Michelle & Mike at Ristorante MV

Michelle and Mike’s Ristorante MV Engagement session was like working on an editorial. From the décor, outfits and cocktails, this session had me excited all afternoon long. I am beyond eager to share their photos with you! Mike, co-owner of Ristorante MV, brought this location idea to me and I was so pumped to use such a meaningful location for their session…

To give some history, this adorable couple knew each other in college and re-connected eight years later at a friend’s wedding when Mike decided to switched table place cards so that Michelle had to sit next to him. Well, it worked! Funny enough, that wasn’t the only trick up his sleeve. For the proposal in 2021, Mike planned a “30^th birthday party” for Michelle which was actually an engagement party, since he popped the question and Michelle said yes right before they walked in! Mike and Michelle were able to celebrate all night with their friends and family.

It was tricky finding a date that worked with all three of our schedules, and Mike and Michelle work incredibly hard themselves. Michelle is a spin instructor at Ride + Reflect, a freelance writer for Parade.com, and a sales rep for women’s golf apparel brand Golftini. Michael is a restauranteur schooled in his family’s restaurant in Brooklyn, Queen Italian, which has been in business for 65 years. In January 2021, Michael and his father partnered up and opened a new restaurant, and our featured location, Ristorante MV in Bernardsville, NJ.

This Ristorante MV Engagement had everything from being meaningful to the couple, to the aesthetic they were looking for. From the fresh and trendy décor, 1958 Fiat parked out-front, beautiful natural stone walls inside and out, and of course, cocktails. This Bride and Groom to-be were a bit nervous, like most couples, going into the session. They both turned out to be naturals in-front of the camera and Mike even continued to work in-between me setting up different shots around the rooms.

With the photo jitters out of the way, Mike and Michelle are beyond excited for their upcoming wedding at Trump National Bedminster, where they golf every Tuesday (Mike’s day of.. I can relate to that!). I have to say, I am excited too!

For posing tips at your engagement session, check out my tricks here.

Vendors & Links:

Jeans & Fedora: Alba Boutique

Bride to be Makeup: Make up by Cara – Cara Lovello

Bride to be Hair: Nicole Bovasso at Craft Hair Studio

Location: Ristorante MV