Our amazing Founder and Wedding Planner extraordinaire, Jacquelyn, worked with the happy couple on many of our services including finding their venue and vendors (our Venue service and Vendor service), designing their event (our Decor & Design service) and being there for them on wedding day (our Month of Coordination service)!
Shannon and Kevin’s Sex and the City
Jacquelyn recalls, “Kevin was initially very skeptical about hiring a wedding planner and using their budget towards having our guidance. After the very first kick-off call, he was completely sold and so thankful that he had TWP&Co. with them for every decision. He became our biggest cheerleader and trusted our advice!” She adds, “Shannon is so kind by nature and her energy is just so positive that it made the creative process incredibly easy! If she loved something and it was within budget, we went for it immediately! Shannon was decisive and flexible…two of our favorite attributes in a bride!”
Shannon always wanted a Sex and the City-inspired wedding and had been dreaming of NYC since she was in high school. Our first step was to insert the NYC skyline. With a more intimate guest count (under 60 people), The Aviary Room at Maritime Parc was the perfect venue for them, and a venue we know very well. With its huge wrap-around patio on the 3rd floor and a direct view of the Freedom Tower and downtown NYC skyscrapers, we all knew it was the right choice. Shannon didn’t want to have a white, light, and airy vibe for dinner so we went with the very non-conventional color for weddings…BLACK (gasp!) and lots of candlelight! You’ll also see pops of color mixed in with warm candles, lots of greenery, and white flowers to add dimension to the design. We had the opportunity to use Kings tables (something unique because of their more intimate guest count) and loved the clean lines and every inch of the design!
Shannon and Kevin met at work, but it wasn’t a typical office romance – they didn’t meet until two years in! Then one morning, their fate changed; they were presenting at a training course, and as Kevin is presenting the opening remarks, Shannon remembers being aware of Kevin’s big personality and loving his thick New York accent and apparent love of Starbucks (Kevin did his entire brief holding a Starbucks cup in his hand). They finally met a few months later- and after Shannon dropped multiple hints, Kevin eventually invited her for a “cup of Joe” at… where else? Starbucks. Depending on who tells the story, they’ll both tell you the other one “kissed them” on that first date!
For their proposal, Kevin wanted to make sure it was not only a surprise but also an event. He carefully coordinated with a local Escape Room to ensure the final room in the Western-themed bank heist had a “WANTED” poster with Shannon’s picture reading, “Wanted for Marriage” and to “Contact Sheriff Kevin.” Their entire family was there, dressed to the nines in western attire, including Kevin’s three children. Shannon claims she looked like “Jessie from Toy Story” and was clearly shocked by his sweet proposal, to which she replied, “Of course, I will.”
Shannon and Kevin were married on a perfect September day They began their mornings surrounded by breathtaking city views on the 20th floor of The Westin in Jersey City. The wedding buzz was palpable. The entire room was left in tears when Shannon had a first look with her dad – a very special moment. Once everyone was ready, they were whisked away to Maritime Parc- (the groomsmen were driven by Wedding Planning Assistant, Kristin, and she lovingly deemed them “the brothers I never wanted.”) Shannon was escorted by none other than Jacquelyn herself. According to Shannon, “It was the perfect, calm moment I needed leading up to the ceremony.”
The couple had their first look at Liberty State Park, a beautiful backdrop for portraits and enjoying the moment. For the onsite ceremony, Shannon and Kevin incorporated a special sand ceremony uniting them with Kevin’s children. Golden hour photos and cocktails on the deck of Maritime Parc were met by the glamorous decor, beautiful fragrant florals, exceptional food, and drinks at the reception. Once the reception began, the couple had their first dance as husband and wife, followed by speeches and special dances. Shannon loved making her Dad laugh with the theme song from The Godfather leading up to their special father/daughter dance. Since Kevin’s mom passed, he had a special dance with his sister, Diane, to one of his Mom’s favorite Enya songs. Kevin also thoroughly enjoyed getting thrown into the air on the dancefloor. The couple ended their night with an epic-ly fun bus ride back to the hotel.
Shannon and Kevin are an amazing couple, and we were so lucky to be able to work with them to make sure they had a smooth (and fun!) wedding planning process. We can’t wait to do the same for you!
Wedding Team:
Planner – Jacquelyn Aleece of The Wedding Plan & Company, Day-of Assistants Kristin and Alison
Venue – Maritime Parc
Photographer – Nadya Furnari Photography
Videographer – Mike Williams at Digital First Photography
Floral Design – About Designs Florals
DJ – Jason Jani at SCE Event Group
Hair Stylist – JC Hair Designs
Makeup Artist – Beauty on Location
Officiant – Reverend Richard Colonna
Stationary – Marlie Renee Designs
