This NJ Couple Got Married in the Nor’Easter This Weekend—And Guests Said It Was One of The Best Weddings

Megan Zuckerman and Alec Blihar got married on Saturday, September 26, at the Water Witch Club in Highlands, during the nor’easter that moved through the East Coast this past weekend. The week leading up to the wedding involved navigating the weather and last-minute decisions. Despite the storm, the celebration came together beautifully: a clear tent overlooking the stormy water, a packed dance floor, a groom who joined the band on stage for three songs, a Thursday evening first look to capture outdoor portraits before the storm. Megan’s own takeaway? The storm somehow made it all feel more special — cozy, romantic, and very Jersey Shore.

Choosing the Venue

“The venue itself was a huge part of why the weekend felt so meaningful,” says Megan. “The Water Witch Club is a historic 19th-century clubhouse in Highlands, designed by Richard Lamb and Charles A. Rich of the architectural firm Lamb & Rich and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

“We loved that it had this nautical Jersey Shore charm while also offering views toward the Manhattan skyline. That connection meant a lot to us because we now live at the Jersey Shore, but New York City is still a major part of my life and family history.”

Earlier in September, Alec and Megan had a civil ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau to honor Megan’s family’s nearly four centuries of history in New York City.

Details of the Day

“For the design, we leaned into a late-summer/early-fall palette with sage green, dusty blue, dusty rose, dark burgundy, mauve, and other romantic, transitional colors,” says Megan. “In hindsight, I’m so glad we didn’t go too summery, because the colors really popped against the darker, stormy backdrop.”

“Our specialty drinks were Alec’s Honey Bee, made with tequila, honey, lemon, and aromatic bitters, and Megan’s Moonflower, a zero-proof mocktail with pear, elderflower, lemon and sparkling water. Since I am sober, it was important to me to have a nonalcoholic signature drink that still felt thoughtful and celebratory.”

When The Storm Was Brewing

“The nor’easter started to feel like a real concern the weekend before the wedding,” says Megan. “Alec and I were at Asbury Park’s Sea.Hear.Now festival, and even though that weekend felt cold, overcast and windy at the time, we later joked that it was nothing compared with what was coming for our wedding weekend. We kept checking the forecast and started seeing signs of a possible nor’easter. I was still trying to stay optimistic, but by early that week, it became clear that the storm might seriously affect our plans.”

Coping With Changing Plans

“Our original ceremony plan was to get married on the lawn of the Water Witch Club under the flagpole, overlooking Sandy Hook, the water and the Manhattan skyline,” says Megan. “I had envisioned that ceremony location from the moment we first visited the venue, so it was very emotional to let go of that plan.”

Because of the storm, they had to rethink almost everything: the ceremony setup, the tent, cocktail hour, shuttle logistics, hotel plans and eventually even the after-party.

When the tent went up on Thursday, “I was honestly so sad when I first saw it being installed because I felt like it interrupted the view of the Water Witch Club lawn,” says Megan. “I still had a little false hope that maybe the weather would improve enough for us to take it down by Saturday.”

They ultimately went with a clear-top tent. “It was sturdier for the storm conditions, as the tent company had advised, and it still allowed us and our guests to feel connected to the dramatic views around us,” says Megan.

Dealing With the Wedding-Day Weather

The storm created even more complications on the morning of the wedding.

Megan’s dad, Megan’s brother, Alec and Alec’s dad were supposed to get ready at Beachwalk Hotel in Sea Bright. But the hotel needed guests, including some of Alec and Megan’s wedding guests, to leave because of the flooding and road closures nearby, so everyone had to scramble quickly.

Some guests came straight to the Water Witch Club, while others found new hotels in Red Bank and Tinton Falls before heading to the wedding.

“My dad drove back to the Beachwalk and had to speak with firefighters at the road closure barrier to explain that he needed to get back to the hotel to grab his tuxedo before the flooding got worse. Fortunately, no one missed the ceremony,” says Megan.

“One decision we are so glad we made was doing a sneak-peek first look on Thursday evening,” says Megan. “Since we had early access to the venue for setup and the forecast looked increasingly uncertain, we wanted to make sure we captured outdoor portraits in case the weather made them impossible on the wedding day. We were so lucky that our vendors were able to make that happen, and we ended up with stunning sunset photos overlooking the water just as the winds from the incoming storm were starting to kick up.”

