‘Golden Bachelor’ Couple Divorcing After 3 Months of MarriageIt’s sad news for fans of the Golden Bachelor.
Jersey girl Theresa Nist and Indiana retiree Gerry Turner are divorcing after just three months of marriage.
“Theresa and I have had a number of heart-to-heart conversations, and we’ve looked closely at our situation, our living situation, so forth and—and we’ve kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it’s probably time for us to—dissolve our marriage,” Gerry said on Good Morning America on Friday in a joint interview with Theresa.
Theresa, 70, and Gerry, 72, were the Bachelor franchise’s first senior-aged couple, turning to the show to find love after each lost their spouse in recent years.
Friday’s divorce announcement comes as a surprise to the fans who cheered on the likable duo, who found love again later in life.
New Jersey Bride conducted an interview with Theresa in March, where she talked about falling in love on TV and making their relationship work off camera, and didn’t hint of an impending split.
Photo: Courtesy of Disney/John & Joseph Photography
Since their January 4 wedding, which was televised for ABC at La Quinta Resort & Club in California, the newlyweds have been in a long-distance relationship, with Gerry living in Indiana and Theresa in New Jersey. She told us in March that they were still figuring out where to settle down, but that they were considering either New Jersey or the Charleston, South Carolina area.
“There’s a lot going on here and he sees the advantage of that,” said Theresa, who was born in Jersey City and lived in Bayonne and Cranford before moving to Shrewsbury 14 years ago. “You don’t realize how much you love New Jersey until you think, oh, I might be moving. New Jersey’s great. Everybody should know that.”
Deciding to go on reality TV was somewhat of an experiment for Theresa. “Never in my life did I ever expect to be on reality TV,” she told New Jersey Bride. With encouragement from her daughter, Theresa filled out the application for the inaugural season of Golden Bachelor. “I think my mindset was: I’m going to be 70. What the heck?…Let me see what happens.”
To stand out from her 21 fellow contestants, including two others from New Jersey, Theresa made a memorable first impression by revealing her “birthday suit” (a nude-colored outfit) to Gerry. In this silly moment, Theresa was instantly drawn to him. “I really felt an immediate connection,” she previously told us.
As the season progressed, their bond grew stronger. Their main link was that both of their previous spouses, who they were each married to for more than 40 years, had passed away.
During Thersa’s hometown date on the show, she revealed that she had not introduced any man to her family since losing her husband. Her two sisters, daughter, son-in-law and three grandsons, “warmly welcomed us,” said Theresa. “Like, as if they knew Gerry all their lives…They could see me just light up when I was with him and they just felt that we had such a strong connection and that we felt so comfortable with each other.”
On Friday, the couple said they still love each other and that they remain “best friends.” Theresa emphasized that she doesn’t want anyone looking for a partner later in life to be discouraged because of their breakup. “We have received so much love and support from so many people who watched ‘The Golden Bachelor,’ and I don’t think we can tell you how many people told us that it gave them so much hope,” she said. “We want none of that to change for anybody.”
They both said they’ll continue to (separately) try to find love.
They have a prenuptial agreement.
Julie Gordon contributed to this report.
The post ‘Golden Bachelor’ Couple Divorcing After 3 Months of Marriage appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Why This NJ Couple Opted for a Joint Bachelor and Bachelorette PartyAt the time of our engagement, I watched as my wife took on many of her checklist items while my list as the groom-to-be paled in comparison. That’s how the idea of a joint bachelor and bachelorette party came to be for us. We originally had plans for separate parties at different locations but we eventually settled on driving down to Ocean City, Maryland, for a weekend getaway.
Both my wife and I were born and bred in New Jersey and attended Rutgers University and Rowan University, respectively. This is the place where we are choosing to raise our family. We saw this moment, though, as an opportunity to take our plans outside the Garden State with our closest friends.
After all, we were able to secure a five-room house along a river for all 12 of our friends plus the two of us to comfortably spend the weekend. With that amount of people, it became a super affordable option. One note when dealing with a group of this size: consider carpooling if possible.
As someone who likes to plan everything ahead, here are the reasons I presented this idea to my wife-to-be.
