Shana and Brian are simply enchanting, and their love is exemplified all throughout their joyous wedding day. Shana’s delicate cathedral veil paired with her elegant bouquet made a quintessential bridal portrait that is absolutely breathtaking. Brian is beaming with admiration for his lovely bride, which shows in every glance. This couple’s wedding is chuck-full-of elegant event designs from the ornate blooms, down to the decadent cake! Duca-Studio magnificently captured every perfect element from this day at Cescaphe Ballroom, and the beautiful gallery and love story awaits below!
From the Bride: “My husband Brian and I met as freshman at Drexel University. We became friends while living in the same dorm building. After three years of friendship we became closer and closer and eventually realized our true feelings for each other. Brian asked me to be his girlfriend one summer night as we walked along the beach at the Jersey Shore. I always hear that the best relationships start as a friendship first and I have to say I agree!”
“My husband proposed to me after months of secretly planning with my mom, sister, and closest friends. He even brought our moms along to help pick out my engagement ring. The day was July 12, 2014 and I was under the impression that we were attending Brian’s high school reunion in Atlantic City. Brian had told me about a month prior that we were going to the beach in Brigantine during the day and would meet up with some of his high school friends at the beach bar and at night head to AC for the reunion. That day Brian picked me up at my parent’s house and we made our way to the Shore for his “reunion”. I was a little hesitant to go considering I wasn’t going to know that many people there but I sucked it up to make Brian happy. Just the two of us spent the morning sitting on the beach before we were going to meet up with Brian’s “high school friends” at the beach bar. When it came time to go to the beach bar I was packing up my bag as Brian asked me to stop what I was doing. It was then that he told me there was no reunion. I was immediately confused. Brian then went on with a whole speech about how the Jersey shore is a special place for us and that he wanted to make today another memorable day at the shore. He then got down on one knee and asked “Shana will you marry me?” Strangers all around us clapped and cheered. I was in so much shock that I forgot to say yes at first. Once I said yes we made our way up to the beach bar and to my surprise our family and closest friends were all there waiting to celebrate. It was an amazing day and I was proposed to with an amazing ring. The center stone of my engagement ring is a family heirloom passed down from my husband’s grandmother.”
“I compared wedding planning to preparing for Christmas Day. Its not just Christmas day its an entire holiday season that leads up to that one day that people celebrate. Weddings are months and months of planning just for one single day of celebration so I wanted to have fun while doing it. I went into wedding planning with the mind set that I am going to enjoy every single second of it and that is just what I did. I did not have a wedding planner, but I did have the best mom and future mother in law to help along the way. Not to mention the day of the wedding The Cescaphe Event Group staff made sure that we wanted for nothing. The entire day ran so smoothly and if anything did go wrong I wasn’t aware of it!”
“It is hard to pick just one memory from our wedding day that is my favorite. From having our ceremony in the same church that my parents were married in, to dancing the night away surrounded by people we love, the entire day was picture perfect! One of the most memorable moments though was exchanging our vows. It was one of the few times during our wedding day where I felt like it was just the two of us.”
“The best advice I have for couples planning their wedding is to just have fun! Don’t sweat the small stuff, especially the day of your wedding. Even if everything doesn’t go to plan, the day is completely about you and your marriage and that is all that matters. Oh and if your soon to be spouse insists on playing the Ignition Remix multiples times on the way to your reception just let him do it”
Vendors | Wedding Photography: Alex Duca, Duca Studio | Couple Portraits Photography: Kristen Gregor, Petal and Glass Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. Monica Roman Catholic Church in South Philadelphia | Reception Venue/Caterer/Cake Baker: Cescaphe Ballroom | Florals: Carl Alan Floral Design | Lighting: Beautiful Blooms Events | Hair and Makeup: Your Day Your Way LLC | Stationery: The Paper Trail | Dress Shop: Irini’s Originals | Dress Designer: Demetrios | Bridal Accessories: Earrings- Givenchy, Bracelet & Clutch- BHLDN, Hair Piece- Gadegaard Design, Shoes- Badgley Mischka | DJ: Dinardo Brothers |