Erin & Darren
09.24.2017

Darren and Erin met online through Match.com. After many months on the site, both of them were ready to quit. Then about a week or so before their subscriptions were set to end, Erin and Darren found each other. And the rest, as they say, is history.

After about a year and a half together, Darren decided that he was ready to make Erin a permanent part of his life. He knew the perfect opportunity: their annual holiday trip into the city (NYC).  As Erin and Darren rode the train in, Erin had no idea what Darren had planned nor what was in his pocket. They made their way through Central park, stopping to listen to a holiday choir performing by Bethesda Terrace. Darren suggested they walk over to the iconic Bethesda Fountain and invited Erin to sit down. He turned to her and told her how much he loved her and how special she was. Before Erin knew it, Darren pulled the box out of his pocket and got down on one knee in front of her. As he opened the box and Erin realized what was happening, the emotions completely overwhelmed her (“yeah there was some ugly crying involved,” Erin said). Darren asked Erin to be his wife and she of course said yes!

We were able to ask Erin and Darren some questions about their wedding planning and the big day!

Q: What were you inspired by while planning your wedding? (Theme, Color Combinations, Places?)
A: “Our love of nature and the outdoors inspired our venue and decor choices. We went for a rustic elegance.”

Q: What were some of your favorite wedding day details/memories?
A: “Our “First Look” moment was a big one. As a bride, I couldn’t wait to see Darren in his suit and have him see me in my dress – finally! It was special because it was just for us, no one else around. We had a few minutes to ourselves to just be together and be excited for what was to come the rest of the day. Our other favorite memory came at the end of the night and was completely unplanned. For our bonus last song, we chose Billy Joel’s Piano Man. As the song started playing, everyone joined in the singing. Before we knew it we were all connected in a big circle on the dance floor. Darren and I then stepped out into the middle of circle and danced as we sang. In that moment, we were surrounded by the most important people in our lives who were there to celebrate the biggest day of our lives. You could feel the love permeate the room!”

Q: What advice would you give to future couples planning their wedding?
A: “Start working on the little things way in advance. This way you’re not getting too overwhelmed towards the end. And for the brides, find yourself a good wedding planning app. I used WeddingWire and it was a lifesaver!”

Q: Did you have any D.I.Y. (aka Do It Yourself) details?
A: “I definitely DIY’d a lot of our wedding decor. From the lantern centerpieces (with help from our florist) to all of the chalkboard signs to the antique key place cards, I tapped into my most creative self. Thank goodness for Etsy and Amazon!”

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your big day?
A: “It really was the most amazing day. Surrounded by the people we love, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. We had a great team of vendors that executed everything flawlessly. Other than some unexpected heat (who knew you could hit 87 degrees at the end of September!), the day went off without a hitch.”

Vendors:

Venue & Catering: Farmstead Golf & Country Club – Lafayette, NJ

Photography: Classic Photographers – Gregg A.

Videography: Classic Photographers – Kevin H.

DJ: RJC Studios – Sparta, NJ

Florist: AW Flowers – Kearny, NJ

Makeup: Mon Sheri Beauty – Wayne, NJ

Cake: Cafe Pierrot – Andover, NJ

Wedding Dress: Macys Bridal Salon by Demetrios – Paramus, NJ