El Vez NYC at the Conrad Downtown

Rehearsal/Welcome Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

The View at Battery Park

Our Wedding

They grew up living on the same street - Middle Road - in neighboring towns in Suffolk County, Long Island; Tessa in Bayport and Connor in Blue Point. Although they did not attend school together (or so they thought), Tessa and Connor first remember meeting during the awkwardness of their middle school years through mutual friends. Tessa and Connor both grew up as the middle child&nbsp;of three. Their families belonged to the same church, Our Lady of the Snow in Blue Point, and both spent summers at Davis Park, a small beach town on Fire Island, where Tessa and Connor became friends. Years later, with their awkward days behind them, Tessa and Connor reconnected at Davis Park during the summer of 2014, just after graduating college. Tessa was making ends meet nannying in the city, and Connor had a summer job promoting Bud Light on the weekends. Tessa was unsurprised to run into Connor at the Casino Bar, remembering the many summers of seeing each other around at the beach before they were of drinking age. She declined his free beer offer, but offered her phone number, and Connor saved her contact as "Tessa - Drinks Corona." The two spent the rest of the summer making weekend plans in Montauk and Fire Island, and in the fall they both moved out 'on their own,' (with roommates) to their first apartments in New York City. They didn't know it yet, but they would never spend another summer apart. As the seasons changed, things got serious. Before making it official, Connor warned Tessa that he, 'wasn't as handsome when his summer tan faded.' When it came time to meet the family, Tessa boasted her cooking skills inviting Connor for dinner with the Vatalaro's a la Pesce Punttanesca. Connor hated it (the fish), but braved through making an inside joke out of 'olive fish,' that sticks to this day. At the time of her introduction to the Dugan's, Tessa's future mother in-law immediately recognized the last name Vatalaro, and proceeded to go searching for a pre-school class photo from Tiny Tots. It turns out Tessa and Connor really did go way back, all the way to '96. Despite being in each other's&nbsp;lives for what seems like forever, Tessa and Connor's coming together was entirely unexpected. Looking back now, they realize how little they really knew each other as 22 year old 'kids.' Their love and support for one another would endure in the years that followed, as Tessa and Connor figured out who and what they wanted to be as they 'grew up.' While working their&nbsp;city jobs, Connor went on to obtain his charter as a financial analyst (CFA), and Tessa went back to graduate school at NYU for her master's in social work (MSW). After a few years of cheering each other on from the sidelines (and one year of living together with Connors roommates -- with only one bathroom!) they decided to find a place to call home together. Since then they have continued to grow in life and in love, learning to compromise (negotiated closet&nbsp;space) and support each other in good times and in bad. Through difficult transitions and exciting new beginnings, Tessa and Connor's lives became more meaningful than ever, together. In 2020, the year that taught us all so much, they realized their love had passed the test. After 6 summers together in their favorite place, on September 6, 2020, Connor (finally) asked Tessa to marry him in their favorite place; Davis Park. The beach was empty and the sun was just about to set, and shortly after popping the question both of their families joined them to pop champagne.

Tessa and Connor go way back...

Our Story

Spend the weekend in the city with us!

Blocks of rooms are reserved for wedding guests at the New York Marriott Downtown and the Doubletree by Hilton. Both hotels are within walking distance to our wedding venue,The View at Battery Park. The Doubletree by Hilton is the closer of the two options. If you are not familiar with downtown Manhattan - or just don't feel like walking - we recommend using Uber or Lyft, or hailing a cab like a true New Yorker!

New York Marriott Downtown

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown

Travel

All the things Tessa loves in one place, featuring waterfront shopping, dining, and a DryBar! #TreatYourself :)

Brookfield Place

Some of our favorite pizza in lower Manhattan, Adrienne's Pizzabar is located on Stone Street - a buzzing historic block of restaurants and bars offering outdoor dining.

Tessa & Connor

Tessa & Connor

Travel

Spend the weekend in the city with us!

New York Marriott Downtown

DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown