Jamie & Mike | SkyView Golf Club | Sparta, NJ

“Above & Beyond”

Our love story begins in the parking lot of the County College of Morris on September 26th, 2013. I was getting out of my car to go to chemistry and he was up on the hill walking from soccer practice to the main campus. He caught my eye, so I waved at him from a distance. We began yelling to each other, exchanging names and majors.

He came down the hill and gave me his number to “hit him up sometime.” I “hit him up” precisely four hours later (not to seem too eager lol, although he was all I could think about). We went on our first date to the Randolph Diner, where we laughed and chatted for hours. We felt an immediate connection. In fact, I even wrote in my journal that I had met the man I would marry.

He officially asked me to be his girlfriend less than a month later, while we were saying goodnight on his front porch. We shared countless memories, from vacations to holidays to moments just in each other's presence, like studying. Each time we spent together was more fun than the next.

Six years later, around Christmastime, we planned to go to a bar with our friends and walk around the Green, a park in Morristown, NJ, where we could see the Christmas lights and the park’s large Christmas tree. Mike and I took a few pictures in front of the tree and he began to pull away. I pulled him back to take more pictures. Just then, he knelt down to ask me to be his forever best friend, his wife.

We wanted a venue with a rustic farmhouse feel and beautiful views of fall foliage. It also needed to be spacious enough to comfortably accommodate our guests. When we went to see SkyView Golf Club in Sparta, NJ, we knew this was the place we would hold in our hearts forever. Jenn Ruchalski and Hildegard Power were phenomenal. They went above and beyond every step of the way.

Throughout the day, they treated everything with such care and attention to detail. ballroom. Hildegard and Jenn ensured the ceremony flowed smoothly and it was flawless. We had it right in front of a beautiful fireplace in the ballroom. Our cocktail hour was phenomenal. Mike and I were busy greeting guests and Hildegard brought us a sampling of all the hors d’oeuvres to ensure we tried everything. There were tables for everyone to either sit or stand as they wished.

For the cocktail hour, we created a menu with signature drinks dedicated to our pets and loved ones there in spirit. We had passed hors d’oeuvres like wild mushroom tarts, buffalo chicken spring rolls, sesame-crusted tuna, and teriyaki chicken skewers. We also had great chafing dishes, including fried calamari with marinara, seafood paella, eggplant rollatini, and a carving station with honey-glazed corned beef. We also had a cigar roller and a photo booth! The cocktail room and ballroom were spacious and created warm, rustic fall vibes.

Dinner and dancing were in the ballroom, where guests had a duet of chateaubriand with bordelaise sauce and grilled chicken with roasted mushrooms. Everyone had the time of their lives. For dessert, we had a Parisienne table with pastries, petit fours, cannolis, and eclairs, plus tiramisu, cheesecake, and our wedding cake. We also had candied bananas flambéed with premium liquor over vanilla ice cream. Almost a year later, guests are still raving about the food. They say it was the best wedding they had ever been to.

We would like to thank all our extraordinary vendors. Each went above and beyond to make our day exceptional. They were reliable, professional, and the best at their work! We also want to thank our family and friends, with special thanks to our bridal party for making our day magical.

There's something so special about standing at the altar and looking around to see all the people you love in one room sharing such a special day. A special thanks to our wedding planners, Kim Mardis and Betty Cerqueira (our moms), who helped us plan and coordinate every step of the way. We will cherish that time forever.

SkyView Golf Club, Sparta, NJ, 973.726.4653, skyviewgolf.com