Hudson House Wedding Photographer

Hudson House sits at the very end of Port Liberté in Jersey City, right on the water at 2 Chapel Avenue, with the Manhattan skyline straight across the river and the Statue of Liberty in view. The building has five floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows keep the city in sight from almost every room. That view is the reason couples choose it, and it is the thing a photographer has to plan the whole day around.

The skyline is beautiful at noon, but it is at its best in the last hour before sunset and again once the lights come on. George Pompilio photographs Hudson House weddings with that timing in mind: editorial posing plus real moments, natural light while the sun is up, and lighting with intention once it goes down. He photographs every wedding himself, usually with a second shooter, and takes one wedding per day.

Planning a wedding elsewhere in the state? Start with the New Jersey wedding photographer guide, which covers the venues George knows best county by county.

Build the day around sunset. The skyline sits to the east of the venue, so as the sun goes down behind you, it lights the buildings and your faces at the same time. That is the light you see in Kathrina and Jonathan's ceremony and portraits. Plan portraits for 30 to 45 minutes before sunset, and if you can, time the ceremony so it ends just as the sun drops. Approximate sunset times in Jersey City:

Save five minutes for after dark. About half an hour after sunset the city lights come on and the sky turns deep blue. A short walk onto the terrace between dinner courses is enough for a night portrait like the one in this gallery.

Getting ready. Hudson House has a Wedding Suite for the wedding party, with good natural light. The venue says the wedding party can arrive two hours before the event begins, so if you want a longer morning, plan it at a hotel or at home. There is no hotel on site; the venue's preferred hotel partner is The Albion Summit, about 30 minutes away. Leave real travel time between the two, and send George the address early so he can plan the light in the room. The wedding day planning guide walks through the full timeline.

Keep the timeline simple. Everything happens in one building and on the lawn outside it, so you lose very little time moving between spaces. Use that time for portraits. A first look indoors by the windows frees up the golden hour for the two of you instead of family groupings.

Weather backup. Both the Grand Ballroom and the Hudson Room can host the ceremony indoors, with the skyline still behind you through the glass. On windy or wet days George photographs by the windows, adds light with intention where the room needs it, and watches for a break to step outside for a few frames. Weddings from January through March get the venue’s Winter Weddings package, and with the city lights on before dinner, a night skyline portrait fits easily.