A Black & Gold Color Scheme Created a Regal Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury Wedding

Black and gold were the featured colors throughout Amy and Udoka’s big day. Their regal affair at the Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury included an elaborate cocktail hour and fun after party. 

Their Story

“We met at our local bar, the Verona Inn,” says Amy. “Udoka saw me from across the bar and sent some drinks to my friends and I. He then boldly walked right over and introduced himself. We went on a date in Montclair the following week and we were inseparable right away.”

The Proposal

“Udoka surprised me by setting up a romantic dinner at Battello in Jersey City with beautiful views of the NYC skyline,” says Amy. “He popped the question when the waiter brought a dessert that read ‘Congratulations, Amy.'”

[RELATED: Alexandra & Joseph at Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury]

Their Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury Wedding

“The theme of our day was surprisingly dark and moody/Great Gatsby,” says Amy. “Our floral arrangements featured dark flowers such as the beautiful black baccara rose and the bluish-purple anemone with pops of pink from ranunculus. My bridesmaids wore black gowns from Azazie in stretch crepe material. My matron of honor wore a fully beaded black gown to stand out. All of the ladies also wore black fur shawls for some outdoor photos. The groomsmen were in classic black tuxedos while Udoka wore a black velvet tuxedo. Tablescapes were black table cloths with scrolling pattern detail, black and gold plates, and a gold napkin. Black and gold were the featured colors throughout the wedding to stick with the classic Great Gatsby theme.”

Why Shadowbrook?

“We chose our venue because the Shadowbrook had recently been renovated and restored,” says Amy. “The renovations kept intact all of the beautiful history of the old mansion including one of our favorite parts, the bar in the Oak Room. This venue perfectly blended the old with the new. It felt regal, while also feeling warm and personal. I knew that the owners also own the Venetian and Seasons, which are excellent venues. I knew we were in good hands, especially with the food! Guests cannot stop raving about the wonderful food and service.”

[RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey]

The Menu

For their March 4, 2022 wedding, the cocktail hour included made to order hand-rolled sushi station, vodka, and caviar pairing station, an enormous antipasto selection, lobster rolls with bell mini beers, tacos with mini margaritas, lamb chops, carving stations, pasta station including lobster ravioli and mushroom risotto, fried rice, dumplings, egg rolls, sesame chicken, fresh oysters, raw bar, coconut shrimp and much more. “We also had a scallop over citrus risotto with a mixed greens appetizer and a lemon sorbet intermezzo,” says Amy. For the main course, there was a choice of Chilean sea bass (potato crusted, over risotto), signature pork chop (Jack Daniels glaze and potato medley), or Chateaubriand (chefs vegetables). “Our wedding cake was vanilla with lemon filling and chocolate with caramel filling,” says Amy. “We had an amazing after-party menu that consisted of fun finger foods and munchies like chicken and waffles, milkshakes with cookies, mozzarella sticks, French fries, cheeseburger sliders, zeppoles, hot donuts, gelato, chicken fingers, corn dogs, and much more.”

Bridal Style

“My gown was the Polli by Enzoani,” says Amy. “I loved that it had the wow factor and accentuated my figure. The tulle train made me feel like a princess all night. I wanted a gown that no one had seen before! I knew it was the one because I didn’t want to take it off. I kept wanting to put it back on during my appointment. I decided very quickly it was the one. I purchased my gown at Seng Couture.”

Favorite Moment

“My favorite moment was coming down the grand staircase as our MC announced us as husband and wife entering our reception,” says Amy. “We had the absolute best MC who had the entire crowd on the dance floor for our entrance. I had never seen anything like it. People were so hyped up for us! We will never forget that moment of looking at each other right before and telling each other to have fun and enjoy every moment.”

[RELATED: Jenna & Chris at Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury]

Special Detail

“We were adamant about having our after-party at Shadowbrook,” says Amy. “Our production company pulled out all the stops with a red carpet and ropes, and a full-on DJ booth and we also piped and draped the cocktail hour space to transform it into a club and make the room more small and intimate for dancing. Also, we served so much more fun food! Hot donuts, chicken and waffles, sliders, mozzarella sticks, milkshakes and more!”

First Dance Song

Their first dance song was “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. “This song is special to us because it is so wonderful that we can blend two completely different cultures (Udoka is Nigerian and I’m Italian),” says Amy.

Advice

“Stay as organized as possible in the weeks leading up to your wedding,” says Amy. “Staying organized, making to-do lists, and checking things off will give you a sense of control and calm.”

Honeymoon

The couple went on a mini-moon to Miami and a honeymoon to Italy for 16 days!