Expert Planning & Advice

Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary | Tatiyana + Noel

BWE Weddings, LBI Weddings

February 10, 2022

Tatiyana and Noel met in NYC while waiting on line for a club on Halloween in 2009. Both wearing costumes. Noel began chatting with Tatiyana, clearly smitten, and she responded by asking if his Irish accent was real. The rest was really quite simple. Their’s is a simple story about how you can find your happiness, by simply being at the right place, at the right time. Flash forward to 2020 (what turned into 2021), and Tatiyana and Noel decided it was a great time to renew their wedding vows by having a Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary celebration in their happy place, LBI.

Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary | Tatiyana + Noel

I still remember Tatiyana’s first phone call with me to begin planning a Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary. This was in a pre-zoom world. We talked about her plans and she told me about herself and Noel. Both American immigrants, Tatyana came to NYC in her teens from Russia. Noel came later from Ireland. She talked to me about their two boys. And she told me how they had eloped in NYC. She told me about how it was her dream to plan a celebration with their families traveling in from all corners of the world to celebrate their tenth anniversary. I suggested she check out 101 Centre Street and Brant Beach Yacht Club. She called me back a few days later to let me know she had booked both. And we hit the ground running. 101 Centre Street would become the “hub” for activity for the weekend of events, like home base or “party central” and Brant Beach Yacht Club would be where they would renew their vows and celebrate with all of their family and friends.

And then COVID hit. Tatiyana were forced to postpone their celebration and instead of celebrating their tenth anniversary, they celebrated in June of 2021 for their 11th wedding anniversary. While the postponement created a few bittersweet moments, the weekend was full of amazing moments.

The Night Before

As a wedding planner, it takes a lot to really get me emotional (ok, I lie, I cry during every first dance and every father-daughter dance). Tatiyana and Noel had me going for an entire weekend. The night they arrived in LBI, they gathered their family for a photoshoot in front of 101 Centre Street and on the beach. They then celebrated with a small family dinner at Bird and Bettys. And the toasts! I didn’t realize it, but this was just the beginning of my Russian and Irish toasting education. The laughs. The tears. The smiles. After a long year of lockdowns and small celebrations, it warmed the heart.

The Vow Renewal & Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary

The next night was the Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary celebration. I may have had a moment listening them renew their vows. Both of them had sent them to me ahead of time and so I was prepared. I knew what they were going to say. And still! I was hand-to-the heart chocked up! Tatiyana being walked down the aisle by her two boys. Aunt Lucy’s amazing job as officiant. The sprinkle of rain (and my clear umbrellas to the rescue). didn’t dampen a single spirit and allowed the tears of happiness to simply blend in. Seriously, I don’t think anyone minded the spritzing of rain. The moment Tatiyana told Noel, “You are my Christmas.” All. The. Feels.

The reception was full of great food, gorgeous flowers and their family and friends. I have to say, I can not wait to mix navy and white striped linens with gold accents and hot pink again! After what seemed like an eternity of blush weddings, this color palette was to die for! The circle arch from Rustic Drift overflowing with the most amazing florals from Wildflower Farm Florals. The Roving Bar serving Prosecco, Rose and sparkling lemonade for the kids. And while Noel’s family was still on lockdown in Ireland and unable to attend, they had letters to read and more toasts sent from afar. There was the VW Booth Bus for photos. And there was a lot of dancing, followed by vodka, followed by Russian dancing and more vodka.

The BBQ

In an effort to bring a little Ireland to LBI, Tatiyana had a surprise for Noel. The Russian dancing form the night before would, perhaps, be outdone by the Irish dancing at the BBQ the next day. Without telling Noel, we arranged for a group of young ladies from an Irish dancing school, Devon Academy, come the next afternoon to preform at the afternoon BBQ at 101 Centre Street. And it was, hands down, the best thing ever. No BBQ would be complete without a family organized skit to surprise the couple of honor and a game show with the answers judged by the kids. You tell me who won? I think it will be a hotly debated outcome for years to come.

One Thing is Not in Doubt… And This is “Life-Lesson” Huge, My Friends….

This couple, this family… they are the goal. This weekend is what life is all about. Life may not be perfect, but it is worth celebrating. Every single special moment. If we learned nothing else the past few years, we have learned that! I had no idea when we began working together how much I would enjoy collaborating with Tatiyana and Noel, and their family. I had no idea how long it would take to get them over the finish line. But we did it. And I couldn’t be more proud of the seamless planning pulled off for these two wonderful people, their children, family and friends!

Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary | The Creative Team

I hope you enjoy looking at these family photos from Tatiyana and Noel’s Brant Beach Yacht Club Wedding Anniversary taken by Alex Rivera at Ann Coen Studios. They depict the kinds of heirloom photos that will become the moments this sweet family looks back on and remembers this weekend that they will never forget. If you are obsessed with vow renewals, check out this surprise party vow renewal and reception in North Beach. And, one of my favorite events, the Vacation-versary celebration at the LBI Historical Society in Beach Haven.