Kelly and Paul! Ahh. I know I know I always gush about my couples, but you guys – how can I help it when I have couples like this?! Kelly was so amazing to work with from the second I met her. We did Kelly and Paul’s engagement session at the golf club where Paul works, and they watched me helplessly crawl slowly in the golf cart they gave me to drive, and they didn’t poke fun. They were down for anything I suggested thru their entire wedding planning process, and they are also *really* fun to be around.

I have only had a handful of weddings over my 10 year career where I felt that the foliage was timed literally just right and this was one of them! Wait until you see these photos!

I’m going to let Kelly tell their love story in her own words!

How did the two of you meet?

Ah! This question always gets me! So it was the Summer of 2011 and I had just started my first job as a hostess at Vic’s Italian Restaurant in Bradley Beach. My older brother knew a few people who worked there and that’s how I got the job. Unknown to me, there was a guy working in the kitchen who had put eyes on me the end of the summer but then left to go back to college in the fall at High Point University in NC. Fast forward to the end of December/January, Paul was home on winter break from college and was working at Vic’s. My brother had a NYE party and one of his friends (who also worked at Vic’s) told me a guy there was interested in me but my brothers friends told him to leave me alone.

About a week later I friended Paul on facebook. He accepted my friend requested and messaged me “Hey you work at Vic’s right?” (such a smooooth line!). From then on we started talking even though he was away at college and I was only a junior in HS. He came home for his spring break and took us to a Devils vs. Rangers game (I am a Devils fan and he is a Rangers fan). The Devils won! Paul went back to college after his spring break but we stayed in touch. On May 4, 2012 at the end of his college year, he drove home through the night to surprise me and was at my parents’ house when I got home from school and asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes 🙂

What was the proposal like?

So it all happened on Saturday May 25, 2019! Back story is that I always told Paul that if he were to propose I would want it to be just the two of us, but then for us to celebrate with family/friends after it. My parents have been members at Manasquan River Golf Club for my entire life. The place holds special meaning to me and it just so happens to be Paul’s workplace. He is an assistant golf pro at Manasquan.

The proposal happened on Memorial Day Weekend. Paul’s parents always have an annual Memorial Day Party on that Sunday which we always attend. So Paul was working on the Saturday till around 3pm. He asked me to play golf with him after work and then we would meet my parents there for dinner (this was not an unusual thing, we would regularly play golf and have dinner). So we went and played, I was playing quite well and Paul was not!

On the 16th tee which is right on the Manasquan River, Paul got down on one knee to ask me to marry me. I honestly don’t even remember what he said but I know I said something like yes but I was playing so well!! Paul had his cousin hiding in bushes taking pictures and both of our parents were up on the terrace at the club house overlooking everything. So our parents got to watch it all! The main stone in my engagement ring is from my grandmother’s engagement ring. After the proposal we had an amazing dinner with both of our parents to celebrate. The next day was Paul’s parents annual Memorial Day Party which also was an engagement party for us! It was an amazing weekend.

What is your best advice to a couple planning their wedding?

ENJOY EVERY SECOND OF IT! Honestly, even with COVID I am so thankful for Paul. He is such an easy going fiance. Whenever I ask him what he wants he always says “whatever you want and whatever makes you happy is good with me”. He is truly the most amazing man ever and lets me go OCD psycho without even questioning it.

Also do what you want to do! COVID threw a huge wrench in our planning but we still stuck with our original wants. November 7th is my grandfather’s birthday (he was married to my grandmother who’s engagement ring Paul took and reset) . My grandpa lived with my parents and I for about ten years and we shared a special connection. Therefore, the November 7 date was very important to me. Even with COVID I still wanted to get married on that date which Paul respected. Just remember at the end of the day, it is about the bride and groom!

Vendor Team:

Photography: Kelly Sea Images | Videography: Jim Kapinos | Florals: Wallflowers Spring Lake | Bride’s Gown: Pronovias, Purchased at Castle Couture | Groom’s Suit: Triple Crown Custom Clothier | Bride’s Shoes: Keds by Kate Spade | Hair & Make-Up: Peach Blossom Salon | Band: Joe Baracata Band | Transportation: Long Branch Trolley