[RELATED: The Ultimate New Jersey Bachelorette Party Guide]
It’s One Less Thing to Worry About
Nowadays, brides and grooms are often involved in the planning process of their own bachelor and bachelorette parties. It’s just one more thing on the plate of the future couple. By combining our separate parties into one extravaganza, we eliminated something to plan.
We Have the Same Friend Group
Over time, couples mesh their friend groups. I realized our friends have all hung out before. They all get along. There were even two bridesmaids whose significant others were in my party. Running with a joint party makes even more sense when these things are true.
It Can Save on Finances
Bachelor and bachelorette parties are just two more things that rack up the bill before your wedding day. By combining these into one larger trip, the cost for everything went down for us. The rental house became a very minor expense with so many people contributing. The cost of things like food, alcohol and decorations also lessened as there were more people involved. This reason alone could be enough to justify the joint party route.
You Still Can Do Your Own Thing
There’s a false belief that doing a combined party means the future couple misses out on that final night with their friends. You can still schedule one night where you each head out to a bar or do an activity during the day with your own friend group. Just like your future life in marriage, you don’t have to be together 24/7. A joint party still lends itself to plenty of opportunities to have your own mini bachelor and bachelorette parties. For us, one night the guys hit the bar and had a cornhole tournament while the women headed to the beach and a margarita bar.
[RELATED: Roma Tailors Will Throw a Custom Suit Party for Grooms and Groomsmen]
We Got to Make More Memories Together
That being said, it’s a lot of fun being able to share the moment with your future spouse. I understand the “one last night out” concept that comes with these types of parties. We certainly experienced some people outside our inner circle who questioned our decision to “skip” out on the traditional bachelor and bachelorette experience. Looking back on the decision, we wouldn’t do it any other way. Seeing all of our closest friends interact and make their own friendships while we got to take it all in together truly was the best way to close out our engagement phase and head into our wedding day.
[RELATED: 5 Floral Preservation Businesses in NJ]
The post Why This NJ Couple Opted for a Joint Bachelor and Bachelorette Party appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
NJB Insider Tour: 5 Things to Know About Shadowbrook at ShrewsburyStately, elegant and luxurious are words that come to mind when I reflect on my recent visit to Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury, a venue on 18 secluded acres that hosts only one wedding at a time. This property is rich in history yet offers modern amenities. In the early 1900s, a wealthy doctor turned Shadowbrook from a farm into an estate. In 2019, the current owners did a $30 million renovation to create the glitzy grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 600 guests, features dueling grand staircases, a huge dance floor, two built-in bars and a swing band stage. During this renovation, they focused on tying the aesthetic of the original mansion to the new space—and they succeeded.
Shadowbrook is regal with black and gold accents throughout, unique chandeliers and plenty of vintage elements. It’s worth noting that the owners of Shadowbrook also run the Venetian in Garfield and Seasons Catering in Washington Township. I’ve been to weddings at both the Venetian and Seasons and I still remember the outstanding food, so I’m confident that the same culinary standards apply at Shadowbrook.
Here are a few highlights from my Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury tour.
1. Beautiful & Spacious Bridal Salon
Photo: Jacqueline Larcara
Since brides spend a large chunk of their wedding day getting ready, a spacious on-site area with all the bells and whistles is a great perk. At Shadowbrook, four salon stations with bright lighting and comfy chairs, additional lounge seating, bathrooms and a kitchen area where the venue serves breakfast and lunch complete this stunning bridal salon space. Bonus: there’s a separate room just for the bride with a huge three-panel dressing mirror and an elevated platform for her to admire herself in her gown from all angles.
[RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey]
2. Two Bridal Suites in Historic Rooms
Photo: Jacqueline Larcara
After hair and makeup is complete, the bridesmaids move to the bridal suite area, where the groomsmen have already been lounging. The suite area consists of two conjoining rooms that were bedrooms in the original mansion. The master bedroom features a fireplace and offers a comfortable and cozy vibe.
3. Photo Ops With Vintage Items
Photo: Jacqueline Larcara
There are plenty of photo opportunities at Shadowbrook that offer old-world charm. In the Oak Room, used for cocktail hour, there is a large horseshoe bar that features a brass rail adorned with horse heads. In a waiting area for guests in the front of the venue, there’s a vintage elevator as well as an antique men’s wardrobe from Philadelphia’s Fairmont Hotel that was converted into a bar. The wine cellar is another popular spot for portraits.
