Lauren and Jason at Battello in Jersey City

Posted on November 1, 2023
By Molly Gregor

Their Story

Lauren, a medical sales specialist, and Jason, a worldwide event deejay and the owner of SCE Event Group, first met through a friend unexpectedly. They became friends and really enjoyed spending time with one another.

Will You Marry Me?

Jason proposed at La Modina in Brielle on October 11, 2021. It was a surprise party with 70 people including close friends and family. “It was an amazing day!” Lauren says.

Details of the Day

Lauren and Jason tied the knot in a chic and modern black-tie wedding at the gorgeous Battello restaurant in Jersey City.

After getting ready at the DoubleTree in Jersey City, the couple first headed to Liberty State Park for their first look with photographer Marissa Rybalov of Heyn Photography—a longtime friend of the couple. They took photos in the old train terminal with the bridal party and then had some quiet moments together.

Bridesmaids included Lauren’s sister and Jason’s daughter and sisters. Groomsmen included Jason’s two sons. It was truly a family affair. The train terminal was the perfect backdrop to complement the overall theme of the wedding with the right mixture of elegance and romance.

They then proceeded to Battello restaurant in Jersey City for their ceremony and reception. The private ceremony for just close family and friends took place in Battello’s main dining room, with the New York City skyline in the background. Lauren’s dad walked her down the aisle and Jason’s dad, Robert Jani, officiated.

The couple cut the cake right after the ceremony—before cocktail hour—so that they wouldn’t miss a single moment of their reception. The intimate group of family and guests then joined the larger group of guests arriving just in time for the beginning of cocktail hour in the Battello Lounge. Everyone feasted on the most incredible presentations of seafood and cocktails, while the Benjamins entertained the guests.

The reception was breathtaking, with baby’s breath and white rose floral arrangements adorning the black-clothed tables and twinkling candlelight mimicking the flickering lights of the NYC skyline just across the river. The night was pure elegance, romance and sophistication all rolled into one.

Dinner included a tomato and burrata salad; Mediterranean branzino with broccoli rabe, scalloped potatoes and a Livornese sauce; and herb-butter filet mignon with fresh polenta, asparagus, pickled red onion and a Bordelaise sauce. Dessert was homemade biscotti and a confetti cake decorated with baby’s breath and anemones.

The Music

Since Jason owns an entertainment company—SCE Event Group in Farmingdale, NJ—he pulled out all the stops for the evening with non-stop entertainment, including individual performances by a saxophonist, percussionist and violinist. They were also accompanied all night long by deejay Jeff Scott Gould. “They were so amazing,” Lauren says. “It was just the best day ever.” One of the most emotional moments of the night was the couple’s first dance, when Jason invited his kids to join them on the dance floor. And then the SCE team surprised Lauren and Jason by parading large signs spelling out “TEAM JANI” down the stairs and onto the dance floor, adding a really fun and personal detail to the night.

Surprise Guest

But perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the arrival of one very special VIP. Jason developed a friendship years ago with Isaac Freeman, more commonly known as Fat Man Scoop. The couple invited the famous rapper to their wedding, but knew it was a long shot due to Freeman’s busy schedule. He politely declined…and then secretly arranged a way to surprise the couple. The night of the wedding, Fat Man Scoop boldly walked into the party—shocking Jason, Lauren and all the guests. He then treated the screaming crowd to a raucous live performance, including his top hit “Be Faithful.” To say the place was rocking was an understatement!

Why Did You Choose Battello?

“This place was the total package,” Lauren says. “Location, views, food. It’s different than many traditional ballrooms in the area, and we wanted an experience that would be different.”