Welcome to the latest installment of the “I Do” Interviews! This month our series features Laura and Andrew, a couple who said their vows last September with their ceremony under the pergola and the reception at the Terrace Ballroom and garden.
This bridal interview series is meant to give future brides a chance to hear the wonderful details of bridal experiences from those who have recently been there. Our beautiful brides have agreed to share their stories so others can hear about everything from their one-of-a-kind wedding, to their incredible partner, at a picture-perfect venue.
Laura and Andrew Goldstone
DATE OF WEDDING: September 21, 2019
WEDDING VENUE: Ceremony under the Pergola and Reception in the Terrace Ballroom and adjoining gardens.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY? I am originally from Medford, MA; I spent my childhood there, then we moved up to Methuen. I now live in Peabody with my husband.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR WORK? I am a manager of content marketing, branding/design, and communication/PR. Leveraging my MBA, I run my own consulting business on the side, wherein I help companies and individuals in the areas of marketing, communication, and leadership. I also help promote my father’s band and my mother’s jewelry business. Additionally, I present workshops and lectures in blogging, writing, marketing, emotional intelligence, communication, and leadership. Lastly, after planning my wedding and thoroughly enjoying the process, I’d love to get into event planning and help other brides make their day as perfect as mine was!
HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR GROOM? I met my groom our senior year of undergrad at the flatbread shop in our college’s library. We were separately meeting a mutual friend for lunch and decided to all hang out together that day. I was scheduled to attend a meeting to discuss my Honors Thesis with the program advisor, but I ended up rescheduling the meeting, since I felt something magical was happening. We’ve been together ever since!
WHAT MADE YOUR CHOOSE DANVERSPORT AND THE ROOM SPECIFICALLY? My husband actually proposed to me in the gazebo! We had attended a few weddings and events hosted by my family in various rooms throughout Danversport previously; at those events, we always escaped to the gazebo to have a moment to ourselves. We also loved going to dinner at the Bistro to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. Danversport had always held a special place in our hearts, so it was incredibly meaningful when he surprised me with a proposal in the gazebo. The events team was very accommodating and supportive of his request, and they helped make that night sentimental and memorable for us. Because we have an interfaith marriage, we knew we wanted to get married outdoors at Danversport; we chose the pergola to match the intimacy of our ceremony and reception. Only a few steps away, it seemed the best choice for taking the next step in our journey!
HOW MANY GUESTS DID YOU HAVE IN ATTENDANCE? About 86, which we felt was the perfect size for us. We got a chance to see everyone at the reception and still got to steal some private time away to ourselves.
WHAT DID YOU OFFER FOR FOOD/DRINK CATERING? Meals are a very important part of my culture, and Andrew and I had bonded together over so many meals throughout our relationship. Therefore, we wanted to make sure the food was special and plentiful at our wedding. Plus, we wanted to keep the guest list intimate but still had to hit the room minimum, so we were able to provide our special guests with a feast!
Here was our menu, catered by Danversport:
- Deluxe hors d’oeuvres + shrimp shooters, spanakopita, and lamb chops
- Deluxe open bar the whole night
- Italian wedding soup (for my Italian heritage)
- Greek salad (for my Greek heritage)
- Filet mignon or salmon (as the main entrees)
- Wedding cake (which we had custom designed through Cakes for Occasions)
- The full Venetian sweet table + ice cream bon bons
- Chocolate fondue
- Late night takeaways – lobster rolls, crab cake sandwiches, and vegetarian sliders
Our guests still rave about the food – both the quality and the quantity.
WHAT WAS THE MOST MAGICAL PART OF THE WEDDING FOR YOU? Arriving in the limo was a surreal feeling – I felt as though I was in a movie. As my bridesmaids and my mother left the limo, my father and I took a few moments to ourselves. As I approached the pergola, I heard the music and saw my groom waiting for me at the end of the aisle. That walk with my father was the most emotional walk I’ve ever been on; we made sure to take as much time as we could before he had to hand me over to my now husband.
After that, the actual vows were the most magical moment for me. My groom and I held hands and held each other’s gaze for the entire ceremony; it was the most connected we’d ever felt in our seven years of being together. That carried over into our first dance; we knew we were in the spotlight in front of all these people, but all we could see was each other.
Lastly, I will always remember sitting at the sweetheart table while our guests ate their meals.I took a moment to pause and think about the reality of the moment: I’m married to the love of my life, my family and friends are here for us, and all of the planning to make everything so sentimental and personalized had culminated in this moment. It was the best day of my life.
DID YOU HAVE A WEDDING THEME? Our wedding theme was elegant, classic, timeless, and romantic. The attire was formal, especially since it was an evening wedding. All signs had white marble backgrounds, black frames, and dramatic black script, with black bow ties or red roses as accents. The groomsmen were in black tuxes with white shirts, red boutonnieres, and silver ties, vests, and pocket squares. The groom wore a black tux and white shirt, tie, vest, pocket square, and boutonniere. The bridesmaids had light, silvery gray dresses with red shawls, and their bouquets contained a beautiful array of white, blush, and red flowers. My gorgeous cascading bouquet of white and blush roses, orchids, and other seasonal flowers was impeccably arranged by Cyndi at Petals. The flowers, colors, and outfits all contributed to the elegant and romantic look of the day. Danversport’s grounds provided a natural backdrop that perfectly complemented our theme.
I loved planning my wedding – I have work experience in project management, so I used my organizational skills to create project plans, checklists, and color-coded notes to ensure everything got done on time and all information was communicated clearly. I may be biased, but this was the best event I’ve ever planned!
WHAT STYLE WAS YOUR DRESS? I had my dress custom made with a lace top, bateau neckline, sweetheart bust, and long sleeves made of lace. The dress itself was a mixture between A-line and ball gown, with layers of satin and tulle, and it had a long train that bustled into a shorter one. The hem on the dress was lace, and the lace and beadwork throughout the dress was hand-placed and just gorgeous.
WHAT WAS THE SONG YOU DANCED TO FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE? Never Stop (wedding version) by Safety Suit
WHO WALKED YOU DOWN THE AISLE? My Dad
WHAT WERE YOUR PLANS FOR YOUR HONEYMOON? We love driving places, seeing the sights, passing through nature, and experiencing new adventures together, so we took a road trip through Canada! Over the span of two weeks, we took a sunset cruise on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont; we explored the Pedestrian Village in Mont-Tremblant; we walked through the botanical gardens in Montreal; we stayed at Chateau Frontenac and navigated through Old Quebec in Quebec City; and we stopped for one last night in Portland, Maine. We arrived home in time to celebrate our original dating anniversary (seven years together!) and to relax for one day before going back to reality.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Danversport held a special place in the hearts of Laura and Andrew- it made perfect sense for this special couple to get both engaged and married here. We wish them many many years of happiness as they start off on their new journey together!