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Joanna and Jerry at McLoone’s Boathouse

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Joanna and Jerry at McLoone’s Boathouse

How did you meet?
Jerry and I met at a Latin social in New York City on a rainy April night. My friend and I were about to leave the social and go somewhere else when he reached out his hand and asked me to dance with him. We continued to dance together for hours while teasing each other all night.

How did you get engaged?
Jerry proposed to me in Staten Island on a trail by the riverfront on a snowy evening in December while the sun was setting. Early in our relationship, we would go to this spot to have long conversations and get to know each other. We spent many hours in that spot and it was a sentimental moment for both of us.

Details of the day!
We wanted our wedding to be inspired by classic 1940’s elegance with a modern twist. It was important for us to have a small intimate wedding that felt warm and filled with love. We leaned toward simplistic elegance by choosing neutral colors of ivory and black, enhanced with gold accents. We wanted the day to feel effortless while remaining elevated with small details such as gold flatware, gold taper candle holders, and minimalistic floral arrangements. Instead of large floral arrangements, we purchased a variety of bud vases and flowers to create a more unique look. We focused on ivory florals with tiny buds and greenery to give the arrangements a modern appearance. The room and the tables were filled with candlelight from black taper candles and two large candelabras flanking the sweetheart table to create a romantic and moody vibe. For our guests, we displayed a small gold cart to offer cigars and also had a table with essential body oils in scents such as lavender and rose that we created ourselves as favors.

Why did you choose your venue?
We chose Mcloone’s Boathouse as our venue for the extensive menu and the beautiful space. We were able to have our ceremony on the grass in front of the reservoir as the sun was setting and then guests were able to go right into the building for cocktail hour. McLoone’s Boathouse allowed us to make the space our own and eliminated the excess that we wanted to avoid with a traditional wedding venue.

What was on your menu?
McLoone’s Boathouse provided an indulgent amount of food that left guests raving. The menu included a cocktail hour which had a raw seafood bar, pasta station, cheese display, Mediterranean display, and passed hors d’oeuvres. We also added a mac & cheese bar as an enhancement, which was a guest favorite. Dinner was a 4-course meal that started with a crab cake appetizer, then moved to a salad, a choice of entree between roasted chicken breast, filet mignon, or salmon, and finishing with a Viennese dessert spread and wedding cake. Our cake was ordered from Calandra’s Bakery and was one large tier of vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. The exterior of the cake was black fondant with gold splatter detailing and handmade fondant flowers created by my sister. Guests were also treated to a slider bar as a late-night to-go snack!

All about your gown!
My gown was purchased at BHDLN and was a simple one-shoulder ivory satin floor-length gown. I was inspired by Marilyn Monroe in a white gown with a fur stole, and when I saw my dress, that was exactly what I thought of.

What was your favorite moment?
My favorite moment was our first dance. Dancing has meant everything to us in our relationship, since it is how we met, and our first dance song was a dream come true.

One detail you couldn’t live without?
I couldn’t live without my table decor. It was a vision formed in my brain that came to life. Everything about it was more than I could have imagined.

Did anything go wrong?
Unbeknownst to me, the first look location we had originally planned on using was unexpectedly closed on the wedding day. My wedding planner figured out a way to get us access to the space solely for our first look so we were able to get the photos we had envisioned. There was also a mixup during our processional songs which my planner fixed before I heard it so the correct song was playing as I walked down the aisle. Other than that, everything came together better than I expected.

First dance song?
Our first dance song was “All The Way” by Frank Sinatra. We had a very sentimental twist added to this song and had it produced and remixed into a bachata song halfway through our first dance. Our guests were shocked and their reaction was priceless.

Any advice for future brides?
The best advice I can give is to be true to who you are as a couple. A wedding is a special day and it should feel like you. If you want to throw tradition out the window, I say go for it! And if you love tradition, then pack it on heavy! There is no right or wrong way to have a wedding day and celebrate your love.

Honeymoon Location?
Due to covid we went on a mini-moon to Beacon, New York, and stayed at The Beacon Hotel. We will be going to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for our 1 year anniversary to celebrate our real honeymoon.

wedding details

Hometowns

Nutley, NJ

Reception Location

McLoone's Boathouse

Photographer

Scratch Studios

Officiant

Rev. Dr. Jack Fucci

Bride’s Gown

BHDLN

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Joanna and Jerry at McLoone’s Boathouse

wedding details

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