Our Wedding Day
6.10.22
The best day of our lives. You hear that a lot about wedding days, but now I understand why. There is nothing like the kind of love and joy you feel marrying your person in front of all your favorite people.
I dreamed of our wedding day for a long time, and the actual experience was more than I had hoped for. It felt perfect for us.
We woke up the morning of the wedding to a cloudless blue sky day. Our gorgeous venue had a lot of outdoor elements planned, so I was hoping we could take full advantage of it with photos on the property and an outdoor ceremony. It all went according to plan!
The flow of the evening was amazing.
We exchanged our vows in an English garden in front of our 216 guests at 5:30pm on a Friday. Then we floated effortlessly from the gardens, to the cocktail hour under the tent, to the reception in the modern farmhouse with both a natural ease and a building momentum. The dance floor was a complete party from the moment our band started playing.
The day we had been waiting so long for flew by in just a blink of an eye. But like they say, time flies when you’re having fun. Not only was it such a beautiful celebration of our love, but we truly had so much fun!!
I wanted to freeze time that day. And now looking back I wish I could do it all over again!
I don’t think I could ever convey in words what it felt like. The days after the wedding it was like a vivid memory, so clear I could reimagine every sense and second of it.
I know I will always look back on the day with such bliss, but as the years go on some parts will be forgotten, or feel a little fuzzy. Which is why I am so grateful to have so many photos and videos from the day to remember it by.
Rather than share every detail here in words, I’m going to open with a little background and then let the photos take the lead in describing the day, and this amazing celebration.
With Love,
The McKenna’s
The Venue
We were married at Crossed Keys Estate in Andover New Jersey.
Crossed Keys was the first and only venue that Ryan and I actually visited, and choosing it as our wedding venue was the best decision we could have made. It was also the easiest! We were engaged on August 29th, 2020 and after receiving a few quotes from venues we set up a tour to visit CKE in in September 2020.
Upon learning about this family operated business, to touring the beautiful grounds, seeing couples wedding photos, and reading testimonials... we knew immediately we wanted to get married there.
We decided on getting married in 2022, optimistically hoping that Covid restrictions would be lifted and get better as time went on. It was absolutely worth the 21 months we waited to do so.
The gardens and grounds are more beautiful than we could have imagined - photos of the property and its gorgeous ballroom somehow don't do it justice. It is magical, and the romantic English garden has you feeling like you are transported to another time.
Picking your location or venue is a huge element of the wedding. At first I thought we would be overwhelmed by all the choices, and the challenge of finding exactly what you want but knowing it’s beyond your budget. But for us it was really our dream venue, and I feel so fortunate that we were able to make it a reality.
When I was writing a review of the venue I felt that it was only right to describe it as such, a dream come true. And a large part of that was because of the calm we felt knowing that we were in such great hands and everything would fall in to place that day. That’s why we were able to fully enjoy it.
The close communication and coordination leading up to our wedding day is a big reason for that. Our maitre d' Katrina thought of everything we would need to consider and decide on before the big day, and seamlessly coordinated it all for us.
The venue provided all day access including spaces to get ready in and take photos, the ceremony space, the food and alcohol including our wedding cake, as well as the floral and event design services. Once we arrived that morning and dropped off our decorations everything was handled for us.
So we got to be present and enjoy every moment of getting ready with our friends and family in the beautiful Playhouse and Parlor spaces.
Getting Ready
The venue has a beautiful space for the bride to get ready called The Playhouse which overlooks the garden. It’s a large and light filled open room with a rustic charm.
We were able to use the property as early as 7:30am on the morning of the wedding, which sound like a very long time before our 5:30pm wedding but with 9 bridesmaids, 2 moms, a flower girl and a bride it was great to have enough time that we didn’t feel rushed. We were able to enjoy breakfast and take turns in hair and makeup throughout the day.
I used two wonderful beauty vendors that were recommended by Crossed Keys Estate, Makeup by Samantha Linn and Hair by Jessica Cardona of JC Hair Design. I can not speak more highly of either women or their businesses. They were so talented, professional, personable and a pleasure to work with.
