Christina and Kevin originally planned on capturing their engagement session where they first met at the Jersey Shore, but due to Hurricane Sandy, the two had to find a new location. Princeton, New Jersey is a gorgeous area. Not only is it home to Ivy League Princeton University and Palmer Square (a fabulous shopping area on Nassau Street), but there are also areas that boast private and serene landscapes along the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Brittany Ostrov Photography captured this duo perfectly as they took some time from planning their wedding to just be themselves. We love how natural these two are on camera and look forward to seeing their wedding photographs later this summer!

Gabrielle and Michael

October 23, 2010
South Gate Manor • Freehold, NJ

As the lights dimmed, Gabrielle and Michael held the spotlight as they danced a choreographed Rumba to “When you Say Nothing at all” by Ronan Keating. Their polished first dance as well as their performed Carinosa – a cultural courtship Filipino dance, impressed their guests.

Just a few hours earlier, Gabrielle and Michael tied the knot at Saint Paul’s Roman Catholic Church. Watching his beautiful bride walk down the aisle was Michael’s favorite memory from the wedding day. Gabrielle looked flawless in her Priscilla of Boston ball gown with its sweetheart neckline, crystal beading, and hand draped silk design. The groom sported a handmade custom black tuxedo with textured shirt, ivory suspenders, bow tie, and silver cufflinks. “My husband looked classically stunning,” remarked Gabrielle.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests headed to South Gate Manor for an exceptional reception. Chosen for its elegance and modern decor, knowledgeable staff, and outstanding food – South Gate Manor exceeded the couple’s expectations.

Throughout the wedding planning process, The Finishing Touch helped Gabrielle and Michael create the wedding they envisioned. Their mind was put at ease and made the wedding planning process and the week of the wedding more manageable for them. “The Finishing Touch was willing to go above and beyond what we asked for,” the bride said. Cliff Mautner Photography caught the special moments perfectly throughout the day’s events. “Cliff was great to work with. Our pictures are without a doubt amazing,” noted Michael.

After the reception, Gabrielle and Michael escaped to St. Bart’s for their honeymoon and recently traveled to Paris where they indulged in the romantic scenes and delicious abundant offerings. Gabrielle and Michael are enjoying their quiet time as a couple and look forward to the birth of their baby in November.

Vendors:
Ceremony Location: St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church • Officiants: Msgr. Walter Nolan and Deacon Frank Crivello • Reception Location: South Gate Manor • Photographer: Cliff Mautner Photography • Videographer: Fiore Films • Entertainment: Mirage Music • Wedding Coordinator: The Finishing Touch • Florist: Beautiful Blooms • Cake Designer: Abbate Bakery • Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld • Headpiece/Veil: Kleinfeld • Shoes: Manolo Blahnik • Formal Attire: Kleinfeld Men • Invitations: Bella Figura • Favors: Tiffany and Co. • Hair Salon: Tu Bellezza Salon • Makeup Studio: Tu Bellezza Salon • Jeweler: Diamond Castle

To read more about Gabrielle and Michael’s big day, pick up your copy of Contemporary Bride Magazine today!!

Kelly & Stephen

July 16, 2010
Westmount Country Club • Woodland Park, NJ

With plans to go to a Halloween-themed wedding the next day, Kelly headed over to Steve’s house to finalize their costumes. The couple was excited to dress as David and Victoria Beckham, and Kelly had a great idea to complete her costume with a huge, fake ring. But when she got to Steve’s house that day, she soon found out that he had something for her to wear with her costume. The next thing she knew, Steve was on one knee with a beautiful ring in hand. “I was so surprised I was shaking. It was absolutely perfect,” Kelly recalled.

Upon entering their reception at the Westmount Country Club, they felt as though they had been whisked off to South Beach. The room was appropriately decorated in turquoise and white. Atlas Florist created beautiful centerpieces, a tall illuminated cylinder with turquoise stones, and calla lilies. Couches and blue lit cabanas filled the room, as candles flickered in the intimate lighting. The escort cards were made from Miami postcards, and all the tables were named after hotels and streets in South Beach.

