We met freshman year of college. We lived on the same floor in our dorm building and became friends a few months after moving in. We stayed friends for a few years and finally decided to start dating at the end of our junior year and have been together ever since!
How did you get engaged? We were a COVID engagement, so July 2020. My husband had the ring and couldn’t hold onto it for much longer without getting antsy and nervous so he took me to Sea Bright, our favorite beach, and proposed!! The cherry on the cake was that he hired my favorite photographer to take photos of our proposal. Anthony then brought us to Sandy Hook for a mini proposal photoshoot. Once we were finished, we went to my parent’s house where our families and one of my best friends were in the backyard for an intimate gathering. COVID definitely altered the original plans my husband had, but it was truly a perfect day and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other day!
Details of the day! Our colors were black, white, champagne, and gold. We kept our wedding classic, but modern. Every detail incorporated these colors throughout the venue. For our florals, we did bulky white florals, such as peonies, garden roses, anemones, and ranunculus, with light greenery such as eucalyptus. Some of the key elements we had were our biscuit bar that was a favor from our dog, a wine guestbook (the guests signed wine bottles that we will drink on special occasions such as first baby, first big purchase, etc.), lots and lots of photos, signature cocktails (for myself, my husband, and our dog), a cigar roller, and an in-memory table to honor the loved ones that are no longer with us in the physical world.
Why did you choose your venue? The Mill was everything we were looking for!! It is a perfect combination of modern, elegant, and Jersey Shore! The vibe of the venue was inviting but wasn’t too big where you felt like you got lost. The staff at The Mill is exceptional and unmatched, you don’t just feel like a client, but you honestly feel like you’re a part of a family. They host cute events for their couples, such as happy hours, valentines day champagne toasts, the white swan gala, etc. The food is also fantastic and really unique. We’ve been to a fair share of weddings and we wanted something that was outside of that “cookie cutter” spread and The Mill gives you just that! From a bacon bar to wine and cheese pairings, to fresh hand-pulled mozzarella made right in front of your eyes, there was something for everyone! Along with access to the venue and cuisine, they throw in a complimentary wedding cake, ice sculpture, centerpieces, and various decor items such as welcome signs, dog treat bars, table numbers, etc! They are always keeping up with the latest trends and are truly a Jersey Shore staple!
What was on your menu? We started with a Caprese Salad with Fresh mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and fresh basil, drizzled with a balsamic glaze. For entrees, guests could choose Chateaubriand (Marinated cut center filet of beef tenderloin, roasted to perfection, served with sauce forestiere and cooked to temperature for each guest) accompanied by twice-baked potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables, or Chicken Marquis (a tender breast of chicken stuffed with spinach, provolone, roasted red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes with chef’s own sauce Maison) accompanied by tri-color potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables, or Chilean Sea Bass (potato-crusted filet of sea bass pan seared served with provencal sauce) accompanied with herbed wild rice and fresh seasonal vegetables, or Eggplant Rollatini (breaded eggplant stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan) accompanied with grilled seasonal vegetables. Guests were offered second portions of the entrees above, presented French style (HUGE HIT!) Our cake was funfetti with vanilla mousse. We had Dessert Stations as well – Deluxe Ice Cream Bar, Banana’s Foster, Cappuccino, espresso, international coffee, and tea!
All about your gown! My gown wasn’t what I went in looking for, but it was everything I needed!! I just didn’t know it existed. I wore Martina Liana Style 1128 and it is the perfect combination of elegance and sexy. It is a crepe material gown with intricate beading, lace, buttons, bling, and a HUGE train. These were the keywords I was telling to my stylist at I do I do and she told me to try on this gown. I put on the gown and I knew it was something really special. Once they put a veil on, the deal was sealed and it was THE ONE! I wanted the veil to match my dress so I do I do ended up making a custom veil with the lace from style 1128. No one was expecting me to wear a gown like this, but it was really unique and striking!! To top it all off, it was comfortable and light! I didn’t feel like I was lugging around a heavy weighted dress all day, which as we all know as brides is a huge plus!
What was your favorite moment? My favorite moment had to be when I walked down the aisle. My husband and I did not do a first look, we kept it traditional. That moment of turning the corner to walk down the aisle of the church was so many emotions: excited, overwhelmed, emotional, happy. Seeing my husband’s face was everything. We have known each other for 11 years so for him to finally see me coming down the aisle in my wedding gown, a day I have talked about for so long, was a dream come true and a moment I will never forget.
One detail you couldn’t live without? One detail I couldn’t live without was my calligraphist. Erika at Adorn Market was one of the best vendors I have ever worked with in my lifetime. She understood my vision and heightened it to levels that I can’t even explain. Her creativity is at an elite status and my wedding day wouldn’t have been completed without her! She made all of our signage, welcome sign, and most importantly the seating chart. I have dreamed of this seating chart for years, but I never saw anyone do it and just thought it was a “Pinterest” vibe that I couldn’t make a reality until I met Erika…where if you dream it, she does it. I can’t begin to thank her enough for every big and small detail that she incorporated into my wedding.
Did anything go wrong? Thankfully, no! I am a Project Manager full time so planning my wedding was essentially managing a project. I had a really good grip on all the logistics and I hired Gifted Events to help me the day of, so everyone and everything was on track and on time!
First dance song? Joy of my Life – Chris Stapleton
Any advice for future brides? A few things: – Don’t stress…yes it’s easier said than done. I am a typical type A, anxiety-ridden person, and the week of my wedding and the day of my wedding were the calmest I’ve ever been. Think of it this way, you won’t ever get this time back. This is the opportunity you have to enjoy the moments, big and small, and you don’t want to look back at this time and think about how much you stressed and cried. You want to reflect on happier times. I kept telling myself that when I felt moments of anxiety and it really kept me grounded. Do a basic bustle. I wanted a boujee, glam-like bustle, and tried to be different and it backfired on me. 40 minutes and 5 people later, we are all hovering around my dress trying to follow the video from the bridal store. My bustle ended up not being hooked the way it was supposed to, and it caused us to be late for our reception. Stick to the basic bustle, it was time that was wasted that I didn’t get back. Research the heck out of your vendors. For every vendor I used, there were about 20 vendors that competing against them that I was comparing quotes, quality, and reviews. Trust the NJ bride Facebook group reviews, it doesn’t get more honest than that! Keep in mind that some vendors pay websites like The Knot and Wedding Wire to wipe bad reviews, so if something seems too good to be true, run the vendor’s name through a search in the Facebook group, I promise you’ll get the answers you’re looking for!
Honeymoon Location? We went to Italy and focused on the Almafi Coast and Sicily. My husband and I are both Italian so we wanted to go back to our roots and really experience what Italy has to offer. We were there for two weeks and our honeymoon was planned by Vicki’s Travel Designs, who is absolutely incredible!
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