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Tara and Andrew at Park Chateau

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Tara and Andrew at Park Chateau

tara-andrew-park-chateau

How did you meet?
This is actually a funny story, Andrew and I have crossed paths a few times. I would see him out with his group of friends but we actually never spoke. We caught each other’s eye one year while out for Cinco de Mayo (which is now, since that day, one of our favorite holidays to celebrate because it was when we first looked at each other). After that, he saw me STRUGGLING at the gym when I was trying to figure out a weight machine and all the weights fell and I ran away with embarrassment! At least he thought it was the CUTEST THING! I returned to the gym days later after my embarrassing scene and that’s when he came up to me and started chatting (of course when I looked my best as I am sweating on the elliptical).

How did you get engaged?
As an influencer, you receive many collaboration offers. This collaboration was very different from my usual ones. This event organization service based in NYC reached out to me offering a picnic collaboration. So I looked into it and it was absolutely adorable! I then showed Andrew this great company that wanted to work with me and asked if he would join me in this picnic collaboration. On June 8, 2018, Andrew and I headed to Dumbo, Brooklyn. It was a perfect day for a picnic! We arrived and met up with the team along with their photographer who will be taking our picnic photos. The picnic was all set up in Brooklyn Bridge Park and looked BEAUTIFUL!! The photographer took us around Dumbo to take some pictures of us while the food was being set up. We were told to come back to the picnic in 20min. That being said, we were gone for about an hour!

Little did I know they were stalling us. Andrew reached out to the company after I showed him their Instagram. He was communicating with them and planned this whole picnic proposal! There was a Will You Marry Me Sign, framed photo of us, and my favorite Bruno Mars song playing in the background when he got on one knee! We walked back to the picnic, coming closer to the picnic blanket I heard the song Marry You by Bruno Mars. I was a little confused at first but more in total shock. I could not believe this was really happening!!! IS HE PROPOSING?! It was the most perfect proposal I could have ever dreamed of! So happy that we were able to capture every moment of this special day on video and through photographs!

Details of the day!
It was all about the details for us! I feel like we put so much time and effort into the little details that it really did pay off! People were coming up to us after the wedding telling us what they loved about the wedding and it really meant a lot to us that they noticed the details!!!! Let’s first talk about music, I went to college for music, and Andrew’s dad was in a band, so good music was extremely important to us! Our first dance song was picked out for a while, we chose Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. Actually, crazy story when we first booked our venue we pulled up to the venue to give our deposit and our song was playing on the speakers outside! That’s how we knew it was meant to be and that this was the venue for us! It was my grandma’s favorite song so it meant so much to me and Andrew and I just fell more and more in love with it. During our first dance, we wanted live violinists and saxophone players circling around us on the dance floor as we dance with the sparklers going off at certain times of the song. iReserve made that happen for us! Our introduction song was also picked out a while before the wedding (Theif -Ookay) we visioned us walking out to the build-up to this song played by a live saxophone playing as the MC announces “the new Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Canitano!” The live band throughout the night got everyone up and dancing thankfully because due to Covid we were very nervous no one would be dancing.

tara-andrew-park-chateau

Let’s talk about the flowers now, Dahlia Florals did an incredible job! Our theme was very light and airy the flowers were all white on gold candelabras and gold stands. The creation that Dahlia put together for us we OUTSTANDING! My bouquet probably weighed about 20lbs. It was filled with beautiful white orchids cascading down! They even added real floral to our cake! My bridesmaids had a touch of light pink to their bouquets to add a little color.