I did a hair trial and makeup trial, but I was even happier with my wedding day look than I imagined. They knew exactly how to execute my vision!
Bridesmaids
I loved getting ready with the girls in the morning. They kept me laughing, calm, and present. We chatted and listened to music. Every person who got up from the makeup chair was showered in compliments by the group. I mean you don’t get better hype girls than this!!
After we all had finished hair and makeup we popped champagne and took some pictures. I knew I would be in a great mood all morning if I was in their presence - they are truly the most happy and positive people.
I got all the bridesmaids matching blush pajamas from Bach Bride and my mom and Mother In Law robes as well.
Bridal Details
Some old and some new! After meticulously picking every detail of my outfit, I was so excited to get dressed!
My perfume is my favorite scent and I like the name and bottle: Gabrielle by Chanel.
Shoes were the Dahlia Pearl Pleated Bow Heel by Loeffler Randal.
Two of my bridesmaids bought me this special ring dish from Etsy when Ryan and I got engaged!
My floral Coronado Noble print ring box was from the Mrs. Box.
Wedding Bands from Sea Wave Diamonds.
Earrings from Eliot Danori at Macy’s!
Our beautiful wedding invitations were ordered from Minted, called the Organic Floral Invitations from Susan Moyal. They were so perfect for our summer wedding and the wildflower theme we were going for!
Our custom gold foil vow books were from Starboard Press on Etsy.
Something Borrowed!
I got ready in a robe that my best friend Meredith wore on her wedding day last May from a brand called Le Rose Stories. This beautiful style was the Maya Lace Robe.
My something blue was a heart shaped cut out of my dog Bailey’s favorite blanket. We sewed it into the bottom of my wedding gown.
The Gowns
I wore an ivory Martina Liana wedding dress that I purchased from a bridal salon called Seng Couture in Fanwood New Jersey. It had beautiful lace and tulle over a honey gown which I customized to ivory. I also changed the shape on the front to more of a sweetheart neckline with a lined bodice and created thicker straps instead of the thin beaded style which carried to the back as well. After looking at several different places I knew this was the best style for me, and the final product was crafted so beautifully by Seng. It was my dream gown.
The bridesmaid dresses were all different floral styles selected from the 2021 collection of Needle and Thread London.
I had kept my dress a secret from my bridesmaids and my flower girl.
I couldn’t wait to show them, and even though I had no idea what they might have expected me to wear I hoped they would like it as much as I did! After they all got dressed they went outside as my Mom and Sister helped me finish getting into my gown.
I shared a few special moments with my Mom and Sister as they helped me get into my dress.
The Grooms Details
While the girls had an early start to the day, Ryan and the guys had a leisurely morning. They gathered in the beautiful Parlour space around 11am and played a little golf on the putting green, sipped some beers casually, and kicked off some photos with the groomsmen.
Our photography team captured all the handsome details as they got ready.
Ryan and I wrote each other notes to open before we did our first look. Reading the words that he had been waiting to marry me for ten years was the cause for one of the many times I teared up that day!
Ryans wore a Midnight Blue Tuxedo from The Black Tux. He looked unbelievably handsome!
His groomsmen and our fathers also wore black tuxedos from The Black Tux.
The First Looks
The first to see me in my dress was my Mom, as she helped me get in it.
I made my mom a personalized handkerchief to hold on to that day, you know - just in case. The handkerchiefs were from a shop on Etsy called EmboideredQuality !
First Look With My Bridesmaids
I was so happy with how the bridesmaid dresses came together, especially since I had not seen what they looked like all together until the wedding day. Our wedding had a floral theme that I wanted to thread through as many elements as possible.
Originally I had a vision to go brighter but I found these bridesmaid dresses and fell in love with them. Needed to take a moment to show them off, and these beautiful ladies who wore them!
