Photography: Cling & Peck 

Describe Your Wedding Vision 

Our wedding vision was rooted in timeless glamour, inspired by the elegance of the 1920s and elevated by the historic setting of the Morris Performing Arts Center and Palais Royale. Built in 1922 and architecturally connected, the venues’ shared history and grand ballrooms naturally aligned with our Gatsby-inspired New Year’s Eve celebration. The ceremony design at the Morris Theatre was intentionally restrained, allowing the space’s soaring ceilings, gilded details, and glowing chandeliers to take center stage, softened by ivory florals for a cinematic feel. For the reception, the aesthetic deepened into black-and-gold glamour, with long tables dressed in rich black linens, layered gold accents, and more than 1,200 candles glowing beneath crystal chandeliers, creating an intimate yet opulent atmosphere that felt unmistakably celebratory. 

Describe Your Wedding Day 

Our wedding day was a true labor of love, thoughtfully crafted with meaningful details that honored our families and shared history. The cake was an exact replica of Kara’s grandparents’ 1952 wedding cake, paired with Rob’s parents’ original cake-cutting set. Kara carried a bouquet wrapped in lace from her mother’s 1980s wedding dress, which she also wore in altered form as a surprise at the rehearsal dinner. Kara’s mother created the ring bearer pillows from scraps of Kara’s gown, while Rob’s late father was honored with a reserved sign beside his mother and a pin placed inside Rob’s tuxedo jacket. Kara’s brother designed the custom KR wedding logo, which was used throughout the celebration, adding a deeply personal finishing touch. 

Your Advice to Engaged Couples 

Love means never keeping score…unless it’s whose family you saw last. The fastest way to end an argument? Say, “You’re right,” even if you have no idea why. Don’t go to bed angry. Stay up and talk it out like mature adults, or at least order food first. Hunger is behind more fights than you think. You don’t need separate hobbies, just separate bathrooms. Your partner isn’t a mind reader, but small annoyances, like loud chewing, should be addressed with humor. Social media posts don’t equal relationship health, and silence can be golden. Marriage is a long conversation where both secretly feel lucky. Remember, it’s not you versus them, it’s both of you versus the problem. And when all else fails, “Yes, dear”.