Jessica and Ed at Nanina’s In The Park

Posted on February 28, 2023 by New Jersey Bride

How did you meet?
I was a junior at Boston University, taking a science course that I needed to graduate, and Eddie was the graduate student teaching assistant for the course. I did not like him as a teacher, and even tried to switch out of the course but my advisor wouldn’t allow me to.

How did you get engaged?
Eddie had been planning an engagement for at least six months. He was worried that I found the engagement ring he purchased, and made a last-minute decision to propose right before Christmas in 2018. We traveled to NJ to celebrate with my family later that week.

Details of the day!
The theme was classic and romantic. The bridal party was in all black, and the flowers were breathtaking and shades of white, cream, and pink. I wanted the entire venue to smell beautiful. We prayed to have a beautiful day weather wise and we had the most perfect 70° day in July right before the heatwave.

Why did you choose your venue?
Naninas In The Park has such a romantic feel from the second you walk in. The beautiful architecture of the building, the landscaping outside, and the ballroom are captivating. The food is always highly raved about, and the Venetian hour is over the top. It was a very easy choice for two big Italian families coming together.

What was on your menu?
We had delicious Italian entrées of veal and eggplant parmigiana, chicken saltimbocca, and salmon along with stunning offerings by Naninas In The Park. Our cake was fudge chocolate and funfetti from Palermos.

All about your gown!
Castle Couture is an elite shop for all of your wedding needs. I had tried on many dresses at other stores until I found the “one” at Castle. I was looking for a fitted trumpet dress with a detachable train. I wanted lots of crystals, beads, and lace, and I knew that getting a detachable train was like getting two dresses for the price of one. It was exactly what I was looking for, and they made the process very easy.

What was your favorite moment?
My favorite moment during the wedding was looking at everyone having a great time and really living in the moment. It felt so surreal that we were finally here after being engaged for three years and planning throughout a pandemic. I could not have done it without my mom and my best friend helping me plan. I never wanted the day to end.

One detail you couldn’t live without?
For me, having a beautiful and romantic event that people will remember for a lifetime was something I could not live without. The flowers were breathtaking, and the weather was perfect. We could not have wished for a better day. The small details really made all of the difference.

Did anything go wrong?

No!

First dance song?
Seven Lions

Any advice for future brides?
Advice for other brides is to really make sure that everything you want is laid out clearly for less stress on the day of the big wedding. On the day of the wedding, you will not be stressed about the little details. Your only job is the enjoy the best day ever!

Honeymoon Location?
Since we both work in healthcare, and it is the busy season, we wanted to make sure we still made time to go on a special trip while staying close to home. We ended up going to Florida and spending time in Orlando at Disney and Universal, Saint Pete Beach on the West Coast, and rounding out our trip at party town Key West. We are planning on going on a big international trip to celebrate our one-year anniversary.