Jennielle and Matthew wed on June 2, 2024 at the Mansion on Main Street.

Their Story

Jennielle and Matthew met on the dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel. Jennielle reached out first and her first ever question to Matthew was about basketball, specifically the Philadelphia 76ers.

“We were both late to our first date, but got a good laugh out of the fact that we somehow worked less than a block away from each other,” says Jennielle. “Our second date actually happened on the same day as the first!” Jennielle ended up missing her bus home, so the couple both decided to stay longer and talk until the next bus came.

Their third date was cancelled because it was scheduled for the day the whole world shut down due to Covid-19. But Matthew and Jennielle decided to keep talking through video calls (and sometimes falling asleep together on video calls!), watching TV shows and basketball, and staying together throughout.

By the time they finally were able to meet up for an in-person third date months later, “our love and affection for each other had already grown so, so much,” says Jennielle. “Throughout, the moments of our story have been beautiful and silly and simply everything we could have both wanted.”

The Proposal

They got engaged on May 6, 2023 in their home in Guttenberg.

“We started the day roller blading in a nearby park in the most perfect of weather and then that night we went to a restaurant down by the water facing the New York skyline,” says Jennielle.

“I at first thought Matthew would propose right there on a quiet gazebo outside, but I had always wanted a private engagement.”

“When we got back from the restaurant there was a candle that said ‘will you marry me?’ on the table with printed photos of us, and a poem that Matthew wrote for Jennielle.”

Details of the Day

Their theme was focused on summer vibes and included a color scheme of sage green, champagne rose and beige along with florals featuring white hydrangea, creamy peach roses and favors that were heart-shaped tea bags and honey sticks.

[RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey]

Choosing the Venue

“We fell in love with The Mansion as soon as we entered their beautiful, marbled main hall,” says Jennielle. “A tour of their stunning grounds, complete with a lake, willow trees, and waterfall, and a glass of wine later and we knew there was no better option for making our wedding dreams a reality.”

“But all of that luster wasn’t even close to the best part of The Mansion,” says the bride. “The best part of The Mansion was the staff who were incredibly attentive, caring, detailed and just flat-out the best people we could have ever asked for.”

Favorite Moment

“Exchanging vows with my husband was such a beautiful, special experience,” says Jennielle.

“Successfully completing the first dance we had worked so hard on together for months and being able to smile at each other at end and see everyone in the room,” says Matthew.

Detail They Couldn’t Live Without

“Being able to have such an intricate braided design to my hair as a black woman and to show both of our cultures as Caribbean-Americans at the wedding through our music and having a steel pan player at the cocktail hour,” says Jennielle.

Advice For Other Couples

“The wedding process can be really tough and stressful with so many tasks (and people!) to take care of and coordinate with,” says the bride. “So our advice would be: Work together as a team.”

“It was so satisfying for both of us that we built our wedding together, each bringing their own ideas and seeing it come to fruition. It was rewarding and gave us a lot of growth as a couple to figure out how to best work with one another and such a big project.”

Honeymoon

The couple wen to Morocco and Spain for about two weeks.

“In Morocco, we explored the coastal cities of Casablanca and Rabat eating the deliciousness of chicken pastilles and French chocolate cupcakes and, of course, Moroccan mint tea. The architecture in Morocco was truly incredible, with the highlight being the second largest mosque in the world, the Mohammed VI,” says Jennielle.

“In Spain, we went to Seville and Valencia. We learned the history of flamenco and lived our best tourist life in Seville with its quaint cobblestone streets and picturesque views down the Guadalquivir River and everything we could ever want no more than a 10-minute walk away. In Valencia we saw the absolutely coolest designed museums of all time, especially the Queen Sofia Palace of Arts.

Sign up for our Something New newsletter for weekly wedding ideas, inspiration and advice from expert NJ vendors, New Jersey Bride’s editorial team and real couples—sent right to your inbox!