Quinn and Jack wanted to get out of New York City without asking everyone they loved to actually leave it. They found their answer on Staten Island, where historic architecture and sprawling gardens gave their Snug Harbor wedding the breezy, old-world atmosphere they had been picturing, just 45 minutes from Midtown.

They planned the celebration themselves, down to the invitations, programs, menus, and place cards. Guests arrived to champagne before a ceremony filled with cheering and laughter, followed by a jazz trio in the Tuscan Garden and a reception where the dance floor filled before dinner was even served.

That easygoing energy suited Quinn and Jack, whose relationship started with much the same thing: having fun together. They met in college as students in the same program and quickly became friends. “We initially were drawn to each other because of our humor and how much we laughed together,” they share. “Soon after that, we realized that we were growing to be more than friends, and the rest is history.”

Years later, that shared sense of humor and the people they enjoy being around influenced the way they approached their wedding, from choosing vendors they genuinely liked spending time with to creating a ceremony where no one had to be too quiet or formal.

What We Love About This Snug Harbor Wedding

• A garden setting that gave NYC guests a destination feel without the travel
• Champagne handed to guests as they arrived for the ceremony
• Custom wedding looks inspired by Quinn and Jack’s theater backgrounds
• A jazz trio playing standards during cocktail hour in the Tuscan Garden
• DIY stationery and paper details designed by the couple themselves

Featured Vendor:
26 & Modern

Finding An Escape From NYC That Guests Could Actually Get To

Living in New York City made convenience important, but Quinn and Jack didn’t necessarily want their wedding to look or operate like a city wedding. They were drawn instead to historic spaces, greenery, earth tones, and the ease of an outdoor garden party. Celebrating at Snug Harbor offered both sides of that equation. “It was only a 45 minute drive from midtown, yet when in the gardens, it felt like you could be in Tuscany,” they explain.

The venue’s all-inclusive setup helped on the practical side, too. Their package covered the event spaces, catering, open bar, furniture, linens, and glassware, leaving Quinn and Jack to decide where the rest of their budget would make the biggest difference.

Browns, tans, burgundies, and plenty of greenery worked with the existing setting. With much of the venue infrastructure already covered, they were able to make florals their second-largest expense and save elsewhere by handling many of the smaller details themselves. 

Taking Most Of Their Portraits Before The Ceremony Gave Them Their Night Back

Quinn and Jack chose to do a first look for a practical reason: they didn’t want to disappear for photos once their guests arrived. “We wanted to be able to take most of our pictures pre-ceremony so that once the festivities began we could just enjoy it, and we’re SO GLAD we did.”

Finishing most of their portraits early also gave them pockets of quiet time together before the celebration picked up. Once the ceremony began, there was very little pulling them away from it. “We got to share plenty of calm, non-rushed moments together during the day so we could be fully present all night and not have to be whisked away.”

Champagne And Cheering Set The Tone Before The Ceremony Even Started

Guests arrived at the ceremony to a welcome pour of champagne, which turned out to be a fitting introduction to what followed. There was little of the usual quiet formality as the processional began. Guests cheered for every person coming down the aisle, and the laughter and applause continued through the ceremony itself.

“The ceremony was both of our favorite parts of the day, because it felt fun!” Quinn and Jack share. “People cheered as every single person in our processional walked down the aisle, and the smiles and laughter and cheering continued throughout the entire ceremony.”

Rather than trying to manufacture that energy, the couple had made room for it. Guests already had a drink in hand, everyone knew one another a little better after the previous evening, and the ceremony could simply unfold from there.

Planning Everything Themselves Made The Details More Specific

Quinn and Jack didn’t hire a full-service planner. Instead, they sourced vendors, handled the details, and spent plenty of time making things themselves. “We did all of it ourselves! It certainly was a lot of work, but we had a blast pouring our time into the day and making it exactly like we imagined.”

That included their save-the-dates, invitation suites, programs, table numbers, place cards, welcome signage, and menus. They chose the colors, fonts, shapes, and finishing details together, giving even the smaller pieces a clear connection to the rest of the celebration.

Their vendor search was similarly hands-on. Some recommendations came through Snug Harbor’s preferred vendor list, including local florist Flora & Dean. Others, including Junebug vendor 26 & Modern, cocktail hour musicians, and DJ, came from online research and friends. Their deciding factor wasn’t limited to portfolios or pricing. “We’re going to be spending the most important day of our lives with these people; we want to make sure we can have fun with them!”

Their Theater Backgrounds Made Wedding Fashion A Little More Fun

Both Quinn and Jack come from the theater world, and their wedding clothes gave them a chance to pull from that background without turning the day into a costume.

Quinn worked with Brooks-Masline Costumes in Jersey City on a custom two-piece look. Inspiration images called for dainty details and dramatic draping, which the costume shop translated into an outfit made specifically for him. Jack went in a different direction with a retro-inspired Suitsupply look: a double-breasted ivory suit paired with wide, pleated trousers.

Everything else stayed simple. They opted for natural makeup and styled their own hair, keeping the grooming close to how they normally look.

Moving The Speeches To The Rehearsal Dinner Kept The Reception Moving

The wedding weekend began with a seated but casual rehearsal dinner for around 40 family members and close friends. Rather than saving most of the speeches for the reception, Quinn and Jack held them the night before. It also made room for a tradition from Jack’s family. His parents and siblings each wrote and recited poems, something the family has long done for important life events.

After dinner, the group grew larger with a welcome gathering for out-of-town guests at the hotel. Quinn and Jack opened a tab at the bar and put out appetizers and small bites, giving everyone a chance to mingle before the next day’s Snug Harbor wedding.

There Was No Waiting Around For The Party To Start

Quinn and Jack describe their friends as energetic, outgoing, funny, and ready to celebrate. Apparently, they were also unwilling to wait for the traditional reception timeline. “Before entrees were even served the dance floor was full!”

For all the work that went into planning the day, one of the images they remember most clearly required no setup at all. During their first dance, Quinn and Jack stopped for a moment and looked out at the people surrounding them. “We both paused for a moment to look out at the sea of smiling people who we adored. We’ll remember that image forever.”

Knowing When To Stop Planning And Let The Day Happen

After planning the wedding themselves, Quinn and Jack eventually had to hand over the details they had spent months controlling. Their venue’s day-of coordinator took over the logistics and made sure people and pieces were where they needed to be. “Once you arrive on the day of, there’s really only so much you can do to control it all,” they say. “You just have to trust the preparation you put into the day, let go, and be along for the journey.”

Their advice for other couples follows the same logic. Planning matters, but not every small decision deserves the same amount of energy. “What I had to remind myself was, ‘at the end of the day, it’s just a party with people we love!’ All the little details beyond that aren’t as important as they may have felt while planning.”

For a Snug Harbor wedding with custom clothes, handmade paper goods, abundant greenery, champagne, jazz, and months of DIY work behind it, that might be the most useful detail to borrow: put in the work beforehand, then give yourself permission to actually attend your own party.