A Colorful, Classic Wedding at Bridgeview Yacht Club in Island Park, New York

Maura Feil (29 and works in marketing) and Steven Nevolis (28 and a lawyer) planned a classic fete with a bright, cheerful palette of red, pink and navy for their fall wedding in Maura’s hometown of Island Park, New York. The pair said “I do” in the same church that Maura’s parents had been married in, the vaulted ceilings and impressive stained glass providing a striking backdrop for the intimate affair. Violet & Verde created two striking arrangements of greenery and full pink florals to frame the aisle, and the St. Raymond’s Folk Group filled the air with ceremony classics such as Pachebel’s “Canon in D” and Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” After the ceremony, the newlyweds made their exit from the church under a canopy of bubbles and hopped aboard a white trolley that escorted them to Bridgeview Yacht Club for the reception. “For the convenience of our guests, we narrowed our reception choices to locations in close proximity to the church,” Maura says. “We loved Bridgeview Yacht Club’s waterfront setting and classic decor and had a great experience there previously as wedding guests.” Cocktail hour unfolded in a lounge that opened up onto Bridgeview’s dock. Guests sipped on seasonal libations, including a cider spritzer, and indulged in pulled-pork sliders and mac and cheese, while a live pianist played. Dinner saw Maura and Steven’s vision come to life, with lush garden-inspired centerpieces, striped linens, gold-foil stationery and flickering votive candles in mercury-glass holders bringing the elegant ballroom to life. A live band took over after the meal, filling the venue with upbeat tunes that got guests up and dancing. “A crowd favorite was the band’s Michael Jackson medley,” Maura says. A tip from Maura: “Many venues in our area handle major details like catering, which can be a deterrent for a couple concerned that their day won’t reflect their personal style. In our case, choosing a more full-service venue allowed us to focus time and budget on the smaller, personal details that were meaningful to us as a couple and made our day special for guests. —Libby MacCarthy