Real Wedding: Beth & Lou
Band: Bruce Saunders Entertainment
Cake: Tracy McHale
Invitations: Village Invites
Photography: Jonathan Young & Michael Webber from Craig Paulson Photography
One of last week's "inspiration" posts gave our readers a sneak peek of the beautiful wedding, submitting to us from Craig Paulson Photography. Click {read more} to see more gorgeous details and learn about Beth & Lou's love story!
It’s understandable why one would think that Beth Schultz and Lou Galli were high school sweethearts. After all, they grew up in the same town of Garden City, NY, graduated from the same school and had plenty of mutual acquaintances. The couple didn’t begin dating, however, until years after high school, and were set up on a blind date while both of them were living in New York City.
The date was set up by Beth’s friend who also knew Lou, and they both brought a healthy dose of nervousness and the normal first-date jitters. There was little to be nervous about though, and the two found they had so much in common and enjoyed sharing stories and laughing through the night. That first date went so well that they decided to go out again the following evening, and even for a third date the next night, too! After taking her mother’s advice to “find someone who makes you laugh,” Beth clearly found Lou to be more than the ideal match.
Perhaps foreshadowing what was to come for the young couple, Lou’s brother had been married earlier that same year to Beth’s old next door neighbor, who shared her same initials, “EAS.” Beth recalls that from the get-go, they joked that she was destined to be the next “EAG” to join the Galli family.
When the time came for Lou to propose to the love of his life, things didn’t turn out exactly the way he had planned, but the result was unforgettable. After planning a romantic weekend in Brooklyn, including a fancy Saturday night dinner which was to be preceeded by the proposal, Lou had picked the ring up that Friday. Beth came in that evening, eagerly awaiting the upcoming weekend, to Lou grinning uncontrollably with excitement. “I should have known something was up,” Beth recalls and was asked by Lou to get something out of his jacket pocket. Beth wrapped her fingers around the little velvet box which happened to hold Lou’s great-grandmother’s diamond and then turned to see Lou on one knee, grinning even more. The couple still spent a romantic weekend together, and were even joined by friends and family to celebrate the engagement.
After renting a summer house for a few years out in Montauk on Long Island, the couple decided it would be a perfect location to hold their nuptials. Wanting a break from the crazy New York City lifestyle, but needing an accessible location to their guests, Lou and Beth couldn’t wait to share the beautiful Montauk with friends and family. The ceremony took place at the Montauk Yacht Club, and the tables were named after famous boats from movies, coming from the yacht club theme and Lou’s love for movies.
Long Island based floral designer, Karen Lenahan was an integral part of making the couple’s wedding exactly what they envisioned. Beth met with the florist at a flower market so they could work out different arrangements with real flowers in front of them. Everyone that attended the wedding had nothing but great things to say about Lenahan’s work, from the bouquets to the center pieces, and the lighting in the tent. Craig Paulson Photography photographers Jonathan Young and Michael Webber, were also a hit, capturing the moment perfectly and taking candid pictures the way the bride and groom love.
There was a lot to remember on a day like that. The excitement and building anticipation leading up to the wedding, making that magical first eye contact in the church, and of course, all the dancing at the reception provided a wonderful day for the newly-weds and their guests. But it was a private moment that Beth and Lou shared, stepping away and taking all the sounds and sights in, that the happily married couple will always remember. Beth and Lou are happy to share some wisdom from their wedding experience. First of all, do what you and your fiance want to do. It’s great to take advice from others and listen to outside opinions, but ultimately the wedding should reflect the bride and groom’s personalities and should be celebrated in a way that they would want to remember. Also, don’t be too stressed out and just take it one thing at a time and to remember that it will all get done eventually. Most importantly, the couple wants to remind future newly-weds to just smile and have fun!