Congratulations Colleen and Christopher!!

Colleen and Christopher

July 16, 2011 - Branches Catering

 High school sweethearts Colleen and Christopher attended elementary school together, but it wasn’t until their senior year of high school in 2003 that they became a couple. During the first year of dating Colleen knew Christopher was “the one”, as she couldn’t imagine not having him around in the future. Seven and a half years later, the two took a spontaneous trip to New York City, and as they enjoyed a romantic evening through Central Park on a horse drawn carriage ride, Christopher asked Colleen to marry him. Colleen reminisced, “I was so surprised and excited I could barely get the yes out!”

 When the newly engaged couple began planning their wedding, Colleen and Christopher knew they wanted it to be a simple and elegant affair where they had the option of having an outdoor ceremony. Branches Catering met all of their requirements; from a warm and welcoming ambiance to an accommodating staff with exceptional service. “There was nothing that met our expectations prior to visiting Branches,” Christopher commented.

The ceremony took place amid the picturesque garden at Branches Catering, where Colleen and Christopher exchanged vows surrounded by beautiful landscaping. The bride donned a sweetheart strapless fitted gown featuring a chapel train, buttons down the back, and an embellished sash. Her hair was styled half up with soft curls by Mari Milani and make up by Rita Longo of My Cinderella's Dream  Christopher sported a traditional black, three-button tuxedo, while his groomsmen wore the same tuxedo with grey vests to coordinate with the bridesmaid’s charcoal grey Alfred Angelo dresses.

 Having worked with the photographer before, the couple chose Bryan Duggan to take their wedding photos, and they were very pleased with their pictures.

Following their ceremony, guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres of miniature hamburgers, French fries, raspberry and brie pastries, fried ravioli, miniature crab cakes, scallops wrapped in bacon and coconut chicken skewers, in addition to an Italian and sushi table. Rather than a traditional sit down dinner, Colleen and Christopher opted for a cocktail reception where guests were able to leisurely eat a variety of food including a carving station, satay station, Mediterranean pasta station, and a Mexican fajita and quesadilla station.

 “All of the food was excellent. The best part was being able to pick out what you wanted to eat and how often you wanted it. There were choices for everyone including vegetarians,” noted Colleen. “The staff at Branches did a great job. They always made sure we had what we wanted,” added the groom. 

 The ballroom was decorated flawlessly with the help of Brick Flower Market. Their centerpieces featured seven large calla lilies and branches set in tall clear vases embellished with a gray ribbon tied around the vase. Votive candles, ivory table linens with a gray overlay, and silver chiavari chairs completed their flawless tablescape. “We gave Brick Flower Market pictures of the arrangements we liked and they were able to create everything exactly as we envisioned,” commented Colleen.   

  An assortment of cookies, pastries, and a chocolate dipping fountain, were served for dessert, along with red velvet cake with cream cheese filling, and butter cream frosting. Daddy Pop from 107 Productions entertained guests throughout the evening with their six piece band. For their first dance as husband and wife, Colleen and Christopher held the spotlight to “You and Me” by Lifehouse, which was the groom’s favorite memory of the day. Following their special day, Colleen and Christopher escaped to St. Lucia for their honeymoon, where they stayed at Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort.

Contemporary Bride Magazine and Bridal Blog,  My Cinderella's Dream