Im happy the whole process is over...here is goes
The Elan
(VENUE)
Choosing which venue to host our wedding reception wasn’t the easiest task, with so many venues in the Northern New Jersey area, the choices were endless, but I can honestly say that I know now that we absolutely made the perfect choice with The Elan in Lodi, NJ. From the moment we stepped inside this brand new venue my fiancée (husband now…yay!) and I knew it was exactly what we were looking for. Modern, romantic, and a neutral yet warm color palette. After touring and meeting with Ari and his staff, we felt both comfortable and relaxed. But we were still unsure of the cuisine; until we attended a tasting…..The food was phenomenal!!!!! And we could not sign our contract fast enough. Throughout the entire process, we were well informed of our payments, given a floor plan of the layout of our room, and were guided as to which vendors would best meet our needs, and each and every question that arose was answered with a smile. We even got to meet the Event Coordinator Lisa and our maitre d' Anthony ahead of time. How many venues actually let you meet that staff that will be there the night of your wedding in advance? Not many. So by the time our wedding came, we felt that the staff at The Elan, were not only the ones serving our guests, but they were our friends as well. Our guests could not boast enough about the food, the service, the atmosphere, and just how wonderful everything was. It was truly a magical and wonderful night, one will never forget! The ELan www.TheElan.com the best wedding venue in New Jersey!
Botanically Correct, LLC
(FLOWERS)
When we booked The Elan for our wedding reception we were given a list of preferred vendors that they recommend and we noticed that one of owners of the flower companies was Lisa Catoggio who is also one of the managers at The Elan. So we were able to meet with her there, which was so convenient, and discuss décor while sitting in the Grand Ballroom, which was nice to have a visual of what flowers would ultimately work best with the linens while sitting in the room itself. After meeting with Lisa and Debbie Hitchcox, the co-owner of Botanically Correct, LLC, we had a better knowledge of which flowers were in season, and what options would work best within our overall décor budget. They were so kind, so friendly, and so very thorough with their proposals, emails, and phone conversations. I could not have been happier with the overall décor of the reception, with my bouquets, and with all of my flowers. I highly recommend using Botanically Correct, LLC for any occasion; we loved them so much they did flowers for my engagement dinner, my shower, and my wedding! Thanks Ladies!
DJ Express
(DJ & LIGHTING)
If you want your crowd to get up and dance the night away, then Joe Zisa, owner of DJ Express Entertainment, is the guy to make that happen! Joe was so much fun to work with right from the start. He made us laugh, he knew all the songs we needed played the night of our wedding, he even pronounced the difficult names of my bridal party correctly when they were announced into the Grand Ballroom (which trust me if you knew their last names, would know that was no easy task!) What I admired most is how he got to know us, and made us feel comfortable and at ease. Our songs requested were the only ones he played throughout the night, and he never diverted from what type of music my husband (so fun to say now!) and I wanted. We were hesitant to spend some additional money on perimeter lighting but Joe gave us a deal we simply could not refuse. The lighting in the Grand Ballroom was magnificent and turned an already chic atmosphere into a dynamic one! Thanks J-Z and the entire DJ Express team!
Palermo’s Bakery
(WEDDING CAKE)
What’s a wedding without a cake? Our cake from Palermo’s was just no ordinary cake it was extraordinary! Simply divine! When we booked The Elan, they recommended that we make an appointment with either Joanne or Paula to do a cake tasting at Palermo’s Bakery. We had no idea just how much fun that would be! We tasted so many different flavors with so many different fillings, while sipping espresso. What a whimsical experience! We selected our cake flavor, and designed our icing color scheme to match and give a cohesive look to our overall chosen décor. It was perfect and delicious; an outstanding scrumptious combination. We cannot wait for our one year anniversary so we can eat the top layer together and celebrate all over again!
Studio Uno
(PHOTOGRAPHY)
We made an appointment to meet with Nick to discuss pricing and photographs the same day we met with DJ Express (since they share an office). He was charming, funny, and we knew that he would complete our perfect team for our wedding! From our Ceremony all the way to the last dance, Nick was their making us smile, laugh, and perfectly capturing each and every memory and moment. He enjoys what he does, and it shows through his insight with each pose, and what mattered most to us being photographed. He knew some of my older relatives would be harder to photograph, but he managed to capture some great shots of them as well. What we also loved about Studio Uno were the many options and packages that he has to offer. After we first met Nick, we thought it best to do a trial run by hiring him to do our engagement and announcement photos first. After that day in the park, we knew that Nick Gagliano was the guy for us! We also admire that not only is he the owner of Studio Uno, he is also on site shooting the day of your wedding as well. How many owners can honestly attest to that? He is young, vibrant, and fun; exactly the mood you need your photographer to be in on your wedding day!