Christina & Andrew | Crystal Plaza | Livingston, NJ

"Our Best Decision"

Our friends tried to set us up, and on their second attempt we both agreed. We only saw one photo of each other ahead of time and exchanged no words or phone numbers beforehand. Andrew set the date but I was running incredibly late, so late that my friend was forced to give me his number so I could let him know.

When I finally arrived at the place he’d chosen, I walked in to see a very cute man sitting by the bar. I walked out, texted him to stand up to make sure he was the attractive man I saw, and when he stood from the bar I was thrilled. We talked for almost five hours, ending the night in a perfect kiss. How late I was may have lasted as a point of disagreement, but a few years later we were engaged!

I was so sure I wanted to be married at Crystal Plaza, that I called Max Janoff, the managing partner, to find out summer availability even before Andrew popped the question! I knew getting married at Crystal Plaza was the dream. I thought I was being sneaky, calling the venue before the ring, but my parents and Andrew had me all figured out.

While Andrew was planning our proposal, he also was doing just as much work behind the scenes. He and my parents took it a step further and booked the Crystal Plaza before he officially proposed! They all knew I’d be thrilled. When he proposed two months later, my parents handed me the pamphlet for Crystal Plaza and shared with me that we were all set to get married at the venue of my dreams.

The venue sets itself apart with superior food, creativity, management, and attention to detail. Everyone was accommodating, making us feel as if “No” wasn’t in their vocabulary. Having our wedding there was the best decision of our planning, hands down!

When we felt overwhelmed by the global pandemic, Max answered every call with positivity and ease. Every idea we had was elevated by the creative expertise Crystal Plaza offers. They helped us bring a piece of home to the wedding for Andrew, bringing in Vermont maple syrup and craft beers.

We were, amazingly, able to relax and enjoy our wedding because the staff took care of everything. Still, when we did have questions, we were met with nothing but support. We remember our guests stopping us to note how impeccable the service was.

Cocktail hour was spectacular! We had asked Marco Chiaravalloti, the general manager, for a different sort of ice sculpture. He came up with a tugboat filled with seafood, reminding us of our first international trip to Portugal as a couple.

Aside from the beautiful lobster, shrimp, oysters, and other seafood, we had a live mozzarella station, a carving station, a bao bun station, and a Prohibition mixology bar with craft beers. There was so much more, it’s impossible to list it all, but it was all beautifully presented and delicious.

Dinner was a joy to plan, because there were so many delicious options to choose from! We selected the Stanford salad to start our menu. Entrée options were oven-roasted chateaubriand, pan-seared red snapper, chicken with wild mushrooms, or vegetable lasagna.

After dinner, guests didn’t have to pause their fun to enjoy something sweet thanks to Crystal Plaza’s “Traveling Desserts.” Perfect, since everyone was on the dance floor all night. They served a plethora of options, from cheesecake lollipops and mini cannolis, to milkshake shots and Nutella raviolis. Our DJ was truly amazing, and clearly had a great working relationship with Crystal Plaza.

Enjoying ourselves immensely, the team at Crystal Plaza made sure we had moments to take it all in together in their magical gardens, just for a moment under the stars.

Our heartfelt thanks goes to the Crystal Plaza, who gave us our ideal wedding day, thanks to their hospitality, enthusiasm, and inspiration. Thanks to them, and to our family and friends, our night was absolutely perfect!

Crystal Plaza, Livingston, NJ
973.992.8100, crystalplazagroup.com