Sara and Brendan at The Estate at Florentine Gardens

How did you meet?
We met on a train in NYC leaving a country music festival. We never exchanged phone numbers, but we happened to run into each other two months later at a bar. He finally asked me for my number and we started talking. Our first date was five months after that!

How did you get engaged?
Brendan graduated with his Masters’ degree during Covid-19 and his ceremony was virtual. He told me his parents were having a small BBQ that weekend to celebrate since there wasn’t a formal ceremony. We arrived at his parents’ house and I walked in with everyone I know staring at me with their phones in their hands; I was so confused, knowing that it wasn’t a surprise party. My parents were there. I hadn’t seen them since they were in Florida during the pandemic, and they came home when Brendan told them I was proposing. So my mom grabbed me, hugged me and spun me around and I find Brendan on one knee.

Details of the day!
I wanted my wedding to be timeless, classic, romantic and as personal as possible. Oftentimes I go to weddings and feel like it could be anyone’s wedding, so I really wanted our guests to feel our love. Estate at Florentine Gardens is known for its gardens so I planned around that, but didn’t want to go too crazy to take away from its beauty. Our flowers were variations of flowers that were white, with pops of greenery. And we had tons of candles everywhere to make it romantic and glow.

Why did you choose your venue?
From the moment I walked in, I fell in love. It had been completely renovated and everything was modern and classic. I liked all the white and neutral tones—it enhanced the beauty of the gardens. It really speaks for itself! The staff there are also amazing; they treat you like family from the moment you walk in. They are all so warm and accommodating!

What was on your menu?
The starter was a poached pear with goat cheese over a bouquet of baby greens, caramelized walnuts and balsamic black pepper vinaigrette. The entrée choices were Chateaubriand of beef with a Jack Daniels pink peppercorn sauce, French-cut chicken breast with spinach and fontina in a black truffle red-wine demi, or miso-glazed Chilean sea bass with a teriyaki beurre blanc. For dessert, there was wedding cake—cannoli and chocolate mousse—a signature trio tasting plate, hand-passed desserts, espresso, cappuccino and after-dinner cordials.

All about your gown!
I knew I wanted a Berta gown—I had my heart set on it. Her dresses are so one-of-a-kind and special. The details are meticulous. I went to their sample sale at the flagship store in NYC during Covid and had such a great experience. My mom and I were the only ones in the store and I was able to walk around and look at the dresses and pick any that I wanted to try on. This was the first one I tried on, and my mom started to cry when I came out. That’s when I knew. It was special! I felt AMAZING in the dress and it was exactly what I wanted!

What was your favorite moment?
My favorite moment was experiencing my wedding day through my husband’s eyes. I imagine this is the same feeling that parents talk about when bringing their children to Disney World for the first time. He was so happy and giddy and full of emotion. I wish I could relive all those special moments together again!

Did anything go wrong?
I purchased a custom sign with our name on it to hang on the sweetheart table. When it was delivered to me, it looked like it was run over by a truck or two (it honestly probably was) and was completely damaged. I reached out to the seller and they sent me a new one. Then I had to paint it and had so much trouble finding the right shade of gold that I wanted. Most were too yellow, others too brassy. I painted it and then re-painted it and painted it again until I was as happy with the color. This sign was so fragile, I handled it with such care. The day after my wedding when we went to our venue to pick up our stuff, I realized it was never hung up because it was broken in three spots. Not sure where/how it was broken, but it never made it to the sweetheart table. In hindsight, I don’t care. This was the only thing that “went wrong,” so I really can’t complain!

First dance song?
“Yours,” by Russel Dickerson.

Any advice for future brides?
Get a videographer and invest in your photographers! These people are responsible for capturing your lifetime of memories. Make sure you vibe with these people, since you are going to be spending more time with them than you are with your significant other! The day goes by so fast and you won’t see everything and you most definitely won’t remember everything. When I saw my pictures for the first time I was filled with so much emotion I was crying so much I couldn’t even see. It was the best feeling in the world, and I can’t wait to watch my video when I get it!