Diane and Peter at Grand Marquis

How did you meet? 
Peter and I met on Tinder in 2016. If you asked me years ago that is how I would meet my husband I would of laughed! However, after some courage I finally joined Tinder and it was the best decision I met. We had our first date in Montclair over a couple of drinks and a night of endless laughs. Who would of known a swipe right would lead me to meeting the man of my dreams!

How did you get engaged? 
Peter proposed on Christmas night in 2016. He always said he would not propose on a holiday, but secretly he had an amazing proposal in front of the Christmas tree planned out. His family was there to capture every moment and it was the best proposal I could have asked for. It was laid back yet romantic all at the same time!

Details of the day! 
I knew from the start I wanted a simple and romantic wedding. I chose lots of blush and whites for our floral with silver accents and it fit our venue perfectly. The bridesmaids wore “bluestone” which was a grayish/blue color which fit in beautifully with the blush tones. There was a lot of special touches that were handmade by my sister, like our entrance mirror with our names, our card box and our menu cards and programs.

For favors we went with wine. Being Portuguese and Italian we knew we wanted something we both loved and enjoyed and our guests could enjoy.

During our dessert hour, we had a cigar bar outside in which guests were able to have cigars and cocktails in the private outdoor area. It was a hit with our guests!

Why did you choose your venue? 
We fell in love with the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge as soon as we stepped inside the venue. We chose the Dome room which has a beautiful captivating dome and an all glass wall leading to a private outdoor area. The venue is modern and romantic and it was exactly what we were looking for!

What was on your menu?
Our wedding cake was made by Palermo Bakery. It was a 4 tier cake in ivory buttercream with cannoli filling and a light chocolate mousse filling on every other layer.
We had a lovely cocktail hour filled with different station and even a roasting suckling pig to bring in my Portuguese culture. For dinner guests were able to choose from 3 options. We ended the night with an out of this world Viennese hour. It was filled with a boardwalk station, a donut station, crepes, milkshakes, hot pretzels and so much more! It was a great way for our guest to indulge before the night was over.

All about your gown! 
I wore a Kenneth Winston ivory gown. I found this dress browsing Instagram and knew I had to try it on. It was the first dress I put on and I could not stop thinking about it with every other gown I would try. It had beautiful lace and beading like I always imagined and a beautiful open back. Sometimes the first dress is the one!

What was your favorite moment? 
My favorite moment was when my parents walked me down the aisle to my husband to be. It was a whirlwind of emotions and I was so excited to marry my best friend.

One detail you couldn’t live without? 
One detail I couldn’t live without were our speeches by our Matron of Honor and our Best Men. It was a very special moment and beautiful words were said that we will never forget.

Did anything go wrong? 
No, I think with all the planning nothing will every go as “planned” but that is the beauty in it all. It is a day you have to let go and truly enjoy every moment because it goes so fast. My dress might not have bustled the way it was supposed to but it was just a little bump I got through and moved on to enjoy the best day of my life!

First dance song? 
Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill – It’s Your Love

Any advice for future brides? 
When everyone tells you it goes so fast, it REALLY does! Take it all in, let every moment be magical even if a few bumps might occur. This is one of the most important days of your life and a day you will forever remember. Smile, laugh and feel all the love and joy around you because at the end of the day you are marrying your best friend and life partner and the moment you worked so hard to plan is here for you to truly enjoy!

Honeymoon Location 
Aruba