My bridesmaids carried small bouquets of chamomile. I loved the dainty size of the flowers and their pop of color, it let the flowers on the girls dresses still shine.
I cried when I saw my bridesmaids with their dresses on and their bouquets for the first time. They all looked so gorgeous! Equally it was so touching to see their reactions.
They made me feel beautiful, and even more ready to see my groom!!
First Look With Dad
I knew this would be a moment we both would remember forever. He was so sweet, and so happy. My dad took me to two different dress fitting appointments, but I kept the gown a surprise from him the whole time, so it was a long awaited reveal.
It was a big day for my dad! Walking me down the aisle, making a speech - I know he was feeling a little nervous. I expected him to be bawling, because he’s a very affectionate and emotional person. But he kept it together even better than I thought!
We both looked forward to this for so long, and I was unbelievably happy he could walk me down the aisle.
First Look with Ryan
I was so excited to reunite with Ryan. The night before I stayed in my sisters room to try and follow tradition before the wedding. With so much excitement during the day I felt like we had barely gotten time to speak on the phone, and I was ready for us to be together.
I walked down the tree lined drive towards him, tapped him on the shoulder, and we barely left each others side after that.
Here are some of my favorite memories of the moment.
Wedding Portraits
We spent about an hour taking photos together to remember the day by. I love pictures, and I am really glad that we got so many gorgeous shots around the property since it was one of my favorite parts of choosing Crossed Keys.
We had no shortage of beautiful back drops: A swing hanging from an old oak tree, under the shade in front of a reflecting pool, a vibrant English garden full of blooms, or in front of a three story glass window of the modern farmhouse.
Each place more gorgeous than the next.
Our extremely talented photographer was Monika de Myer and we loved working with her. A month after our wedding we received an album with thousands of photos to choose from. I’m still working through the difficult task of somehow selecting only 80 - 100 of them for our photo album! But it’s a good problem to have.
We were extremely happy with the quality of the photography from her vision and calm direction to her beautiful lighting and editing. But most of all we loved working with her throughout the entire process.
Our wedding video was captured by Creative Vision Media. We can not wait to see the footage, especially all the audio from the ceremony and speeches, and the drone footage!
Also confirmation we are not models, but the photo team sure can make you feel like one!!
Some of my favorite photos are the detail shots. Not the most important parts of the day, but the smallest ones. I feel like thats where a lot of the magic is.
Family Portraits
I’ll always be so grateful for how many beautiful portraits we got with our immediate family. Especially with our beloved Grandmother’s.
Here are just a few!
Bridal Party Photos
Our bridal party consisted of our siblings and all our best friends. It was an amazing group of people, most who know each other well from hanging out with us over the years. It felt good to be surrounded by their energy that afternoon.
I had 9 bridesmaids, and Ryan had 11 groomsmen. It wasn’t easy to wrangle all of us together for photos, but they turned out so beautifully! Even though the formal portraits were gorgeous, all the happy candids are my favorite.
The Ceremony
We had a quick 15 minute ceremony in the garden, officiated by our family friend and my mother’s colleague Father Mark Zittle. He married us in a traditional Catholic ceremony the day before at the Fordham University Church, and performed a vow renewal at Crossed Keys. I loved that it was brief, but still felt like a meaningful celebration of our love.
Since we got married in front of a garden we kept the flowers more limited at the ceremony. The trees and surroundings felt so green and lush, it was still a gorgeous backdrop.
But the flower arrangements we had were so gorgeous. Full of blush buds, with bright pops of coral, orange and yellow against lush green leaves.
A few members of our wedding band played acoustic guitar while the guests took their seats, and then once the final bus dropped off our guests we began our ceremony.
Our bridal party processional probably took as long as the ceremony itself did. But I love the way we approached it. The bridal party walked out to the instrumental music of Falling Like The Stars by James Arthur.
Both of Ryan’s parents accompanied him down the aisle. Followed by his brothers who walked Ryan’s 92 year old Nana to her chair in the front row, and my cousin Jack who walked my grandmother to her seat. Then the groomsmen filed in one by one, followed by the bridesmaids, and lastly my sister as the Maid of Honor.
