Brielle & Stephen | The Terrace | Paramus, NJ

Brielle & Stephen's Elegant Wedding at Terrace at Biagio's

The Wedding of ...
Brielle Ratajczak & Stephen Matonti

Their Vendors
Ceremony: St. Anne Roman Catholic Church
Reception: The Terrace, 201.652.7900,
[email protected], theterracenj.com
Gown: Stefan Jolie, at Bijou Bridal, Paramus, NJ
Bridesmaids: Bill Levkoff
Tux: Ike Behar
Photographer & Cinematographer: The Bleu Studio
Makeup: K10Cosmetics
Hair: Self Indulgence, Michelle Kava
Florist: Bill O’Shea’s Flowers
Cake: A Little Cake
DJ: Elite Sound Entertainment
Nails: Michele Galbo

"Luxuriously Appointed"

Stephen and I have known each other our entire lives. We grew up in the same town where his family owned the local bar. When I turned 21, I started hanging out there and we met one night and started talking. That first night, I texted my cousin to tell her about him and he texted my cousin’s brother asking about me. A week later, he reached out and took me on a date to Dave & Busters. After the best time, I came home and told my sister I was going to marry him!

After we started dating, he would come with us on our annual family trip to Wildwood. My family has gone for years, and it became something Stephen loves. He proposed there in The Lobster House, in front of my whole family and his mother, who drove down to be there. I was in shock, and now, five years from the day he asked me to be his girlfriend, I became his wife!

Brielle & Stephen's Elegant Wedding at Terrace at Biagio's

Brielle & Stephen's Elegant Wedding at Terrace at Biagio's

When we attended weddings, we’d always talk about what we would like for our big day. When we walked into The Terrace at Biagio’s, we knew we had found everything we’d been looking for. The ballroom boasts one of the largest dance floors in New Jersey, made of beautiful Italian marble. The rooftop terrace offers beautiful views and the entire property, from the grand staircase to the elegant bridal suite, is luxuriously appointed. We knew they had a stellar reputation and it was perfect for our families. 

We worked closely with Athena Perides, the director of sales, who was always so willing to help with anything I needed whenever I called. I couldn’t imagine creating such a perfect wedding day working with anyone else! John Risley, our maître d’, also was awesome. He was so accommodating and there for anything we needed.

After our ceremony at St. Anne Church, our day began at The Terrace with our cocktail hour. We had every food one can imagine! I love seafood, so the sushi bar and raw bar were a must. We also had a carving station, an Italian station, a wok ’n roll station, an international wine and cheese station, and plenty of delicious hors d’oeuvres being passed around. They were so flexible and had so many options for us to choose, we were able to select a fantastic variety of dishes. 

We kept our wedding look very traditional. My bridesmaids wore slate blue and the groomsmen wore classic black tuxes. Our ballroom decor incorporated gold, white, and the same blue as my bridal party. We had alternating centerpieces, one very tall with a spray of branches, blue flowers, and foliage, the other low cylinders with floating candles surrounded by greenery. 

For dinner, The Terrace again went above and beyond with plenty of options for our entrée selections. After a baby arugula salad followed by a raspberry sorbet, guests chose chateaubriand, herb-crusted free range chicken, or roasted Chilean sea bass. Dessert followed with a Viennese hour and our four-tier white cake, decorated with white roses. Throughout the wedding our DJ read the crowd perfectly. He mixed classic oldies and top hits to keep everyone engaged and on the dance floor. We certainly were an energetic bunch and our DJ lived up to the task. 

Brielle & Stephen's Elegant Wedding at Terrace at Biagio's

Brielle & Stephen's Elegant Wedding at Terrace at Biagio's

We would like to thank our parents, without whom this wedding wouldn’t have been possible. I’m eternally grateful that my dad, who has been sick, could be there to walk me down the aisle. Stephen and I truly wish his father and grandfather could have been part of the day, and thank his mother from the bottom of our hearts for all her help. 

The Terrace, 299 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07652
201.652.7900, [email protected], theterracenj.com