January 3, 2012

Do you like this story?

Jeri Houseworth Photography.

Jen DeFelice never imagined being married in a church or a windowless reception hall. If anything, she thought, maybe she’d have a Vegas wedding. But after getting engaged to Erik Kutz on the beach in Aruba, she thought about a destination wedding in the Caribbean. After realizing that it would be too difficult for family and friends to make the trip, they decided on the next best thing: the Jersey Shore. So the couple tied the knot on May 21, 2011, while overlooking the ocean from the rooftop of Avenue in Long Branch. “It was on the beach, yet still close to home,” says the bride, who’s from Sayreville. “It was just perfect for us. We both grew up going to the beach. It’s someplace we always go. We love the water, the beach, the ocean.”

Party at the Shore

Jen, a loan processor, wore a strapless, ivory silk trumpet gown, and Erik, an assistant store manager originally from South Amboy, was decked out in a tan suit with turquoise tie and pocket square for their 4:30 p.m. ceremony. Jen also picked up the tropical blue hue by painting it on her toes. The couple celebrated with 100 guests in a cocktail-style reception that had a beachy-clubby vibe in Avenue’s indoor and outdoor rooftop space. They wanted their guests to feel as if they were on vacation, not at an overly structured event. There was no assigned seating (except for three tables reserved for the couple’s close family) and no appointed dinner hour. “We wanted an open, casual, loungy feel—and the rooftop of Avenue was perfect.” Jen says. “It was just a fun atmosphere.”

The reception had the colors and look of the beach, with lots of blues and greens and accents such as sea glass, shells and starfish. Green, blue and white lanterns hung from the ceiling. The free-form reception turned out to be exactly the kind of party Jen and Erik had envisioned. “I couldn’t have imagined it any other way,” Jen says. After a honeymoon to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the couple are back home in Morgan.

Resources:

Photographer: Jeri Houseworth Photography, Ocean, 732-988-7769;

jerihouseworthphotography.com

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Avenue, Long Branch, 732-759-2900; leclubavenue.com

BRIDE’S GOWN: Cinderella Bridal, Matawan, 732-290-1045; cinderellabridals.com

BRIDE’S SHOES: Nina Hilaria from shoes.com

HAIR: Melany Scaturro, Milltown, 732-236-1643

MAKEUP: Jeannine Martino, MAC makeup artist, 973-632-0902

INVITATIONS: Cardsandpockets.com

FLOWERS: Petal Beach, West Long Branch, 732-963-9054; petalbeach.com

DEEJAY: DJ Unique Entertainment, 732-859-1877

BRIDE’S RINGS: Tiffany & Co., Red Bank, 732-345-8150; tiffany.com