Their Story
It was a sunny Friday in April. When Katie and Chris woke up that morning, neither had a clue that would be the day of their first date. They both went about their days until mid-afternoon when Katie boldly asked Chris his plans for the evening. He was surprised at first, but then swiftly agreed.
After the work day was over, they exchanged numbers and decided to meet later that night in Morristown. Chris was naturally 20 minutes late, but after parking, he gave Katie a call. She was very impressed he was not timid.
They met on the corner by Starbucks, and as they drew near they both had smiles on their faces—relieved that the other matched pictures from their profile. From there they shared laughs over a few cocktails. After that they didn’t want the night to end, so they went to another bar and then the world-famous Grilled Cheese off the Green. At 1:00 a.m. they finally had to part ways, but not before Chris could ask for a kiss goodbye.
It was not long after they went on another date, and from there they knew this was going to be something special.
Will You Marry Me?
Katie and Chris got engaged in October 2023 at Natirar Park in Peapack-Gladstone. “Chris set up a picnic with photos and flowers by the river,” Katie explains. “He made sure to include the bridge behind us—because they are good luck according to his Mom.”
Details of the Day
On June 7, 2025, Katie and Chris were married at Mansion at Mountain Lakes in Mountain Lakes, NJ. The ceremony was officiated by Katie’s uncle. “It was his first time, and he crushed it,” Katie explains. “Everyone was laughing and crying the perfect amount.”
Mostly white classic flowers decorated the elegantly rustic space and provided a timeless look. “The main reason I wanted an early summer wedding was for hydrangeas—I can’t get enough of them,” Katie explains. “That was a must. To play off the blue in the hydrangeas, we also had blue taper candles on all the tables as well. I think a lot of candles are romantic, so that was something I was very set on to keep the mood throughout the night.”
Katie wore the “Delancey” gown by Élysée, which she found at I Do…I Do in Morristown. It was adorned with a giant bow in the back, custom-made by the bridal salon’s seamstress. Her bridesmaids wore complementary black bridesmaid gowns from Azazie.
“Our seating chart was made completely from scratch,” Katie says. “We used old doors from our house, painted them blue and added foamboard strips to attach the name cards. My wonderful and talented bridesmaid hand-painted an oyster and then we printed them to make original cards. Later we added a name tag, secured with a pearl pin—as if it was an oyster with a pearl!”
Instead of a videographer, Katie and Chris opted for a content creator. “Jenna from So Bridal Social was so on top of everything and was gracefully using two phones all day to capture little videos and behind the scenes,” Katie explains. “It is so nice to be able to watch back the videos she edited, as well as have so many raw-cut videos we can edit together ourselves. They are so detail-oriented and know their stuff.”
Their cake was from A Little Cake in Park Ridge, NJ. “Every flavor is so perfect, and we got to try them all during the tasting,” Katie says. “We ended up picking a cappuccino filling, which all the guests loved and thought was unique. They are an amazing bakery we still go to now after our wedding is over.” Signature cocktails were a gimlet for Chris and a cosmo for Katie.
Bridal-party gifts were individually customized. “We got the groomsmen all matching monogrammed cufflinks, which I think needs to become more popularized,” Katie explains. “It was so lovely in pictures and something personal they will have forever. For the bridesmaids, I handmade charm bracelets that were personal to each girl. I used the Alex & Ani wedding line bridesmaid bracelet as the base.”
Why Did You Choose Mansion at Mountain Lakes?
Katie and Chris loved the Mansion at Mountain Lakes’ well-kept grounds, super friendly staff and endless indoor space with an outdoor courtyard for photos.
First Dance
“Our first dance song was ‘Your Song’ by Elton John,” Katie says. “He was the first concert we went to, so it only seemed fitting!”
Favorite Moment
Katie’s favorite moment was walking back down the aisle as husband and wife. “The hardest part of the day was behind us, and we could now celebrate with all our loved ones,” Katie explains.
Favorite Detail
“I had so many nightmares about not keeping the party alive, so the deejay was number one!” Katie says. “I made Finesse Entertainment a playlist so they knew my vibe, and our main contact even played it while running errands since he loved it so much! They were just awesome and as happy to be there as any guests were!” Katie says. “Guests raved about how they kept the party going all night—and two future brides asked me for their contact after the wedding!”
Advice for Others
“Even though it can be hard to do in the thick of planning, remember these moments are all are going to make up the best day ever!” Katie advises. “It is about you two—and you two only. Don’t waste too much time trying to please others.”
Honeymoon
Katie and Chris took a week-long trip to their absolute favorite place—Long Beach Island. “It never gets old,” Katie says. “We stayed at a waterfront Airbnb on the bay and it couldn’t have been more fun. We needed to go on autopilot for the trip after all the planning. Being somewhere familiar was just that. It was so peaceful to drink frozen margaritas on the beach and go out to a fun new restaurant every night. The highlight of dinners was definitely The Gables. Each dish is better than the last. We did the typical things like walking around Bay Village shops and taking a selfie with the lighthouse as well.”
The Team
Venue | Mansion at Mountain Lakes, Mountain Lakes, NJ
Photographer | Maria Lovisetto Photography
Wedding Gown | “Delancey” by Elysee from I Do…I Do, Morristown, NJ
Shoes | Badgley Mischka
Deejay | Finesse Entertainment, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Content Creator | So Bridal Social
Cake | A Little Cake, Park Ridge, NJ
Bridesmaid Dresses | Azazie
Groom + Groomsmen | Men’s Warehouse, Vera Wang Tux
Hair | Jennifer Romano from Shades of Color, Kenilworth
Invites | Truly Engaging
Bridal Shower | Tented lunch at bride’s parents’ house, catered by Bistro 73, Bernardsville
Officiant | Bride’s uncle
About Wedding File:
Wedding File is the go-to resource for couples planning weddings in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Founded and edited by wedding expert Molly Gregor, Wedding File connects couples with the best local venues, vendors and insider planning advice—all curated from more than 25 years of real industry experience.
