Nassau Inn Wedding of Melanie & Steve
Their Story
Thanks for coming by to hear (and see) all about Melanie & Steve’s epic day! Revel in their story, and enjoy the photos at the bottom.
Melanie and Steve met on a dating app on December 3, 2018. Melanie was in Queens, visiting Staten Island for car service when she found Steve nearby. Steve had just returned to Staten Island from New Jersey and joined the app on the same day.
After they matched, they quickly realized we had similar interests in music. Linkin Park turned out to be their favorite band. They talked about what the music meant to them, and how the untimely passing of Chester, the lead singer, impacted them.
FUN FACT ALERT!!! They learned they’d attended to many of the same Mike Shinoda (co-singer and rhythm guitarist of Linkin Park) concerts in the months before they met. Crazy, right?
They agreed to meet for coffee the next day at a nearby Starbucks. When they met, Melanie went for a handshake while Steve went for a hug, leading to a funny mix-up. Despite the awkward start, they ended up talking for so long that they stayed until closing time.
During that same Starbucks date, Melanie mentioned having seats up in the rafters for an upcoming Mike Shinoda concert. Steve then bought a better ticket for the same show. The big surprise…he actually bought two and then texted Melanie to come down and join him. Steve, dude, it’s no wonder Melanie fell for you.
Ok…this next part, you’d never believe it if Melanie didn’t swear her life on it. Looking through selfies she took at a concert 6 months before they even met, guess who was literally standing right behind her. Yup, you guessed correctly. Steve!
Before we talk about how Steve asked Melanie to spend forever together, I really do need to share some photos from their WWE wrestling-themed engagement session. Couples that play together stay together. Judging by these photos, I’ll say this is a match made in heaven…or in the ring haha!
Let’s talk about how he proposed!
Steve proposed to Melanie during a fun day in NYC involving "The Book of Mormon" show, a surprise visit to the High Line, and a romantic dinner at the River Cafe under the Brooklyn Bridge. Both of their moms were there to witness the magical moment. Nothin’ like 4 people all teary eyed at such a picture perfect moment in time.
Details & Vibe of the Day
Melanie picked a space/star theme with colors like blue, green, purple, and gold. Their favors were special: Black & Tan coffee from a local NJ roastery, Booskerdoo. Jamie at Keep It Sweet Studios created a custom label saying “Melanie & Steve’s Hybrid Theory” as a tribute to Linkin Park.
Why Did You Choose The Nassau Inn?
"We began searching for venues in late 2021. Due to Covid-19, we did everything online with virtual tours," shared Melanie. "Once we found the Nassau Inn, we quickly realized this was the one. It blended history with modernity perfectly. With lodging available onsite, guests could stay the weekend stress-free. The central Princeton location of Nassau Inn added to its charm, which made it a bonus for their guests that stayed the weekend.
Yummy time
Some of their favorite foods at their wedding included sushi, mushroom risotto, and Korean BBQ. Signature drinks honored their dogs: "Oscar’s Favorite" (Old-Fashioned), "Chester’s Favorite" (White Russian), and "Henry’s Favorite." The wedding cake was triple chocolate mousse, and Steve’s cake was vanilla with cannoli cream.
The Gown
Melanie wanted her reception gown fit the “party” vibe we were aiming for. It was grand, sparkly, champagne-colored, in her words made her “feel like the embodiment of starligh” tand it was tailor-made to make it comfy enough for her to dance her ass off all night long!
Epic Moments
Melanie shared that they had two special moments at their wedding. The first was their choreographed first dance, carefully planned with their dance instructor, Dasha. The second was a surprise from their band, Cause and the Effects, who learned one of their favorite songs by Linkin Park, "In the End," and performed it at the end of the night. I mean, come on…this day (and night) just kept getting better and better!
Making it extra special
Melanie & Steve can't help but smile when thinking back to their EPIC wedding day. It was like every piece of the puzzle fell perfectly into place, creating a day that will always be remembered for its energy, its fun, and let’s not forget its LOVE! From the amazing vendors who worked their magic to the killer décor choices, to having all her favorite people there, it was a day straight out of a dream. Ending the night with toasts and pints of Guinness, every detail came together to make their day absolutely flawless.
ANy hiccups?
"We couldn't exactly point fingers at anything that went 'wrong'," Melanie laughs, "but oh boy, did we have a showdown with the weather that weekend! Luckily, we're old pros at dancing in the rain since it poured on our Ireland elopement day too. We lucked out with some sunny breaks, just enough to snap some outdoor shots at the venue and Princeton University."
First Dance time!!!
Starting the reception was their first dance to a special arrangement of “Starlight,” by Muse, created and performed by their band, Cause and the Effects.
Where’s the Honeymoon?
They actually eloped in Ireland, and then flew to Paris. Nothing like globetrotting with the love of your life. Am I right?
Wedding planning tips please :)
During the stressful times, just breathe, remember that you’re working on this as a team, and that what matters most is that you’re marrying your soulmate.
Vendors that made you smile
Photography | Daniel Nydick Photography
Venue & Hotel | The Nassau Inn, Princeton, NJ
Band | Cause and the Effects; @causeandtheeffects
Wedding Gown | Maggie Sottero Designs at Kleinfeld Bridal; maggiesotterodesigns @kleinfeldbridal
Bridesmaid Dresses | Revelry; @shoprevelry
Engagement Ring | Heidi Gibson Designs; @heidigibsondesigns
Bridal Jewelry | Sofia Zakia; @sofia.zakia
Shoes | Tieks; @tieks
Hair | Rebel Hair Studio, Nutley, NJ; @rebelhairnj @strazzabeatdown @hairbytatiananj
Makeup | Makeup By Alyssa
Cake | The Caketeria, Newton, PA
Flowers | Petal Pushers, Hamilton, NJ; @petalpushersnj
Lighting, Media Wall, Photo Booth | Making MemorEase Events, Staten Island, NY; @makingmemorease
Videography | Herinso Torres Fotografía
Cocktail-Hour Entertainment | Magic by Vincent; @magicbyvincent
Dance Lessons | Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Staten Island, NY; @fredastaire
Decor Items and Details | Keep It Sweet Studios; @keepitsweetstudios
Audio Guest Book | Fetefone; @fetefone
Cocktail Bar Sign | Marissa Scalero
Favors | Bookserdoo Coffee; @booskerdoo
Ireland Elopement Photography | Rob Dight of Epic Love Photos; @robdight
Ireland Elopement Video | Nigel Ivy Film; @nigelivyfilm
