Nancy & Rafael - Old Hollywood Glitz & Glamour Wedding

Nancy and Rafael came to us to help them fully plan their dream wedding.  The Bride expressed her love of the glamour of old Hollywood and wanted to capture that feeling at their wedding.  We went right to work creating an unforgettable day for them and their guests.

Our design team at The Finishing Touch Event Design worked closely with the couple to design the look of the wedding from top to bottom.  This included unique beautiful pocket invitations that featured a red damask cut out velvet border and blind embossed monogram.

Stationery photo by Ron Holtz Photography

After almost two years of planning, the big day finally arrived.  The beautiful sunny and warm Saturday afternoon was captured with stunning photography by David and Tami of The Studio Photographers.  The Bride looked like a Hollywood femme fatale herself in her mermaid style lace and crystal gown and dramatic cathedral length veil.   She wore gorgeous crystal and pearl necklace and earrings custom designed by Vandana Jewelry and crystal adorned open-toed pumps.  The Romantic Garden created a stunning hand tied cascading bridal bouquet of all white flowers.

The traditional Spanish Catholic ceremony was held at the majestic Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Paterson, NJ. 
 

 

Guests were greeted by gorgeous tea length ceremony programs, created by our design team, which detailed how the couple incorporated traditions from their Hispanic culture into the ceremony.  Some of these traditions included the coin (arras) and cord ceremonies.  The arras represents the groom's dedication to the welfare of the bride.  It signifies the bride and groom's mutual hope for wealth, prosperity and security as they build their lives and family together.  The cord symbolizes the love and friendship that bind the couple together.  The figure eight shape of the cord represents the infinite nature of matrimony.

 

 

 

After taking pictures both inside and outside the church, our couple was whisked off in their limo with their bridal party to take romantic pictures at Lambert Castle in Paterson, NJ.  On beautiful grounds and with a historic backdrop, they posed and laughed as the Studio Photographers captured all of the highlights.

 

Then it was off to the Westminster Hotel in Livingston, NJ where the reception was to be held.  The Westminster was the perfect venue to hold this event with its red and gold color scheme.  The lounge in the hotel's restaurant, The Strip House, with its photos of Hollywood starlets on the walls and signature red velvet wallpaper was a perfect place for the couple to take fun, romantic pre-reception photos.

As guests entered the hotel, they were greeted by gorgeous white Manzanita trees adorned with red crystals provided by The Romantic Garden.  Hanging on the trees were whimsical crystal embellished seating cards created by our design team.  

Guests had the opportunity to sign their photo guest book created by The Studio Photographers which featured their beautiful engagement photos.  

The room was also decorated with framed childhood pictures of Nancy and Rafael as well as framed photos of “old Hollywood” couples to set the theme for the reception.

 

Guests enjoyed the fabulous cocktail hour while listening to Spanish guitar music.  The Westminster created a Peruvian station especially for the Groom to reflect his heritage.  The station featured fantastic ceviche served in martini glasses based on an old family recipe.

 

The Westminster also mixed up refreshing Watermelon Martinis and classic Mojitos that were passed to guests on silver platters.

 

Upon entering the ballroom, guests saw the magnificent 4-tier black and white damask wedding cake designed by The Westminster that took center stage.  It was topped with red roses and a crystal monogram cake topper.

The room was a glow with beautiful lighting and the couples monogrammed logo on the dance floor provided by In the Mix Entertainment. 

The ballroom was set to mimic the look of a 1940s supper club with square tables covered in custom garnet crushed shimmer linens from Cloth Connection and black chivari ballroom chairs with burgundy velvet cushions from Party Rental Ltd. 

Black napkins enrobed custom crystal embellished menus and were topped with white orchid heads. 

The Romantic Garden created two different stunning centerpieces.  The tall centerpieces featured red roses, white hydrangea, and white ostrich plumes with a crystal "necklace" atop trumpet vases with a hanging crystal pendant inside.  The centerpieces were illuminated from their bases. 

The low centerpieces featured red roses, white hydrangea, and black ostrich feather tufts in black glass cubes. 

 

To complete the look, tables were topped with square mirrors, red rose petals, black beaded table lamps, and damask adorned candles.  The tables were also named after classic romance movies like "Casablanca" and "From Here to Eternity."  One of the tables was named "Aladdin" after the movie the two longtime sweethearts went to see on their first date!

 

Guests dined on the Westminster's famous Filet Mignon and danced the night away to a DJ from In the Mix Entertainment and a full 12-piece Latin band, La Orquesta C.A.N.I. 

 

 

To add a little glitz to cake cutting time, the Bride removed her veil and changed into a feather and crystal fascinator, which is a fun retro-style hair accessory that fit perfectly with the feel of the wedding.

 

 

 

To put a sweet end to a fabulous reception, guests were treated to a red and black candy buffet.  Guests happily filled up the personalized take away containers from our design team with gourmet chocolate covered almonds, M&Ms, cherry jelly beans, white chocolate covered pretzels, and mini nonpareils.

 

 

 

After the reception, guests were invited to join our couple to relax and wind-down into the wee hours of the night at the hotel’s Strip House Lounge. 

 

 

It was a truly magical event that we were honored to be a part of.  We wish this fun couple a lifetime of happiness filled with glamour and romance.  

Happy Planning,

Priscilla and Soroya

Comments

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I am dreaming of a glamorous wedding too.

~Audrey