A Dreamy Winter Wedding at the Estate at Florentine Gardens

Nikki and Ed’s Estate at Florentine Gardens wedding was the dreamy winter big day they had hoped for.

With white and green florals and pine cone accents, “it was romantic and classy, just as I had envisioned it would be,” says Nikki. “The floor-to-ceiling windows in the ballroom were the cherry on top of it all. Stunning views of the twinkle lights in the garden made our romantic vibes only that much stronger.”

Their Story

“I met Ed’s mom at the Parker House in Sea Girt,” says Nikki. “We walked out together and were chatting, but little did I know, her son, Ed would be standing on the corner working as a Sea Girt police officer. She introduced us and I felt funny because he was at work, so I walked away. I am a tall girl and Ed is 6-feet-6-inches. My friend told me it would be foolish to walk away from the tallest man I may ever meet, so she ran back to get his number. I texted him, we enjoyed a summer at the Shore and the rest is history! I know many feel like their story is fate working a little magic, but I truly believe fate played a role in our special meeting.”

The Proposal

“Ed proposed on the beach in Manasquan, where we spent most of our early dating days,” says Nikki. “He bought the ring that afternoon and decided as he walked out of the store that it had to be on my finger on that same day! It was a Wednesday in September and was a true surprise of a lifetime for me, him and our family and friends!”

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Their Estate at Florentine Gardens Wedding

“We had a dreamy winter wedding on December 9, 2022,” says Nikki. “The girls wore a deep emerald green and the guys were in classic black tuxedos. We had whites florals and winter greens, with romantic candles lined down the ceremony aisle and then on the reception tables. It was romantic and classy just as I had envisioned it would be! I owe that to Florentine Gardens and our amazing florist Laurie and her team at Laurel Wood Designs.”

Why Estate at Florentine Gardens?

“I loved the grand feeling without a large overwhelming venue,” says Nikki. “Ciro, one of the Florentine owners, made me feel like family immediately. He catered to us and listened to my visions before I even officially choose the venue. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the ballroom were the cherry on top of it all. Stunning views of the twinkle lights in the garden made our romantic vibes only that much stronger. Not to mention their incredible cocktail hour and bridal suite. Because it was a Friday wedding, we had access to the bridal suite all day, which was a huge factor in choosing the venue. We were so relaxed because we did not have to worry about getting anywhere. We had our ceremony at the venue as well, which made it a true one-stop-shop type place—the kind of convenience I was looking for to have the most stress free, enjoyable day. The staff runs the entire day like a well-oiled machine. I got that vibe before committing to the venue but now I can say with experience that they all know what they are doing and made our day entirely seamless.”

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Bridal Style

“As some say it goes, my gown was one I would not have chosen entirely on my own,” says Nikki. “I owe that to the expertise of the Aleanna’s Bridal in Paramus. They listened to what I liked and did not like about the gowns I was trying on and then brought me “the one” It is a Demetrios fit and flare gown with beading and lace work and a gorgeous train. They altered it in-house and added my bustle. I paired it with a simple short italian tulle veil. It was perfect!”

Favorite Moment

“The whole day was a dream,” says Nikki. “I loved getting ready with my best friends and my mom and my sister. We felt like little kids—me and all my childhood friends. My favorite moment though was our first look. I highly recommend doing a first look. It’s amazing the butterfly feeling that comes over you. And the pictures are priceless. I loved being able to spend the afternoon with my fiancé before we walked down the aisle. It helped make the day feel like it wasn’t totally flying by and that we could actually take it all in together. That first moment kicked started the whole day for me!”

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Special Details

“Our bridal attendant was a Florentine Gardens employee (another reason the venue takes care of it all!) and she catered to our every single need,” says Nikki. “She steamed all the dresses, bustled my dress, put my shoes on and off, got us whatever we need and was with us for the entire day from 9am to midnight. Our videographer was something we debated, but in the end was by far a necessity. The same day edit was played for everyone before our reception ended and it was an absolute hit. Everyone is still talking about it!

Advice

“Be very specific with the photo list when the photograph asks for it,” says Nikki. “Consider letting venue staff know who family members are (extended family, like aunts/uncles/cousins), so they may be seated with priority for the ceremony, and the photographer as well, so she/he is aware to capture some moments with them. It is easy for the photographer and venue staff to tell who grandma is, but aunts and uncles, not so much. It is worth mentioning those who you might like to be of higher priority.”

“I wish my groom and I took a photo with every table. Our day was incredible and our photos are incredible, but there were moments we had friends and family come ask us to take photos with them and we were torn in one million directions or distracted, and we missed those photo opportunities with some important people. It may seem time consuming, but if we had a photo with every table, then all would be accounted for in photos.”

“Remember it is your day. Everyone says it, but it is true! Say hello to your guests, take a few selfies and spend time with your groom.”

Honeymoon

“We went on a honeymoon to Miami,” says Nikki. “I am a teacher and Ed is a police officer, which makes taking time off tricky. We have a busy summer coming up and we went to Miami for the first time on my spring break. We got massages and enjoyed nice dinners and days by the beach and pool. It was romantic and fun and we named that our honeymoon.”

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