Like many modern-day couples, Vanessa Biondo and Jeff Waclawik met on a popular dating app, Bumble. “When Vanessa walked in, I was just blown away. We made plans for a second date that night. There was an immediate spark,” shares Jeff of their first date. Vanessa, too, was smitten. It wasn’t long before Jeff started planning a proposal, and the pair got engaged while on a 10-day trip to Italy. “He popped the question on a bench overlooking the hills of the Tuscan town of Volterra as the sun was about to set,” smiles Vanessa. “It was simply perfect.”

When it came to planning the details of their wedding day, Vanessa had a very clear vision of what she wanted. “We knew we wanted to get married in New York City and wanted a venue that everyone hadn’t been to a million times before; we also knew that we wanted to get married in a church,” she notes. Thus, they chose a hotel in the city that had a stunning chapel on the grounds. “You can walk from the chapel to the reception hall in literally two minutes. In addition to being breathtaking, it made it so easy for guests!” she adds.

The ceremony was kept fairly traditional with classic and elegant décor, which was photographed beautifully by the couple's photographer Maya Myers Photography. Vanessa was gorgeous in an ethereal high-neck gown as she walked down the aisle toward her groom, which he notes as a moment of his life that he will never forget. In keeping with her family’s tradition, the bride wore her veil throughout the ceremony as well as the entire evening. “I loved wearing it!” she exclaims. She also carried her grandmother’s blue rosary beads and her grandfather’s embroidered handkerchief as her “something blue” as well as wore rings belonging to each of her grandmothers on her right hand.

“It can be frustrating when you put so much time and effort into planning every little detail, but the truth is, the only thing that actually matters is that you’re marrying the person you love.”

Following the vow exchange, guests traversed to the reception space and found their seating assignments on a table featuring a towering display of cherry blossom branches suspending tea lights in glass globes. Once loved ones entered the hall, they were in awe of the striking space showcasing high ceilings and ambient lighting. The décor of the evening featured a muted color palette focused on whites and creams. Long tables were adorned with small arrangements of crisp ivory blooms illuminated with warm candlelight emitted from small votives that provided a beautiful setting for an evening filled with lovely conversations and love all around.

The bride affirms advice she was given: couples should enjoy the day no matter what happens – because inevitably, something will go at least slightly differently than planned. “It can be frustrating when you put so much time and effort into planning every little detail, but the truth is, the only thing that actually matters is that you’re marrying the person you love,” she shares. “Cliché but accurate!”