March 24, 2012
Jennifer Knestrick and Jessica Nacinovich met while working together on a promotional tour for the Off-Broadway play The Karaoke Show back in 2003 and have been, they say, “inseparable ever since.”
Fast-forward eight years to November 15, 2011—Jessica’s birthday. The couple were dining at the famously romantic One if by Land, Two if by Sea restaurant in Manhattan when Jessica surprised Jen by proposing to her. Jennifer had her own surprise: She, too, had bought a ring, and, the following day, she returned Jessica’s gesture by giving her a band of her own.
Having waited long enough to be legally married in New York, they didn’t want to further delay their nuptials and decided upon March 24, 2012, for their wedding date.
Says Jessica: “We fell completely in love with our venue, Buttermilk Falls Inn in Milton, New York,” where they planned an outside cere-mony on a grassy field overlooking the historic Hudson River; the spot is appropriately named “Lover’s Leap.”
The reception was held at the Inn’s restaurant, Henry’s Farm to Table, which captured the rustic, nature-inspired theme that they were looking for, with an organic menu that suited the spring season.
The couple wrote their ceremony themselves, vows included. They also passed around their rings in a basket, and each guest was asked to say a word or two about the couple and what they wished for them in the future. Later, they opted to add that extra special personal touch of serving their cake to their guests themselves.
Both women wore floor-length gowns. Jennifer went for a more classic look, pairing a tiered lace white dress from BCBGMaxAzria with a sapphire necklace and tan suede platform heels. Jessica chose an oyster-colored gown from AllSaints, paired with a suede jacket and brown leather boots that she borrowed from her best friend. In keeping with their theatrical backgrounds and to commemorate how they first met, the entertainment for the evening was karaoke.
The entire wedding-planning process embodied a “show must go on philosophy,” Jennifer says, which went smoother with the help of their florist and designer extraordinaire, Ned Kelly & Company of Piermont. Jessica says he was able “to turn our nonsensical ramblings into something so beautiful.”
Resource Guide:
Photography: Steven Planck, Blue Sky Photography, 400 Market Street, Industrial Park, Suite #32, Wappingers Falls (845) 473-7192; blueskyphotographyny.com. Ceremony and Reception Venue: Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa, 220 North Rd, Milton (845) 795-1310; buttermilkfallsinn.com. Cake: Corsino Cakes, 2653 E Main St, Wappingers Falls (845) 632-6300; corsinocakes.com. Flowers & Event Design: Ned Kelly & Company, 458 Piermont Ave, Piermont (845) 359-4480; nedkellyandco.com. Jennifer’s Dress: BCBGMaxAzria; bcbg.com. Jessica’s Dress: AllSaints; us.allsaints.com. Bridal Hair/Makeup: Stella Sensel; stellasmakeup.com. Ceremony Music: Juliana Riccardi Music Group; julianariccardimusicgroup.com. Karaoke MC: Brandon Bain Entertainment Services; djbrandohn@gmail.com. Invitations: Vistaprint; vistaprint.com.
