Vanessa & Daniel’s Enchanting Vegan Garden Wedding

From the moment they began planning their wedding, Vanessa and Daniel knew they wanted something a little different—something romantic, nature-filled, and deeply reflective of who they are. A lush garden setting was essential, as was finding a venue that truly understood and celebrated their vision for a fully vegan wedding. Celebrate at Snug Harbor, together with Relish Catering + Hospitality, was the perfect match to bring their vegan wedding vision to life. 

Saying “I do” surrounded by greenery and then celebrating in a stunning, light-filled hall with soaring ceilings and garden views felt like the perfect balance of elegance and ease. What truly set Celebrate at Snug Harbor apart, though, was its experience with vegan weddings and its exciting, thoughtfully crafted menus from Relish Catering & Hospitality. Vanessa and Daniel had an incredible vegan menu featuring everything from “vegan pulled pork” to flavorful non-meat sliders and Impossible lamb borek — every bite was designed to surprise and delight guests. At Celebrate, we wanted to make it clear that we didn’t just accommodate Vanessa and Daniel’s vision; we embraced it wholeheartedly, ensuring their dream vegan wedding came to life in the most delicious and meaningful way.

On May 30, 2025, their dream vegan wedding came to life at Snug Harbor—beautiful, meaningful, and unforgettable. Keeping everything in one beautiful location was important to the couple, so both their ceremony and reception were hosted at Celebrate at Snug Harbor. They shared their vows in the enchanting Tuscan Garden, then welcomed guests to an unforgettable reception in The Great Hall, where breathtaking architecture and garden views set the scene for an incredible celebration.
Vanessa got ready in Celebrate at Snug Harbor’s beautiful bridal suite, surrounded by laughter, excitement, and the sweetest pre-ceremony moments. The light-filled space offered the perfect calm before the celebration, giving her a quiet place to relax, sip champagne, and enjoy time with her bridal party. From final touches of makeup to slipping into her gown, every moment felt intimate and special setting the perfect tone for the magical day ahead.

The florals were whimsical and airy, bursting with vibrant pinks, greens, oranges, and yellows. The bridesmaids carried the color story perfectly in bright pink, light green, and deep emerald tones.

Vanessa and Daniel are true high school sweethearts, beginning their love story back in 2012 and getting engaged just before their ten–year anniversary. Their engagement came right as Vanessa was starting nursing school, which meant Daniel lovingly stepped into the role of lead planner. Friends and family were amazed at how hands-on he was, but for Vanessa, it was simply a reflection of the partner she can trust completely. Together, they planned a wedding that was heartfelt, thoughtful, and a perfect celebration of their decade of love.

Vanessa and Daniel exchanged vows outdoors in the Tuscan Garden at Celebrate, surrounded by lush greenery and the romance of nature all around them. They dreamed of a celebration that felt like a magical, fairy-garden vegan paradise, and every detail brought that vision to life. The florals were whimsical and airy, bursting with vibrant pinks, greens, oranges, and yellows that added joyful pops of color against the serene garden backdrop. It was dreamy, colorful, and completely unforgettable—exactly the storybook moment they had imagined.

 

After their heartfelt ceremony, Vanessa and Daniel’s guests were treated to a delicious vegan cocktail hour in the Tuscan Garden, thoughtfully curated by Relish Catering + Hospitality. Surrounded by lush greenery and romantic garden views, friends and family enjoyed innovative plant-based bites that were every bit as indulgent and flavorful as traditional favorites. It was the perfect continuation of their “fairy garden vegan paradise” vision—elevated, exciting, and unforgettable—setting the tone beautifully for the rest of the celebration.

The reception was filled with romantic, storybook details that brought Vanessa and Daniel’s “magical fairy garden” vision to life. The flowers were whimsical and airy, with vibrant pinks, greens, oranges, and yellows arranged in a beautiful mix of tall, low, and bulb-style centerpieces. Soft candlelight from clear votives added a warm glow to each table, while personalized menus included a heartfelt thank-you note from the couple along with a list of their wedding party.

A special touch from the Best Man — custom “Playbill” programs with fun details about the couple — made guests smile, and instead of traditional favors, the couple chose thoughtful experiences and design elements to make the evening meaningful.

 

“Many guests came up to us throughout the night and for a few days after our wedding telling us how great they thought the vegan food was. Not only was it the best vegan food they’ve ever had, but we’ve also had people tell us it was the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding, which meant a lot to us.”

With a last name like Matishek, how could they not have fun with it? Their signature cocktail was perfectly named the “Mrs. Mai Tai Shek!” Guests loved the pun, and it added the perfect playful touch to their celebration.

One really fun fact from their wedding day is that Vanessa and Daniel’s first dance was truly something out of a love story. They chose “Margaret” by Lana Del Rey, a song written by Lana for a friend’s wedding. But Dan took it even further with the sweetest surprise—he secretly created a personalized “Nessa” version. He hired a Lana Del Rey sound-alike to rerecord the opening verse, changing the lyric to “He met Nessa on a rooftop…,” then tracked down the album’s producers until one agreed to help finalize the mix. When their DJ pressed play, Vanessa heard her name woven into the song, and the two shared the most heartfelt first dance surrounded by their loved ones, making the moment unforgettable.

Vanessa and Daniel’s reception was an absolute blast from start to finish! Guests enjoyed incredible vegan food, refreshing drinks, and a dance floor that stayed full all night long as everyone celebrated this joyful couple. Laughter, music, and nonstop energy filled The Great Hall, creating the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable evening. Surrounded by their favorite people, Vanessa and Daniel soaked in every moment as their friends and family ate, drank, and danced the night away in their honor.

As the celebration came to a close, Vanessa and Daniel shared one more unbelievably special moment together — a private spotlight dance. After guests exited The Great Hall, the newlyweds had the room all to themselves, the lights low and the space filled with the same magic from earlier in the night. They played their first dance song again and swayed together, taking in the quiet, emotional beauty of the moment. It was the perfect, intimate ending to an incredible day, allowing them to soak it all in before saying goodnight.

When asked what advice they’d share with future couples, Vanessa and Daniel encouraged others to truly enjoy the planning journey and never settle for anything less than what feels perfectly “you.” Every choice they made — from vendors and colors to dresses, designs, and flavors — was something they genuinely loved, and that intention made their wedding day feel authentically theirs. They also reminded couples to soak in every second of the celebration itself, because the day goes by faster than you can imagine. One moment they were saying “I do,” and before they knew it, the final song was playing!

We are so grateful to Vanessa and Daniel for allowing us to share their beautiful, vegan-filled wedding day and for trusting us to help tell their story. Their creativity, thoughtful details, and heartfelt love made every moment unforgettable, and it was truly an honor to be part of such a meaningful celebration. A heartfelt thank you as well to photographer Mike Joseph, whose stunning images captured the magic, intimacy, and joy of the day so perfectly. Congratulations to this incredible couple on a celebration that was every bit as extraordinary as their love story!

Reach out to us today, and let’s bring your dream wedding to life!

Posted in Couples Tribute