On the night he asked the most important question of his life, J.P. DiMisa guided his girlfriend, Melissa Wise, up the bow of their new boat. After instructing her on how to use the difficult anchoring system, J.P. waited patiently while Melissa struggled with the task in the moonlight. After finally dropping anchor, Melissa turned to face J.P. -- and found her beloved on bended knee. "It was one of the most exciting 24 hours of my life," says J.P. of the day he spent planning his proposal. "It went exactly as planned, and I couldn't ask for more."
Granting their parents' wish for a traditional Catholic mass, Melissa and J.P. held their nuptials at the historic St. Ann Catholic Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. Melissa's four bridesmaids preceded her down the aisle in elegant, chocolate-hued Lazaro gowns while carrying nosegays of white roses and chocolate cosmos. When Melissa followed on the arm of her father, she carried an understated but beautiful bouquet of white calla lilies and gardenias. "When I saw her walk down the aisle, my heart started to really live," says J.P. "It was the culmination of years of sharing our love, and months of hard work and planning to make the event come to life."
The lavish reception that followed was held at The Breakers' Circle Ballroom, a gorgeous venue chosen on sight by the couple because it beautifully fit their vision for an intimate and elegant setting. The opulent space exudes glamour in every detail, including glorious 50-foot hand-painted ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and breathtaking columns throughout. For J.P and Melissa's celebration, square tables were adorned with a collection of romantic centerpieces. Lush roses resting in short glass vases sat alongside white votive candles, while a larger arrangement made of hydrangeas, roses, and chocolate cosmos stood in the center of each table. The tables were also set with flickering candles placed atop tall, glass holders filled with white calla lilies to further illuminate the magical room. "We couldn't have been more impressed," remembers Melissa. "The decor was chic, sleek, but classic all at the same time," describes J.P.
The groom himself had taken great pride in the selection of food and wine: "I wanted to make sure the experience didn't seem like a catered wedding, but rather like a meal at your favorite restaurant with your best friends and family," explains J.P. His carefully planned menu began with appetizers of spicy crab cakes and a salad of fresh mixed greens. After a palette-cleansing intermezzo of passion fruit sorbet, guests were handed a double entree of filet mignon and luscious lobster with whipped mashed potatoes on the side. Following the main course, guests enjoyed an assortment of desserts that included strawberry shortcake, chocolate mousse, and -- as a nod to the Wise family's love of Key West -- key lime pie. It was the towering wedding cake, however, that stopped the bride in her tracks. "When I saw it, I wanted to cry... it was so beautiful," Melissa remembers. In addition to the couple's monogram, the three-tiered red velvet confection featured a large brown bow with a diamond brooch that matched the design worn by the bridesmaids.
After guests had enjoyed their delicious treats, the dance floor became the center of the party. The musical flair of Powerhouse Band had the couple's 110 attendees happily dancing well into the night, the perfect culmination of a wonderful day of celebrating. The joyful energy on the dance floor was so infectious, in fact, that even the groom -- well known for his aversion to dancing -- got caught up in the moment. "Anyone who knows me knows I don't dance," concludes J.P. "Our wedding made me dance."