1. Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
Growing up, Michael and I spent much of our summers on the beaches of Long Island and the Jersey Shore, respectively. We knew that we wanted to have our wedding close to the water. The colors that we chose for the day - shades of white, pink, gold, and lots of greenery - reflected the “simple but elegant” look we were going for. We were married in a full Roman Catholic mass as we were both brought up in the Catholic faith. And, of course, we danced the Tarantella in celebration of my family's Italian roots.
2. Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
We were so blessed to have family and friends who generously helped us create our DIY décor in order to maximize our budget. Special shoutout to my mom, Lynne, and sister, Grace, for all of their tireless efforts. We kept the decorations for the ceremony very simple - white stock flowers at the altar, white satin bows on the pews, and a mirrored "Welcome" sign with a greenery arrangement in the vestibule to greet guests. For the reception, décor was all about making it personal without breaking the bank: it included candles and greenery throughout, as well as photos of the couple and our families. For instance, the table number centerpieces included photos of Michael and me at that particular age. Guests were encouraged to take photos with our polaroid camera then paste them into our guest book with a note. Instead of favors, we had jars for different charities and asked guests to put a marble in the charity jar where they would like us to make a donation on their behalf.
3. What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
The florals were really what brought our color palette to life. Robyn from Petal and Paper made our bridal bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages using simple yet elegant combinations of ivory, pink blush, rose gold and olive green florals. Flowers included peonies, ranunculus, roses, lisianthus, olive branch and other textured greenery. We used the bridal bouquets as décor for the sweetheart table. All other greenery and flower arrangements (ie spray roses, white stock, etc.) throughout the reception space were DIY.
4. Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A few favorite moments from the wedding: Visiting the Virgin Mary statue with my brand new husband during our mass and offering her flowers and prayers of thanks; Dancing nonstop with all of our family and friends late into the night; Seeing loved ones who had been kept apart by the pandemic reunite for the first time in over a year; Spending the next day lounging at the beach with family and friends, then ending the day with live music, food truck eats, and cocktails at Nauti Spirits distillery in Cape May. A favorite little touch from the day: one of my bridesmaids was unable to attend, so we put a cut-out of her face on a paint stirrer and carried her around with us throughout the day - you can see her in photos with the entire bridal party!
5. Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
We continued the “simple but elegant” theme: my dress was a an off-white, knit crepe, fit and flare silhouette. It had a spaghetti strap V neckline with an open back cut out and covered buttons that cascaded from the waist to the hem of the soft train. I wore a chapel length raw edge white veil, my hair was swept up in a low chignon and I wore gold jewelry (including a delicate bejeweled hair comb and diamond necklace) and rose gold heels. The bridesmaids wore dresses that they picked out within a rose/blush color palette and paired with neutral accessories. The groomsmen wore blue suits with navy blue ties to keep the look slightly more shore casual; Michael wore a bowtie to stand out.
6. How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
Michael and I met senior year of college through mutual friends. It wasn't until the first year out of undergrad that we became closer, despite the fact that he moved to Madison, WI for work and I lived in Hoboken, NJ. A few years into dating Michael moved back to NYC for medical school, and eventually we ended up moving in together. Michael proposed in October 2019 in the Central Park Conservatory Garden - our favorite place in the city.
7. What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
The most special moment was our first dance, which Michael and I choreographed to Ed Sheeran's “Put It All On Me” featuring Ella Mai. We incorporated a few different dance styles to keep the audience on their toes, and gave it our all to inspire everyone to hit the dance floor with full energy! It was my favorite expression of love we showed each other that day.
8. Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
Some advice that I found helpful: align with your partner on one or two things that you absolutely want to prioritize for your wedding day, and give your most attention to making that happen. This will ensure that you don't sweat the small stuff, and puts proper emphasis (and investment) on the things that matter most to you as a couple. Be open with your venue and vendors about what exactly those priorities are, because they can make recommendations accordingly. Our “one thing” was maximum dance floor time - thanks to both The Reeds and DJ John G. from EBE for making that a reality!
Venue: The Reeds at Shelter Haven
Invitation Designer: Perfectly Invited
Groomsman Attire: The Black Tux
DJ: EBE Events & Entertainment
Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo
Hair Stylist: Salon Meraki
Floral Designer: Petal and Paper
Photographer: Laurel Creative