Real {New York} Wedding: Martine + Nicola

Martine and Nicola had what you might call a “whirlwind wedding” – literally. The original wedding they had planned was trashed by last year’s Hurricane Irene, but they persevered. Their story proves that, wonderful though a wedding may be, it is the real love and committment behind it that truly counts.

Enjoy these images captured by Gabriela Fuentes of The Wedding Central.

The Bride: Martine Pierre
The Groom: Nicola Stefanovic
The Wedding Date: August 29, 2011
The Location: Ceremony – Harlem, NY; Reception – Scarpina, New York City

The Story:

“On August 29, 2011, I got married in a church Harlem NYC in front a hand full of my family and friends.  See, our original wedding date was August 28; however, Hurricane Irene and God had other plans.

Engaged for 4 years and in a long distance relationship [Nicola was in Milwaukee and Nicola in NYC] , our love from the start can only described in one word, “challenging”. Our relationship started while in my second year in college. Nicola proposed the day after Valentine’s Day in 2006 right before graduation.

 We finally settled on a date last year, August 28. After a year of blissful planning, everything came to a screeching halt when, 48 hours before our wedding, Hurricane Irene forced our wedding to be canceled. Our love for each other kept us sane during the process, God gave me strength to go on and my wedding planner and supportive family helped us keep it [together]. We had an amazing impromptu wedding the next day on Monday, August 29. We went from [the planned] New Jersey ballroom wedding with 120 guests to a New York City chic wedding at a local restaurant downtown with 77 guests. Sadly, the hurricane canceled flights so Nicola’s family and best man weren’t able to attend the wedding.

The day of the wedding, the only thing we knew for certain was that we were taking some photos in Union Square. At this point, we didn’t have a vision, we just wanted to be married! [Likewise,] I had no idea what the restaurant [for the reception] looked like; however, when we got there, it was so contemporary and modern it fit our new theme perfectly…..Our trust was solely on God and our amazing wedding planner.”

Martine and Nicola, congratulations!!! You two have demonstrated that you can stick together through life’s storms and that’s exactly what marriage is about. May you continually hold onto each other through the highs and lows that life brings your way. You are special!

Vendors

Shoes: Kate Spade
Dress: Kenneth Pool
Veil: Custom-made
Bridesmaid Dress: Jim Hjelm and Belsoie
Wedding Planner: My Bridal Budget
Photographer: The Wedding Central
Reception: Scarpina Bar and Grill Restaurant
Church: Grace Church

Click any thumbnail below to view the entire gallery:

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