“We looked all over the tri-state area, and when we decided on ABOVE at the Hilton Garden Inn, I knew it was right. My wedding wasn’t the first time I had chosen to have an event at the Hilton Garden Inn; I had my Sweet 16 there in a blizzard and I’ve always remembered how accommodating and friendly they were.
“We both wanted all our family and friends from near and far to celebrate with us and the convenient location of ABOVE, and the fact that everyone could stay on-site, was a huge benefit for us.”
Their Vendors
Ceremony & Reception:
ABOVE, 718.477.2400 x 2, www.eventabove.com
Gown: Randy Fenoli
Tux: Brooks Brothers
Photographer: Philip Siciliano Photography
Cinematographer: Majestic Creative Films
Makeup & Hair: House of Trends
Florist: Eltingville Florist
Cake: Jackie’s Cake Boutique
DJ: Dash of Class Platinum Entertainment
Wedding Coordinator: Lavish Occasions
Matt and I met at Wagner College when he was a senior and I was a junior. We had several friends in common and then, somewhere along the way, our friendship turned into more. Nine years later we’re still together! I’m an accountant and Matt is a field supervisor and also helps run my father’s bread bakery.
When Matt proposed, I had a lot going on and he suggested a trip to New York City to cheer me up. We spent a wonderful weekend at a hotel in Columbus Circle and on the last morning Matt said we were going to Washington Square Park. My dad grew up there and my family has great memories of the park, so it’s a significant place to us.
When we got there, he handed me a photo of us in the park from one of our first dates. He told me to flip the picture over, where it read, “Will you marry me?” When I looked up, he was on one knee. After the proposal, we went back to my house, where Matt invited our family and friends to celebrate with us. Matt could not have planned the day better and it will always be one of the favorite days of my life.
We looked all over the tri-state area, and when we decided on ABOVE at the Hilton Garden Inn, I knew it was right. My wedding wasn’t the first time I had chosen to have an event at the Hilton Garden Inn; I had my Sweet 16 there in a blizzard and I’ve always remembered how accommodating and friendly they were. We both wanted all our family and friends from near and far to celebrate with us and the convenient location of ABOVE, and the fact that everyone could stay on-site, was a huge benefit for us. I used several of their recommended vendors, including September Rose for our table seating chart, menus, invitations, and save-the-dates! She put in hours of work and everything was perfect. We had our ceremony at the Church of Saint Claire’s, because it was important for us to be married in a church.
The cocktail hour was in Above Rooftop, with its fabulous wraparound terrace where guests are able to take in panoramic views of the New York City skyline. It was perfect for photos, so we had some of our portraits taken there. We were glad to take advantage of the beautiful weather and gorgeous sunset as a backdrop. For food stations, we had wood oven pizza and a raw bar, which was a huge crowd favorite. We mixed passed hors d’oeuvres and appetizer-sized plates of shrimp fried rice, barbecue short rib, crab-stuffed zucchini, chicken and waffles, and bacon mac and cheese so it was easy for people try different things! We had a Frank Sinatra singer for the entire hour and the cocktail hour felt classic and romantic.
The modern-muted palette of Above was easy to work with when decorating. We kept everything white and dove grey, and our florist did a wonderful job filling the place with flowers. We had hydrangeas and roses, all white with some having the slightest tint of blush, and greenery everywhere. We decorated the large square tables at Above with various elaborate centerpieces. My favorite was a bridge of flowers from one side of the table to the other. We truly felt like a king and queen.
Dinner began with a roasted beet salad and a tri-color radiatore pasta. We gave our guests entrée options of roasted filet mignon in a balsamic bordelaise, risotto stuffed chicken, and marsala wild mushroom sauce halibut. Everything was excellent!
The staff at ABOVE was great working with our wedding coordinator, Lavish Occasions, and the entire night went off perfectly. We thank the entire staff for all their hard work! We thank our florist for helping make our vision a reality, and our DJ, who kept the dance floor packed the entire night. To our parents and our sisters who helped make our wedding everything we could’ve ever hoped for, we can’t thank you enough for all you did!
ABOVE, Staten Island, NY, 718.477.2400 x 2, eventabove.com
