Meaghan & Kevin
“Our wedding was every bit a fairy tale as it was elegant and traditional.”
The Proposal
Meaghan was on spring break from Graduate School and Kevin had planned a romantic getaway to her favorite place in the world – Paris. On the night of the proposal, he surprised her with dinner at her favorite spot in Paris – the Eiffel Tower. When he asked her to marry him, it was just as the clock stroke the new hour and the entire Tower lit up and sparkled with a 360° view of the entire city surrounding them. “It was like being on top of a cloud…it was completely magical and a real life fairy tale.”
The couple chose to have a December wedding, not only because they both love the Christmas season but also because their first date was on December 30th, and their first kiss was as the ball dropped to ring in the New Year the following night. So they decided what better way to start the holiday season for their families than by bringing everyone together with their wedding.
The Wedding Reception
Thirty years earlier, Meaghan’s parents had celebrated their wedding reception at Birchwood Manor and loved the grand entrance and elegant touches throughout the venue. Meaghan and Kevin also fell in love with Birchwood Manor’s sophistication and charm and transformed the Grand Ballroom into a Christmas wonderland complete with red poinsettias, evergreen garland, candlelit lanterns, and twinkle lights.
Their attention to detail was magnificent – from mini decorated Christmas tree centerpieces to handmade wooden sleighs for holding envelopes to silver and gold angel ornament wedding favors given to each guest as their first Christmas gift to open.
The Menu
Cocktail Hour began with passed hors d’oeuvres, cold food stations, and hot chafing dishes including cavatelli and broccoli, fried calamari, and eggplant rollatini. Meaghan and Kevin chose several chefs’ stations to prepare Asian beef and broccoli, lobster ravioli in a sherry cream sauce, and pastrami and leg of lamb carved to order. Also served was the ever popular seafood spectacular with fresh jumbo gulf shrimp, littleneck clams, oysters, cocktail lobsters, and snow crab claws.
Guests were then escorted to their seats in the Grand Ballroom for dinner. After a champagne toast, guests were served a cranberry leaf salad, followed by lemon sorbet intermezzo, and then a choice of three entrees which included roast prime ribs of beef, chicken francese, and orange ginger glazed grilled salmon.
Their wedding cake was four square tiers, each tier alternating white cake with cannoli filling or chocolate mousse filling and custom baked and decorated by Birchwood Manor’s bakery. An elaborate Viennese Table of Desserts and Flaming International Coffees were also served, ending the evening on a very sweet note.
“Birchwood Manor not only made my wedding day legendary but more importantly they made my dream of an elegant Christmas wedding come true and provided an unforgettable experience with memories that will last a lifetime.”
~ Meaghan & Kevin
Photography by Scott Janelli
Floral Design by Crest Florist
Cake by Birchwood Manor
Accommodations by Sheraton Parsippany
Featured on New Jersey Bride Real Weddings