Before my parents walked me down the aisle, our little cousins Alexis and Sebastian stole the show as the flower girl and ring bearer.
II knew it was our turn whenI heard the chords to my favorite song, From the Ground Up by Dan and Shay.
Walking down the aisle with my parents, was the happiest moment of my whole life. Seeing all our loved ones there, the emotion on their faces… Ryan waiting at the front for me. It was exactly as I always imagined it.
We each wrote our own vows, and exchanged them in front of our family and friends. All the butterflies I felt before that about speaking in front of so many people just floated away. I just hoped Ryan would like the message I shared.
I can’t speak for him, but listening to his vows was one of my favorite parts of the day. I felt like it echoed all my feelings, and confirmed why we were there and committing to our marriage.
The ceremony photos were some of my favorite photos of the day.
Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony our guests followed the scent of barbecue meats on a smoker to the patio, and enjoyed a tented cocktail hour. There were tons of hot food stations, a massive grazing table filled with cheese and charcuterie, and passed hors d'oeuvre. Our guests greeted and mingled, grabbed cocktails, and took photos. Our wedding band played more beautiful acoustic music.
While we figured out how to bustle my dress, our coordinator brought us each one of our signature cocktails. Then we made our way to the tent to say hello!
Ryan and I walked around together for the hour which was the perfect start to the evening. We got to say hi to so many people early on, which took some pressure off to make rounds at reception. I only wish I could’ve spent even more time with everyone.
The food at the cocktail hour was incredible. The guests raved about the smoked seafood and raw bar station, but there was also fresh hot pasta, a Texas BBQ station serving pulled pork, and a carving station with a chef slicing skirt steak and homemade Chimichurri sauce.
And don’t even get me started on the passed apps! Beef sliders, petit crab cakes, pesto-mozzarella risotto balls, tuna tartare, coconut shrimp with mango sweet and sour sauce, crispy baby potato bites, and chicken and waffle sliders. The best of all was the smoked duck quesadilla. It was my favorite bite from the tasting, and I still crave it all the time!
Signature Cocktails
The Bride and Groom’s favorite drinks.
Bar sign is from a shop on Etsy called SwoonDigitalBoutique. We purchased these cute custom napkins from Zazzle!
Please Find Your Seat
We rented this wooden board from our venue, and asked them to decorate it with some flowers. I printed these table assignments from Zazzle which had a little watercolor flower on them to tie back to the theme.
Photo Booth
While we decided not to spend the money on a formal photo booth, we loved the idea of guests helping to create a photo album out of our wedding guest book.
We created this custom neon sign from an Etsy shop called House of Rounds and jumped on it when there was a sale! We plan on holding onto this and having it in our home one day!
We rented the greenery wall from our venue.
The custom photo album Wedding Guestbook is specifically made for Fujifilm Instax Mini camera. We bought a ton of film so that we could have people use it for the book and keep some. There was a few extra steps involved to direct people how to use the camera and refill the film, so we decided to print some moreEtsy signs for clarification.
Overall we loved how personalized it was, it gave us some great memories to hold onto, and in the end it was still more cost effective!
Family Portraits
Even though it was a big wedding, and a large space, we wanted it to still feel special and meaningful to us. One way we thought to do that was honor the great love stories in our families before us, by displaying their wedding portraits.
We personalized it a bit by sharing how our parents and grandparents met, and the year they wed. This was on a table under the tent during cocktail hour when people were walking around and located next to our card box.
Reception Details
I was completely blown away by the beautiful reception decor. It came together so beautifully, even better than I had imagined it. We alternated the types of flower arrangements across the tables, ranging from lush and low to taller bouquets, and emphasizing candles with some greenery.
I loved the variety and scale it brought to the room.
But my favorite details were the pink and green colored glassware, and the hanging white wisteria from the chandeliers.
