The Wedding of Amanda Franko & Tyler Delino
Their Vendors
Ceremony & Reception: Bear Brook Valley, 973.241.1001, www.bearbrookvalley.com Gown: Azul by Liancarlo Bridesmaids: Shona Joy, Jenny Yoo Tux: Indochino Photographer: Off BEET Productions Makeup & Hair: Melissa D’Aloia & Co Florist: A Cottage Gardener Cake: Palermo’s Custom Cakes & Bakery Band: The Storytellers NYC Bridal Salon: Elizabeth Johns
“Rustic Elegance”
Ty and I went to the same high school, but a couple years after college we met through mutual friends. We attempted a first date, but Ty accidentally gave me the wrong number! We laugh about it now. We both thought the other wasn’t interested, yet five and a half years later we’re married, living in the house we renovated together!My family has vacationed in Long Beach Island for over 30 years. At the end of one of these trips, Ty asked if I wanted to watch one last sunset on the beach. When he got down on one knee, I yelled “Are you kidding me?” followed by a loud “Yes!” A photographer appeared and after a few pictures I saw both our families were there. Ty arranged for everyone to stay more nights in a nearby hotel!
The next day, sitting on the beach, Ty saw an ad in a magazine for Bear Brook Valley and on our tour we loved the natural rustic-elegant feel, the wooden farm tables, the privacy, the surrounding trees, and the pond near the ceremony site. The bridal suite in the silo and the groomsmen’s room were huge bonuses! Perry Bonadies, the owner of Bear Brook Valley, made us feel like family. We confirmed our wedding date and worked very closely with Katrina Boyle, our wedding planner. She was amazing at keeping us on track, communicating, and reminding us to enjoy the process and each other. She got to know us and our vision for our wedding day. We wanted a big party, so she customized our timeline to have minimal gaps in dancing!
We were lucky with beautiful weather so our ceremony was outside, surrounded by nature. The décor was a statement of the bohemian vibe incorporated throughout. We decorated the arbor overlooking the pond with flowers hanging from silk ribbon and glass globes with candles. The pillars were surrounded by lanterns our families collected. The aisle runner, a cherished family heirloom, added a warm touch to our fall ceremony. I made our programs and decorative signs. A piece of driftwood, collected at Ty’s family house in Maine, read, “You are my home and my adventure … All at once.” Ty’s Aunt Ginny, our officiant, made a beautiful opening statement and my cousins, Kate and Clare, participated with readings about our love of nature and family.
Our food tasting proved the food at Bear Brook Valley was amazing. For cocktail hour we had eight passed hors d’oeuvres, I loved the IPA and mini dog shots. A guest favorite was the butcher block with seared breast of duck. We had hot chafing dishes, three live captain stations including a steamer station to incorporate the beach where we got engaged; each station had its own themed drink.
Our families collected vintage glass bottles in shades of blue and green to use with mix and match votive candles as unique centerpieces. They added a perfect height to the wooden farm tables, accentuating the high ceilings. We opted for a long table seating over 20 people for us and our bridal party and a beautiful garland ran the whole length. The uplighting and candles gave the room a warm glow, and the dance floor had plenty of room! I worked with the band to surprise Ty with a custom song “Signed, Sealed, Delino” for our entrance. The dancing felt like it never stopped!
Dinner started with the Bear Brook salad and a choice of beef tournedo, chicken Rossini, grilled salmon, or seasonal ravioli. After dinner the long tables were laid out with Viennese dessert trays and ice cream sundae carts. We chose not to announce our cake cutting and it was a sweet, personal moment.
We are beyond grateful to our florist, our DJ, and all our other vendors for exceeding our expectations! To Katrina and everyone at Bear Brook Valley, you were an absolute dream to work with and we thank you for giving us special attention. Words cannot express how thankful we are to our families and friends for celebrating with us. We feel so lucky to have married into families that love us and each other. Our dreams came true and we couldn’t have asked for anything more!
Bear Brook ValleyFredon, NJ, 973.241.1001, www.bearbrookvalley.com