Jack and Erica's Wedding in Highlands, New Jersey
Beach Summer Purple 7 wedding vendors
9/17/2022 283 0
J&E
17 Sep, 2022
The story of our wedding
BACKGROUND
Jack and Erica met on November 18, 2018, at a cozy dive bar on the Upper West Side of Manhattan - just before a Bob Weir show at the famed Beacon Theatre. The two were quick to gravitate towards each other, both leading distinctive and independent lives. Jack, a passionate sailor and business professional from Cleveland; Erica, a forensic scientist w/ a wedding florist side-hustle from New Jersey. It wasn't long before Erica convinced Jack to move to New Jersey. Both having a passion for being on and near the water, the two landed a cute little apartment in Monmouth Beach.
ENGAGEMENT
In September of 2020, the pair went on another summer getaway to Rhode Island. Jack planned to *pop the question* on a boat in the Newport Harbor, but thunderstorms and a mild head-cold threw a wrench in his plan. The next day, Jack and Erica took a ferry to Block Island. They hiked down the cliffs of the Mohegan Bluffs and walked to a remote beach chasing a gorgeous sunset. Jack got down on one knee and asked Erica to marry him - and she said YES! The next day, Jack and Erica decided to return to the same beach where the big moment took place. After all, it is truly a beautiful stretch of sand. To their utter surprise, when they returned, they were warmly greeted by several middle-aged men who were audaciously dressed "in a natural state." Oh my gosh - did we just get engaged on a nude beach? The answer is unfortunately yes.
Continue reading »THE WEDDING
The couple landed on Sandy Hook Gateway National Park for their venue - a gorgeous peninsula on the northern Jersey Shore w/ sandy beaches on one side, and river views on the other. The tip of the "hook" is a former US military base, that is now abandoned but well-preserved. A charming white chapel resides on the riverfront, with hardwood and wooden beam interiors, and an open field adjacent to the chapel - perfect place for a summer tented wedding!
Being a wedding florist, Erica wanted to go BOLD with colors and textures. The couple also decided that really good music was a non-negotiable.
Our groovy, colorful wedding was positively bursting with good vibes and perfect details. After saying "I DO" E+J surprised their guests with a 2nd line brass band that burst out behind them and serenaded them down the aisle to "Soul Bossa Nova" (aka the Austin Powers theme song). The band then led everyone to cocktail hour, where guests enjoyed fresh oysters, lobster rolls, and cocktails. Although a separate florist was hired for the wedding, Erica designed the seating chart, which had white ceramic vases and sunset-hue blooms to escort guests to their tables. The reception tent ceiling was filled with floral bombs & disco balls overhead. After dinner, Erica changed into her white crepe puff-sleeve party dress to continue busting a move. Instead of a wedding cake, the couple created a non-traditional KEY-LIME PIE coupe tower - mini key-lime pies in champagne glasses! The mini pies were accompanied by an ice cream cart from a local creamery, choco-tacos, and pastries galore.
Jack and Erica's vendor team
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