Allegra and Mike got married at Pendry Natirar on November 23, 2024.

Their Story

After years of navigating the highs and lows of Manhattan’s dating scene, Allegra Mango was exhausted and disinterested. At 29, she had built a life she loved—an exciting job, a gushing social life, and a home in the West Village shared with her best friends. The only thing missing was a life partner.

Enter Mike Berry.

A former college hockey player turned investment banker, Mike had just arrived in New York City. After five years of bouncing between Boston, Vancouver and Washington, D.C., he was finally where he had always dreamed of being. His plan? To embrace the bachelor life and fully immerse himself in the city he had long imagined calling home.

But fate had other plans.

Allegra’s roommate urged her to respond to a personalized note from Mike on Hinge—a note that was a lot more thoughtful than the usual one-liners she had been getting. Intrigued, she agreed to a first date.

The moment they met in April 2021, everything clicked. Their first date stretched for hours, filled with laughter, effortless conversation, and an undeniable connection. From that point forward, everything moved fast.

That summer, Allegra and Mike traveled the country together, hopping from one wedding to another—Laguna Beach, Santa Fe, Key West—each trip deepening their bond. Mike, who had initially been eager to embrace his single life in NYC, suddenly found himself completely captivated by Allegra. Meanwhile, Allegra, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, realized that maybe, just maybe, it never would.

The Proposal

By December 2023, nearly three years after they first met, Mike proposed on the Long Branch boardwalk—a place that held deep sentimental value for Allegra, who grew up along the Jersey Shore.

While she had a feeling a proposal was coming, she could never have predicted the whirlwind of celebrations Mike had planned. After a private, intimate moment on the beach, he whisked her away to a brunch at the Mango family home, where their closest friends and family were waiting. The festivities continued with a private dinner at Il Buco in NoHo, followed by drinks at The Wren, where they were surrounded by friends, toasting to their future.

Just a few months later, in March 2024, Allegra and Mike took another big step, moving in together into a beautiful waterfront apartment in Brooklyn Heights.

Choosing the Venue

With the engagement official, the wedding planning began. Allegra and her mother, MaryLynn, had already been touring venues along the East Coast in search of the perfect spot.

When they visited Natirar, they instantly knew—it was the place. Nestled on 500 acres of rolling hills, the mansion’s rustic yet elegant aesthetic was everything they had envisioned.

The cherry on top? The brand-new Pendry hotel, set to open in the summer of 2024, making it the ideal destination for their guests. November 23, 2024 was set, and the planning went into full swing.

Picking the Vendors

The first vendor they locked in was their wedding planner, Stacey Sainato of Peony Events, followed closely by The Up All Nighters, a band they had already seen rock three separate weddings. Their high-energy performances had made them an easy and obvious choice. 

Allegra next selected Peonies to Paint Chips as the florist and design, immediately developing a bond Deb Marut. The foursome of Allegra, MaryLynn, Stacey and Deb scheduled monthly Zoom calls to bring Allegra’s extravagant vision to life. 

With so many guests flying in from Canada, the couple decided to make the celebration a weekend affair. 

The Wedding Weekend Begins

The party kicked off Friday evening at Restaurante MV in Bernardsville. The restaurant successfully balances modern-chic and old-school Italian, accomplishing a warm and cozy feel through candlelight and greenery.

Guests were greeted with passed hors d’oeuvres including mini polpettini, crab cakes and ricotta crostini for a cocktail hour. The dinner began with an Antipasti and was followed by Rigatoni Bolognese. Guests had a choice of five main course options and dessert. 

Dinner was accompanied by a round-robin speeches from both the bride and groom’s side, providing tears and belly laughs. At 8 o’clock the doors opened to all wedding guests kicking off a ‘Welcome Party’ with more passed treats including meatballs, arancini, lamb chops and cannoli.

