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Alyssa and Mike’s Micro Wedding in Avalon

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Ariana Baio

Alyssa and Mike


We met through a friend of a friend, but actually went to the same grade school together without even knowing it!


It was our five-year anniversary! I had scheduled my NCLEX exam for that date—it took me all day and I walked out of it feeling like I didn’t pass. So I called Mike on the way home, sobbing about how I was never going to be a nurse. When I got home and opened the front door, there was a trail of roses leading into the living room. It was then that I remembered it was our anniversary. Following the roses, I entered the living room and saw a bottle of champagne on the living room table and then saw Mike down on one knee. He asked, “Will you marry me?”

We fully embraced the beach vibes for our wedding day. The ceremony was held right on the beach behind the Icona Avalon Resort. The florals were loose and relaxed to match the aesthetic for the day. Favors included pocket hand sanitizers for guests (hello, Covid!) so nothing was passed along by contact.

Due to travel restrictions in Maryland, we had no other option but to change the location of our venue due to Covid. At the time, restrictions in New Jersey had lifted slightly, allowing us and our guests to safely travel in without restrictions.

For our appetizers, we had caprese skewers, chicken skewers, cheesesteak dumplings, shrimp lollipops and angus-beef sliders. For entrées we offered a choice of crab cakes, filet or grilled jidori chicken, each served with mashed potatoes and asparagus, as well as a side Caesar salad. We had a single-tier cake that we cut, which was red velvet, and then served chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting. It was all so amazing!

My gown was the gorgeous “Galatea” design by Willow by Watters. I loved the subtle yet vivacious sparkle and colors of the design.Alyssa and Mike

It’s so hard to pick a favorite moment. We are just so thankful that everything came together on such short notice and we are beyond lucky to have such amazing friends and family who helped coordinate, set up and execute everything. We both thought it was hilarious when Mike’s cousin Ryan was walking down the aisle carrying the rings. He was guarding them with his life! Mike’s favoite moment was standing together at the altar. My favorite moment was our first dance. I just remember smiling so big through that, especially when Mike spun me.
Alyssa and Mike

My bridesmaids surprised me with all of our florals. With everything that had happened leading up to the wedding, and especially because of Covid, they told me they would be providing all the florals. I was just absolutely floored and so honored. Another detail was a bracelet my two matrons of honor gave me to wear as my something blue. I remember panicking about not having that, because I knew I wanted to try to stick to the tradition of Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. The bracelet is beautiful and has a gorgeous blue stone in it. It went perfectly with rest of the jewelry I had picked out, too!Alyssa and Mike

Oh man…where to start? We changed and rechanged our plans and ended up deciding to cancel our original wedding in order to keep people safe. It was a tough decision, and I cried for at least two days. We ended up going to Las Vegas to get our marriage license. We had to Zoom conference friends and family in because we were only allowed one witness. The original hotel we booked for that trip called us and told us they had a gas leak, so we had to book a new hotel and we hit hours of traffic on the way there. But finally we made it, and we were married, and it was perfect! Plus we got to do it again on the beach in front of all our closest friends and family! With all the stress of planning a wedding plus added stress because of a pandemic, it was difficult to see a way to make it all work. A dear friend sent me a quote she found, “When the chance comes to marry your soulmate twice, marry them twice.” That is just something that really tugged at the heartstrings.Alyssa and Mike

“You’re in My Heart,” by Rod Stewart.Alyssa and Mike's Micro-Wedding

Always try to find a way to make each other laugh.

the details

Reception Location

ICONA Avalon Resort

Photographer

Michelle Whitley

Officiant

Mitchell Beale

Bride’s Gown

Willow by Watters "Galatea"

+ more