Surya Garigipati Photography & Films photographs weddings of every kind in Montclair and across Essex County, New Jersey, at Pleasantdale Château in West Orange, The Grove in Cedar Grove, Crystal Plaza in Livingston and the rooms couples bring to us, with portraits at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens and Branch Brook Park. The Flemington studio is rated 4.9 on Google.
At a glance
| Covers | Montclair, Glen Ridge, Verona, Cedar Grove, West Orange, Livingston, Newark and the rest of Essex County |
| Venues we know | Pleasantdale Château in West Orange; The Grove in Cedar Grove; Crystal Plaza in Livingston; the Montclair rooms couples bring to us |
| Portraits | The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in late May, Branch Brook Park’s cherry trees in April, the Montclair streets, the Eagle Rock Reservation lookout over the skyline |
| From the studio | About an hour from Flemington |
| Travel | Included in every collection |
| Reviews | 4.9 on Google from 38 public reviews: read them |
Montclair weddings
Montclair weddings are often two-tradition weddings: a church or a civil ceremony and a South Asian or Jewish one, a mandap in a garden and a first dance to a jazz standard at night. The town gives the portraits Victorian streets and old trees, the estates of West Orange give the ceremony a lawn, and Branch Brook Park and the Presby gardens give two short, spectacular seasons. Our guide to fusion and interfaith weddings covers the two-ceremony day, and our church wedding page how we work inside a parish.
Venues in and around Montclair
- Pleasantdale Château, West Orange: an estate with gardens for a lawn ceremony, on our calendar; our outdoor venues guide covers what an estate has to allow.
- The Grove, Cedar Grove: a modern ballroom ten minutes north.
- Crystal Plaza, Livingston: refined and classic, a strong choice for a fusion celebration with a black-tie feel; our venue guide covers a two-ceremony day there.
- Montclair’s own rooms, the inns, museums and halls couples bring to us, walked before the day.
Where we take portraits in Essex County
- Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Montclair: a short, spectacular season in late May.
- Branch Brook Park, Newark: one of the largest collections of cherry trees in the country, at its peak in April; crowded on bloom weekends, so come at sunrise.
- Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange: the lookout over the Manhattan skyline, twenty minutes away.
- The streets of Montclair: Victorian houses, old trees and shade at midday.
Parks and gardens require a permit or a fee for professional photography, and the rules change from year to year; we check every location and arrange it before the day.
How we photograph a wedding day
The work sits between two crafts: documentary storytelling, the real laughter and the moment nobody planned, and refined editorial portraiture that belongs on a wall. A photographer with each of you while you get ready; the complete ceremony delivered rather than a selection, with the vows recorded on lapel microphones; a family shot list built together on the planning call so the groups take minutes; couple portraits scheduled for the kindest light at a place already scouted; and soft constant light placed high in the reception room before guests arrive. Surya leads every wedding himself, and cinematography has been in-house since 2016. See how we work across New Jersey and packages and prices.
How do we book?
Send us your date and your Montclair venue. Surya replies personally within 24 hours, then a twenty-minute call, then a written proposal itemised to the dollar. Travel within 90 miles of New Jersey, which covers all of Montclair and the state, is included in every collection. Check your date.
What couples wrote on Google
"Surya captured our wedding perfectly. We had a packed day with multiple events including Catholic and Hindu wedding and Surya’s time management was perfect. He, in fact made us feel calm throughout the day and did not take over the event" — Nimmy Arpan
"Surya was absolutely exceptional for us! He went above and beyond in our engagement photoshoot, and on the day of, his team was awesome to work with." — Chetan Jhaveri
Questions Montclair couples ask us
When are the Presby Iris Gardens and Branch Brook Park at their best?
Presby for about two weeks in late May; Branch Brook’s cherry trees in April, at their peak for a week or two and crowded on bloom weekends, so we plan a sunrise session.
Can you cover a lawn ceremony at Pleasantdale Château and a reception indoors?
Yes. We place the mandap or the arch for the light, agree the rain plan with the venue in writing, and light the room before guests arrive.
Do you photograph weddings that are not Indian?
Yes. Most of our weddings in Montclair and across New Jersey are South Asian or fusion, and the same team photographs weddings of every kind: a church or civil ceremony, a one-day celebration or a multi-day weekend.
Is film included?
In the wedding day and wedding weekend collections, yes: a photography team and a cinematography team work side by side from one timeline, and couples receive a highlight film and a feature film with the vows and speeches in full.
How much does a wedding photographer cost?
With us, single-celebration collections begin in the mid four figures and most couples who celebrate across a full wedding weekend make a five-figure investment, set out in a written, itemised proposal after a short call.
Your Montclair wedding
Tell us your date and your venue. We reply within a day with availability and a collection built for your day.
Check Your Date