Katherine & Matt's Classic English Garden Wedding at Bay Head Yacht Club

Author: Natali Grace Levine
Wedding date: 10/18/2024
City: Jersey City

Love Story

Katherine and Matt's love story began at just the right moment in both of their lives. "From the moment we connected, everything just felt right," Katherine shared.

The couple dated for two years before Matt proposed in a setting that couldn't have been more perfect. "Matt proposed in the garden of the home I grew up in," Katherine recalled with a smile. "Bay Head is truly my favorite place in the world. He had a beautiful flower arch made on the arbor in my yard, and all my friends were there to witness the moment."

After the intimate garden proposal, the celebration continued with dinner at Katherine's childhood home followed by an unforgettable week in Rome during the Ryder Cup. The engagement set the tone for their year-long wedding planning journey.

About Your Wedding

While Katherine never envisioned having a grand wedding celebration, Matt convinced her otherwise—a decision she's eternally grateful for. "It turned out to be so special, and I will cherish both the planning process and the actual day forever," she reflected. "I never fully realized how incredible it would be to have all the people we love in one place, celebrating our love on the best day of our lives. It was truly a sentimental, fun, and emotional experience in the best way possible, and I wouldn’t change a thing."

The couple opted for a classic, romantic style with what Katherine describes as a "fresh, simple crispness." With Matt being English and many guests traveling from the UK, they extended their celebration into a full weekend affair. "We had a golf outing on Thursday, our wedding on Friday (which was honestly amazing), and a farewell brunch on Saturday," Katherine explained. "Having the wedding on a Friday was such a great decision because it gave us all of Sunday to relax and recharge with our family while reflecting on the best couple of days. It truly felt like the perfect blend of celebration and quality time with the people we love."

When asked what inspired her most during wedding preparations, Katherine's answer was surprisingly profound: "What inspired me the most was working with our reverend and having deep conversations about the meaning of marriage. More than anything, it reminded us what the wedding was really about—our commitment to each other."

Morning Details

For her wedding ring, Katherine chose a design with deep family significance. "I chose a ring style inspired by my Aunt Katherine, whom I was named after. She was also my grandmother’s best friend, which made the choice even more meaningful. It felt so special to honor that connection through something I’ll wear forever."

In a charming nod to weather superstitions, Katherine buried a bottle of bourbon in her yard a month before the wedding. "I had read that it’s supposed to guarantee perfect weather on your wedding day," she laughed. "For extra luck, I also buried a sausage at my bridesmaid’s house, who hosted the afterparty—we thought it was absolutely hilarious at the time!" Whether it was the bourbon, the sausage, or pure luck, the weekend weather was flawless.

Bride Getting Ready

Katherine's wedding day began at her childhood home in Bay Head, surrounded by her mother and closest friends. "The day we went dress shopping was truly one of my favorite days ever," Katherine reminisced. "We spent the entire day visiting different bridal shops and trying on what felt like a million dresses, but the moment I put on the Alena gown at Mark Ingram, we just knew it was the one."

Katherine and her mother collaborated to design a custom tulle skirt that transformed her look. "Since my husband always calls me Princess, I had to fully embrace the role—and honestly, I loved every second of it!" she said with a laugh. Her accessories included custom Jimmy Choo Love 85 white satin shoes with their wedding date engraved on a small plaque on the bottom. “I truly felt like a princess and could not have loved my dress more—it was the perfect balance of elegance and glamour," Katherine shared.

For her bouquet, Katherine had a specific vision in mind. "I wanted a Lily of the Valley-inspired bouquet, but since those flowers weren’t available in October in New Jersey, my florist created a similar arrangement using seasonal flowers that matched the ones on our wedding tables," she explained, highlighting the thoughtful coordination between her bridal flowers and reception décor.

The morning was filled with joyful moments as Katherine and her bridesmaids—each wearing different ballet pink satin dress styles from Dressy—sipped champagne on the porch and danced around in white and pink feathered pajamas. "I gifted my bridesmaids handwritten notes, their favorite candies, and a 'happy tears' handkerchief embroidered with our wedding date," Katherine said. "They placed fresh baby’s breath hair combs in each other’s hair before helping me get into my dress and then getting ready themselves."

One particularly touching gift came from her cousin and bridesmaid, who gave Katherine a handkerchief from her Aunt Katherine. "It had a beautifully embroidered "K" and even still had some of her lipstick on it, making it an incredibly special keepsake," she recalled, her voice filled with emotion.

Groom Getting Ready

Matt prepared for the day with his groomsmen in nearby Mantoloking, New Jersey. His sleek tuxedo, custom-designed by John Craig Clothier in Jupiter, Florida, perfectly complemented the day's elegant aesthetic.
Katherine had thoughtfully selected cufflinks from Matt's favorite English soccer team, Sheffield United, as a wedding day gift.

"One of the most sentimental details was that Matt and I each picked out a signature scent for each other to associate with our wedding day," she shared. "Matt chose Delina by Parfums de Marly for me, and I chose Bleu de Chanel for him."

