Nicholas Anthony's Family Kitchen

Rehearsal Dinner

Our Wedding

St Lucy's Roman Catholic Church

Ceremony

Nanina's In The Park

Cocktail Hour

Reception

After a few months of excuses, Alyssa agreed to go on a date with Nick in August of 2020. They bonded over a shared love of hockey at Grasshopper in Morristown before heading off to respective graduate school programs at Lehigh and Boston College. Despite the distance and the challenges of the post COVID world, they continued to talk every single day. Nick finally made it out to Pennsylvania to visit Alyssa in February 2021 and they picked up right where they left off. They planned to meet up again the next time Nick came home, with Nick promising to teach Alyssa to ski. The skiing date is ended with a slight hiccup, with Alyssa winding up on crutches with a torn MCL. Nick, who thought he’d never see Alyssa again after that, was pleasantly relieved when they continued to see each other over breaks and at the end of their semesters. Nick (finally) asked Alyssa to be his girlfriend in June 2021, and they have been inseparable ever since.

The Beginning

Nick and Alyssa spent the next two years traveling between Boston, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to visit each other as much as possible. While it was always sad to say goodbye, the time together was beyond worth it. From Boston excursions (seeing her brother at every Boston trip was an added perk) to weekends at the Jersey Shore to sporting events of all kinds, Nick and Alyssa always had so much fun together.

Long Distance

Nick and Alyssa supported each other through tough years of law school and graduate school respectively. Coupled with the end of long distance, the two were beyond thrilled to stand by each other’s side at graduation in May 2023. This marked not only the next phase of their lives, but a move back to New Jersey meant that they were now living a mere 25 minutes away from each other. Alyssa and Nick navigated the first years of their careers as a school psychologist and law clerk together and still managed to have some fun too. They traveled to friends’ weddings, spent summer weekends in LBI, and of course, went to more hockey games.

The Return to NJ

Alyssa and Nick’s first year in NJ culminated in a two week trip to Italy to explore la patria and visit family. Although Alyssa insisted they would not be getting engaged on that trip, she never would have guessed it would happen shortly after they returned back home.

Italy

Nick popped the question on September 14, 2024 at the park right down the street from Alyssa’s shore house in LBI. Despite Alyssa repeatedly asking Nick when he would propose to her, she was beyond shocked when it happened. Nick pulled off the ultimate surprise with the help of his sister, who got Alyssa down the shore under the guise of a cardboard boat race, and took the beautiful pictures from the day. Alyssa and Nick got right to wedding planning, and can’t wait to celebrate with all of their family and friends in August!

The Engagement

Our Story

Photos

Hannah Ahlgren

Mackenzie Malley

Carolyn Recupero

Lauren Hochberg

Kristen Canavra

Michelle Ebel

John Nativo

Alex Rodriguez

Peter Ciresa

Spiro Bobotsiaris

Anthony DiPasquale

Peter Giokas

Anthony Caccavale

John Bucciarelli

Wedding Party

Q + A

We have a small block of hotel rooms at the Courtyard Marriott in West Orange. Please click the website for a link to the room block. Please note that hotels in the area may be booking quickly due to a wrestling event at MetLife. We recommend booking a hotel as soon as possible if you are coming in from out of town.

Courtyard West Orange

Travel

Branch Brook Park, the nation’s first county park, is located in the North Ward of Newark, between the neighborhoods of Forest Hill and Roseville. A portion of the park is also located within the Township of Belleville. The park is noted for the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States.

Branch Brook Park

The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is built on the highest peak in Newark next to Branch Brook Park. The French Gothic Cathedral covers 45,000 square feet, an area equal to that of London’s Westminster Abbey, and is longer and taller than St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Newark and the Mother Church of the Archdiocese.

Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Also known as “The Rock,” the Prudential Center is home to the New Jersey Devils hockey team and the Seton Hall Pirates, and hosts many concerts and events throughout the year.

Prudential Center

Things to Do

Registry

Alyssa & Nick

Alyssa & Nick

A&N

Our Wedding

3:30 PM–5:00 PM

Ceremony

6:30 PM–7:30 PM

Cocktail Hour

7:30 PM–11:30 PM

Reception