“We chose The Park Savoy for many reasons. Sam Tillawi, the general manager, had us at hello. He was warm, inviting, and felt like family. We met Barry Maurillo, one of the owners, who hugged us and sent us home with their homemade pasta sauce. We both love the Old World charm and elegance at The Park Savoy, from the library with its checkerboard floor to the grand ballroom and high ceilings adorned with the most gorgeous chandeliers.
“They made us feel as if we were the only people to ever host a wedding there and our day was the only one that mattered. They are skilled professionals and we are so grateful to the entire staff.”
Ceremony & Reception: The Park Savoy Estate, 973.377.7100, theparksavoy.com
Gown: Pronovias, at Pronovias, NYC
Bridesmaids: Birdy Grey
Tux: Mysuit
Photographer & Cinematographer: Jaylim Studio
Makeup: Makeup By Stacy Suarez
Hair: LanieMax Hair, Tracy Canzano
Florist: Lush Fleuriste, Sheena Pallay
Cake: Palermo’s Bakery
DJ: Posh DJs, Sean Tylor
Harpist: Nina Bogomas
Stationery: Unmeasured Events
Hotel: The Archer, Florham Park, NJ
Rehearsal Dinner: Antique Loft Hoboken
Oliver and I met the old fashioned way, at a bar in Manhattan! We were each playing wingman for our respective friends. Oliver’s friend approached me at the bar, complimented my shoes, and invited me and my friend to join her group. We hit it off that night. Oliver told me I was the coolest girl he’d ever met and he thought we’d be great friends. Becoming friends was not what I had in mind, but friends we were for quite some time! Our first “real” date was almost a year later, when Oliver left work early to join me at the Bryant Park Christmas market. We spent hours wandering around in the cold, eventually going to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. I left to meet up with a friend for dinner, but I never wanted that day to end.
A few years later, Bryant Park became the site of our proposal. We met after my shift for a drink, then went to the Bryant Park fountain. He suddenly dropped to one knee and asked me what I’d been waiting so long to hear! We chose The Park Savoy for many reasons. Sam Tillawi, the general manager, had us at hello. He was warm, inviting, and felt like family. We met Barry Maurillo, one of the owners, who hugged us and sent us home with their homemade pasta sauce. We both love the Old World charm and elegance at The Park Savoy, from the library with its checkerboard floor to the grand ballroom and high ceilings adorned with the most gorgeous chandeliers. It truly doesn’t get better.
They made us feel as if we were the only people to ever host a wedding there and our day was the only one that mattered. They are skilled professionals and we are so grateful to the entire staff; Barry, Sam, Manny, Mary, Johanna, and George.
Our ceremony highlighted how remarkable The Park Savoy truly is. They finished their chapel early to accommodate our Jewish and Catholic interfaith ceremony. Our priest, Father Michael Duffy, is a long-time family friend and our Rabbi, Dennis Tobin, quickly became an important person in our lives. We blended cultures and faiths and ensured everyone understood each part of the ceremony. We read our own vows, my cousin, Christina, sang alongside our harpist, my Uncle Tom built our chuppah, my cousin, Stephen, painted our ring bearer wagon, and one of our closest friends designed and printed our invitations. It was touching to have so many special people be part of our day.
Our cocktail hour was on fire! Sam and the team recommended their best dishes and made the room an absolute stunner. People are still commenting about our martini bar, mac and cheese bar, and seafood display. We also had coconut shrimp, lobster bonbons, spinach and feta cheese in phyllo cigars, and Spanish seafood paella. It was all a hit! The Park Savoy laid out the entire cocktail hour menu for me and Oliver in our bridal suite, thoughtfully covering my gown with a tablecloth bib. We loved those moments to bask in being husband and wife.
The ballroom spoke for itself, with ornate carved ceilings, wall-to-wall windows, and its regal fireplace. We had a soft, romantic look with lots of flowers and warm lighting, pairing funky yet romantic flowers with tapered candles in brass holders, gold vases, and endless tealight candles and twinkle lights.
Under each plate was a special note from us to each person, sealed with our signature wax seal. Our table numbers, my favorite detail, were hand-painted pictures of places Oliver and I have traveled to, created by my father-in-law, Robert.
Our reception was wild! Oliver and I love to eat, drink, dance, and celebrate anything. Dinner began with the estate signature salad and we chose four entrée options: Chilean sea bass in a soy ginger glaze, chateaubriand in a cabernet sauce, chicken sorrentino, and an eggplant tower. The Park Savoy did not disappoint with their Viennese dessert display midway through, transforming the cocktail hour space into an oasis of sweets! They also provided a to-go station with spiked cider and hot chocolate. Our DJ was the absolute best, balancing our varied taste in music and keeping our dance floor alive, adding special effects with uplighting, a CO2 gun, our monogram, and faux snow.
All four of our parents played an integral role in our dream day. Our siblings were there for us every step of the way. Our bridal parties made our time truly unforgettable. To The Park Savoy, I couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. Barry, Sam, Johanna, and the entire staff made our day as important to them as it was to us. We are endlessly grateful for all the support we received and can’t wait to keep growing together through marriage.
The Park Savoy Estate, Florham Park, NJ, 973.377.7100, www.theparksavoy.com
