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Cara and Joe at The Madison Hotel

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Cara and Joe at The Madison Hotel

Posted on August 09, 2022 by New Jersey Bride

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How did you meet?
We have both known each other since high school! We were always involved with the same circle of friends but didn’t start dating until long after we graduated from NHS. In 2016, we started connecting again after we had gone off to college and were back in Nutley. It all started over some drinks at “Cork’s” and the rest is history!

How did you get engaged?
The number “13” has always been very special to us since we started dating on a Friday the 13th (and now will be getting married on Friday the 13th)! While we were celebrating our four-year anniversary on January 13th 2021, I casually mentioned to Joe that we needed to make Valentine’s day reservations. To my surprise, Joe had told me that he already made them. I thought, “that’s odd, Joe never makes reservations” ( it’s usually my job). However, a month came and went and I thought nothing of it anymore. Our Valentine’s reservations were on the 13th, which was a Saturday and “our day.” Before going out to dinner, Joe suggested we take a picture together since we were all “done up.” I was not at all skeptical of this because we did this a week prior on Superbowl Sunday in our NY Giants getup. We put my phone on a timer and took a picture. Joe wanted to take one more. On the second picture, about halfway through the timer, Joe turned to me and the next thing I knew he was down on one knee asking me to marry him! I was in such shock but the most excited I had ever been in my life! It was just us, which was so beautiful and intimate. We immediately called our parents (who already knew it was happening) and went on our Valentine’s date- turned engagement celebration! It was an incredible night that we will cherish forever and never forget.

Details of the day!
Since we had a spring wedding, I wanted everything light and airy as far as colors; all while keeping it pretty neutral. The bridesmaids’ dresses were the color “agave” from Azazie which was close to a sage, but more on the blue side. The color complimented the beautiful greenhouse conservatory of the Madison Hotel perfectly. We went with classic greenery and whites for the florals, with a very small touch of blue for the florals in my bouquet. The groomsmen wore light gray with matching bowties and pocket squares to the girls’ dresses which was a nice touch.

Why did you choose your venue?
My husband and I wanted our wedding to be somewhere unlike we had ever been before. As soon as we walked into the Madison Hotel Conservatory, we were blown away. It was just as beautiful as we had seen in pictures and we knew immediately that we couldn’t have our wedding anywhere else. Our guests are still complimenting on how beautiful and unique of a venue it was!

What was on your menu?
We had a full cocktail hour, featuring some favorites such as a French fry bar and flatbread pizzas. The dinner menu was a spring salad with vinaigrette and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, raspberry sorbet for intermezzo, and a choice of stuffed chicken breast, pan seared salmon, or eggplant for the entree. Our cake flavor was Bailey’s Irish Cream and it was delicious! Our signature drinks were an Espresso Martini (we’re obsessed) and a Dark ‘n’ Stormy (Bermuda’s signature drink; my husband’s family has a timeshare in Bermuda and this is one of his favorite parts of vacationing there).

All about your gown!
I knew I wanted something timeless, but also sexy and detailed. I was looking into fit and flare styles. When trying on dresses, my bridal consultant brought me several dresses to try on and for some reason, I gravitated to the Essense of Australia dress. I put it on and I was blown away and in tears! I didn’t think a dress could make me so emotional but it truly did. I tried on several others after that and I just didn’t get the feeling I did from the first dress. So I eventually went back to the first dress and said “yes!” Dress shopping was one of my favorite experiences of wedding planning.

What was your favorite moment?
Just minutes before walking down the aisle, I was alone with my father and my younger sister (maid of honor) had just fluffed my dress to make sure it was perfect before I entered through the doors. My dad had a flashback to me fixing my sister’s tutu before her first dance recital. He got so emotional and it was such a sweet moment that we will both remember forever!

One detail you couldn’t live without?
We absolutely loved the idea of a neon sign. Our DJ conveniently provided a greenery wall as one of his photo booth options, so we planned to have a neon sign with our last name on the wall as our photo “booth” spot. My bridesmaids surprised me and went in on the sign as a gift for my bridal shower which was so sweet. The wall and sign were visible from the dance floor all night long which was a great enhancement for our decor. I loved that it provided a designated photo spot for my guests. We have so many amazing and fun pictures from that night in that spot!

Did anything go wrong?
The weather wasn’t ideal for the whole day, which is obviously hard to even complain about. The forecast was literally all over the place for that day for the whole week leading up to my wedding. It held out for a while, up until the ceremony. It then got super humid and started misting a little during pictures, so we had to touch up our hair before the reception and we didn’t get to have our outside cocktail hour. You cannot control the weather so it was honestly such a minuscule inconvenience and didn’t affect the flow of the day at all.

First dance song?
“You Make It Easy” – Jason Aldean. It’s a super special song to us!

Any advice for future brides?
Take time to observe and take it all in. I know that sounds so cliché, but the day truly goes by SO quickly. It’s so important to take time to take it in and stick with your significant other throughout the entire night.

Honeymoon Location?
I’m a teacher so we went to St. Lucia in July! We are staying at Sandals Grande St. Lucian

the details

Reception Location

The Madison Hotel

Photographer

Ralph DePiro Photography

Officiant

Deacon Brian Murphy

Bride’s Gown

Vesa Brides- Essense of Australia

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Cara and Joe at The Madison Hotel

the details

Reception Location

Photographer

Officiant

Bride’s Gown

Bride’s Shoes

Bridesmaid Dresses

Hair

Makeup

Groom’s Attire

Flowers

Cake

Invites

Music

Videographer

Transportation

Brides Jewelry