Candace and Danny

On September 24th, 2023, the picturesque grounds of Celebrate at Snug Harbor were graced by the love and union of Candace and Danny. Surrounded by family and friends, the couple exchanged heartfelt vows, marking the beginning of their lifelong journey together. The venue’s beauty, combined with their guests’ love, created an unforgettable atmosphere of love and joy.

In planning their wedding, Candace and Danny sought a distinctive venue offering delicious food along with an indoor/outdoor ambiance for their guests to enjoy. They desired a flexible space conducive to DIY elements, located on Staten Island for convenience. Celebrate at Snug Harbor surpassed all of their expectations, ticking all the boxes and more!

The original plan for Candace and Danny’s first look and family pictures was to capture these special moments in the picturesque Tuscan Garden. However, unforeseen rainy weather forced them to relocate indoors. Following the event, Candace and Danny expressed their delight with the resulting photos. They were pleasantly surprised by the tranquility of the indoor setting and the wonderful outcome of the pictures.

Candace and Danny were captivated by the enchanting, Tented Pavilion chosen for their reception. Given the intimate size of their wedding, with 75 cherished guests in attendance, they made the delightful decision to host both the ceremony and reception at the same picturesque location. This thoughtful arrangement provided a cozy setting for guests to comfortably gather at their designated tables during the ceremony, fostering an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness.

To everyone’s relief, this seamless transition proved to be a blessing when unexpected heavy rain graced their wedding day. The exceptional service and meticulous planning by the Celebrate staff ensured a smooth flow from the ceremony to the delightful cocktail hour and onwards to the reception, allowing Candace and Danny precious extra moments to savor and revel in the joyous celebration.

As the ceremony started, Candance and Danny made an unforgettable entrance at their wedding. Walking down the aisle together, Candance accompanied by her dad and Danny by his mom, it was a beautiful and non-traditional moment that made our ceremony truly unique.

As for the reception, Candance and Danny aimed for a sleek, modern aesthetic with black and white decor and plenty of acrylic signage. To honor Danny’s late sister, Jenna Rose, we incorporated white florals and featured the rose symbol on the signage and invitations. There was a 6ft photobooth backdrop which displayed the happy couple’s engagement photos, accompanied by a glowing “always & forever” sign. Guests had the opportunity to contribute to a special photo gallery using a custom QR code. The “A Chance at Love” cocktail paid tribute to their furry friend, Chance, and the unconventional guestbook was a black and white globe for guests to sign, accompanied by matching acrylic signage. As a meaningful gesture, guests were offered custom glass Coca Cola bottles as favors, complete with labels inviting guests to “Share a coke with MR. & MRS. CRUZ,” a nod to Danny’s childhood and their family’s fondness for Coca Cola.

Another fun fact about this wedding, Candace planned and made everything herself! To start, Candace hand-made each invitation from the belly band to the design of the card. She DIY’d all of the signage throughout the entire room; curating posters and using her Cricut to intricately place letters or images onto all of the acrylic signage. She made all of the faux floral centerpieces which were floral balls on top of matte black stands, allowing guests to see through and talk to one another. She spent countless hours adding each individual flower in an effort to fulfill her vision. Guests actually were seen smelling the faux flowers throughout the night, thinking that they were real! The floral 8ft circle arch with white roses was also made by Candace. In addition, she made the giant photo booth backdrop, and built 3ft letters that were at a main focal point in the tent, spelling out C&D.

For the Bride and Groom’s first dance, they chose “Better Half of Me” by Tom Walker. The lyrics “6 years just ain’t enough” perfectly captured the depth of their love after being together for 6 years. During the reception, games like customized Putterball and corn hole with their initials C&D provided lots of fun for their guests. It was an amazing and fun time for everyone. Notably, the bride spent the entire night on the dance floor and even danced on the chairs, as depicted in some of the pictures!

Celebrate’s preferred vendor, Happy Baristas provided an amazing coffee and gelato experience for their wedding, and it was a huge hit. Candace and Danny highly recommend having a vendor cart like this at your next event to delight your guests.

When asked to give a piece of advice for future Celebrate couples planning their weddings, here are a couple points Candace and Danny want couples to consider:

“Firstly, strategically using credit cards can be beneficial if you’re paying for your own wedding. Opening a specific rewards card, like the Jetblue Card, and using it for various wedding expenses which can allow you to accumulate points that can be used for a fantastic honeymoon or other benefits, saving you money in the long run. Most importantly, remember to truly savor and enjoy every single moment of your special day. Despite any unexpected occurrences or mishaps, make a conscious effort to be present and cherish every second. This mindset can turn what might seem like a less-than-perfect situation into an absolutely incredible and unforgettable experience. We are incredibly fortunate to have the pleasure of working with wonderful couples like Candace and Danny at Celebrate Snug Harbor. A huge thank you to their amazing team of vendors who all played a pivotal role in making their wedding an unforgettable celebration.”

Despite a few raindrops on their wedding day, Candance and Danny remained focused on what truly matters and cherished the essence of their wedding—a joyous celebration of their love and dedication to each other. Scroll down to view the heartwarming photographs captured by Dreamlife Photography.

GETTING READY

FIRST LOOK

PORTRAITS

THE CEREMONY

THE RECEPTION

Candace and Danny were a joy to work with. We want to extend a special thank you to their amazing team of vendors who all collaborated to make their wedding an unforgettable day!

VENDOR LIST:

Dj – DJ Xchng (Louis Rosado)

Florist (bouquets) – Flowers by Bernard

Dress – Made with Love

Tux – The Black Tux

Photographer – John Magcasi (Dreamlife)

Officiant – Good to Be Loved Ceremonies (Cat Bondar)

Bride Hair – Nicole Bolusi (instagram: @beautybybolusi_)

Bride Makeup – Jaclyn Reis (instagram: @jkatebeauty)

Cake – Palermo’s Bakery

Rings – Hearts on Fire

Favors – Coca Cola