Their Story
Kayla and Jeremy met through mutual friends in high school and both started to pursue each other without the other knowing. Jeremy would carry tables in front of Kayla on her way to lunch to look strong. Kayla would comment emojis under Jeremy’s social media pictures. Both would inquire about the other, yet neither knew the other person was interested. “I knew [she was the one] when I started waking up every day and the first thought in my head was ‘I hope I didn’t miss any texts from Kayla,’” Jeremy explains.
For Kayla there was no specific moment. “I knew I loved Jeremy when all I did was miss him when he was not around” she says. “Every time he left to go home, I would already be missing him. His texts would make me smile ear to ear, and still do! However cheesy it may sound, Jeremy just always knew me on a deeper level.”
Finally Jeremy reached out to Kayla and they’ve been inseparable since their first date at Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island—where Jeremy was an hour late! On August 28, 2015, they were officially dating and have been together for nine years.
“The way that he can make any bad day into a good one, and good day into an even better one,” Kayla continues. “He truly is my best friend and soulmate. All of these qualities shine through in little actions he does daily. Something as simple as buying me a snack because he thinks I would like it to putting on a song he knows will cheer me up. I can’t picture my life without him by my side, and all this together just makes me know he is the one!”
Will You Marry Me?
Kayla and Jeremy got engaged on May 23, 2022, in Meath, Ireland. Jeremy surprised Kayla with her plane ticket as a college graduation gift. “I always knew I wanted to [propose] in Ireland, but I never knew when we were going,” Jeremy explains. “The trip was almost canceled due to Covid a few times. The day I asked her there was a huge rainstorm and I was going to postpone, but right before [the proposal], the skies cleared up.”
Kayla was suspicious for months about the proposal but Jeremy convinced her that it wasn’t happening. “I wanted to do a photo shoot in Ireland, and for my Christmas present, Jeremy paid for one. Little did I know, Jeremy was emailing the photographer on the side to set up a proposal.” Kayla remembers weird little things popping during planning for the trip and the day of the proposal such as Jeremy paying for early check-in and running out to the store for Kayla one hour before the shoot. But she didn’t realize he was going to propose. After walking around Trim Castle in Meath taking photos, they returned to the front where Jeremy and the photographer ran ahead with the excuse that they wanted to put their bags down. Kayla waited for Jeremy to come back to carry her across the muddy grass.
“I remember being so nosy and staring at what they were doing,” Kayla laughs. “The plan continued as Jeremy carried me to the castle and placed me under an arch. I was instructed to stand looking at the scenery with Jeremy behind me. I remembered thinking ‘Haha imagine I turn around and Jeremy proposes’—and little did I know Jeremy was getting down on one knee. When I turned around, I was genuinely shocked. I felt so bad because he had a whole speech that he did not get to say as I practically tackled him and said ‘YES!'”
Not even an hour after, Kayla and Jeremy met back up with their tour group for dinner. “We still laugh because the first people we celebrated with were absolute strangers,” Kayla adds. “A little into dinner that overlooked Trim Castle, we noticed a double rainbow appeared right over the spot we got engaged! It truly was an Irish fairytale.”
Details of the Day
Kayla and Jeremy were married on November 10, 2024, at Our Lady of the Mount in Warren, New Jersey. The bride wore a strapless lace appliqué gown with a sweetheart neckline and removable sleeves. Her bridesmaids wore a variety of dress styles in different shades of burnt orange. Bouquets featured hues of peach, pink and yellow.
A reception at The Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park followed. The traditional elegant ballroom was decorated with candlelight, candelabras and striking trees as centerpieces. The head table was covered with peach, yellow and white flowers and eucalyptus.
The four-tier cake from Palermo’s was decorated with buttercream flowers. One of the various flavors at the martini bar paid homage to their cat Goose and was aptly named a Goosetini. Live-event painter Alicia Finger captured the night with a stunning portrait of Kayla and Jeremy on the dance floor. And a cigar bar was set up outside by the Mobile Cigar Lounge, treating guests to hand-rolled cigars. There was also a photo booth station, lounge furniture and large letters that spelled out “Mr. and Mrs.”
Advice for Others
“Spend time with your partner!” Kayla says. “Before the wedding, we talked about how we’d stay connected throughout the day and aligned on expectations, and I’m so glad we did. While we weren’t glued at the hip, we made a conscious effort to enjoy the day together. One fun rule we had was to find each other and dance anytime our favorite songs played.”
Kayla also suggests choosing vendors you truly connect with and trust, since you’ll be with them all day. “Picking a fantastic photographer like Lenny and Melissa brings peace of mind because you know they’ll handle all things photo and video-related seamlessly. Great photographers make you feel comfortable being your authentic self, resulting in genuine photos that capture the day beautifully.”
The Team
Venue | The Park Savoy Estate, Florham Park, NJ
Photography + Videography | Lenny and Melissa, Woodbridge, NJ
Ceremony | Our Lady of the Mount | Warren, NJ
Flowers | Central Park Flowers, Clarks Green, PA
Makeup | Becca Paulette Artistry, Monmouth County, NJ
Deejay | Hi NRG Sound Productions, Staten Island, NY
Cigar Bar | The Mobile Cigar Lounge, Hopatcong, NJ
Live Event Painter | Alicia Finger Painting, Hammonton, NJ
Cake | Palermo’s Bakery, Little Ferry, NJ
