Real Wedding: Abby & Justin
Photography: Elisabeth Millay and Jonathan Young
Catering: Matt Kar and Christopher Michael Catering
Coordination & Floral Design: Moments In Time Floral Design
Event Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Reception Site: Martha Clara Vineyards
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Abby Sweitzer and Justin Bales laugh when they think back on how they met. Both had gone to the Lower East Side of Manhattan to see one of their favorite bands, The Veltz Family. “We joked that neither one of us was actually cool enough to be in that part of town on a Friday night,” says Abby. Justin was intrigued by Abby and immediately asked her out to dinner and a movie the following weekend. Before they knew it, they were a couple. Abby introduced Justin to life in the big city, while he introduced her to the beaches of Long Island and the quiet, sprawling farms of the North Fork. Somewhere in between, they fell in love.
Abby and Justin were together for two years before Justin was deployed to Iraq for his second tour with the United States Marine Corps. The year apart was tough, but they made it through, with the help of frequent letters, packages, and one great satellite phone. Finally, Justin returned home, and he and Abby were more sure than ever that they were meant to be together. A year after his return, Abby began planning a surprise 30th birthday party for Justin. However, unbeknownst to her, he had found out about the party — and was planning a surprise of his own. The couple went for a leisurely walk in Central Park that afternoon, admiring the blooming cherry trees on Cherry Hill. Justin was looking forward to sharing a quiet moment with Abby, but that seemed impossible: The Pope happened to be in town that weekend, and the park was packed. Steering her over Cherry Hill, he got down on one knee and proposed, drawing a round of applause from a crowd of onlookers. Abby accepted, and the celebration that evening was transformed into a combination birthday and engagement party, which had been Justin’s plan all along.
Both Abby and Justin knew there was nowhere in the world for them to be married but the North Fork. Abby’s grandparents had moved to Greenport 15 years before, and St. Agnes, where they were married, is where her grandfather last celebrated Mass, and where her grandmother still attends. Justin was born in Southampton and grew up in Mattituck, where his parents still live, so the region was an easy choice for them. A longtime family friend and former babysitter for Abby’s family had been ordained as a deacon a few months before the wedding, and the couple enlisted him to perform the ceremony. Abby’s aunt made eight gorgeous wreaths that the couple used to decorate the pews of the church and the Barn at Martha Clara Vineyards, their reception site.
It poured all day, and nearly everyone got soaked — but the rain did little to dampen spirits. Guests were welcomed to a homey, country-themed reception at the Barn at Martha Clara Vineyards. Abby and Justin had purchased 200 feet of outdoor string lights, which were a big hit and made the celebration feel that much more festive. Along the walls of the Barn, the couple strung pictures of themselves as children, as well as photos of each of their parents and grandparents on their wedding days. “It added a very personal touch,” says Abby. Throughout their engagement, Abby and Justin had collected lanterns for the tables at the reception and chose simple Mason jars for vases in keeping with the elegant country theme of the party. Charming and delicious cupcakes were provided by a friend, and in lieu of favors, donations were made to The Fisher House Foundation and the Sweitzer Family Fund to Benefit Multiple Sclerosis. At the end of the night, Abby and Justin couldn’t have been happier with their wedding day. Running around in the rain could hardly take away from their union of true love.
Abby & Justin's Advice
#1 Know what is most important to you & what you can live without. Make your wedding yours & forget about all those minor details that no one will remember.
#2 Try not to worry too much about the little things - food, drinks, music, a happy bride & groom surrounded by family & friends are about all you really need for a great party.