pretty LGBTQIA+ friendly) while Ocean Grove is a Victorian Methodist camp complete with houses covered in gingerbread, a huge revival hall, and a tent village straight out of the 1890s that has to be seen to be believed. Point Pleasant is the nearest "Jersey Shore Boardwalk" town with the full experience of amusement rides, shops, and food stands all on the wooden boardwalk overlooking the beach. If you want to travel further, or perhaps spend the night, Ocean City and Cape May are both particularly lovely. FYI: as a rule, beaches and parking are NOT free in NJ. Beach tags must be purchased to get onto the sand--they are unique to each municipality. You can normally buy them at the entrance to the beach.

Things to Do

Registry

Blake & Shai

Blake & Shai

Photos