Lisa and Ronen at Spring Lake Golf Club

How did you meet? Ronen was my first and last online date. We met on Match.com way back in October 2011. After a few days of emailing and texting we decided to meet in person. We met at the Metropolitan Cafe in Freehold, NJ for ONE drink. When I walked in the lobby and saw him sitting down waiting for me instantly I felt butterflies. We spend the evening talking and were inseparable ever since. How did you get engaged? We just arrived at the Ritz Carlton in Fort Lauderdale. Ronen was recovering from back surgery and told me his doctor told him he needed to go for a walk on the sand. I was confused because we were there for my annual conference (I am a corporate event planner) and really just wanted to get showered after a long day of traveling, also I was starving! After a little hemming and hawing I agreed to go for a walk on the beach. The conversation began about my recently deceased father, us getting married someday and so on. Then Ronen handed me and envelope that said “Deal Police Department” and told me he received a letter from his work. He is the police chief in Deal, NJ and I instantly said, “Did something happen, are you okay?” When I opened the letter it was a photo of our Boston Terrier, Diesel, sitting on our bed with my ring in the box and the words “Mommy please say yes, I don’t want to move back to Freehold.” As I went to look at Ronen (with tears in my eyes) he was on one knee holding my ring. Details of your day: I did not want a cookie cutter wedding. I wanted our wedding to be an experience for our guests, I wanted every single one of our guests to feel like family. Being a fatherless bride was a challenge for me, as I was extremely close with my Dad. We carefully crafted our guest list. My Mom walked me down the aisle, my uncle gave a speech, I had a pendant in my bouquet with my Dad’s photo, in lieu of favors we made a donation to the Albert J. Ingrassia Fund with all monies going directly to the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders and we donated all of our florals to the oncology hospice unit at Jersey Shore Medical Center. Our flowers were pink and ivory David Austin roses. Our flower girls threw fluffy white feathers instead of rose petals (in honor of my Dad). We tried to keep it simple, we opted not to have a traditional bridal party. We just couldn’t wait to get married and start out life together. I am now a proud LEO wife. My husband is the chief in Deal. I wanted to celebrate my husband’s accomplishments. Our table cards were summons with bicycles holding them up, our tables were all street names in Deal. Our wedding cake was a split cake, half blue with his police chief badge and the other white with bling for me. We did our first look at his police headquarters just the two of us. Since we did not have a bridal party and we wanted to do something fun and different for our guests. We hired a belly dancer to surprise everyone halfway through the wedding. We even had my 86 year old grandmother dancing. It was a night to remember. How did you chose the venue? As soon as I laid eyes on Spring Lake Golf Club I fell in love. The meticulous landscaping, the attentive staff. Our venue was elegant and breathtaking. I knew this was the venue for us. What was on your menu? We had a traditional cocktail hour followed by several food stations in lieu of a traditional sit down dinner. Slider stations, pasta stations, carving stations, Mexican stations as well as a kosher station for our kosher guests. Wedding cake? Our dessert was wedding cake with a chocolate tier, vanilla tier and a almond tier along with an ice cream sundae bar complete cookies and waffles. Description of your gown: Allure Bridals 9252 Ivory Gown. My gown was fitted and elegant. From the moment I tried it on I knew, it was elegant and timeless. An ivory gown with silver beading and a gorgeous illusion back. My seamstress even sewed a patch from one of my father’s shirts inside my gown next to my heart. Favorite moment? Our first look. We were alone away from the hustle and bustle. I walked down the steps inside my almost husbands headquarters, tapped him on the shoulder and our eyes met for the first time. Our eyes filled with tears of joy. It was at that moment I knew i was the luckiest woman in the entire world – I was going to marry my best friend and soul mate. One detail you couldn’t live without? My husband and I wrote our own vows. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I put my heart on paper and read it to my husband in front of our friends and family. We wanted the entire world to know how much we love and respect each other. He is Jewish and I am Roman Catholic so we had an interfaith marriage and honored both of our traditions in a respectful manner to keep the families quiet and happy. Did anything go wrong? I was too busy paying attention to my new husband to notice, this was the happiest day of my entire life 🙂 First dance? Rascal Flats “Broken Road” – we are both a bit older and this describes our life Advice for other brides? Eat, Drink and be married! This is YOUR day don’t stress about the little details no one will notice or care about! If you do, you will end up not enjoying your big day. Take a moment during your wedding to grab your new husband’s hand and admire your guests. All of those people are there for one reason: to watch celebrate your love with your new husband. Enjoy every single second! Honeymoon? Napa Valley & San Francisco – we will be staying at Silverado Golf Resort and The Ritz Carlton San Francisco