Anthony and Lucille Rizzo certainly exemplify a true local love story.
They grew up around the block from each other in Washington Township and first met in Junior High at Westwood High School. A year apart in age, they remained friends throughout the years and began dating in 11th and 12th grade. They attended each other's proms and dated throughout college. Eventually, they got engaged on a trip to Aruba.
These homegrown kids loved the area, so they bought a home in Park Ridge and were happy to have a place of their own. When it came time to plan their wedding in late August of last year, Anthony and Lucille knew they wanted to keep it close to home. "All our family and friends are in the area, and it felt right to keep things local."
Since Anthony is the publisher of Pascack Valley City Lifestyle, it was even more crucial for the couple to stay within the Pascack Valley community and work with all the local businesses and vendors they had come to know and love.
They discovered the beautiful Old Tappan Manor and immediately booked it for their wedding reception. "It was the perfect venue," says Lucille. With a classic, elegant vibe, it was the perfect locale to be the day's centerpiece, focused on sharing their nearly 14-year relationship with everyone they loved.
Guests marked their calendars for the event with invitations from D'Amore Invitations in Cliffside Park. The bride and groom worked with Lauren of D'Amore Invitations to create the perfect piece, and its elegant gold monogram certainly introduced the celebration with class.
The couple prepared for their big day by taking dance lessons at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Oradell. Guests were blown away at their choreographed first dance to a custom mix of "Thank God" by Kane Brown into "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra. "We couldn't recommend Fred Astaire of Oradell enough to prepare for a special way to impress guests," said Anthony.
Glowing skin is essential for beautiful wedding photos, so the bride and groom planned ahead and prepped for the big day with Bellatrix Med Spa. Both got regular facials, and Lucille loved how facials and dermaplaning services made makeup application seamless on the wedding day.
Wedding bands were selected at La Mirage Jewelers in Park Ridge. The groom selected a two-tone band featuring both gold and white gold accents, while the bride went with eternity bands. George at La Mirage was a pleasure to work with and ensured the couple's rings fit perfectly.
The night before the wedding, Lucille enjoyed a pre-wedding blowout and a few relaxing moments with her mom at Polished Pub in Park Ridge. Natalie from Polished Pub also provided the bride with hair touch-ups on-site at Old Tappan Manor to keep the bride's hair looking picture-perfect all night long!
The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Mercy in Park Ridge. Its gorgeous stained-glass windows and high ceilings were the perfect scene for their heartfelt ceremony, and the magnificent ballroom and grounds at Old Tappan Manor were the ideal backdrop for the party to follow. Transportation was provided by The Good Life Transportation Company, which included a classic white Rolls Royce equipped with a red carpet and Champagne for the bride and groom, along with a party bus to accommodate the entire bridal party.
The bride was dressed by BelFiore Bridal Boutique in Maywood. She wore a gorgeous Allure Couture gown accompanied by an overskirt for the ceremony. Her something "old" was a veil passed down for generations in her family. It was first worn by her great-grandmother and made of hand-sewn lace. Jewelry included a bracelet from Red Carpet Rocks in Westwood.
Carolyn's Makeup Artistry in Washington Township provided the bridal prep, including hair and makeup. They offer both in-studio and on-site services, and the bride took advantage of the professional studio atmosphere. "It was perfect," says Lucille. "Gorgeous florals line the walls, and the swing backdrop makes it fit for a princess. It was the most amazing place to get ready. Their staff did a fantastic job. Everyone's hair and makeup looked gorgeous and lasted all day long!
The groom was dressed by Sal Lauretta for Men in Midland Park. He wore a custom black tuxedo with a "Tom Ford"-style bowtie. His custom shirt was embroidered with his initials, making it extra special. "I felt like a million bucks on my special day," said Anthony. "The entire experience at Sal Lauretta was incredible—from start to finish. It was truly first class."
Bridesmaids wore black Allure dresses from BelFiore Bridal Boutique, and groomsmen wore black tuxedos rented from Formals Only Tuxedos in Westwood. Classic elegance prevailed, and the black tuxes helped to create an authentic statement look.
The gorgeous florals by Yumila Floral Designs in Paramus were spectacular. The bride carried an all-white rose bouquet complemented by the bridal party's combination of white roses and hydrangeas and the groom's rose boutonniere. Floral arrangements at the church and venue were all white, keeping the classic, elegant look.
Angela Marchese, BelFiore Bridal Boutique owner, also served as the couple's day-of event coordinator. "Not only is her shop the perfect place to find your dress, but her services for day-of coordination were amazing! She made the day flow perfectly. It was worth every penny to take the stress off the family so we could relax and enjoy! Our day would not have been the same without Angela there," stated Lucille.
Entertainment for the night was provided by POSH DJs. The guests danced the night away to music from Posh DJ Andrew, who also brought a live saxophone player for musical accompaniment! Additional entertainment was provided by " The New Blue Eyes" of Dom Carbone, who performed music from Sinatra and similar genres while guests enjoyed dinner.
