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Tara and Alex at The Molly Pitcher Inn
Posted on October 26, 2020 by Ariana Baio
We met briefly years ago through mutual friends. I came across Alex’s social media and messaged him. We did not spend a day away from each other for almost a full year!
Alex told me on December 23rd we had to drop a cooking pan off to his mom’s house for Christmas. He asked me to come inside with him. We walked into his parents’ garden and he had candles, lanterns and music playing. He got down on one knee in the garden and asked the question. I did not know our entire family was watching from inside the house. Afterwards, we walked into town for dinner. I walked in and was shocked he had arranged all our family and closest friends to be there to celebrate!
We were very lucky during Covid to have had such a successful Plan B. I think this plan worked out even better then our original plan. It was a beautiful September day with no clouds in the sky. I had my “first look” with my bridesmaids instead of Alex, I wanted to keep it traditional and have my first look with him while I was walking down the aisle. We had our ceremony at Deep Cut Gardens. The bridesmaids wore a dark emerald green velvet dress while the groomsmen wore stone grey suits with a green tie.
At the Molly Pitcher Inn, we had an outdoor tent on the stone patio overlooking the Navesink river. We had a custom center hanging light fixture over the dance floor, it was an eclectic mix up of crystal chandeliers and rattan lanterns. We incorporated some custom flower clouds into the lights. The tables were dressed in white linens. The welcome sign and escort card display were on a moss display, to go along with the natural elements of the garden and river surrounding the day.
Our initial venue cancelled on us about a month a half before our wedding. We live nearby the Molly Pitcher Inn and were having dinner there one night when Alex’s mother asked if  they had an opening on our date, 9/19/20 and by chance they did! Red Bank, being our location of our first home together, holds a lot of meaning for us. This is when we hired Britt from Everlemon Events, with such little time to replan an entire wedding at a new location.
We had a family-style cocktail hour included crab cakes with chipotle mayo, Kansas City BBQ, pulled pork on potato rolls, buffalo chicken Rangoon, raspberry and brie in Phyllo and more. For entree we had a choice of saffron shrimp risotto, grilled filet mignon, pan-roasted fillet of red snapper. Our cake was fondant floral appliquéd carrot cake with cream cheese icing.
My Martina Liana gown was lightweight and comfortable, while still looking glamorous. Originally, I did not want a full gown but at my first appointment at Kleinfeld Bridal, she brought this dress into the fitting room and told me just to try it and show everyone waiting. I put it on and fell in love! It was nothing I had originally thought I wanted. I felt beautiful and sexy with the plunging neckline and mesh panels. I loved all the floral detail and the horsehair hem was breathtaking and something I had not seen before.
My favorite moment was after the ceremony, Alex and I got to relax for a few minutes before joining our reception. We had a private room onlooking the tent to see our guests arriving, with the view of the Navesink. We could relax now that the ceremony was over and we could enjoy the rest of the night as a married couple. We sat down together on a couch with our heads leaning on each other and said we’d never forget this moment. The view of the Navesink River and the golden hour rolling in.
The McDonald’s food truck! We custom made happy meal boxes with a similar “M” as McDonald’s for Muka. Each box read “I’m lovin’ you” with September 19th, 2020 written on the box.
We also had the idea of our memory table having a photo of our passed loved ones, along with their drink of choice next to their photo! My father with a vodka on the rocks, my grandma with a “Sex on the Beach”, Alex’s grandpa with a Manhattan, Alex’s grandma with a scotch on the rocks, Alex’s uncle with a cognac neat and my grandpa with a Budweiser beer bottle. Our signature drink was named after our dog, Kaiyo.
A few details did not work out the day of exactly had I planned it, but I was so happy I did not care about any of it. It was too top-heavy with the breeze from the river for our photo booth backdrop display to attach all the greenery on to it, the vintage couch Alex and I were supposed to use as our seating at the head table was too low for our table, so we used it as another photo opp.
“Victim of Love” by Charles Bradley.
Do not over stress. Â It is hard to take that advice, I received it as well. But you truly will be so happy to be married to the love of your life that none of the details will matter in the end. Plus, none of your guests will even notice small details as much as you do! They will just remember how much fun they had.
St. Kitts – postponed due to Covid.
the details
Hometowns
Red Bank, NJ
Reception Location
Photographer
Officiant
James Muka
Bride’s Gown
Martina Liana
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