Samantha & Dan | The West Events

Meet Samantha and Dan, whose marriage came out of unexpected connections!

Back in February 2020, they were introduced by a mutual friend, but turns out, they shared a history long before that…

Growing up in the same city, Samantha and Dan’s paths were intertwined ever since they were 5 years old. They attended the same schools, from elementary to high school, and shared some of the same friends. They even ran on the same track team. But they never officially met because Dan was a grade above Samantha.

Fast forward to a casual invite to a bar in Hell’s Kitchen by Samantha’s high school and Dan’s then-roommate. That was the moment their stars aligned!

So their wedding at The West Events was a true reflection of their journey. It was industrial, chic, carefree, and so much fun. Read on to check out more details about their wedding and learn more about how they planned their wedding!

Behind The Veil: A Closer Look at Samantha and Dan’s Wedding!

Tell me about the proposal!

Dan’s sister and brother-in-law gave us a sailing trip for two that they won at a gold tournament since they were going to be out of town. That seemed like a great proposal setup, but I didn’t think it was going to happen since his own sister was going to be away. So once the day came, I wasn’t expecting anything.

At one point during the trip, the captain told us to go to the bow of the ship to look at the pier. And Dan proposed! The captain even played our song, Tennessee Whiskey, during the proposal. And the first mate was actually our photographer.

After our photo session and a little more sailing, Dan took us to his parents’ house where he surprised me with a small engagement party! My closest friends, sister, cousin, and second mom flew in to surprise me. It was a magical day!

What was the most memorable part of your wedding day?

How perfect it all felt. As a planner myself, I was nervous I would get wrapped up in the details the day of the wedding and not be able to let go. But nothing mattered to me except marrying Dan that day. I felt so carefree and didn’t have a worry in the world! 

Why did you select your venue?

I loved the industrial vibes. Since we met in NY, we loved that the reception had white brick. The location was also perfect. Most of our family had to fly in from out of town, so it was a way to give them a mini vacation!

What did you splurge on?

The band. It was worth every penny?

What did you save on?

The favors! We made them ourselves.

Did you include any special family traditions or moments with your family?

My mom passed away in 2020, so I had a seat reserved for her in the front row with a custom sign and a bouquet of flowers. I also had her picture at the entrance of the ceremony so my dad and I could kiss her before walking down the aisle.

Why did you want to hire Socialite Events?

I wanted to have a carefree wedding day and I knew Stephanie and her team would allow me to have that. Having someone take care of the logistics the day of my wedding — someone I could trust to make my vision come to life — was so important. It really allowed me to enjoy the moment!

What advice would you give to couples planning a wedding?

Don’t think about what’s expected of you. Do what you want and what’s important to you as a couple. Also, don’t try and save on every small item or DIY everything. This usually leads to more stress. Lastly, enjoy the moment because it goes by fast!

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Vendors

Venue: The West Events

Caterer: Catering by the Family 

Napkins: BBJ

Personal Florals: Emerald Gardenia

Ceremony: Reception Floral Emerald Gardenia

Linens: Over the Top

Band: No Filter Band 

Videography: Priceless Studio Design

Photography: Catrina Ann Photo

Cake: Sweet Divas

Hair and Makeup Bride: Brides by Kelly Anne

Hair and Makeup Bridal Party: Brides by Kelly Anne

Ceremony Music: No Filter Band 

Transportation: Star Trolley