When Alexa and Stephen chose Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville for their March 8, 2026 wedding, they were looking for a classic North Jersey celebration—and the beloved venue delivered exactly that. Beautifully photographed by Milton Gil Photographers, their spring wedding was as personal as it was polished: a warm palette of beige, cappuccino, gold, and green; gold bridesmaid gowns; a floral arch that flowed seamlessly from ceremony into reception; and a cake that said everything about who they are—half dulce de leche for their Cuban fathers, half cannoli for their Italian mothers. As two people who both work in professional sports—MLB and Serie A—they found creative ways to weave that passion throughout the day, replacing the photo booth with a Topps Cards stand where guests could create their own custom baseball cards, and surprising the room with a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Met.
Their Story
“We are a beautiful classic Hinge love story!” says Alexa. “What started as a match on an app, turned into finding your best friend and soulmate.”
“Having Cuban fathers and Italian mothers led to finding our common love of sports, music and great food and desserts! Our half dulce de leche and half cannoli cake not only was delicious, but represented us perfectly!”
The Proposal
Stephen surprised Alexa with a fully planned out proposal at Hamilton Park in Weehawken right in his front yard overlooking the NYC skyline. He had a huge heart shaped statue of roses with candles lining the walkway. And both of their families and friends were hiding in the park, waiting to pop out as soon a he popped the question.
Choosing the Venue
“Nanina’s in the Park made us feel like home,” says Alexa. “We wanted a classic North New Jersey wedding and it truly doesn’t get better than that. The venue, the hospitality, the food, the chapel, the grotto, the list goes on. It was truly unbeatable!”
Milton Gil Photographers
Details of the Day
“Our theme was a mix of beige, cappuccino, golds and greens. Our bridesmaids wore gold and our groomsmen were in classic black,” says Alexa. “Our flower arch led the theme which poured into our reception beautifully.”
“Stephen and I both work in sports, MLB and Serie A, so we found ways to incorporate that passion into our wedding,” says Alexa. “Instead of a photo booth, we had a Topps Cards stand where everyone could create their own baseball cards (as many as they wanted!) and a surprise to our guests came when we invited Mr. & Mrs. Met to the reception.”
Favorite Moment
“Our favorite moment was officially walking into the party announced as Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez. We’re both old souls so we entered to ‘Night to Remember’ by Shalamar—and ode to our love of disco and 1970s music. From the intro, the dance, and watching EVERYONE around us join in… there isn’t a better memory.”
Wedding Day Attire
Alexa’s dress was by Galina,, her shoes were Christian Louboutin, her jewelry was by Van Cleef & Arpels. Stephen wore a classic tux, shoes by Prada and his accessories included family heirlooms and a custom pin inside his suit to honor his late grandmother. The wedding party wore beautiful gold gowns from Azazie and tux’s from Tuxedos by Rose.
Advice For Other Couples
“Enjoy your engagement!!! Soak it in and do NOT start planning your wedding right away. It’s such a special and short time. Think about it, how many people remember their engagement?”
“Constant communication with each other and setting boundaries of family and friends opinions and involvement are SO important.”
Honeymoon
“We have never been to Disney or Universal together, so we decided to have a fun vacation and stay local to save money for our future first home! While we were in Florida, the World Baseball Classic was happening in Miami and we took a spontaneous drive to watch the most exciting baseball event that only happens every four years!”
About This Vendor Nanina’s In the Park is a New Jersey landmark famous for its cherry blossom gardens and Tuscan-style villa architecture that create a picture-perfect setting. ...
