Czarina & Matthew | Above Weddings | Staten Island, NY

“Delicious Dinner Options”

We met at Richmond University Medical Center and started off as just friends. When I accepted a position as a nurse in the interventional radiology department where Matt already worked, we got to know each other better and grew closer. Our first date happened a year later at Jade Island and after spending the night talking and laughing over dinner, we connected.

Matt wanted a proposal that was both personal and unexpected. On a Wednesday afternoon after a long day at work, we walked to our cars like we usually did on any ordinary day. As I was about to turn around and give him a kiss goodbye, it started to rain, and to my surprise, there he was, on one knee, asking me to marry him at the place where it all began. I stood there in tears and said, “Yes” as the rain started to pour and everything was perfect.

We ultimately decided on Above for our wedding venue because we wanted a place that was as beautiful as it was convenient for our friends and family. Above’s all-inclusive offering provided that for us. Being able to have the ceremony, reception, and hotel all in the same place created a weekend that allowed us to focus on enjoying our wedding rather than worrying about logistics and traveling from one site to another throughout the day. The grounds surrounding Above are picturesque and the ballroom gave us the pristine, modern ambiance we were looking for.

As soon as we entered the ballroom during our initial tour of the venue we immediately loved the high ceilings and the massive windows that made the space feel so open and gave us a view of the Manhattan skyline. The ballroom provided enough space to accommodate our 200 guests without feeling uncomfortable.

Working with our Above event planner, Alessandra Moss, created a feeling that we were being taken care of every step of the way. She made us feel at ease and was always accessible for any questions. Her answers were prompt and thorough.  Alessandra ensured that every detail regarding our wedding vision was met, from our color scheme to our menu choices and the overall vibe of the night. Jackie, my bridal attendant, and Tom, our maître d’, provided excellent service and ensured that our special day went perfectly and smoothly. 

We had our ceremony in the ballroom and then Above transitioned the ballroom from the ceremony site to the reception area. Alessandra assured us that the room would look completely different and we could not believe that we had been in the same room just an hour before for our ceremony. Everyone always says cocktail hour is the best part and Above did not disappoint.

Our guests were raving about the cocktail hour food options and quality. Having the cocktail hour at the rooftop bar on a different floor gave our guests ample space to mingle and enjoy herb-crusted lamb chops, parmesan-crusted chicken lollipops, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and beef Wellington. Guests could also enjoy small plates of crispy shrimp with sesame rice noodles, blood orange glazed duck, and chicken and waffles.

Dinner service was exceptional. All the options were delicious and the kitchen did a wonderful job preparing the entrées to order. Our personal favorite was the roasted duck breast in a wild cherry and herb reduction. Guests could also choose ahi tuna with peach salsa or flat iron steak with fresh herbs and wild mushrooms.

Our four-tier wedding cake was made by Sweet Sweet Sues and we chose the white chocolate vanilla with raspberry filling. It was both beautiful and delicious. We opted for buttercream icing and had fresh flowers to decorate our cake and added a silver monogram of an “M” as our topper. We also had crème brulé, chocolate milkshake shots, banana cream pie, apple pie purses, and more.

We want to thank everyone at Above, especially Alessandra, Tom, and Jackie, who helped ensure that our wedding day went perfectly. Thank you to the Nicotra’s, Above’s owners, for ensuring everything was going accordingly and also for personally visiting us on our day to give us their well wishes. Thank you to Sam Gregorio’s Florist for our beautiful floral arrangements. A special thank you to Chris Guzzo and his team at Making Memorease. Our entertainment company provided us with a DJ, MC, videographer, photographer, lighting production, and a photo booth. Thank you to our family and friends for all their love and support and for celebrating our special day with us.

Above Weddings, Staten Island, NY, 718.477.2400, EventAbove.com