Why did you choose your venue?
At the beginning of Andrew and I’s relationship we went to his friend’s wedding at Nanina’s In The Park, we both fell in love with the place, and even though we weren’t dating for a while he said to me we have to have our wedding here! After we got engaged we looked at a few places Nanina’s being one of them and we were still set on that venue. We booked our date for July 10, 2020. Due to Covid, we had to postpone, we were obviously so upset this happen but it was pouring that day so it did make us feel a little better. We came up with a solution and were able to switch our wedding over to their sister venue Park Chateau and have an outdoor wedding there! Yes, it wasn’t our original plan but during Covid, you just have to go with it! We were so happy that our special day was finally happening! We’re honestly so so happy that we had an outdoor wedding! It’s so different! I hope Park Chateau offers this option in the future because everyone truly enjoyed it! Our guests really got to take in the beautiful scenery of the gardens and fountains, it was incredible! Like I said when it comes to being a Covid Bride just go with it! We were originally getting married at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, it was a dream-ee went through Pre Cana and all the other requirements but having to wear our masks down the aisle just wasn’t what we dreamed of. We didn’t want to look back at our photos and see me walking with my dad down the aisle with our masks and all of our family and friends with their masks, so we decided to get married outside in front of the chapel at Park Chateau and it was simply beautiful!

What was on your menu?
I actually wish I could be a fly on the wall at my own wedding so that I can see everything and eat everything! When it’s your wedding there is so much going on and it’s hard to take it all in. What I do recommend for future brides is to make sure you and your husband eat in the bridal suite during cocktail hour. That was great for us because we were able to eat peacefully and enjoy each other as husband and wife before we go and greet all our guests. We had the Over The Top Menu which included: for cocktail hour, Bride and Groom Signature drinks, Martini Bar with Ice sculpture, Fresh Chef Manned Mozzarella Bar, Chilled Seafood bar, Hot Seafood bar, Lobster, Sautéed Seafood Station, Silver Chafing Dish Station, Mashed Potato Bar, Mac and Cheese Bar, Sushi Station, Carving Station, Pastry En Croute Station, Pasta Station, Taste of Asia, Cheese Display, Chef’s Selection of Fresh Ripe Fruits of season, Salumeria, Homemade Bread Station, Grilled Vegetables, Wine Tasting Stations.

For the main entrée, we served a Tuscan Salad The Duet which was Chateaubriand, and Shrimp A La Park served with a cabernet sauce and shrimp with a lemon butter white wine sauce. Also a vegetarian option of Eggplant Napolean which is a signature dish at Nanina’s In The Park.

For dessert, we had a Viennese hour which included a decadent Display of Sweets & Desserts. Includes Freshly Made Belgian Waffles, Chocolate Immersion Station, Zeppoles with Oreos, Crème Brulee made to order, Cookies, Miniature French & Italian Pastries, Bananas Foster, Gelato Station, Cannolis, Fresh Fruit and International Coffee Bar and our wedding cake from Palermo’s Bakery! Our wedding cake flavors were chocolate pudding and cannoli!

All about your gown!
This gown had everything I wanted all in one gown! Bead embroidered with Swarovski crystals over satin, sweetheart neckline, and illusion plunging back with exposed boning and a tulle train. Finished with crystal buttons going down the back. It was truly timeless! It was not the first one I tried on, I actually tried on 7 dresses before this dress and as I was walking back to my dressing room I spotted this one! I thought it was so different and actually different than the ones I was trying on. I put it on and said this is the one! I then walked out onto the floor to show everyone and they were in LOVE!

What was your favorite moment?
This is a hard question, I loved every moment of our special day! I would have to say finally saying “I do” to the person I’ve been waiting to marry! During Covid, there were so many uncertainties but this moment was finally happening for us! Another favorite moment would be being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Canitano, and, of course, our first dance as husband and wife!

One detail you couldn’t live without?
The florals! Being that our wedding was outside, florals were a huge part of this day and they were unbelievable, even with changing the venue on such short notice, Dahlia Floral was ready to go and made sure we still got everything we wanted! Also, the music, Sal from iReserve made our vision come to life! All our arrangements were for an indoor wedding and he made it all possible with our outdoor wedding.

Did anything go wrong?
The planning was stressful and having to replan was a pain but on our wedding day, everything was PERFECT! I honestly don’t think anything went wrong at all! The wedding was actually better than we could have ever imagined!

First dance song?
Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

Any advice for future brides?
Highly recommend eating in the bridal suite with your husband during cocktail hour! You just became husband and wife, enjoy your time together and enjoy your cocktail hour food before greeting all your guests!

Honeymoon Location?
Going to Italy and Greece hopefully soon once it is safe to travel!