Joann & Christopher | il Tulipano | Cedar Grove, NJ

"Surpassing Expectations"

Joann: Chris and I met at Rutgers Law School, but our first date was after we both graduated. We went to Sharky’s Wings and Raw Bar in Boonton, NJ and dated for three years before Chris proposed.

Chris: I proposed at a park in Cincinnati, Ohio surrounded by Joann’s family. We were visiting for the second birthday of Joann’s nephew, Vincenzo. During a day at the park with her parents, sister, and brother-in-law, I handed Vincenzo an empty ring box to hand to Joann. She was confused until she looked up to see me on one knee with the ring in my hand. The whole family was surprised, except for Joann’s father, who had already given me his blessing.

Joann: We chose il Tulipano because it felt like the full package. Their food is amazing, the outdoor patio and grounds are impeccably maintained, the exquisite ballroom is spacious, and only one event is held there at a time, so all the attention is on you. Throughout the entire process, il Tulipano was responsive, practiced, and personable enough to really get to know us and what was important to us.

Chris: Our families are Italian American and food is a big part of our celebrations. We wanted to offer our guests a wide variety of cocktail hour and dinner options that went beyond your typical wedding fare. il Tulipano completely surpassed our expectations.

Joann: We decided to have our ceremony indoors to reduce any weather-related anxiety, and we were able to create a romantic feel with candles, lanterns, and fresh flowers. Our officiant worked closely with us to create a ceremony that reflected our values and Roman Catholic backgrounds.

Chris: We aimed to impress our guests with an abundance of food at cocktail hour and we received so much praise from everyone! My favorite was the Rare Steakhouse station with tomahawk steak, lobster mac and cheese, whipped potatoes, creamed spinach, and in-house cured Applewood smoked bacon. Joann loved the penne alla vodka and the eggplant rollatini. Thea, our bridal attendant, was so attentive and made sure we had plates of food waiting at cocktail hour so we could easily grab bites of everything in between socializing with our guests.

Joann: Our reception was held in the gorgeous ballroom which has fantastic lighting and space. Our florist designed centerpieces of roses, wildflowers, succulents, greenery, and natural wood. There was an organic flow to the room as the centerpieces were low, so guests could see across the table and to the dance floor without obstruction. As our guests entered the ballroom, they were handed champagne from white-gloved butlers and we started the dinner with a first course of lobster risotto cake. We then served a lemon sorbet as an intermezzo and offered our guests the choice of seared tuna steak, braised prime short ribs, or chicken margherita for their entrée. il Tulipano designed our white cake with cannoli filling according to a photo we gave them, and the Viennese hour was presented beautifully. The service throughout was flawless.

Chris & Joann: Our wedding day was perfect from start to finish. We’re so thankful that we were able to trust all our vendors and enjoy the fun of the day free of any stress. Between Thea and Carol, our maître d’, we felt we were in the best of hands and well cared for. Gina Avoletta, our wedding specialist, was incredibly easy to work with and so helpful throughout the planning process.

il Tulipano
Cedar Grove, NJ 973.256.9300, www.iltulipano.com