Palermo’s Bakery created the beautiful four square off-set tiered cake. Their wonderful creation included crystal rhinestones on two tiers and a turquoise ribbon on the others. Layers included chocolate with chocolate fudge filling and vanilla with a raspberry filling, all topped with light buttercream icing. “Palermo’s Bakery was great to work with. They were fast, full of ideas, and they executed it perfectly. Plus, the cake was delicious,” Kelly recalled.

Milton Gil Photographers recorded Kelly and Steve’s wedding day with professional photography and videography. The couple agreed that their pictures are “unbelievable,” and everyone they worked with at the studio was incredibly accommodating and easy to work with. Following their wedding, Kelly and Steve honeymooned for two weeks in Hawaii. They continue to look back on their wedding day with fond memories as they enjoy their new life together.

Vendors:
Ceremony Location: Immaculate Conception Church • Officiant: Father John Prada • Reception Location: Westmount Country Club • Photographer & Videographer: Milton Gil Photographers • Steel Drum Band: Tropical Beat Steel Band • Entertainment: The Rhythm Shop • Florist: Atlas Floral Decorations Inc. & Entenmann’s Florist • Limousine Service: Limo Bus & Limousine • Bridal Salon: Priscilla of Boston • Veil & Headpiece: Priscilla of Boston • Formal Attire: Tuxedos by Rose • Cake Designer: Palermo’s Bakery • Invitations: Montclair Paperie • Hair Salon: David Michael Hair Studio • Jeweler: Minas Jewelry • Photo Booth: Masters of Fun Entertainment

To read more about Kelly & Stephen’s big day, pick up your copy of Contemporary Bride Magazine today!!

Rachel & Matt

August 28, 2010
Branches Catering • West Long Branch, NJ

Rachel was about to nap before her night class when Matt walked over to her and put a piece of paper on her bed. While she read the names, “Mom, Dad, Ashley, Marlena, Samantha,” Matt announced that she had to call these people. As she rolled over asking why, Matt was down on one knee and responded, “Because you have to tell them you just got engaged.” The couple began planning their beach-themed celebration.

Following a beautiful ceremony held overlooking the beach and ocean on the grand stage, the newlyweds, their bridal party, and guests headed to Branches Catering for an exceptional reception. Two years prior to becoming engaged, Rachel attended her grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary at Branches Catering and was so happy with the outcome that she knew they had to consider this facility to host their wedding.

The wedding was wonderfully captured in photographs by Darren and Nino of Darren LeBlanc Photography. They took many classic pictures from morning preparations, on the stage after the ceremony, and beach photographs. “Nino took such an amazing picture of me dipping Rachel on the stage and kissing her.”

A Viennese table, a chocolate dipping fountain, and an international coffee bar were served for dessert, in addition to three-tiered platters of pastries and cookies placed on each table. The four-tiered wedding cake, designed by Rachel’s maid of honor, was a chocolate cake with Kahlua filling and marshmallow icing.

Vendors:
Ceremony Location: Beachfront North • Officiant: Buddy Ellison • Reception Location: Branches Catering • Photographer: Darren LeBlanc Photography • Videographer: Dan Zambrano Productions • Entertainment: Simply Professional DJs • Limousine Service: Driven by Excellence • Florist: Flowers By Elizabeth of Long Branch, Inc. • Cake Designer: Ashley Daetz • Bridal Salon: Mustillo’s Town & Country • Veil: I Do I Do • Headpiece: Mustillo’s Town & Country • Formal Attire: Men’s Wearhouse • Invitations: Jamm Printing • Favors: Stelair Design Corporation • Hair Salon: My Cinderella’s Dream • Makeup Artist: Glenda D’Ambrisi • Jeweler: The Stone Hut

To read more about Rachel & Matt’s big day, pick up the New Jersey Edition of Contemporary Bride Magazine today!!

