This Shore-loving couple made their Rumson Country Club wedding perfect with blush florals and a unique seating chart. “All of the floral details I couldn’t live without,” says bride Nicole. She also loved walking down the aisle with her dad to her husband, Mike, and their one-year-old son, Caden.
“We met after college,” says Nicole. “We are from the same town and knew of each other, but we attended different high schools. My group of friends and his group of friends all rented beach houses in Manasquan every summer for about four years after we all graduated from college. So, down the Jersey Shore is where I officially met Mike for the first time. There are about 10 couples that are all married now with babies from our summers spent at those beach houses.”
“We got engaged in the living room of our brand-new home that we were currently in the middle of renovating two days before Christmas Eve (which is my favorite day of the year),” says Nicole. “Mike called me to come over to check out the new living room floor he had just installed with his father. I was inspecting the floor closely and when I turned around he was down on one knee. He organized a party afterwards where all of our friends and family were waiting for us. It was simple and sweet.”
“The theme of my wedding was romantic and elegant,” says Nicole. “The colors were blush, white, gold and greenery. My bouquet consisted of ribbon- wrapped stems with white peonies, white garden roses, marzipan roses, mother of pearl roses, white ranuculus, wax flower, silver dollar eucalyptus and salal. Mike wore a matching white ranuculus boutonniere with greenery. My centerpieces were in gold compote mercury glass containers with peonies, roses, ranuculus, spray roses, silver dollar eucalyptus, salal and wax flower. I also had rings of greenery hanging over the bridal party table. In lieu of favors, we made a donation to our church.”
[RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey]
“A year before Mike and I got engaged, I walked into the River House at Rumson Country Club for my college best friend’s bridal shower,” says Nicole. “I took one look around and said, ‘I am going to get married here,’ out loud to my best friend, Cara. Shortly after that, I was sending my mom and MOH, Sami, pictures of the venue from the bridal shower. As soon as Mike proposed, my dad called me and asked, ‘what venues do you want to look at?’ I said, ‘I am ONLY looking at the River House at Rumson Country Club.’ We made an appointment to tour the venue and when I asked the event coordinator how soon I could get married there, she told me the first available date was July 11, 2020, so of course I took it without hesitation. Little did I know that Covid-19 would have other plans for our wedding and that this wedding would not actually happen until June 24, 2022.”
Their reception started with a poached pear and brie salad. The entree options were a choice of Atlantic salmon, chicken Saltimbocca and a vegan option. Their cake was vanilla cake with fresh strawberries and Bavarian cream.
“I purchased my gown at Lovely Bride in NYC,” says Nicole. “It is the Emmy Mae Bec dress in ivory (almost white). It has 3D lace, thin french crepe spaghetti straps, a deep V back, a V front and middle slit. I knew I wanted a lace dress and I knew I wanted it to be summery since I was getting married in the summer. I actually saw it online before I went dress shopping and thought it may be my dress. Sure enough, when I tried it on I just knew. Nothing compared and I did not like anything else I tried on.”
“My favorite moment was walking down the aisle with my father (whom I am extremely close too) and seeing not only my husband but my one-year-old baby boy, Caden, waiting for me,” says Nicole. “We had to postpone our big wedding at the River House three times due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In an effort not to put our lives on hold, we got married on our original wedding date, and we became pregnant in November, so our little man got to be at our big wedding.”
“The ring of greenery on the ceiling over our bridal party table,” says Nicole. “The River House is gorgeous without having to do much to it so that made me feel like it was really our day because the greenery ring was all my idea. I loved the flowers in the wine bottles for the seating chart as well. All of the floral details I couldn’t live without!”
“Do not sacrifice what you and your fiancé want to please others,” says Nicole. “It is YOUR day. Be selfish and enjoy every minute.”
The couple planned a Croatian honeymoon for May of 2023. They are going to Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar.
Looking for more Shore wedding inspo? Check out these Real Weddings at Corinthian Yacht Club in Cape May, Park Pavilion in Seaside Park and Bonnet Island Estate on LBI.
River House at Rumson Country Club
Louis Scaduto III
Emmy Mae Bec
+ more