Despite the Storm, The Wedding Was Great

“Despite everything, the wedding day itself was incredible. The ceremony took place in the clear tent with views of the stormy water, and the weather made everything feel dramatic, cozy and unexpectedly romantic,” says Mega. “Our guests were so positive and supportive, and there was such a strong sense of camaraderie because everyone had made it through this wild storm weekend together.”

“We couldn’t have done it without Kristen Stahl of the Local Line, who was our day-of-coordinator. She helped us navigate all of the changes leading up to the wedding and was on-site the day before and on Saturday to help with everyone. Not only did she make sure that all of the logistics were taken care of, but she helped calm our nerves. We are so grateful to her.”

“Once the reception started, the dance floor was packed all night. One of the most special parts of the night was Alec joining our band, The Kicks, on stage. He performed ‘Brandy,’ changing the lyric to ‘Megan’ in the middle of the song, and ‘Ocean Avenue,’ which felt especially ironic since we had just been evacuated from Ocean Avenue earlier that day. Later, he joined them again for ‘Mr. Brightside,’ which was unplanned, and I ended up on stage with a tambourine, which was also unplanned. Those moments felt even more joyful after all the stress leading up to the day.”

“Our original after-party was supposed to be at Brothers Daley in Sea Bright, but it was closed because of the flooding,” says Megan. “Instead, the after-party turned into guests gathering in the hotel lobby with leftover wedding wine and bags of chips.”

Advice For Other Couples

“My biggest advice to other New Jersey couples planning coastal weddings is to be flexible and have a real backup plan,” says Megan. “It is okay to be sad if the weather changes the vision you had in your head, but it does not mean the day is ruined. Some of the details I had worried about most ended up not mattering at all. What mattered was that our guests were safe, present and ready to celebrate.”

“Afterward, so many guests told us it was one of the best weddings they had ever attended and that the storm somehow made the whole weekend feel even more special. What could have felt like a wedding-planning nightmare became a cozy, romantic, very Jersey Shore love story.”

Wedding Vendors

Thursday sneak peek:
Photographer: Makenna Katz / @makennakatzphotography
Content creator: Preciously Planned / @preciouslyplanned
Makeup and hair: Ashley Paige / @ashleypaigemakeupandhair
Florist: Black Eyed Susan’s Florist / @blackeyedsusansflowers 

Friday welcome party:
Venue: Seafarer / @theseafarernj
Photographer: Makenna Katz / @makennakatzphotography
Content creator: Natalie Chiarello / @chiarellocontentco for Preciously Planned / @preciouslyplanned
Makeup and hair: Ashley Paige / @ashleypaigemakeupandhair 

Wedding day:
Venue: Water Witch Club / @waterwitchclub
Planner/rentals: Kristen Stahl, The Local Line / @thelocallinenj
Photographer: Jordyn Kasey / @jordynkaseyphoto
Florist: Black Eyed Susan’s Florist / @blackeyedsusansflowers
Caterer: Falco’s / @falcoscatering
Videographer: Echos of Ivory / @echosofivory
Super 8 videographer: Taylor Spence Photography / @taylorrspencephotography
Stationery: Kiley Anna Atelier / @kileyannaatelier
Bridal: FBM Bridal / @fbmbridal, BECCAR / @atelierbeccar, and Kelly Faetanini / @kellyfaetanini
Hair: Michelle Elise Artistry / @michelleeliseartistry
Makeup: Make Me Up Eva / @makemeup_eva
Band: The Kicks / @thekicksnj
Cake: Chocolate Carousel / @chocolatecarousel
Rentals: Monmouth Wedding Rentals / @monmouthweddingrentals and Ocean Tents & Party Rentals / @oceantents
Photobooth: Caught Ya Lookin’ / @caughtyalookin_photobooth
Rings: Simones Jewelry / @simones_jewelry for my engagement ring and Alec’s wedding band; Eternate / @eternatejewelry for my wedding band 

Fashion:
Welcome party dress: Sachin & Babi / @sachinandbabi
Ceremony dress: BECCAR / @atelierbeccar from FBM Bridal / @fbmbridal
Reception dress: Kelly Faetanini / @kellyfaetanini from FBM Bridal / @fbmbridal
After-party dress: Mestiza New York / @mestiza_ny
Alec’s look: Black by Vera Wang / @verawanggang from Men’s Wearhouse / @menswearhouse