Jacalyn and Anthony wanted a “beachy or rustic” venue for their big day. Their Lake Mohawk Country Club wedding was, “everything we wanted in one place,” says the bride.
One of her favorite moments? “It rained—an unplanned detail that made everything that much more perfect,” says Jacalyn.
Plus, the couple invited the New Jersey Devils’ mascot to make an appearance at their reception, which really got their guests excited.
“We met in elementary school and by seventh or eighth grade we were best friends,” says Jacalyn. “We hung out every single day. By high school we would say we’re going to get married and told each other we loved each other. At a high-school football game he got me mad and I left and told him to never speak to me again. Eleven years later, he liked my picture on Instagram, I messaged him and we started talking again. We went on our first date and I knew that day he was the one (I also knew when we were 14). We went on a couple more dates and about 10 months later we moved in together and a few months after that, he proposed.”
“We took a trip to Arizona and I was excited to take him there to show him my favorite places,” says Jacalyn. “One place I hadn’t gone to was the Grand Canyon. So we did a two-day trip hiking the Grand Canyon and little did I know he set his phone up to take a picture and then he got down on one knee. I was in complete shock. But it was beyond perfect.”
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For their May 5, 2024, wedding, “we had more of a rustic theme,” says Jacalyn. “No flowers, all succulents besides the boutonniere and corsages. Our color palette was dusty rose, vintage mauve and green. The groom was in a dusty rose suit while the groomsmen were in grey pants, a white button up and suspenders and the bridesmaids matched the groom. Our favors were a to-go station of chicken fingers, French fries and pizza bagels. Our tables were mixed with round and barn tables so we had two different centerpieces. The barn tables had dusty rose pink cloth going down the center with greenery on top and candles and the round tables had wooden lanterns with greenery on top.”
“We wanted either beachy or rustic,” says Jacalyn. “We looked at a few different venues and then when we walked into the reception room of Lake Mohawk Country Club, my stomach dropped and I was set. Then seeing the beach and the boardwalk, it was all perfect. Everything we wanted in one place.”
“Besides seeing my groom and saying ‘I do’ in the rain,” says Jacalyn, “we are both huge New Jersey Devil fans and got the New Jersey Devil to do an appearance which was so fun and got everyone excited!”
The rain was one detail Jacalyn couldn’t live without. “Our ceremony was on the beach and I very much felt that rain or shine it had to be on the beach,” says Jacalyn. “It rained—an unplanned detail that made everything that much more perfect. The ceremony was us with our bridal party and parents on the beach and everyone else was on the boardwalk with umbrellas. It felt very intimate and more comfortable and made it seem even more special.”
“Don’t stress about the little things,” says Jacalyn. “Anytime someone would ask how planning was going my response was ‘great!’ We didn’t want to spend a year stressing about one night that was going to be over in a blink of an eye. Everything we did was very simple and ‘us.'”
“Our honeymoon was in Tahiti,” says Jacalyn. “We left two days after the wedding. It was about a 10 day trip. We spent time in Moorea and Bora Bora. Kayaking, riding ATVs and scooters to explore the islands, trying their foods and seeing Polynesian shows. It was an amazing experience.”
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