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Nicole + Christopher

Nicole and Chris were married on a lovely fall day at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park, New Jersey.  Everything took place at this gorgeous historic venue, from the early morning preparations to the very last dance at their reception.  And we were so overjoyed to be able to share in their celebration and film their wonderful wedding event! 

Nicole and Chris’s wedding at the Park Savoy was just as special as Chris’s proposal.  He decided to pop the question to Nicole on a grand trip to Italy!  One evening, after a romantic dinner on the rooftop of their hotel, they walked out onto the private balcony which overlooked a bustling city square in Rome.  And with that magical piazza serving as their beautiful backdrop, Chris asked Nicole to be his wife.  She said “yes”!  And they continued their tour of Italy, visiting Florence and ending their excursion in a gorgeous villa in Tuscany.  That will certainly be a trip that both will remember and treasure forever.

We return now to their beautiful wedding day… In the early morning hours, Nicole, Chris and their families and wedding party got ready for the exciting day’s events in the suites at the Park Savoy.  Nicole’s bridesmaids wore long burgundy gowns in keeping with the burgundy and gold wedding theme colors, while Chris and his groomsmen dressed into their matching, classic black tuxedos.  

Nicole then put on her amazing wedding gown.  Her dress had a beautiful lace illusion bodice and a full skirt with an equally lovely overlay.  She wore her long hair down in full, loose waves fastened with a dazzling brooch that perfectly matched her earrings and a dramatic, long veil for the ceremony.  She was such a breathtakingly beautiful bride!

Nicole and Chris shared an exciting first look in the courtyard that morning before their ceremony was set to begin.  We always love capturing this moment for our couples for their wedding films!  There’s so much energy in the air, sweet anticipation for the events ahead and pure and simple joy!  

Then, their photo shoot took place outside on the always perfectly manicured grounds at the Park Savoy.  And we couldn’t have been happier to film Nicole, Chris and their wedding party as an amazing photographer and our good friend, Paul, and his talented team at Paul Francis Photography took professional photos!  

After the photo shoot had wrapped up, we gathered our things and got ready for the big moment, as their wedding ceremony was about to begin.  The Park Savoy recently unveiled their new onsite chapel, and it was everything we expect from this venue: beautiful, romantic and simply perfect.  And the gorgeous white floral arrangements from Flowers by Connie Riemer were the icing on the cake.  A very talented violin quartet played for the processional and Nicole entered the chapel on the arm of her father.  Nicole’s brother was their officiant as they recited their vows and said their “I do’s”, making it official!  Then, the newest ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ kissed for the first time!

Nicole and Chris’s reception kicked off in early afternoon, as the happy couple entered the grand ballroom and danced a wonderfully choreographed first dance together.  We also heard such wonderful, heartfelt toasts from Nicole’s brother and man of honor and from Chris’s brothers.  And the rest of their reception was filled with music and dancing!  They even had an Elvis impersonator, Jim Barone, entertain guests with "the King’s" biggest rock n’ roll hits!  And PAE Event Group provided DJ services and music, a fantastic saxophonist, and a ton of energy, to keep everyone enjoying themselves all afternoon long!

This special wedding day was so unique and personalized, and truly, so much fun!  We'd love to thank Nicole and Chris once again for allowing us to capture their wedding day on film so they can relive their wonderful memories for years to come.  And congratulations again to Nicole and Chris!

 

Photographer:  Paul Francis Photography - Morristown, NJ  

Floral Design:  Flowers by Connie Riemer - West Orange, NJ 

Hair Stylist:  the Bride

Makeup Artist:  Amanda Sarracino; Lindsay Jenkins

Entertainment:  PAE Event Group - Paul Anthony Centamore - Flemington, NJ; Consonance Music Ensembles - Violin Quartet - Palisades Park, NJ; Jim Barone - Elvis Impersonator   

Cake:  Calandra's Bakery - Caldwell, NJ 

Officiant:  Michael Spagnolo 

Venue:  The Park Savoy Estate - Florham Park, NJ 

 

Mel + Jon

Maryellen, or Mel as most call her, and Jon met at a Super Bowl party hosted by Jon's football teammate back when they were in high school.  Neither knew, of course, that fateful evening that this night would change the course of their lives.  Eleven years later and the two would be, in the words of our couple, "officially signing on to forever together"!

