Anthony and I met our junior year of college when we were 20 years old. On our first “real” date we bonded over the Yankees, family and friends, and Disney. Fast-forward five amazing years and Anthony arranged for our families to attend a Yankee game together. We got to the stadium early and took a walk through Monument Park. When we reached Derek Jeter’s monument, Anthony got down on one knee and proposed. The celebration continued the following day with a Yankees-themed engagement party, surrounded by our family and friends.
From the moment we walked into The Estate at Florentine Gardens, we knew we would be married there. The venue is classy, elegant, and refined. With its gorgeous ballroom, beautifully manicured gardens, and a bridal suite to die for, Florentine Gardens was everything we were looking for. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we were blessed with a completely renovated venue for our wedding day! We worked with Ciro Daidone, Florentine Gardens’ event consultant and co-owner, who made us feel like family from the start. He made the entire process of planning a wedding stress-free. My bridal attendant, Layla, was exceptional. She ensured everything was absolutely perfect the day of our wedding.
Our traditional Catholic ceremony took place at Saint Peter’s the Apostle Church, where I received all my sacraments growing up. Coming from Italian families, food is very important. We heard Florentine Gardens had amazing food and they exceeded our expectations. Guests still rave about the food almost a year later! We spent some time together in the Bridal Suite enjoying the cocktail hour food before greeting our guests. Our favorite was the artisanal mac and cheese bar! Other hits were the chilled seafood cart, the cheese and wine bar, the carving station, and the martini bar.
The newly renovated main ballroom of Florentine Gardens boasts three huge crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens, and a beautiful marble dance floor. We thought it fitting to keep the red-rose theme for our Valentine’s Day wedding. Every table was decorated with tall red and white flower centerpieces, accented with red rose petals and votive candles. We loved our loveseat for our sweetheart table. Everyone on our team was amazing. Our DJ kept our guests on the dance floor with a great mixture of music, and our cinematographer surprised us with our monogram on the dance floor. Our guests were treated to an amazing wrap-up video at the end of the night, highlighting our special day.
An abundance of food was available all night. Our first course was warm fresh mozzarella over prosciutto di parma, roasted red peppers, chopped tomato, onion, and basil salad. For entrées, guests chose chateaubriand of beef, free-range French-cut chicken breast stuffed with spinach and fontina with a black truffle red wine demi glaze, or Chilean sea bass served miso glazed with a teriyaki beurre blanc. After dinner, guests enjoyed the Viennese hour, which was to die for. They had every dessert you could think of; a chocolate fondue station, fried Oreos, dessert pizzas, create-your-own sundaes, and so much more. The food didn’t stop there. As guests left the reception, there was a “to-go” station set up with sliders and fries to enjoy on their way home!
We sincerely thank our parents for their help making our wedding day so special. We couldn’t have done it without their love and constant support! A special thank you to my hair and makeup artists, Kristen Okaly and Kristen Gonzales, for making me and my bridal party look so beautiful! Thank you to our family and friends for being with us to celebrate our special day. Thank you to The Estate at Florentine Gardens for making our day so memorable, stress-free, and beautiful!
The Estate at Florentine Gardens, River Vale, NJ, 201.666.0444, www.florentinegardens.com
