Wave Resort in Long Branch Provided a Destination Venue Vibe For This Couple

As soon as Danielle and John walked into Wave Resort, they loved the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach. “It was breathtaking,” says Danielle. “It felt like a destination wedding right here in NJ.”

Their Story 

“We met at Monmouth University,” says Danielle. “We were both majoring in math. Although we didn’t have classes together, there was a math learning center where we met. I was a tutor and John would come in to study. He wouldn’t talk to me for a while because he said he was nervous! We both commuted to school and funny enough we only lived five minutes from each other but never met since we were in different towns. We got along so well and made each other very happy. I felt as though I had known him forever!”

The Proposal

“One of our first vacations together was to Disney World,” says Danielle. “It holds a special place in our hearts. We had planned a trip together in August 2018. Our first day we went to Magic Kingdom and he seemed pretty quiet but it was also super early so I didn’t think anything of it. We got to the park and of course I wanted to take a picture in front of the castle. There weren’t many people in the park yet so we went as close as we could to the castle. When the photographer went to take our picture, John got down on one knee! I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt like a dream!”

Their Wave Resort Wedding 

Everything came together perfectly for their July 22, 2022 wedding. “The main color theme for our wedding was a light rose gold,” says Danielle. “The florals and decor were mainly white with pops of rose gold colors. We had three flower girls in the cutest puffy tulle white dresses with white flower crowns and the cutest ring bearer in a tiny tuxedo. Having our special day surrounded by our family and friends was truly incredible! We danced the night away!”

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

Why Wave Resort?

“We had been debating on whether we wanted to have a New Jersey wedding or destination,” says Danielle. “We were leaning towards a destination wedding but decided to first check out venues in New Jersey. We went to a ton of venues before finding our perfect spot. As soon as we were taken to the sixth floor and walked into the room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, John and I both looked at each other with the biggest grin. It was breathtaking! It felt like a destination wedding right here in NJ. We loved everything about it and it was exactly what we were looking for! It fit us perfectly.”

The Menu 

“At cocktail hour we had different stations (one with a sushi boat!) and passed hors d’oeuvres,” says Danielle. “For appetizers we started with market greens, local burrata and eggplant caponata and ricotta gnocchi. Our favorite entree was the red wine braised short rib. We had a white tiered cake with raspberry filling and a dessert station.”

Bridal Style 

“I tried on so many gowns until I found my perfect dress,” says Danielle. “It had everything that I wanted and more! It was an Eve of Milady gown with off-the-shoulder flower sleeves and an overskirt that I loved. I wanted a long train but I was torn because I didn’t want to have to worry about it at the reception. I wanted to make sure I could dance. The overskirt was perfect. I had the long romantic train for the church and for pictures. I took it off for the reception and it was like I had a brand new dress (and I didn’t even have to change!).”

Favorite Moment 

“The whole day felt like a fairy tale,” says Danielle. “I have so many favorite moments. One was when John and I were taking pictures/drone shots out on the terrace. There were a few moments where we were looking out over the balcony to the ocean, just him and I. We were taking it all in together, and couldn’t have been happier.”

Special Detail

“We loved so many of the details,” says Danielle. “One of our favorites was the flower circle behind our sweetheart table. Our florist did an incredible job/ He even surprised us with a chandelier hanging in the middle of it. I was in love with how it turned out and how the room looked, the centerpieces were gorgeous and the flower wall was perfect. It was better than I had imagined. Another favorite was our DJ, he was absolutely amazing. He took our wedding to the next level. The dance floor was packed all night!”

Advice

“Enjoy every moment of your day,” says Danielle. “Soak it all in and have a great time. I know it is easier said than done but try not to worry too much during the planning process. It all works out in the end.”

Honeymoon 

“We went to Sandals in St. Lucia for our honeymoon,” says Danielle. “It was absolutely beautiful.”

Check out more Real Weddings at Wave Resort from Haley & Travis, Katie & Erik and Ashley & John.