Dress: Rivini

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Jewelry: bracelet: something borrowed from my mother (my father gifted it to her) earrings (Delage) rings (delage)

Florist: Dalsimer Spitz and Peck

Band / Music: Faze 4 Orchestras, Next Faze

Hair and Make up: Christy Ann Cosmetics

Venue: Waters Edge Centerport

Our Story

Through a mutual friend, Danielle, Ilyssa and Jeff were supposed to meet two years earlier at her birthday party, unbeknownst to Jeff. If they had met that night, they may not be here today as neither were ready to meet ‘the one.’ It wasn’t until two years later they finally met at her engagement party. While each of them knew about each other, neither was expecting to meet their best friend and future spouse that night. From across the party, they were constantly locking eyes, waiting for the right time to strike up a conversation. Coming into that evening, Danielle had been talking them up to one another, trying to play matchmaker. As the night wore on, Jeff’s window of opportunity was getting narrower. He eventually made his move, approaching Ilyssa at the Chinese food station, asking if she knew where the chopsticks were (as she was holding a set). Being caught off guard, Ilyssa didn’t realize they were right in front of her, leading Jeff to different spots until he spotted them. It wasn’t until later in their relationship Jeff admitted he knew where they were the whole time but needed an excuse to talk to her, and wanted something better than just saying “Hi!”.  For the rest of the night, they were inseparable. Jeff eventually asked Ilyssa for her number, but admittedly, she was not expecting him to call, let alone ever see him again. But he proved her wrong, calling her that night and asking to get drinks on Tuesday.

For their first date Jeff took Ilyssa to The Park near the High Line. Neither of them would admit, but both were nervous arriving that night, hoping the same spark they felt at Danielle’s was still there. Conversation flowed for hours and they were starting to feel at ease. So much so, that Ilyssa nervously broke her wine glass talking with such enthusiasm. After drinks, they took a walk on the High Line and the night ended with the much anticipated first kiss. We know you’re expecting to read that the kiss was as good as the spark they felt, but Ilyssa and Jeff both joke to this day how bad their first kiss was! After that night, neither were sure what to make of the time they had spent together. They knew they felt something special, so they continued to text and decided to give it another try. Jeff had inadvertently spoiled the ending of one of Ilyssa’s favorite shows and he knew he had to make it up to her. He found a fun place that was serving Frozé (frozen rose) and knew it would do the trick. Between the Frozé, the endless conversation, how at ease they felt and a second kiss that more than made up for the first one, they knew they had found something special. The rest of that summer they were inseparable.

Fast forward a few years, filled with countless laughs and fun nights out together, Jeff knew it was time to propose. While planning a fun west coast trip to San Francisco and Napa over one of their favorite bottles of wine, Educated Guess, Ilyssa noticed the vineyard happened to be in Napa and insisted that the two of them check it out. Jeff instantly knew that this was the place he was going to propose! The next hurdle, planning all of the logistics behind Ilyssa’s back; starting first with getting the ring through security unnoticed. After game-planning several strategies, Jeff decided to put the ring inside a small garment bag and attached a note to the outside of the box: “There’s and engagement ring inside. If you need to open, PLEASE BE SUBTLE! – Thank you”. Walking through security, time stood still for Jeff as the backpack with the ring inside went through the conveyor belt. Passing through unnoticed, Jeff breathed a sigh of relief, knowing his plan was now officially in motion and he passed the first hurdle.

A few days later, Ilyssa and Jeff arrived at Roots Run Deep, a beautiful vineyard in the heart of Napa Valley with a picturesque background fit for a postcard. On arrival, Jeff learned that the gentlemen he had spent months on the phone with planning out every move of their tour and the proposal had come down with food poisoning and was not going to make it in today. Not one to usually panic, Jeff tried to figure out if the new tour guide, Don, had been given all the information for that day, including the secret signal when it was time to propose, all while keeping Ilyssa in the dark as much as possible. As the tour rolled on, a couple of glasses of wine helped calm Jeff’s nerves and keep his cool as the plan was still going smoothly. As they sat down for their tasting, Don poured out the first round and then told Ilyssa and Jeff he had to go handle some paperwork in the office and would be back in 20 minutes or so. Ilyssa was furious. How rude is that she exclaimed! He’s supposed to be guiding us through this tasting and he’s going to do some paperwork, what an a**hole! Jeff tried hard not to laugh and keep his composure; he knew this was the signal and what was about to follow. While Ilyssa was seething, Jeff motioned to the photographer to get in place and convinced Ilyssa to talk a walk down to the vineyard while we waited for Don to return. To this day, Jeff will claim it was the heatwave that was making him sweat but in reality he was nervous to make sure the moment was perfect. A few moments later, Jeff was down on one knee asking the most exhilarating phrase known to man: “Will you marry me?!”. With a resounding YES! these two crazy kids were engaged!

After properly celebrating with their friends and family upon their return home, it was time to start planning the wedding. Ilyssa took the reins and with Jeff as her administrative assistant through the entire process, planned an amazing wedding. TWICE, I have to add. The unfortunate circumstances of the global pandemic forced Ilyssa and Jeff to postpone their wedding a year. Locked down together, in a small one-bedroom New York City apartment, Ilyssa and Jeff’s relationship was put to the test. As if planning a wedding was not stressful enough in and of itself, having to account for all the uncertainty of the pandemic, possible restrictions on the event, re-booking vendors and having to reset their wedding countdown there were some tense nights on the path to the chuppah. But Ilyssa and Jeff came out stronger on the other side, a true testament to the strength of their relationship and the foundation for which their marriage would soon be built upon. The wedding weekend came and went, way too quickly as everyone who has been married will attest, in a true storybook ending.

And, as they say, the #RetsIsHistory!

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