What do you get when you take six top family photographers, six Bergen moms, and 10 kids and put them all together? A beautiful image of motherhood - one filled with laughter, lightness and boundless love. To all Bergen Mamas - Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s a peek at what some of our favorite moms are most looking forward to this Sunday.
Dina Manzo with Lexi, photographed by Mac Hartshorn of Hartshorn Portraiture
Describe your ideal Mother's Day: A yummy Brunch, followed by a nature walk. Then exploring pretty little shops in a quiet village with my mom & my daughter.
Breakfast in bed or brunch at a restaurant? Brunch because I would wind up doing the dishes!
What would be your dream gift and what do you think your actual gift will be? Dream gift is a monkey but they're illegal in NJ so I'll take a pretty book.
Wildflowers or roses? I love both, tend to go towards more fresh picked flowers.
All moms have hidden guilty pleasures....what's yours? Shoe shopping of course!
Erika Liles with Genevieve, photographed by Emily Photography
Describe your ideal mothers day: My ideal Mother's Day would start with sleeping-in without interruption! I would then enjoy a family outing like a picnic in the park or a boat cruise on the Hudson, ending the day with a nice family dinner.
Breakfast in bed or brunch at a restaurant? Brunch at a restaurant.
What would be your dream gift and what do you think your actual gift will be? My dream gift would be anything my 2 year-old daughter makes for me. My actual gift will likely be some jewelry I purchased last week that my husband will find out about when he asks me what I want for Mother's Day, the day before!
Wildflowers or roses? Wildflowers.
All moms have hidden guilty pleasures....what's yours? My guilty pleasures are Reality TV and sweets, I can't resist a good cupcake!
Melissa Garcia with Asher, Sam and Harlow, photographed by Julie Stapen Photography
Describe your ideal mothers day: Although cliché my ideal Mother's Day would be spending the day with my 3 delicious kids, my amazing husband and of course my Mommy too.
Breakfast in bed or brunch at a restaurant? Breakfast in bed HANDS DOWN! It's actually become a tradition that my 3 kids all "make" (with Daddy's help) me breakfast in bed; Belgium waffles with strawberries and whipcream. They give me their presents and homemade cards and then they EAT THE BREAKFAST THEY MADE ME! Wouldn't have it any other way!
What would be your dream gift and what do you think your actual gift will be? Honestly, I don't think I have a "dream" gift. My gift is seeing how happy and proud my kids are giving me the cards they made or the gifts they chose. This year we will be spending Mother's Day in Disney; definitely NOT relaxing but SO FUN! Maybe I can sneak in a massage 😉
Wildflowers or roses? I would probably pick a bouquet of wildflowers; never blend into the crowd, stand out and be different!
All moms have hidden guilty pleasures....what's yours? Oh my god....there are so many! Ok, so as embarrassing as it is, reality tv is probably my guilty pleasure. I can get sucked into ANY reality show. Just give me about 5 minutes and I'm hooked. It's terrible, I know!
Jena Tell with Ashton, photographed by Erika Deer Photography
Describe your ideal mothers day: My ideal Mother's Day is a tradition we started on my first Mother's Day. My husband, our son, and I spend the day in Central Park which, begins with a blanket picnic with wine, cheese, and yummy salads from Citeralla.
Breakfast in bed or brunch at a restaurant? I'd have to choose brunch at a restaurant because one of my favorite things to do is go to a restaurant for a great brunch and sit outside on a beautiful day.
What would be your dream gift and what do you think your actual gift will be? My dream gift would be a day activity or a get away with my husband Rob and our son Ashton. I enjoy making memories! I would guess that I'm probably going to get a spa treatment as a gift, which makes me so happy to get some relaxing "me" time.
Wildflowers or Roses? Definitely wildflowers!
All moms have hidden guilty pleasures....what's yours? My son doesn't get tv time during the week so he longingly looks forward to Saturday and Sunday mornings when he gets into our bed and watches tv while snuggled between me and my husband. Little does he know we enjoy this time more than he does as we get to catch another half hour of sleep!
Wendy Yecies with Tyler and Brooke, photographed by Elise Campbell Photography
Describe your ideal mothers day: Quality time with my husband and kids, and hanging out with my mom and sisters watching our kids have the best time together.
Breakfast in bed or brunch at a restaurant? Breakfast in bed can be overrated, especially when I end up cleaning the dishes! Brunch at a restaurant with great service and no clean up is more my speed.
What would be your dream gift and what do you think your actual gift will be? My dream gift would be a day of no whining, complaining, or melt downs (without the use of bribery or electronics)...and maybe a great tennis outfit and a massage. I think my actual gift will be cards, candy, hugs and kisses, and maybe a mystery gift from my husband.
Wildflowers or Roses? Definitely wildflowers....I like color and dimension.
All moms have guilty pleasures, what's yours? Definitely not something I am proud of, but on any given night you might catch me sneaking swedish fish out of my night table and watching 16 and Pregnant!
Jennifer Law with Jessie and Casey, photographed by Story of Life Photography
Describe your ideal mothers day: The Rubin Run 5K with my girls, brunch and planting our garden- it's a 7 year tradition (so far).
Breakfast in bed or brunch at a restaurant? Definitely brunch at a restaurant.
What would be your dream gift and what do you think your actual gift will be? I don't have any dream gifts, is that weird? Actual gift will be a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and lots of home-made cards that will make me smile.
Wildflowers or Roses? Wildflowers
All moms have hidden guilty pleasures....what's yours? Right now my guilty pleasure is listening to Howard Stern as soon as the kids get out of the car- he makes me laugh!
