Real Wedding: Ginny & Joe
Sagaponack, New York
Floral Design: C. Whitmore Gardens Photographer(s): David Vaughan Photography
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From their first meeting to their wedding day, Ginny Hounsell and Joseph Faretta can tell their love story like a fairytale.
They met at Radio City Music Hall, where Ginny was a Rockette and Joe worked on the lighting crew. They got to know each other chatting backstage between numbers during performances. Eventually Ginny moved to working in wardrobe on Broadway and Joe traveled the world working on other shows. Maintaining their relationship long-distance came with great ease, but such hectic lifestyles made marriage seem to be out of the question to Ginny. Joe, on the other hand, had a different perspective.
On vacation with Ginny's family in Italy, the entire family took a side trip to the Trevi Fountain in Rome to throw a traditional good luck coin and make a wish. Joe made Ginny promise not to open her eyes after she threw her coin. She obliged, and Joe slipped a ring on her finger as he admitted his wish to her-a wish for her to become his wife. Joe had designed the ring himself, a beautiful vintage-inspired diamond ring that he had been waiting to unveil the entire trip. That night included a family celebration at a restaurant in the heart of Rome.
It was this proposal that inspired the location for the wedding: Wolffer Estates Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York. The Vineyard was reminiscent of vineyards Ginny and Joe had visited in Italy, and they felt that by having the wedding there, they were able to have a destination wedding without leaving the comforts of home. Their invitations prepared guests for the atmosphere, as unique trifolds etched with purple grape clusters.
The wedding took place on Ginny's birthday, and, since most of the guests were involved in theater, it was considered a "production." Ginny and Joe broke tradition and walked down the aisle together to a specially chosen song. They did not have a bridal party and they had not rehearsed the ceremony in advance. Her dress was handmade, knee length, with a vineyard green skirt and a champagne colored lace bodice, which she beaded herself. A friend from the Radio City Music Hall costume department built it for her, and the one-of-a-kind dress was complemented by the natural colors of the surrounding vineyard. Ginny and Joe then dined with their guests outside at traditional Italian-style farm tables, decorated with low glass cube vases resting on vines. The wedding was highlighted with green orchids, purple hydrangeas, and deep garnet asters, but Ginny explains, "We wanted the vineyard to provide the décor, which it did magnificently!"
The focus of this wedding was on fun, which Ginny claims was the best part of the day, and she credits her vendors for making it so. She emphasizes the rewarding results of hiring talented companies and individuals. "Trust them to do what they do best," she advises, so you can enjoy your party. This is what Ginny did with Renee Belgrado, of Fresh Flavors Cake Design. Ginny described exactly what she wanted, and Renee "executed it brilliantly." According to Ginny, Joe, and their wedding guests, the cake was "the most delicious wedding cake ever baked." She and Joe applaud all of their vendors for being professional and helpful. They appreciated that they all offered suggestions and were willing to answer even the silliest questions promptly. They put a lot of trust in the people who helped them, and it paid off in the end.
The "production" that was Ginny and Joe's wedding went off without a hitch. Beyond the fun atmosphere and helpful vendors, they got lucky with perfect weather for their September wedding. Ginny remembers each guest eating, drinking, laughing, and dancing until the wedding was over, but when asked about her favorite part of the fairytale romance, she exclaims, "We got married!"