And the proposal that led to this day was so special too!  Mel was a little suspicious when Jon planned a trip for them to visit the Outer Banks in North Carolina since she's the one who usually plans their trips!  On the evening that they arrived, they visited Jockey's Ridge State Park and watched the beautiful sunset.  Mel was sure to eye Jon's pockets for the telltale outline of a ring box, but she didn't see one.  And just as the sun set on the horizon, Jon got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife.  He had made sure to order a special, extra small ring box so as not to spoil the surprise!

Mel got ready on the morning of their wedding at her parents' home while Jon and his groomsmen, which included his two brothers as his best men, prepared at their reception venue.  There, the guys dressed into classic black tuxedos, Jon standing apart from the guys in their charcoal neckties looking ever so handsome in a black bow tie, after they all enjoyed a nice cigar break!

The couple also took a little break from getting ready to read cards that they had exchanged.  We loved that they chose the same card with the cute red string detail and when Mel read Jon's words, "I love you to the moon and back".  Mel's card for Jon echoed his sentiments and added "I love you and I like you", as they both would also say to each other later during their beautiful ceremony.

Mel's sisters (her maid of honor and bridesmaids) helped her dress into her beautiful wedding gown.  Her dress from Provonias was absolutely wonderful, with an A-line silhouette, a sweetheart illusion neckline and a lovely floral lace overlay with beautiful beadwork.  She wore her lovely blond hair up and in a loose, wavy hairstyle and fastened a long veil edged in lace to the back.  Mel was simply stunning!

Mel and Jon decided not to have a first look before the wedding and instead traveled straight to Saint Luke's Roman Catholic Church in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey for their ceremony.  Mel's bridesmaids were so beautiful in their charcoal colored gowns and the flower girls and ring bearer, all the beautiful children of Mel's sister and Jon's brother, were so darling all dressed up for the ceremony.  They celebrated a Catholic Mass and were led in reciting their vows by Reverend James Manos.  After they exchanged rings, the two were soon pronounced 'husband and wife'!

We were over the moon to be filming alongside Paul Francis Photography for Mel and Jon's wedding event.  Paul is a good friend of ours and he and his team have such amazing talent!  Photo shoots were held at the church and by the lake at their reception venue, where their precious pup, Luna (as their 'dog of honor'), was in on the action too!

We were all ready then to enjoy Mel and Jon's fantastic reception at Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes.  Gorgeous tall floral centerpieces in white and watercolor peach and periwinkle adorned the guest tables and lush, green garland draped along Mel and Jon's sweetheart table, all from Flowers by Joan.  And A Little Cake bakery created the fantastic four-tiered white wedding cake embellished with beautiful blooms, including those delicate white anemones.  Everything looked amazing!

The couple of honor entered the ballroom of the Lake House, with its amazing water views, rustic stone fireplace and its bright and sunny interior, and danced a beautiful first dance together.  Then touching parent dances followed and wonderful toasts were given by Mel's maid of honor and by Jon's best men.  DJ Jared West at Premier Entertainment rocked the house with the all the tunes the guests loved to dance to all evening and the party continued well into the night!

This spectacular wedding event was so much fun and it was also so wonderful to visit Indian Trail Club for the very first time.  Mel and Jon are such a sweet couple and we loved every minute working with them!  Congratulations to Mel and Jon!