Party Up Productions transformed Danny and Mia’s wedding reception from decadent to breathtaking with their precise lighting and decor techniques. The room had a complete makeover with pipe and draping, while the walls were washed with color changing LED lighting to create a soft and elegant lounge effect. Guest’s danced the night away while enjoying entertainment from Emcee Chris, DJ Jeremy, Percussionist Bopa King, and the other staff members of Party Up Productions. Guests were enthralled by the instant photography provided on plasma televisions that were wrapped around the room. Before anyone realized, the end of the night had come and left nothing but everlasting memories of a wonderful wedding.

Wedding date: November 12, 2010 • New York Wedding Reception: Smithtown Landing Country Club • Photographer: Christopher LaDez • Entertainment: Party Up Productions / Pipe & Draping, Lighting (LED washes and custom GOBO), Plasma televisions, Disc Jockey (Jeremy), Emcee (Christ), and Percussionist (Bopa King Carre).

Danny & Mia’s Wedding Video “Teaser”

Mia & Danny 11.12.10 from AJ Ingoglia on Vimeo.

Patty & Manny

July 10, 2010
The Pines Manor • Edison, NJ

It was New York City’s biggest snowstorm of 2009 as Patty and Manny ventured to the top of the Empire State Building on a cold March day. Once at the top, the beautiful view was accompanied by an intimate calm. “It felt like we were in a snowglobe,” Patty recalls, “and Manny began taking pictures to capture the special moment.” Little did Patty know, it was about to become even more magical. Manny handed Patty the camera to look at the photographs he had just taken. When she got to the last slide, it read, Patty, will you marry me? As Patty looked up, Manny was down on one knee.

Patty and Manny didn’t even consider having their wedding celebration anywhere else. Having both met working at the Pines Manor, it holds a very special place in their hearts. “A wedding is a time to be spent with friends and family, and that is what the Pines Manor is to us,” recalled Patty. “It felt like being home.” When asked about the staff at their wedding, the couple responded with one word, “Amazing.”

When guests entered the Pines Manor, they immediately felt as though they had been whisked off to a beautiful Greek isle. The room was appropriately decorated in turquoise and white, and Dori from Total Party created a stunning ceiling treatment that featured Chinese lanterns. Guests’ place cards and champagne glasses that held an edible hibiscus flower were set on a table covered in wheatgrass that was provided by The Arc Greenhouses.

Patty and Manny are still talking about how much they loved Marconi Photography. Manny is happy that they have traditional wedding photographs, but also “artsy” ones, which are wonderful keepsakes.

Dessert followed, featuring a beautifully designed cake from Americana Baking Company. Layers of chocolate and vanilla cake with a raspberry filling and a buttercream icing was the perfect light finish to a wonderful dining experience.

Vendors:

Ceremony Location: Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Greek Orthodox Church • Officiant: Father George Dounelis • Reception Location: Pines Manor • Photographer: Marconi The Art of Photography • Entertainment: Platinum Entertainment Productions • Florist: The Flower Cart • Bridal Salon: RK Bridal • Veil: Custom-made • Headpiece: Etsy.com • Formal Attire: ChazMaTazz Formalwear • Cake Designer: Americana Baking Company • Limousine Service: Action Limousine • Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas • Hair Salon: Vogue Hair and Nail • Jeweler: Jared the Galleria of Jewelry • Ceiling Treatment: Total Party • Specialty Greens: Arc Greenhouses

“He made us feel like rock stars!”

Patty and Manny were married on July 10, 2010 at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ. Following their beach themed reception, the couple reunited with their photographer, Marconi The Art of Photography, and had a Trash The Dress Photo Shoot. When Patty reminisced about that day, she said, “He made us feel like rock stars”. Check back tomorrow to see photos from Patty & Manny’s wedding or pick up the latest New Jersey edition of Contemporary Bride Magazine to read about their wedding day!