Real Weddings
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Danielle and Josh at Willow Creek Winery

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Allison Dupree

Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekHow did you two meet? Josh and I both attended Stockton University but never crossed paths, despite knowing a lot of the same people. A few years after graduation we were set up by a mutual friend and the rest is history! Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekHow did you get engaged? Cape May has become a very special place for us over the years. Every year we plan a getaway over Valentine’s Day and a getaway in the summer. These weekends always end with us visiting Willow Creek Winery and enjoying their delicious wine and tapas. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekLast July, Josh asked that I keep a weekend open because he was planning our annual getaway down to Cape May. We spent the early afternoon at the winery having a great time. After a few hours (and many, many glasses of wine!) we left and I was ready to go home. Josh told me he had one more stop, and I actually asked him if we could skip it and just head back!! He told me it would take just a few moments and he drove us to a very quiet beach area near the ferry. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekHe brought me down onto the beach and we sat there watching the waves and even saw dolphins swimming by. After a few moments he turned to me and (after a long but beautiful speech!) asked me to be his wife. It was one of the best days of our lives. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekDetails of your day! Willow Creek Winery is a gorgeous venue that truly speaks for itself. We decided to keep the theme of the wedding a winery/vineyard theme with hints of rustic glamour. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekThe main room is so stunning that not a lot of decor is needed, but we did incorporate flower centerpieces in white, gold & merlot to give it an extra pop. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWe had a lot of candles placed on all of the tables and the gorgeous fireplace; which was an awesome focal point in the room. For favors we gave out mini fleet bottles of the winery’s signature red wine, which worked out great because its delicious! Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWhy did you choose your venue? We chose Willow Creek because of the special place it holds in our hearts. There was never another option in our minds! Plus is doesn’t hurt that the food, drinks & ambiance are amazing. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWhat was your wedding menu? For our cocktail hour, we had stations and passed hors d’oeuvres that included scallops wrapped in bacon, ahi tuna, mushrooms Rockefeller, bruschetta and a meat and cheese station (obviously!). For our dinner salad we chose a fresh arugula served with sweet preserved Jersey peaches, goat cheese, walnuts and with a homemade raspberry vinaigrette drizzle. It was to die for! Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekThe main entrees were a choice of chicken breast stuffed with shrimp imperial, filet of top sirloin & a vegetarian option. The chef was fantastic and he was so accommodating to any special requests, allergies, dietary concerns etc. We also placed goodie bags on the table so guests could bring some home to their kids, or for themselves!! Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekLastly, instead of signature cocktails we did a “signature his and her sangria.” My flavor was a pear sangria (white) and Josh’s was blueberry pomegranate (red). They were a huge hit with all of our guests. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWhat was your wedding cake? We also decided to forgo a traditional wedding cake and we opted for cupcakes instead because Josh isn’t a cake person. We had five flavors of cupcakes that were: mango coconut, chocolate peanut butter, salted caramel, cannoli & red velvet. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekAll about your gown! I found my Eve of Milady gown at Bridal Garden in Marlton. The dress had an ivory/blush v-neck sheer hand beaded lace bodice with matching straps. The cut was fit and flare and it had a three dimensional lace skirt with scalloped border. I loved that the dress was classy with a hint of sexy. It fit my personality perfectly. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWhat was your favorite moment? My favorite moment by far was our first look. It was so special to see Josh for the first time in a quiet, private place. The day of your wedding can be crazy and people are pulling you in a million different directions. It was really nice to have a few moments alone with him and to revel in the true meaning of the day; becoming husband and wife. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWhat was one detail you couldn’t live without? Our venue! Everything revolved around Willow Creek. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekDid anything go wrong? The shuttle that was taking us (and our guests!) to and from the hotel room block and the winery did not have air conditioning! Apparently when the driver went to retrieve the shuttle he noticed that the air conditioning was broken but it was too late to get a new shuttle. It was so hot out and we were all roasting. Thankfully Josh remembered to bring a cooler with water and beer for the shuttle and it was a lifesaver. Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekFirst dance song? “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran Advice for other brides? My advice for other brides is to stay true to the vision you and your fiancé created for your wedding day. A lot of people are going to have a lot of different opinions and some might even want things done a certain way. While we took every suggestion and request into consideration, at the end of the day it was our wedding and we needed to stay true to ourselves. It turned out perfectly and we have no regrets about how anything turned out!!! Danielle-Josh-Willow-CreekWhere did you go on your honeymoon? We spent 11 magical days at the St. Regis Bora Bora. It was the trip of a lifetime and we made so many memories that we will never forget.

the details

Hometowns

Absecon and Sewell

Ceremony Location

Willow Creek Winery

Photographer

RHM Photography

+ more