 

Photographer:  Paul Francis Photography - Morristown, NJ

Floral Design:  Flowers by Joan - Waldwick, NJ

Hair Stylist:  Michelle Elise Artistry - Montclair, NJ

Makeup Artist:  Michelle Elise Artistry - Montclair, NJ       

Wedding Dress:  Pronovias

Bridal Shoes:  Bella Belle

Bridesmaids Gowns:  Sorella Vita

Entertainment:  Premier Entertainment - DJ Jared West - Elmwood Park, NJ      

Cake:  A Little Cake - Park Ridge, NJ

Stationery:   The Write Occasion - Wyckoff, NJ

Officiant:  Reverend James Manos - Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ    

Church:   Saint Luke's Roman Catholic Church - Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ   

Venue:  Indian Trail Club - Franklin Lakes, NJ

 

Liz + Bobby

Liz and Bobby went to the same college for four years, however they didn’t actually meet until the fall of their senior year when they had the same chemistry class.  They had crushes on each other at the time, but neither one let it slip!  Later in the spring, Liz needed to make a documentary for her major and chose Bobby as the subject (since he was the coolest guy on campus!).  For his final interview question, Liz asked him where he would be in five years…. little did they both know that they would actually be preparing to celebrate their wonderful wedding day exactly then!  The two started dating after graduation, and knew instantly that they had each found ‘the one’.  By the way, we watched Liz’s video documentary on Bobby… she’s a very talented filmmaker and Bobby, an incredible artist!

Let’s fast forward to their fantastic wedding day.  Liz and her bridal party got ready in the early afternoon at her parents’ house.  After hair and makeup by ULTA Beauty, the beautiful bridesmaids enjoyed some fun moments with the bride, then dressed in their lovely matching burgundy dresses.  Liz changed out of her pretty floral robe into her wedding gown.  She was truly such a beautiful, glowing bride!  Her dress was a gorgeous flowing strapless gown, belted at the waist with a glittering rhinestone sash.  She wore her hair up and added a long veil for the ceremony.  So lovely!  Her bouquet was a fabulous array of dark and light pink blooms by J&M Floral and Event.  Everyone was ready and it was time to head to the church for the main event!

At Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, NJ, Bobby and his groomsmen stood and waited at the altar in their classic black tuxedos, with Bobby distinguished in a black bow tie and white boutonniere.  We absolutely loved seeing Bobby’s face as he just couldn’t contain his emotions at the first sight of Liz walking up the aisle!  It was so touching to witness.  They spoke their traditional vows and were pronounced ‘husband and wife’!

After a lighthearted bubble salute exit from the church, we enjoyed filming while the talented Paul Francis Photography photographed the wedding party outside in the gorgeous summer weather.  It was so wonderful to work with Paul and his partner.  Be sure to check out the amazing photos from the day on his blog!

Liz and Bobby’s reception was held at Stone House at Stirling Ridge in Warren, NJ.   Stone House is so sophisticated and classic, and their ballroom was beautifully decorated this evening in shades of burgundy, apricot and rose.  And check out Liz and Bobby's amazing wedding cake by Rudy’s Pastry Shop, complete with their monogram and lovely white and rose blossoms!

The newlyweds shared an affectionate and joyful first dance together before the rest of the evening’s formal events.  We were treated to beautiful, engaging toasts and some really energetic dancing that evening!  Hank Lane Music’s Russ Bennett Band definitely rocked the house that night and everyone had such a great time dancing and celebrating the happy couple!

We enjoyed every moment that we worked with Liz and Bobby and their family...in the months leading up to the wedding and on the big day itself.  To echo Bridget, one of Liz’s maid of honor’s toasts from that evening, ‘Cheers to new life, new love and everything in between!’  Best wishes to Liz and Bobby!

 

Photographer:  Paul Francis Photography - Plainfield, NJ  blog:

Floral Design:  J&M Floral and Event - Madison, NJ

Hair Stylist:  ULTA Beauty - Watchung, NJ

Makeup Artist:  ULTA Beauty - Watchung, NJ

Entertainment:  Hank Lane Music - Russ Bennett Band - New York, NY; Livingston, NJ

Cake:  Rudy's Pastry Shop - Bloomfield, NJ

Officiant:  Pastor Don Steele - Summit, NJ

Church:  Central Presbyterian Church - Summit, NJ

Venue:  Stone House at Stirling Ridge - Warren, NJ