How did you meet? Ronnie and I met in high school circa 2003 but didn’t really hit it off. We had many mutual friends and acquaintances but didn’t hit it off until we re-met in the fall of 2016 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at a mutual friend’s going away party. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
How did you get engaged? We were engaged in Barcelona in 2018. Ronnie carried the engagement ring around for the entire week-long trip and proposed on the last day at Camp Nou, Barcelona FC’s stadium.
Details of the day! Ronnie thinks that the wedding theme was Yankees, but it was not. However, the color for the bridesmaids, linens, and cake and groom’s tux was navy blue. The groomsmen wore pinstripe Yankee socks with dark gray tuxes and the maid of honor wore gold. I didn’t initially want a winter wedding but decided to fully embrace it by having it “snow” during the first dance. Ronnie really wanted a huge party but while I didn’t, however not being one to do things halfway, we were both all in with a celebration including pyrotechnics, aforementioned “snow,” and hora loca as a nod to the groom’s Latin heritage (he’s Colombian and Dominican) and a fun, energetic celebration for all. We had lanterns on the floor (battery, I was afraid someone would kick one over!) but we wanted to make it so there was more romantic light brought into the room and NO PURPLE LIGHTS! As much as we both love the Jersey Shore and fist-pumping, that was not the vibe we wanted.
Why did you choose your venue? I have always loved restaurants on the water and a lot of New Jersey venues can seem repetitive. Liberty House stood out as different and close enough so it wasn’t a trek for the bulk of our wedding guests to attend. We had considered a winery, but the ones we visited on Long Island didn’t have a large enough area to serve as a dance floor for our celebration, plus it is a bit of a hike as most of our friends and family members live in Northern New Jersey.
What was on your menu? Cocktail Hour: Butler Passed Hors D’oeuvres- Baby Stuffed Artichokes with Spinach and Smoked Mozzarella Creamed Spinach Beef Tenderloin toasted crostini finished white truffle oil Lobster mac and cheese smoked tartlets Philly cheese steak rolls Miniature Herbed Chicken Parmesan Spinach and Feta Spanikopitas
Mini-Plated Hor D’oeuvres- Bay Scallop Ceviche with Avocado Mousse Citrus Jumbo Lump Crab Salad Tuna Tartar with Spicy Mayo and Ginger Chef ‘s Antipasto Table, Seasonal Fresh Fruits and Berries, Artisanal Cheese Display, Mediterranean Station, Satay Station, Pasta Station, Sushi Station
Reception:
First Course- Florida Crab Cake | Radicchio, Endive, Arugula Balsamic, Lemon Remoulade Intermezzo Lemon Sorbet
Entrée Course- Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon | Tri Colored Quinoa, Bok Choy, Baby Carrots, Red Wine Reduction Espresso Braised Beef Short Ribs | Escarole, Wild Mushrooms, Candied Bacon, Creamy Parmesan and Herb Orzo Dessert: Custom Designed Wedding Cake Carlos Bakery – Chocolate and Dulce de leche filling Seasonally Designed Liberty House Specialty Dessert Station, Cake pops, Chocolate covered strawberries, pastries, cookies Doughnut Wall provided by Liberty House greeting drinks – Paloma (tequila, grapefruit, lime juice, club, sugar) & Moscow Mule
All about your gown! I went with a pretty traditional ball gown with lots of beading, but not too pagenty. I wanted to sparkle since it was going to be dark during our wedding ceremony. My veil also had crystals in it.
What was your favorite moment? Lauren: I was happy once we finally got to the venue, I could finally feel as if I could relax and everything was in the capable hands of the Liberty House Staff. Leading up to that moment I was nervous about the bridal party, arriving, breakfast sandwiches being delivered to the hotel, you name it. I was also totally shocked by the Hora Loca even though I planned it, it exceeded my expectations. I also orchestrated a first look prank where the best man came out in a dress – I helped arrange the whole thing and whew it was a lot of work keeping the photographer, videographer, events coordinator at the hotel, and bridal party on the same page while keeping it a secret from Ronnie. Once we went to walk out, I saw the best man, Ed in a Lilly Pulitzer dress I had rented from Rent the Runway and I thought to myself…wait, this is why I’m nervous?
Ronnie’s favorite moment were the speeches, the first dance because of the “snow,” pyrotechnics, and the dancing on a “cloud.” That’s also when it really sunk in for Ronnie that it was real. He also loved our intros, he walked in with a custom WWE style belt engraved with “Hardnandez” a combination of our last names that also served as our wedding hashtag. He also loved the speeches – the bride’s sister and Maid of Honor, Kristen, as well as bridesmaid and friend since college, Fiorella, the groom’s best man, Ed, as well as his sister Gigi.
One detail you couldn’t live without? Ronnie has served in the National Guard for over 10 years and served in Afghanistan. I really wanted to pay tribute to his service even though it wasn’t a traditional military wedding so there was a traditional sword cake cutting with the members of our bridal party who deployed with Ronnie taking part, as well as a custom cake topper including Ronnie in dress blues.
Did anything go wrong? The staff at Liberty House was incredible, the pacing was perfect and everything was seamless. Nothing went wrong, we just wanted to do so much! We had purchased sparklers which we wanted to have a photo of and just didn’t get to it, countless songs we didn’t get to, we didn’t have a bouquet toss and instead wanted to give Lauren’s bouquet away to the couple married the longest and even with a reception that was hours long, it just didn’t happen. I also never got to review the names on the mirror with the seating arrangements, some people were left off somehow. I think some people didn’t have tables, but again the staff at Liberty House swooped in, everyone had a chair and a meal and hopefully a great time!
First dance song? “Tenerife Sea,” by Ed Sheeran.
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Any advice for future brides? We somehow got married right before the world turned upside down with the pandemic, but especially during this time, I’d say try not to get caught up with the small stuff.
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