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Michelle and Dane at Mountain Lakes Club

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Michelle and Dane at Mountain Lakes Club

Posted on June 19, 2019 by New Jersey Bride

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How did you meet?
Dane spent the first half of his life growing up in various locations until his family finally settled down in Parsippany when he started Middle School, while Michelle grew up her whole life in Parsippany. The two lived just blocks away from one another for many years without knowing each other. Michelle went to school with Dane’s brother Mauricio while Melissa (the Maid of Honor and sister to the bride) went to school with Dane’s brother Ian. Michelle and Dane both attended the same High School and even worked at the same grocery store for many years, yet still the two did not cross paths. It was not until 2012 when Best Man Ryan had a few get-togethers at his home that Michelle and Dane finally officially met. In October of that year, Hurricane Sandy hit, and it hit hard. Both Dane and Ryan were without power. Michelle invited the two (along with a dozen or so other friends) to her house each day to warm up. For 11 long days, Dane’s home was without power. It was on day 12, however, that the wise Mother of the Bride Diane knew that Dane wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon—even with his power restored, somehow he continued to appear in the Albano household!

How did you get engaged?
A duo brought together by natural disaster, it was only appropriate that their Disney trip in 2016 was plagued by the largest blizzard of the year. Flight having been cancelled (well actually rescheduled, cancelled, then un-cancelled, and eventually leaving without them!), the two along with a few good friends trekked down to Florida by way rental car. Michelle, being unable to relinquish control of the wheel, driving most of the 20 hour journey and was exhausted upon arrival. Dane took advantage of this and surprised her with the proposal within hours of arriving! The two love all things Disney and so it was a true fairy tale to get engaged in the happiest place on Earth.

Details of the day!
The theme of the #RadForThemRadfords Wedding day had was Lakeside Formal with a splash of floral—perfect for a balmy late spring afternoon.

With the color pallet of mint green, peach, gold, and white, their church ceremony and venue were sprinkled with white peonies and peach roses, along with a dab of light green succulents.

Michelle, being a prideful DIY bride, also created centerpieces with silk flowers to compliment the natural floral décor. Additional DIY projects included: mirror guest signature book, nostalgic photo windows, photobooth magnet frames as favors, cocktail hour and open bar decor, and much, much more!

Why did you choose your venue?
Michelle and Dane fell in love with the picturesque setting of the Mountain Lakes Club. Set on one of the beautiful lakes in the town of Mountain Lakes, the Club sits directly on the shore and even has its own dock and beach. The giant double level wrap-around porches were a plus as well, as outdoor space was important to both the bride and groom. Inside, the two loved the feeling of an old converted mansion. The venue was unique both inside and out, an impossible match to beat against any other venues up for consideration.

What was on your menu?
For cocktail hour, the guests indulged in a wide array of ethnic dishes, including and Asian station, Polish Station, Hispanic station, beef carving station, and a cheese and fruit spread. Michelle’s favorite passed hor d’oeurves was the grilled cheese with tomato soup shot! For dinner, options included chicken piccata, herb roasted salmon, and savory flank steak. For dessert, Michelle made a special treat for her guests, a crowd favorite: Oreo Balls! For cake, alternating layers of Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Cream.

All about your gown!
Michelle always dreamed of finding a unique stand out wedding dress, nothing too crazy, but nothing to blend into the background either. After visiting several shops, Michelle finally came across the Maggie Sottero Meryl gown and fell in love. With a classic frame, the dress was flattering in all the right places, yet the layer of sheer polka dots gave just the right touch of flare that Michelle craved for her big day.

What was your favorite moment?
The couple’s favorite moment of the wedding day was they first locked eyes as Michelle entered the doorway to walk down the aisle. Choosing to not do a first look, this was the first time Michelle and Dane had seen each other since the rehearsal dinner, and certainly the first time they each had witnessed each other’s wedding looks. The moment was truly special, a memory to last a lifetime.

One detail you couldn’t live without?
One detail that could not be passed up was the perfect white trolley! Fitting feel of the day, the trolley was the perfect touch to fit the vibe of the lakeside wedding. Michelle had toured different limos and party buses but nothing felt right. Not until they saw the trolley did they know that this was the right choice for their day. With a wedding party of almost 20 people, the trolley was a special way to travel from location to location.

Did anything go wrong?
If anything went wrong on the day of, Michelle and Dane were oblivious to it. With a strong team of family members and friends helping the day to go smoothly, the couple did not have to lift a finger all day long. The only detail that could not be controlled was the weather. All week long, the wedding day was forecasted to be doomed with thunderstorms with potential for flooding. Michelle even purchased monogrammed umbrellas in the event that outdoor pictures would need some coverage. Miraculously, however, the forecast cleared last minute and the sun shined brightly all day long!

First dance song?
“Say You Won’t Let Go” – Boyce Avenue Cover

Any advice for future brides?
Michelle would advise other brides to spread out the wedding day. Rather than cram everything into one evening, make the whole day yours! The Radford wedding started with the ceremony at 1:30 and was followed by a church reception, and then a large gap for photos. This allowed for the group to say hi to everyone and take all their pictures and still have time to participate in cocktail hour! With the reception running til 10 p.m., the group greatly enjoyed the shuttle ride back to the hotel for the after party which lasted into the wee hours of the morning. You only get married once! Make the WHOLE day yours!

Honeymoon:
Michelle and Dane traveled to Europe for their honeymoon – spending 4 days in Paris to start. With a lifetime goal of visiting all of the Disney properties, the couple spent 2 of those 4 days visiting Disneyland Paris. After this first leg of the trip, the couple flew to Barcelona for a night, embarking on their Disney Cruise the next day. The cruise stopped at such destinations as Naples, Rome, and Florence Italy, as well as Cannes, France, finally docking again in Barcelona. Two exhausting, but unforgettable weeks.