It was truly a dream.
We also decorated with bud vases on some of the cocktail hour tables. and in the bathrooms.
The Reception
The night started with introducing our parents, the bridal party as a whole, and then us for the first time officially as a couple!
Our First Dance
We danced to one of our favorite songs by a Country artist Luke Combs, Forever After All.
After we kicked off the dancing, my dad took the stage with me and we showed off some (very limited) choreography to one of our favorite songs! Dancing in The Moonlight, performed by Toploader.
Ryan and his mom shared a beautiful dance to My Wish by Rascal Flatts which brought Ryan to tears, and the most of the room as well!
Lastly, Ryan danced to the The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley with his Nana. It was the sweetest thing.
We were ready to kick off the night and have everyone join us on the dance floor!
Speeches
My Dad welcomed our guests, and kicked off the meal with a toast to Ryan and I. He was so sweet!
My sister delivered an amazing speech as Maid of Honor, that felt so sweet and sentimental, but still funny and light hearted. She blew me away with how calmly and perfectly she delivered it, and she honored Ryan and I in such a special way.
Then there were the brothers! Ryan’s Best Men gave one of the most hysterical speeches I had ever heard at a wedding. Especially one thats shared by two people! I knew they would be amazing, but the skillful back and forth banter between them and the playful roast they gave Ryan (and even me) was absolutely perfect.
After dinner we walked around the property one last time for some photos at sunset. The lighting was magical.
Party Time
I have to say, we know how to throw a good party. Ryan’s family and mine are all entertainers. People who love to host and serve up not only a great meal but a great time.
The thing I wanted most from our wedding was an incredible dance floor, where are family and friends could really let loose and enjoy themselves. I owe all the great vibes and energy, lost voices, and sore bodies to the best wedding band ever, The Barnstorm !!! They were truly incredible.
Our wedding felt almost like a concert, at a wedding. For how much screaming and excitement there was, you would’ve thought we had a celebrity guest performance.
Huge shout out to the talented band and their perfect music selection, the tech crew and their fancy light show, and our amazing friends and family for bringing the party all night long! The energy never slowed down, and when 11pm hit and we were told to leave the crowd wouldn’t stop screaming “ONE MORE SONG! ONE MORE SONG!”
Brooks, JR, Cam, Hunter and the entire crew from Barnstorm were so easy to work with, and even though we’ve known them for a long time - back to when they performed at Brother Jimmy’s before they became a 5 star wedding band! But they were always so professional, organized, generous, and flexible.
We worked with them a bit to put together a direction for the music (because I love to control everything) but then we ultimately let them do their thing and trusted that we were in the best hands. They hit all our favorites while playing off the vibes of the crowd to keep people from every leaving the dance floor, which is their specialty.
Having them was the best decision we made!!! But if you need proof….
As the night went on, it only got more and more fun! There were singalongs, stage crashers, some emo throwbacks for good measure and a six minute performance from the Mckenna’s to Paradise by the Dashboard Life by Meatloaf. Because of course!
Friendship!
We tried to grab some pictures with as many people as we could. Since Ryan and I met at the University of Delaware we had to continue the tradition of passing down the Delaware flag from one Blue Hen couple to the next!
The Wedding Cake
It gets a moment simply because it was Funfetti with a vanilla buttercream, and because Ryan and I took some hysterical photos while doing a poor job of cutting it.
Please enjoy. Hopefully the wedding video will show Ryan eating icing off my nose.
After the wedding we went back to the hotel lobby bar for a late night pizza party, and continued partying on until the wee hours! I don’t know how we stayed up until the very end of it, but it must have been the high of one incredible day.
The Perfect Day
Our beautiful wedding was something we always dreamed of, and everything we wished for. But I hope I always remember the love and gratitude I felt on our wedding day for our powerful love, the life we have and the people we are blessed to share it with.
Ryan and I are so lucky to have had such a perfect day.
Cheers to Forever!
Xx Gab (and she has a new last name!!!)
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