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Amanda and Tom at Windows on the Water

Posted on April 03, 2020 by Ariana Baio


We were introduced by a mutual friend (my college roommate and his kindergarten best friend) the summer we turned 21 at Bar A in Belmar, NJ. We dated other people but reconnected when we were both single about four years later. He was living in Matawan and working and I was living in the city and going to law school.

I was very VERY annoying about wanting to get engaged so Tom was determined to make it a surprise. We were living in Morristown, NJ at the time and when I came home from work on a random Thursday in May 2017 our apartment was filled with rose petals, balloons that said “will you marry me?” with pictures of us hanging form each balloon, our black lab had a sign around her neck asking the same thing and our Morkie had a shirt on that said “Please say yes!” We then went on to have a small party with our close friends and family at my parents house.

I wanted a simple, yet elegant, wedding so we went with a black and white theme, black tie reception with all-white flowers with free flowing greenery. Coming from two big Italian families, we wanted to eat, drink and dance the night away.

I fell in love, not only with the ocean front location, but with the clean and simple beauty of the venue. A huge plus was also the outside entertaining areas for both the cocktail hour and the reception.

Starter: tomato and mozzarella salad. Entrees: choice of filet mignon, lobster or stuffed chicken. Dessert- cake and Viennese hour. Our cake was a chocolate cake with alternated filings of cannoli cream and Oreo. White cake with black ribbon at the bottom of each layer and a personalized cake topper I bought off Etsy.

I have always favored a more simple style, and I had become obsessed with Lovely Bride through Instagram. I went with the intention of buying a specific dress and was disappointed when I found out they did not have it in stock. Luckily, my bridal attendant was able to find the perfect dress for me that was the same style. I was in love with the dress and bought it that day, which was my first and only appointment. Then when I came back to pick up my dress I fell in love with a capelet to wear during our Catholic ceremony.

Dancing with my dad. He became paralyzed when I was 10 and we never thought he would be able to walk me down the aisle, let alone dance with me. We took lessons for months at Dance with Me in Glenn Rock, NJ (I cannot recommend David enough). My dad passed away suddenly in February 2019 so my dance with him is one of my favorite moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.

I needed candles and greenery everywhere and KMT Events (Amanda and Kia) really delivered! As part of my contract, I had access to KMT’s in-house inventory, which included hundreds of pillar holders, acrylic bride and groom chairs and signage.

Nothing major the day of but three weeks before my wedding I had to look for a new florist. Narcissus Florist saved the day and didn’t up-charge me for the last minute nature of it!

“Yours” by Russell Dickerson

Don’t over-stress! Little things will go wrong and you wont even realize it. Make sure you pick an amazing photographer (and event planner) because they will make or break your pre-wedding , day-of and post-wedding stress

Barbados, a lovely gift from my in laws, we stayed at the Mango Bay hotel which I highly recommend.

the details

Hometowns

Matawan, NJ

Reception Location

Windows on the Water at Surfrider Beach Club

Photographer

Havana Photography (Liz Polo)

Officiant

Father Gary Koch

Bride’s Gown

Theia Couture-Eve Dress (From Lovely Bride NYC)

+ more