Alexa & Joseph
The Wedding of
Alexa Coco & Joseph Marchese
Their Vendors
Ceremony: St. Charles Church
Reception: Grand Oaks Country Club,
718.356.2771, www.grandoaksnyc.com/weddings
Gown: Maggie Sottero
Bridesmaids: Sorella Vita
Tux: Tuxedo World
Photographer: Premier Digital Photography & Wedding Films
Makeup & Hair: Hair Essentials Salon
Florist: Sam Gregorio’s Florist
Cake: Grand Oaks Country Club
DJ: MVP Productions
"Great Service"
Joseph and I met when we were freshmen in high school. We were just 15 years old when we went to the movies with friends we had in common and we’ve been together ever since. I am now a third-grade teacher and Joseph works for a utility company.
Growing up, Joseph spent a lot of time at his family-owned gown salon, Angels Bridal Boutique, and he knew it would be both sentimental and fun for us to get engaged there. To propose, he covered the boutique with flowers, set up candles on every surface, and even enlisted his family to help with other romantic gestures. When he led me inside and proposed, I thought, “What better way to get engaged than to be surrounded by beautiful wedding gowns?”
Our ceremony was held at St. Charles Church on the grounds where I attended elementary school and our cocktail hour and reception were held at the Grand Oaks Country Club. The choice to have our wedding at Grand Oaks was easy, with their amazing staff, stunning grounds, and top-quality food.
From the beginning, Margaret Addivinola, the director of catering, made the normal stress of wedding planning feel like a breeze. She took care of everything imaginable and the entire staff’s service was out of this world. Our guests are still raving about the cocktail hour! From the lobster and raw bar to the roasted pig, everything was delicious and laid out so beautifully.
The ballroom at Grand Oaks Country Club is already stunning. We added silver crystal-accented candelabras, that stood five feet tall on all the tables. They were surrounded by floating candles in clear cylinders filled with baby’s-breath flowers. You could see the flame of the candles on the candelabras peeking through the tiny crystal baubles throughout the room. We had light purple uplighting to the room and we couldn’t have been happier with the look. We truly felt like we were partying in the best style! Every detail, from the linens to the lighting, was impeccable.
Dinner began with a champagne toast followed by a baby arugula salad and rotini pasta. Our guests chose between a NY sirloin, a pan-seared branzino, and a vegetarian Madeira dish. Dessert was our tiered wedding cake, a chocolate fountain, a gelato bar, a cookie and brownie bar, and a dessert tapas table! Grand Oaks Country Club worked tirelessly to turn all our dreams into reality and to make us feel as comfortable and welcomed as possible.
Joseph and I would like to thank our parents, family, and friends for making this day one we will never forget. We thank our DJ, who had everyone dancing at all times with music everyone wanted to hear and could dance to. We also would like to thank Margaret and the entire Grand Oaks staff for making our wedding day a dream come true!
Grand Oaks Country Club
Staten Island, NY, 718.356.2771, grandoaksnyc.com/weddings