“Sparkling City Skyline”
Justin and I met at work. He was finishing his undergrad and we met at the hospital where we both worked. One day he came in with a new haircut. His short hair let me realize how handsome he was. He was about to leave for a new job and I told him I’d be sad not to see him every day, but that was the start of something new.
Over the past seven years he has been my number one supporter. While I was in nursing school, we would meet on my days off and he would take photos of me in Rutgers Gardens, because he’s always been interested in photography. We loved the city and being by the water and eventually moved into our first place together in Edgewater, NJ.
We often went to Ninja NY for special occasions. The servers sometimes come to you and do a magic trick. The night we were celebrating me passing my nursing boards, they brought a covered plate which I was supposed to “chop.” I did, and he lifted the top to reveal a red engagement ring box! Justin got down on one knee and proposed, opening the box to show me the most beautiful engagement ring.
We lived near Waterside Events and always admired the view. When we went inside, Justin immediately said, “This is it!” The views from the floor-to-ceiling windows are of beautiful sparkling water and the city skyline. We met Lesley Lovett, the banquet sales manager and event planner, and she was absolutely everything we hoped for. She was knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly.
Lesley felt like the face of Waterside to us because she was there from the beginning until the day of our wedding. In the end, she felt like my best friend! It was a pleasure working with someone so creative and enthusiastic. The food options were phenomenal and she helped us customize the menu, even working on Photoshop to design them to match our invitations. The planning process was easygoing and the owners really listened to what we wanted. Everything went so incredibly smoothly.
Our ceremony took place at St. John Vianney Church, where I performed all my sacraments and where I had dreamed of being married since high school. Prior to cocktail hour, Lesley took us to the main room so we could see it in all its pristine glory. It was intimate, just the two of us, and Waterside provided a plate of the foods we enjoyed the most at our tasting. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Our favorite was the risotto!
My friends and family came to the venue the night before the wedding to set up. They were there until midnight arranging the fresh pink and white flowers. Our colors were blush, white, and a touch of gold. My mother, aunt, and sister worked tirelessly to put everything together. It was truly a labor of love.
Our DJ kept everyone dancing the whole time. It was fun for us to see our family out on the dance floor all together. No one was sitting down! We felt we were in our very own nightclub. During the speeches, my sister, Cristina, integrated old home movies into her maid of honor speech explaining five things I have taught her. I couldn’t believe it when I saw my prior self with a bowl cut, but it was a fun surprise!
Dinner was delicious. We chose chicken marsala in a mushroom and red wine sauce, chateaubriand with bordelaise sauce, and Chilean sea bass with a lemon thyme butter sauce. Our traditional four-tier cake had four different flavors; the chocolate pudding and lemon tiers were my two favorites. Each table was brought an assortment of desserts, such as chocolate-dipped strawberries, crème brûlée, and ice cream.
We’d like to give special thanks to Waterside Events, Lesley Lovett, our two maître d’s, and our family. Thank you to my mom and dad, my mother-in-law, bridesmaids, and groomsmen, and to our DJ, our cinematographer, and our photographer. We loved every moment of our wedding and we will savor the memories for the rest of our lives!
Waterside Events, North Bergen, NJ, 201.861.7767, www.watersideevents.com
“We lived near Waterside Events and always admired the view. When we went inside, Justin immediately said, “This is it!” The views from the floor-to-ceiling windows are of beautiful sparkling water and the city skyline. We met Lesley Lovett, the banquet sales manager and event planner, and she was absolutely everything we hoped for. She was knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly.