First Look

The couple's first look took place at the end of the dock at the Bay Head Yacht Club—a moment that Katherine describes as both magical and slightly precarious. "Our first look took place at the end of the dock at the Bay Head Yacht Club. It was such a special and unforgettable moment—but also a bit of a challenge!" she laughed. "I had to concentrate so hard not to fall through the dock in my heels! But the moment I saw Matt, everything else faded away. It was truly the most gorgeous day, and I was completely in awe of everything—it all felt like a movie."

When Matt turned to see his bride for the first time, his reaction was everything Katherine had hoped for. "Matt’s first thought when he saw me was, “WOW!" she beamed. "It was the best reaction, and I could tell he absolutely loved it!"

Katherine's own thoughts were equally enthusiastic: "The moment I saw Matt, all I could think was, “Damn, I get to marry him!!! Let’s get to the church ASAP!” I was so excited and ready to start forever with him—it was truly the best feeling in the world!"

Photoshoot Before The Ceremony

The couple chose Bay Head as the backdrop for their pre-ceremony photos, a location that holds profound meaning for Katherine. "It’s where I grew up, and I wanted to share this special place with all of our friends and family who traveled from around the world," Katherine explained.
The seaside setting provided a picturesque canvas for Vova Chi Photography to capture the couple's joy and anticipation before their ceremony began.

Ceremony

Katherine and Matt exchanged vows at All Saints Episcopal Church in Bay Head, just five minutes from Katherine's childhood home. "It’s the church we attend when we’re in New Jersey during the summer, so it felt incredibly meaningful to get married there," Katherine shared.

The couple worked with Reverend Kathryn L. King throughout their engagement year, which Katherine credits with helping them prepare not just for their wedding day, but for marriage itself. "We spent the year leading up to our big day working with her, and she made our ceremony so special, personal, and beautiful," she said.

Katherine walked down the aisle to "Snow on the Beach" performed by a string quartet, creating a magical atmosphere in the historic church. The ceremony included several unforgettable moments. "My cousin Kelly, who was also one of my bridesmaids wrote something incredibly special and read it aloud during the ceremony as a surprise, which was so heartfelt and personal," Katherine shared. "Another unforgettable moment was when our reverend gifted us a kaleidoscope and spoke about how we would share a view of life together. It was such a powerful metaphor and truly resonated with us."

Perhaps the most joyful moment came when the newlyweds rang the church bell together—a symbolic start to their married life that filled the air with celebratory sound.

Photoshoot After The Ceremony

Following the ceremony, the couple made a dramatic exit in a classic MG getaway car adorned with tulle-tied cans and ribbons. "We left the church in an MG getaway car with tulle-tied cans and ribbon and drove to where the boathouse is located," Katherine explained.

The couple then boarded a wooden boat for perhaps the most dramatic entrance of the day. "The setting was perfect for some beautiful shots before we got onto a wooden boat and sailed to our cocktail hour," she said. “As we arrived, all of our guests were waving to us from the dock, which made for such a magical and surreal moment. It truly felt like something out of a dream!"

Wedding Venue & Decor

Katherine had her heart set on the Bay Head Yacht Club from the start. "I always knew I wanted to get married in Bay Head —it’s the most beautiful place. The Bay Head Yacht Club was my absolute dream venue, so I didn’t waste any time—I booked it the day after we got engaged!" she revealed.

The venue was transformed into an English garden dream, featuring chandeliers, a white trellis stage, and lush floral arrangements displayed in wire baskets and clay pots with touches of mercury glass. "The entry to the Bay Head Yacht Club was draped in garland that cascaded up the staircases, tied with baby’s breath and bows, creating a stunning first impression," Katherine described.

One of her favorite design elements was a bow-draped curtain in green and cream velvet. The tablescape featured etched water goblets, Ralph Lauren candles on every table, champagne buckets monogrammed with the couple's initials, topiaries tied with small brown velvet ribbons, and white embroidered tablecloths.

Adding a personal touch to the reception, the couple named their tables after their favorite golf courses around the world—a fitting tribute to their shared passion and Matt's profession.

Reception

The reception began with the couple's improvised first dance to "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole. "We had planned to take dance lessons, but a hurricane in Florida derailed our plans," Katherine explained. "I sang the song out loud to the crowd while Matt, ever the good sport, couldn’t wait for it to be over. It was a hilarious and unforgettable."

Chris Pinnella and his 16-piece band kept the dance floor packed throughout the evening, while espresso martinis flowed freely. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, the Bay Head Yacht Club prepared a special strawberry shortcake using a cherished family recipe, adding another meaningful touch to the celebration.

The festivities continued with an afterparty featuring a Shake Shack truck, freshly made pizzas served in custom boxes reading "Katherine and Matt—That's Amore," a golf ball ice luge, and a ceiling packed with disco balls. "We danced until the early hours of the morning," Katherine said. "It was the perfect ending to an incredible celebration!"

Looking back on their wedding day, Katherine's gratitude shines through: "I feel incredibly grateful to have had the wedding of my dreams—every detail, every moment, and every emotion was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I will cherish the memories of our wedding day forever, along with every part of the planning process that brought it to life. More than anything, I am beyond grateful to be married to the love of my life. I feel so rooted in my faith and ready to embark on this next chapter together, knowing that this is just the beginning of our forever."