For those who dream of getting married in the Mile Square but are disappointed in the lack of actual wedding venues, there’s one very important word of advice — think outside of the box. Megan and Ryan, both Hoboken residents, knew the minute they got engaged that they wanted to host their wedding reception at their favorite Hoboken restaurant {just two blocks away from their apartment}: Grand Vin. And where there’s a will there’s a way: the happy couple made their dreams a reality, and the results are stunning. Take a look at their story, wedding details, and of course, pics from their special day which happened in March 10, 2018 [with all photos by Lauren Kearns Photography]:
Their Love of Grand Vin
“Grand Vin has been one of our favorite restaurants since it opened,” the bride shared. “I went to college with Dan [Grand Vin’s owner], celebrated my 30th birthday there, and Ryan and I always walk down the street for some delicious burrata and wine.” The bride and groom shared how often they talked of the wine bar being the perfect wedding venue when they were ready to make that next step.”
Once Ryan proposed, Megan said she texted Dan the next day, asking, “CAN I GET MARRIED HERE!?” He put her in touch with his event planner, Anne Marie, and the rest is history.
The Ceremony
Megan and Ryan live in Hoboken at the Grand Adams building, located on 3rd and Grand — which houses a beautiful inner courtyard. Inside this courtyard, their marriage ceremony took place around 4PM that chilly March afternoon. “The courtyard has whitewashed brick and a real industrial feel,” the bride gushed about the setting, noting it was ideal for their intimate vows.
The ceremony courtyard
The Bridesmaids, and a Special {Local} Surprise
The bridesmaids were able to wear any navy gown material they could find that was floor-length, per the bride. “I think the different hues of navy plus different dresses really made the girls stand out,” Megan said.
And in her bridal party was a special surprise for the big day: Megan’s mom and bridesmaid Jeanna {owner of Alba Boutique} surprised her with a custom bridal clutch {pictured below} with her new initials and wedding date. The bridal party’s hair was done by Up & Out, a local blowout bar and hair salon.
READ: Local Couples Getting Engaged Around the World
Flowers were bountiful and the garlands laid on the tables were created by Laura Clare Design. For table numbers, all wedding guests’ numbers were the streets in Hoboken. The bride and groom {obvs} sat at Grand Street while the Bridal party was at Adams Street, and so on. A true testament to their love of the Mile Square. The mirrored seating chart was done by none other than Alane Gianetti of Write Pretty for Me.
One part of the wedding that the bride wouldn’t stop gushing about was Grand Vin’s planner, Anne Marie. “She was so amazing and added so many special touches to our day,” Megan remembered, noting that Anne Marie even had a Bennett Winery wooden slab put into the walls at GV so we will be a part of the restaurant forever [as a complete surprise to the couple]. “Anne Marie was honestly the best thing to happen to us during wedding planning,” Megan noted.
The Bennett inscription forever on the wall at Grand Vin
As for the bridal party, the couple had their closest friends — which included their Cavalier King Charles pup in the wedding. “She was our flower puppy and [Lauren] got some great pictures of her walking down the aisle with Katlyn, a bridesmaid.” The couple then had pictures taken in front of Grand Adams and then walked to their first apartment together, located on Adams Street.
“Hoboken is so important to us, so we wanted to incorporate everything that was special to us.”
After the beautiful nuptials and celebrations complete with music by Tiphanie Doucet, the bride and groom excitedly hopped on a plane to the Maldives a few days later for the honeymoon.
But the true testament to their happy day? The fact that they return to Grand Vin on a regular basis for dinner. “Every time we go back to Grand Vin to eat, it means even more to us that we were able to have our wedding at our favorite restaurant two blocks from our home.”
And, some more adorbz pics of the big day:
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Congrats Megan + Mike! Thanks for sharing your special day with us <3
A List of Vendors
Flowers: Laura Clare Design
Rehearsal Dinner: Dozzino’s
Hair: Up and Out
Make-up: Jillyan Scarpa of Skin Bar and Paint {Little Falls, NJ}
Photographer: Lauren Kearns Photography
Desserts: Sweets by LAV
Bridesmaids Gifts: Washington General Store
Calligraphy: Write Pretty for Me Alane Gianetti
Music: Tiphanie Doucet
Wedding Bands: W. Kodak Jewelers
Did you have a Hoboken or Jersey City wedding that incorporated local vendors?
Tell us all about it {+ send pics!} by emailing hello@hobokengirl.com for a chance to be featured on the site!
