Stories · Wedding

Meg Maley & Mike Holloway

Ceremony & Reception: Bishop Farmstead, Shamong, NJ

Meg Maley's lace wedding dress hanging on the door of the cottage at Bishop Farmstead

Meg and Mike got married at Bishop Farmstead in Shamong on a late-September day, and just about everything happened right there on the farm, from getting ready to the very last song. A lot of people know Meg from Big Brother 17 on CBS, and Mike as the winner of Survivor: Worlds Apart, but on their wedding day they were simply two people madly in love, surrounded by the family and friends who mean the most to them.

Being that I’m a huge Survivor fan and have watched every single season, I couldn’t have been more excited when they booked, and getting to be the one to capture their wedding day was pretty special. It also turned out to be one of the most emotional days I’ve photographed in a while. Mike was wiping away tears before his tie was even on, and once Meg started down the aisle there was no hiding it (not that he tried). When she finally reached him under the pergola, he threw his arms in the air like he’d just won all over again, and the whole garden lost it. Their vows had everyone laughing one second and reaching for tissues the next.

Once the ceremony wrapped up, we took full advantage of everything Bishop Farmstead has to offer. We spent some time exploring the property together, and as the sun went down, an old wagon lit with candles gave us a few portraits I still love. Then the barn filled up, the string lights came on, and long story short, the dance floor never slowed down.

Meg's blush ribbon-tie bridal shoes beside her bouquet

Close-up of Meg having her lipstick applied as she gets ready at Bishop Farmstead

Black and white portrait of Meg beside a mirror while getting ready

Black and white photo of Meg laughing as her lace wedding dress is fastened

Black and white photo of Meg reflected in a wooden mirror as she gets into her dress

Wooden cufflinks on an 'I can't wait to marry you' card

Mike wiping a tear as he reads a letter from Meg

Mike Holloway smiling as his tie is adjusted while getting ready

Mike Holloway hugging a family member before the ceremony

Mike and his groomsmen laughing and toasting while getting ready

Close-up of Mike tying his brown dress shoes on a patterned rug

A groomsman lint-rolling his navy suit jacket

A family member smiling as she greets Mike before the ceremony

Close-up portrait of Mike Holloway smiling in his navy suit and rust tie

Mike walking down the aisle with a family member

Mike wiping away tears as Meg comes down the aisle

Meg walking down the aisle between two men in the garden at Bishop Farmstead

Mike throwing his arms wide as Meg reaches him at the altar

Meg laughing and wiping a tear during the ceremony

Mike wiping a tear at the altar under the floral pergola

Meg and Mike's ceremony in the gardens at Bishop Farmstead

Meg reading her vows as Mike covers his face, emotional

Meg and Mike laughing during the ceremony under the pergola

Meg and Mike's first kiss under the floral pergola

Mike pointing to the sky as he and Meg walk back up the aisle

Mike cheering as guests toss petals during the recessional

Meg and Mike cheering as guests toss petals after the ceremony

Meg and Mike smiling beside the ceremony chairs at golden hour

Mike and his groomsmen in front of the red barn at Bishop Farmstead

Meg and Mike with their wedding party in the gardens

The wedding party cheering with Meg and Mike under the trees

Close-up of Meg's bouquet against her lace wedding dress

Full-length portrait of Meg in her lace gown and cathedral veil

Meg laughing with her hand on her hip as her veil trails across the lawn

Meg and Mike walking hand in hand across the lawn at Bishop Farmstead

Mike kissing Meg's cheek under the trees at Bishop Farmstead

Meg and Mike laughing as they walk through the garden

Mike squatting in celebration as Meg raises her bouquet

Meg raising her bouquet as Mike reacts with an open-mouthed cheer

Black and white portrait of Meg and Mike by a vintage wagon at night

Black and white photo of Meg and Mike laughing by the candlelit wagon

Meg leaning on Mike beside a candlelit vintage wagon at dusk

Meg and Mike by the candlelit wagon at dusk at Bishop Farmstead

Three-tier naked wedding cake with a wire 'H' topper in the barn

Meg and Mike dancing into the barn at Bishop Farmstead

Meg raising her arms as she and Mike enter the barn reception

Meg and Mike's first dance in the barn under the string lights

Guests dancing under the string lights in the barn

A family member and guest leaning into the camera on the dance floor

Guests celebrating on the dance floor at Bishop Farmstead

Meg and Mike with friends on the barn dance floor

Meg dancing with her arm in the air on the packed dance floor

Two guests kissing Meg on both cheeks as she laughs

Meg lifted up by two friends on the dance floor

Meg and Mike dancing among guests under swirling lights

Meg dancing under the string lights in the barn

Mike lifting Meg as she laughs in the barn

Black and white photo of Meg and Mike celebrating on the dance floor

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