“Dramatic Ocean Views”
Glenn and I knew each other for a long time. He was a customer at a sneaker store I worked at when I was younger, and we always had great conversations when I would ring him up. Eventually, we ran into each other at the Jersey Shore and were able to hang out outside of a work setting. After that, we were inseparable. He invited me to a Yankees game for our first date, and we had dated for five and half years when he proposed. He threw a surprise party for me and got down on one knee with all my friends and family surrounding us.
During our year and a half engagement, we discovered our perfect venue, The Vanderbilt at South Beach. There is a dramatic view of the beach from the ballroom, the grounds are spectacular, and, after hearing we could have our ceremony right on the beach, we were hooked! Brittany Felice, our event planner, was an absolute doll and made the whole process a breeze. We connected with her instantly and throughout the process she became like family; always available and coming up with creative ideas for us. The Vanderbilt accommodated everything we imagined and more.
Our beachfront ceremony was absolutely beautiful. The ocean behind us created the perfect backdrop for photos. There was a carpet underneath the guests chairs, which blended perfectly with the sand. This provided a more stable base for the ladies walking in heels and our guests didn’t have to worry about sand getting in their shoes.
Our cocktail hour was full of delicious food, from the “Taste of Italy” station where the mozzarella was prepared right in front of you, to a personal French fry bar at the groom’s request, as well as many other amazing stations, including a carving board, my favorite. Waiters also passed a yummy variety of hors d’oeuvres, which were brought up to the bridal suite for us to enjoy before joining the cocktail hour.
Our signature drink, a “Mazzatini”, was served all night. I revamped my look from ceremony to party before making our entrance, as did Glenn. My hairdresser changed my hairstyle to a secure up-do for dancing and Glenn changed from a white blazer to a fire-red blazer with a black design. He called it his “party look!”
When it came to the dinner menu, we ensured our guests received the best of the best. We began with a baby arugula salad followed by orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage. Wonderful dishes including grilled filet mignon, prosciutto and fontina stuffed chicken, and tomato and caper grilled salmon were all out of this world. The staff at The Vanderbilt also accommodated our vegetarian guests. Our dessert hour had a chocolate fountain, a gelato bar, our tiered wedding cake, and tons of passed sweet bites! Our guests had boxes to take some treats home to enjoy later.
We chose an elegant, classy décor that would never go out of style, opting for tall vases for an unobstructed view while sitting, with white flowers and pops of greenery as our centerpieces. We had candles galore and black tablecloths as the perfect contrast. Our sweetheart table featured light up “LOVE” letters and we felt like royalty!
Our seating chart was adorned with diamonds and displayed a photo of Glenn and me at the top. Brittany helped us ensure everyone was comfortably seated with plenty of space and surprised us with an ice sculpture to keep the vodka for our signature drinks nice and cool. Our DJ had everyone on the dance floor from the second the party started until the end. We had a photo-booth and sparklers for our guests to enjoy, which made for great photos!
I owe so much of this day to Brittany, who really ensured we had a unique, beautiful experience. Thank you Brittany and the rest of the staff at The Vanderbilt at South Beach. Thank you to my hairdresser for redoing my hair three times to make sure it looked great for photos, the ceremony, and the reception! Our photographer was so down to earth and his crew was amazing. The photos and the video from our videographer are magnificent and bring tears to my eyes still. It was the best day of our lives and we will never forget it!
The Vanderbilt at South Beach, Staten Island, NY, 718.447.0800, www.vanderbiltsouthbeach.com