Guests were enamored by the custom marquee from Marquee and Drops NJ featuring "The Rizzos," which stood front and center in front of the DJ booth. The light-up sign provided a beautiful backdrop for guests to enjoy throughout the night—and created an unforgettable photo op!
A live painting of the wedding night was captured by The Wedding Artist, Linda Panikowski, featuring a pose from the couple's first dance. Not only did they get a beautiful piece to display in their home, but guests were able to enjoy the live entertainment of the painting being created throughout the night.
CxB Design tied the event together with an amazing life-size seating chart, along with a custom-created photo table featuring "generations of love," signature drink signs, a card box, table numbers, menus, and programs.
The images of the day were captured by John Jae Photo & Video, who created a beautiful wedding video, highlight video, and teaser video for the couple to remember their day. All angles were captured—from bride and groom prep to the close of the reception. There was even drone footage of the church and venue!
Anj Photographer, LLC made every moment picture-perfect. From morning prep to the end of the evening, every detail was framed to create lifelong memories. Anthony and Lucille enjoyed going through the huge selection of prints and choosing their favorites for albums and framing.
The flowers from the wedding day were too beautiful not to keep forever! Luckily the bride was able to do so thanks to Flohral Preservation. Flohral Preservation created stunning resin pieces to preserve the wedding florals, including a monogrammed hexagon of the bride's bouquet, a jewelry dish, a ring holder, and a block featuring the groom's boutonniere.
Last but certainly not least, guests left the party with custom cookies freshly baked by Treat Me Sweet Cookies featuring the wedding monogram as their favor. The cookies were the "talk of the evening" and beautifully decorated each table setting. And, they were delicious, too!
Celebrating the day with family, friends, and the professional services of local businesses checked every box for the couple. "Our local celebration of love served as a timeless reminder that in our community, joy, and togetherness are forever intertwined" said Anthony.
So here's to love, laughter, and a lifetime of happiness in our own backyard. In every "I do," our community grows a little warmer, a little closer, and a lot more joyful. Cheers to this couple and their love that's grown locally—here in the Pascack Valley!"
VENDORS
Anj Photographer, LLC anjphotographer@gmail.com 201-638-4633 www.anjphotographer.com @AnjPhotographer
BelFiore Bridal Boutique Belfiorebb@gmail.com 201-870-1292 www.belfiorebridalboutique.com @belfiorebridalboutqiue
Bellatrix Med Spa Bellatrixmedspa@yahoo.com 201-210-8999 www.Bellatrixinjectibles.com @bellatrix_injectables
Carolyn's Makeup Artistry Carolynmua@gmail.com 201-965-3710 www.CarolynsMakeupArtistry.com @CarolynsMakeupArtistry
Cxb.Design info@cynthiabattagliadesign.com 201.815.0215 www.cynthiabattagliadesign.com @cxb.design
D’Amore Invitations Sales@damoreinvitations.com www.invitationsbydamore.com @damoreinvitations
Flohral Preservation floralpres@gmail.com 845-290-1072 www.flohralpreservation.com @flohral_preservation
Formals Only Tuxedos rc.formalsonly@verizon.net 201-722-1700 www.formalsonly.biz
Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Oradell nazcona@fredastaire.com 201-265-6100 www.fredastaire.com/oradell @fadsoradell
John Jae Photo & Video Johnjaephotovideo@gmail.com 201-338-0634 www.johnjaephotovideo.com @johnjaephotovideo
La Mirage Jewelers Hello@lamiragejewelers.com 201- 489-3984 www.lamiragejewelers.com @lamiragejewelers
Marquee and Drops NJ marqueeanddropsnj@gmail.com 973-936-8877 www.marqueeanddropsnj.com @marqueeanddropsnj
Old Tappan Manor martin@oldtappan.com 201-768-3292 www.oldtappanmanor.com @oldtappanmanor
Polished pub Natalie@polishedpub.com 201-743-3670 www.polishedpub.com @polishedpub
POSH DJs info@POSHDJs.com 855-767-4368 www.POSHDJs.com @POSHDJs
Sal Lauretta for Men 201-444-1666 www.sallauretta.com IG. @sallaurettas
FB. Sal Lauretta for men.
The Good Life Transportation Company david@thegoodlifelimobus.com 201-497-6628 www.thegoodlifelimobus.com @thegoodlifelimobusinsta
The New Blue Eyes Newblueeyes1@gmail.com 201-310-0537 @newblue_eyes
The Wedding Artist info@theweddingartist.org 860-919-3546 www.TheWeddingArtist.org @ctweddingartist/The Wedding Artist on IG
@theweddingartist on TikTok
Treat Me Sweet Cookies Justine@treatmesweetcookies.com 201-962-0323 www.treatmesweetcookies.com IG: @treat_me_sweet_cookies
FB Treat Me Sweet Cookies
Yumila Wedding and Events Floral Design yumilaweddings@gmail.com 201-519-4656 www.Yumilaflowers.com @yumilasfloraldesigns