#njbride

November 2, 2019

Their Story: Stolen glances across the classroom, fleeting smiles as they passed in the hallways… Samantha and Josh are a good old fashioned, swoon-worthy pair of high school sweethearts, who have seemingly known since day one that they were destined to be Mr. and Mrs. Cavanugh.

The Proposal: Pancakes & jetty walks to the farthest pole are regularly scheduled weekend activities for Sammy & Josh, and so it seemed like a pretty normal day when the pair began walking along the rocks. It didn’t take long for Sammy to notice that Josh seemed to be scoping out each rock they passed, frequently slowing down – frustrating Sammy because, well, pancakes! When a nervous look began to creep across Josh’s face, it became evident that “something fishy was going on.” In the end, Sammy said YES! And then they feasted on heaping piles of pancakes at Uncle Bill’s.

Details of the Day:

The Reeds: Understated elegance and showstopping views. “We loved that our guests would get the indoor-outdoor experience we were searching for during the reception, as well as the refined beach-chic feels.”

The Dress: Floral lace, flowing sleeves, and a barely-there honey-toned under-gown with textured patterning combined to form Samantha’s “absolute dream dress.” Which she fondly recalls made her feel like a mermaid on her most special day. A bonus? The detachable sleeves added drama to wedding portraits and created a stunning first look for the ceremony before being conveniently removed so as not to restrict any dancing.

An Ode to Bay Days: One of Sammy & Josh’s favorite summer activities is loading up the boat and heading out into the bay for a day of fun in the sun, only stopping to catch a few crabs for dinner. As a subtle ode to these most memorable days, the couple chose to feature a Lobster Trap to collect cards at their bayfront reception.

First Dance: You know that moment when a song comes on and immediately transports you to another place and time? That’s what happens for Samantha & Josh every time “Halo” by Beyoncé starts to play over the speakers. And so, it was only fitting that they dance for the first time as husband as wife to the very song that takes them back to those high school hallways, where Halo first became Sammy’s favorite.

His & Hers Favorite Moments: Josh has always known that Halo would be his & Samantha’s wedding song, he just didn’t know that it would be his absolute favorite moment of the evening, while Sammy experienced pure elation walking down the aisle alongside the man who she loved first, watching the biggest smile she’d ever seen spread across her father’s face.

Advice for Other Couples: Your wedding day is only one day – it’s as simple as that. “We worried about every detail leading up to our day, stressing over the small things, then our day came and went, and I honestly couldn’t even tell you what the centerpieces looked like! Your wedding day isn’t about the ‘stuff,’ it’s about starting your life together and sharing moments with your new spouse.” 

Vendor List:

Florist: Laura- Garden Greenhouse and Nursery

Photographer: Lisa Hornak

Cake: The Reeds

Hair & Makeup: Alisha Nycole and Company

Invitations: Meredith Trimbur

Dress: Van Cleeve Bridal (Martina Liana)

Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Entertainment: DJ Smooth Entertainment

October 18, 2019

Their Story: The University of Delaware may be known for being the life of the party, but it is also fondly reminisced on by Chelsea & Jimmy for another reason: bringing the pair together. Mutual friends brought the two into each other's orbit, but it wasn't until after a few years of friendship, a long chat at a birthday party, and two formals later that the two realized they were destined for romance.

The Proposal: The beaches of Sea Isle have held a special place in Chelsea's heart since birth. Summers were spent buzzing between her grandparents' homes – both her mother & father's parents owned homes on 74th Street, which is how her parents initially met! – and soaking up the sunshine. Many years later, Chelsea's parents purchased one of the properties to build a new home. Just before they closed on the property, Jimmy took Chelsea by the hand, walked her over to her grandparent's house, and then up to the bayfront deck before he dropped to one knee and as Chelsea exclaims, "proposed in my favorite place in the world!" Both Chelsea & Jimmy's families soon snuck their way up the street to celebrate the couple & toast to the future.

Details of the Day:

The Reeds: Having a shore wedding was non-negotiable, and Chelsea & Jimmy wanted a venue that wasn't just located at the beach but rather one that drew its interior inspiration from the surrounding landscape. The Reeds was "beachy, romantic, and relaxed" in its coastal-chic design, which were the "exact vibes we were going for with our wedding." It didn't hurt that "everyone at The Reeds made us feel completely at ease," Chelsea adds.

The Dress: "I was extremely indecisive [about the style of dress I wanted] and super nervous that I was going to have a really hard time finding the one," recalls Chelsea. Surprisingly, "it was the fourth dress I tried on at the very first store I visited – I knew immediately this was the one as I swooned over the romantic beachy theme that felt so true to me." With all of her indecision, "my mom and sister refused to let me leave the store without buying it because they loved it just as much as I did."

The Sentimental Staples: From their mapped-out love story invitations by dear friend Sydney of Crane & Palette to the mini Hank Sauce favors – a Sea Isle staple – Chelsea and Jimmy paid close attention to weaving their personalities into their special day. The most sentimental aspect, however, had to be the moment when Chelsea's Great Uncle officiated their ceremony, just as he had for her parents a few decades prior.

First Dance: "It started when you said hello. Just did something to me, and I've been in a daze ever since the day that we meet. You take the breath out of my lungs. Can't even fight it. And all of the words out of my mouth without even trying, and I'm speechless." – Speechless, Dan + Shay

Favorite Moment: While Chelsea & Jimmy admit that their answer may be cliché, they are adamant that nothing could be more authentic than saying their favorite moment of the day was, well, the entire day! But, if they HAD to pick one, "the entire wedding being on the dance floor screaming along to Bohemian Rhapsody was a pretty awesome highlight."

Advice for Other Couples: Relax. Take it easy. Enjoy! Chelsea says, "everything really does come together on your wedding day, no matter what! With that in mind, try to enjoy each and every step along the way because it goes by SO fast."

Vendor List:

Florist: Blooms Cape May

Photographer: The Hursts & Co 

Cake: The Reeds

Hair & Makeup: Kiss the Bride

Invitations: Crane & Palette

Dress: BHLDN

Groom's Attire: Indochino

Entertainment: The Heartbeats