Details of the Day

The wedding day morning started bright and early for the girls. Allegra booked a private yoga class for her bridesmaids and friends staying onsite at the Pendry at 7 am. Starting the day with movement was a ‘must’ for the bride. Getting the blood flowing, jitters out, and mind focused was the perfect beginning to the best day of her life. The bridal suite had a calm and cheery feel. Allegra chose a more ‘sunshine pop/soft-rock’ playlist of artists like Taylor Swift, John Mayer, and Vance Joy – in an effort to preserve energy for the dance floor later that night. 

Allegra and Mike had their ‘first look’ at 12 noon on the outdoor terrace on Natirar, overlooking the rolling hills and park. The couple had an emotional moment followed by their private sharing of personal vows. Reminiscing on the day, they both referenced this moment as one of their favorites. 

It was important to Allegra that they be married in a Catholic Church, honoring her deep-rooted faith and family traditions.

For their ceremony, Allegra and Mike chose Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bernardsville, a historic church known for its grand stained-glass windows, soaring wooden beams, and warm, intimate ambiance. Its timeless architecture and serene surroundings made it the perfect place for them to exchange their lifelong promises. Just a short drive from Natirar, the setting seamlessly blended tradition and elegance, setting the tone for a truly unforgettable day. 

Allegra was accompanied by her mother and father in a white vintage Rolls Royce. 

Surrounded by family and friends, they promised forever in a setting that was both traditional and deeply personal.

Following the ceremony, guests arrived at Natirar just in time to catch the last golden rays of the sunset washing over the estate’s rolling hills. The cocktail hour unfolded on the terrace, where a live trio played soft jazz as guests sipped signature drinks—a Smoky Apple Cider Margarita for Allegra and a Maple Old Fashioned for Mike. Servers moved through the crowd with passed hors d’oeuvres while the chilled raw bar and pasta and grill stations offered something for every palate.

As the reception began, guests stepped into a ballroom transformed into a candlelit dreamscape, where blush and ivory florals intertwined with soft greenery. Members of the band flanked the entrance on platforms with brass instruments, welcoming guests with high energy. 

Allegra and Mike made their grand entrance, meeting cheers from their friends and family before taking to the dance floor for their first dance to Beyond by Leon Bridges. Parent dances followed—Allegra and her father swayed to The Way You Look Tonight, while Mike and his mother shared a heartfelt moment to Forever Young.

As guests sat for dinner, Allegra’s uncle Antonio Olivadoti welcomed everyone with an Italian blessing of the couple and the meal. Dinner was a celebration of flavors, with a pear salad starter leading into a choice of filet mignon or Chilean sea bass, each paired with selections of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Malbec. A dessert spread featured caramel chocolate brownies, cannolis, pumpkin cupcakes, and a s’mores station, with the pièce de résistance—a vanilla cake layered with coconut pastry cream—making for a sweet finale.

After speeches, The Up All Nighters kicked off the festivities, keeping the dance floor packed with hit after hit. Guests were breaking down the dance floor all night, ultimately hoisting Mike and Allegra into the air to crowd-surf above cheering crowd.

The party didn’t stop there. Guests were invited back into the conservatory, which had been transformed to a lounge, marked by two LED lights, a blueberry and a strawberry. The DJ, DJ VALENTINO, wore a strawberry top and guests were given strawberry sunglasses.

While there were late night treats, guests swarmed the new dance floor to continue the party. The Bride and Groom kept the energy high well into the early hours, making sure the night ended exactly how it began—filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. 

The Morning After

Sunday morning was a beautiful brunch hosted at Ninety Acres, where guests were welcomed to stop in throughout the hours of 9-12 to nurse their hangovers with french toast, bacon and frittatas.

The elegant restaurant, just a short walk across the lawn from the Pendry, offered a beautiful backdrop for reminiscing the fun moments of the night before.

Honeymoon

Allegra and Mike bid their guests farewell, before rushing to Brooklyn to swap bags and head to JFK for their flight to Africa. Next up, a Tanzanian Safari honeymoon!