“We wanted a combination of outdoor and indoor, a beautiful place,
and to have our ceremony and reception in one location. We spent
a few months searching before we found The Graycliff.
“The moment we walked in, we felt the perfect, elegant atmosphere.
Walking past the waterfall to the grand piano in the center of the room,
you’re greeted by a luxurious bar. Everyone was always smiling,
immaculately dressed, and very friendly. One look at the endless food
options had us excited for our tasting. We were so impressed by
the quality of the delicious food, we had a hard time choosing
our favorites! The process was truly enjoyable.”
Their Vendors
Ceremony & Reception: The Graycliff, 201.939.9233, www.thegraycliff.com
Gown: Camille La Vie
Bridesmaids: Camille La Vie
Tux: Biltmore Tuxedos
Photographer & Cinematographer: UED Events
Makeup: Jillian Emma
Hair: House of Excellence
Florist: Stunning Arrangements
Cake: Palermo’s Custom Cakes
DJ: Ultimate Entertainment DJ’s
Our story starts in Toms River, NJ. I moved there for professional opportunities and Briana moved there after spending a few years in Florida. I work in finance and Briana owns her own company. Being new to the area, a friend suggested the dating app Plenty of Fish. I found Briana, we met, and soon made it official and moved in together. Six months later I was giving her a promise ring, stating that in time it would become an engagement ring.
Five years later, I stuck by my word. I had a couple of ideas for the proposal, but I knew how much it would mean to have the people we love there. I started a Facebook live video and waited for our friends and family to join. I propped up my phone and called her into the room. I said, “It’s time to keep my promise” and proposed. She cried, I cried, and we were engaged!
To plan the wedding, we wanted a combination of outdoor and indoor, a beautiful place, and to have our ceremony and reception in one location. Those seemed like easy qualifications, but we spent a few months searching before we found The Graycliff. The moment we walked in, we felt the perfect, elegant atmosphere.The forum room is stunning. Walking past the waterfall to the grand piano in the center of the room, you’re greeted by a luxurious bar.
After meeting the owner, Tony Papamarkos, we were introduced to Michelle Malone, the banquet manager. She handled everything for us from the beginning. She’s incredibly sweet, enthusiastic, and welcoming. In fact, all the staff proved to be entirely on top of their game. Everyone was always smiling, immaculately dressed, and very friendly. We explained what we were looking for and they met every request. As self-proclaimed foodies, one look at the endless food options had us excited for our tasting. We were so impressed by the quality of the delicious food, we had a hard time choosing our favorites! The Graycliff was accommodating with how we wanted things set up and the process was truly enjoyable.
When our wedding day rolled around, we walked in and were amazed. Our plans came to life in a magical way. The ceremony aisle was lined with beautiful tulle and the chandelier lit up the room. A white carpet was rolled out for my wife to walk down the aisle, and we were amazed at the tranquil, peaceful feeling of our ceremony.
Cocktail hour was equally impressive. We had fruit-infused cocktails on display, huge ice sculptures, and a cheese table complete with a parmesan cheese castle, something I had never seen before and was my personal favorite. The Greenhouse room was part of our cocktail hour and it let in natural light from the beautiful day outside. The whole room popped and we received endless compliments.
The reception kept up the awe. After a champagne toast, our guests were given their choice of prime rib in a natural au jus, chicken San Marco with sautéed sun dried tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms and artichoke hearts, or broiled salmon with a dill beurre blanc sauce. I had the prime rib; it was tender, delicious, and a generous portion! Looking at how many people I saw digging in, everyone shared my sentiment.
The tables, set up with plenty of space to walk around, left a large dance floor for everyone to join in on the fun. Our DJ did a phenomenal job with music and lights and brought little party favors that everyone enjoyed. We couldn’t have been happier. The Viennese Fire Show to end the night provided all the dessert we could imagine with a 10-minute show for entertainment.
Our main goal was that our guests have fun. We want to thank everyone at The Graycliff for making that happen. The owner, Tony, our maître d’, Wilma, and Michelle, were organized and determined to provide us and our guests with a truly lovely evening. Thank you to our DJ, our florist, and everyone working in the kitchen. Your efforts made our wedding everything we hoped it would be. A special thanks to all our family and friends who helped us celebrate our amazing night!
The Graycliff, Moonachie, NJ, 201.939.9233, www.thegraycliff.com
