Caitlin and Erik at SkyView Golf Club

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Corey Salva

{"hasCentered":"false","interventionImages":["https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/2000Tina_s-Favorites-0135-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0106-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0231-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0266-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0149-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0238-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0223-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0145-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0214-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0202-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0195-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0171-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0164-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0119-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0109-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0175-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-00097-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0055-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0001-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0050-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0204-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0031-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0011-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0079-2850153452.jpg","https:\/\/www.newjerseybride.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/intervention\/cache\/Tina_s-Favorites-0004-2850153452.jpg"]}

How did you meet?
We met through Erik’s sister, Natalie – she was my college roommate! It wasn’t love at first sight, but a few years later we both happened to be single and cross paths at the right time.

How did you get engaged?
A few weeks before Christmas (my favorite season), Erik hid my engagement ring in the chocolate advent calendar I buy every year. I was caught COMPLETELY off-guard, which is truly amazing because I’m not easy to surprise.

Details of the day!
Our color scheme was navy blue with pink florals and touches of gold. We were going for a modern, romantic look with just a touch of glam. The bridesmaids wore mismatched blue dresses that they chose completely on their own, the only guidance I gave was a paint chip sample with the shades I was looking for. The groomsmen and the groom wore gray suits with mismatched navy ties. Our floral arrangements and the bridesmaid bouquets were various combinations of white hydrangeas with blush and pink roses, while my bouquet was mostly white and pale pink roses, which complemented the blush undertones in my dress.

Guests were seated using a large seating chart that matched the invitation suite, and the tables had navy blue tablecloths, gold wooden table numbers, gold glitter votives, and menus that also matched the other paper goods. The sweetheart table was covered by a gold glitter tablecloth and featured navy initials and champagne flutes that were a gift from my aunt and uncle. Our friends contributed as well – our guestbook was a custom piece of art by one of the groomsmen, and one of the bridesmaids created our chalkboard signs throughout the reception. Our favors were custom-made macarons from a local bakery, in raspberry and vanilla, and they were definitely a hit – other than photography, we got the most comments on the favors.

Why did you choose your venue?
SkyView was absolutely gorgeous! We had originally wanted an outdoor reception, but logistically it wasn’t making sense for us. When we found SkyView, we were instantly sold from the moment we drove up and saw the amazing view. It was such a unique and stunning location for a ceremony! The views are also visible from cocktail hour and the reception hall, which both have floor-to-ceiling windows. One of my favorite touches was that beverages were provided as guests arrived before the ceremony began. The food was delicious and they have so much to choose from, and it helped that the cake was included in our package. They are perfect for couples who have their own vision, they truly brought everything to life that we had created in our minds!

What was on your menu?
We had a variety of food at cocktail hour, but the stand-outs were the Latin station which featured pernil (pulled pork) and empanadas, the corned beef carving station (for the Irish bride) and the potato bar which featured french fries, potato wedges, and potato skins. Our dinner menu started with a tri-color salad with champagne vinaigrette, then featured a duet entree of chateaubriand with bordelaise sauce and herb-stuffed chicken with roasted peppers, prosciutto, and provolone in a white wine mushroom sauce. Our cake was alternating layers of vanilla and chocolate cake with a cookies-and-cream filling and buttercream frosting.

All about your gown!
My dress was an A-line Sophia Tolli gown that had hand-beaded sheer cap sleeves and a sweetheart bodice with vintage inspired embroidery. The chiffon bottom was so soft and flowing and the color I chose was ivory with blush undertones. I wanted a dress with sleeves because I have never worn a strapless dress comfortably, and was going for a sheer or illusion neckline so it still had the look of a strapless dress. The other important factor was that I was able to dance and move in the dress, without worrying about having it stepped on. It was sort of a mix between a boho / vintage glam look. Finding it in blush (pink is my favorite color!) was just an added bonus.

What was your favorite moment?
My ceremony, from start to finish. The music and the decor was perfect, but once I got up there with my husband, it felt like it was just the two of us standing there. Walking down the aisle as husband and wife was an unforgettable feeling! A close second-best moment was when I first got to my venue and saw everything set up – it felt surreal because it was all of our planning and decisions brought to life!

One detail you couldn’t live without?
Our photographer! Tina was the first vendor we booked after the venue, although we had basically picked her before that. I had seen her work when she photographed my friend’s wedding, before I even got engaged, so once we were planning I knew she was the perfect fit for us. She was fun and comfortable to be around, and she captured every detail and every moment of our day in such a gorgeous way.

Did anything go wrong?
Nothing went majorly “wrong,” thank goodness, but we accidentally had a receiving line after the ceremony which backed up our timeline and caused us to miss most of cocktail hour. We had specifically done a first look so we could be at cocktail hour as long as possible, so it was a bit of a bummer!

First dance song?
Ho Hey, by The Lumineers.

Any advice for future brides?
Make the day about you and your husband. If that means planning all the tiny details because it’s important to you, then do it. If that means forgoing all of the details because they don’t matter, even if other people want to see them, then do that! And on the day of the wedding, try to stop and take mental “snapshots” – physically stop, look around, and remember different moments of your day.

Honeymoon Location?
We went to Sandals La Toc resort in St. Lucia. It was fantastic! The perfect, relaxing break we needed, where the hardest decision was where to have dinner every night.