Danielle and Ray are New Jersey natives, so when they set out to choose their wedding venues, it was an easy decision. They chose to have the ceremony in the chapel of Danielle’s high school, and selected the nearby Park Savoy Estate for its unique homey rooms and stunning ballroom. The couple envisioned a classic ambiance, and brought a bit of a whimsical feel to the day with florals by Gardenias, which were filled with succulents, anemones, and ranunculus, all in beautiful pastel tones. After the wedding, all of their flowers were donated to local hospitals, assisted living, and hospice centers, including the center where Danielle’s grandmother lived during her last years. Danielle and Ray both come from Italian roots, so in addition to their 3-layer wedding cake, Conca D’Oro set up “Ray and Danielle’s Italian Bakery” at the end of the night for guests to take home sweet treats! The love that these two share shines through in each of the gorgeous images from Lindsay Campbell Photography!
What is your proposal story?
December 20th was a jam-packed day of Christmas festivities and fun. We started our day at an family brunch before heading into NYC to see the Christmas tree and the Lion King with Ray’s family. I was blown away when Ray handed me a small card that said “Merry Christmas” as we stood with his family after the show, still in the theater. The card inside said “Let’s have a New York Christmas!” and there was a key to the Hilton Midtown hotel for two nights in the greatest city in the world! The next day, December 21st, was literally a perfect day. We had a delicious breakfast before exploring the city. We went on a great long run through Central Park and watched Home Alone in NYC. Once the movie was done, Ray said “okay- get ready for dinner and wear something nice. This is the last part of your Christmas gift so I hope you will enjoy it.”
We arrived at the Marriott Marquis Times Square and took an elevator up to The View, a top floor rotating restaurant that gives you a 360 degree view of NYC, and even NJ, as you eat. We got seated at a table right next to the window and had a prime view all evening. We enjoyed an incredible dinner and delicious wine for a couple of hours and wonderful conversation; it was the greatest date. Once we placed our dessert order, the waitress brought over a covered plate and said “we have a special dessert for you tonight!” She dropped the plate and quickly walked away. Then Ray said, “look over there.” I turned and saw a MASSIVE sign that rotated into view which said “Danielle Will You Marry Me?” Ray took the cover off the plate and pulled out a beautiful engagement ring. He came over got down on one knee, showed me the ring, and asked me to marry him. I think I said yes approximately 20 times.
Perhaps the greatest part is what came next. Before calling any family or friends (even our parents!) we just sat together for an hour or so and cherished the moment. FaceTiming family and friends and having the restaurant to ourselves until midnight was amazing, and then we ran around NYC taking pictures in Times Square, at the tree, and at other Christmas sites with our massive sign and new bling. And thus ended the most perfect day!
Tell us a little bit about your wedding vision.
Our vision for our wedding was for our entire families (and friends) to feel the love and appreciation we have for them and to share in our joy of starting life together. We aimed for a classic elegance with some whimsical lighter details to create an environment that was comfortable and relaxing for everyone. The most important aspects to us as we planned were first, that we were planning this celebration in light of planning a marriage and not just a party; that everything we were doing reflected our love and understanding of the marriage we are aspiring to have, and second, that the choices we made would communicate our gratitude to those in attendance.
Photography: Lindsay Campbell Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. Lucy Chapel, Villa Walsh Academy | Reception Venue: The Park Savoy Estate | Floral: Gardenias | Stationery: Shine Wedding Invitations | Videography: Kent Mast | Wedding Cake: Conca D’Oro | Band: EBE Events and Entertainment | Hair: Gianna Giacona Beauty Group | Makeup: Gianna Giacona Beauty Group | Painter: Katherine Gressel | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux | Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way | Headpiece: BHLDN | Engagement Ring: James Allen | Wedding Ring: James Allen | Bridesmaid Jewelry: Kate Spade | Submitted via: Matchology