4. On-Site Indoor Chapel
Photo: Jacqueline Larcara
When a venue has an on-site, designated ceremony space it’s always a big win for me because there’s no need to quickly turn over the room after the nuptials. Shadowbrook’s chapel is very impressive with windows on both sides of the space that overlook gardens. The room is outfitted with heaters and fans to accommodate ceremonies all seasons.
5. Spaces That Offer Indoor & Outdoor Experiences
Photo: Jacqueline Larcara
In addition to the very large indoor cocktail hour space, which used to be the main ballroom before the renovation, there is a spacious outdoor patio where guests can get some fresh air. Passed hors d’oeuvres are brought onto the patio and there’s a lovely water wall feature. Also, as guests walk to the indoor chapel, they pass through a hallway with retractable screens. During my visit in February, the screens were down to insulate the area. But once warm weather arrives, the screens are removed to provide the feeling of being outdoors while inside.
Check out gorgeous Real Weddings at Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury from Alexandra & Joseph and Jenna & Chris.
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day With These Romantic Moments from Real WeddingsWhat do we love most about weddings? That they’re all about love, of course. And we’re suckers for those tear-jerking romantic moments and heartwarming gestures that just make you say “aww.” There’s no better time to sink into a sappy mood than Valentine’s Day. Grab some tissues, cuddle up with your spouse-to-be and read about some of our favorite wedding-day expressions of love.
This Bride Sang to Her Groom During Their First Dance
Photo: Courtney Simpson Photography
Couple Nicolette & Robert
Venue Crossed Keys Estate, Andover
Photographer Courtney Simpson Photography
Romantic Moment The couple had an elegant event with an outdoor ceremony and reception in the modern farmhouse at Crossed Keys Estate. Nicolette loved the venue’s open space, gorgeous wood floors and beams, and a soaring window. Nicolette, a vocalist, sang a slow and romantic acoustic version of Tina Turner’s “The Best” to Rob as they shared their first dance. “It was a special moment,” she says.
See more photos from Nicolette and Robert’s Crossed Keys wedding.
RHONJ Star Teresa Giudice Had a Meaningful Phrase Embroidered on Her Veil
Photo: Jenna Russo
Couple Teresa Giudice & Louie Ruelas
Venue Park Château Estate & Gardens, East Brunswick
Photographer Jenna Russo
Romantic Moment For Teresa, honoring her deceased parents, Giacinto and Antonia Gorga, was of the utmost importance. Her custom veil by Mark Zunino was embroidered with the Italian phrase Sempre Insieme, which means Always Together; the saying is also inscribed on her parents’ mausoleum. “My parents were always together, and I feel like that’s Louie and I because we’re always together,” Teresa says. An ice sculpture with the same phrase was on display at the cocktail hour.
See more photos from Teresa Giudice and Louie Ruelas’ Park Chateau wedding.
This Couple Killed Their Synchronized Reception Entrance
Photo: United Elite Photography
Couple Alexis & Michael
Venue Hamilton Manor, Hamilton Township
Photographer United Elite Photography
Romantic Moment This couple kicked off the next chapter of their love story the same way that they started it—with a dance. “My husband and I met at a party in college,” says Alexis. “Our colleges were 30 minutes from each other’s and had a combined event that we both attended. He asked me to dance and we’ve been together ever since.”
See more photos from Alexis and Michael’s Hamilton Manor wedding.
Gown Designer Justin Alexander Warshaw Embroidered Love Notes in His Bride’s Gowns
Photo: David Bastianoni Studio & Alessia Franco
Couple Justin Warshaw & Kelsey Turchi
Venue Castello di Celsa, Italy & Mindowaskin Park, Westfield
Photographer David Bastianoni Studio
Romantic Moment To make Kelsey’s wedding garments extra special, Justin, unbeknownst to Kelsey, worked with Terri Hilferty, Justin Alexander’s chief of design and merchandising, to add personalized embroidered notes to the ensembles. One, on the arm of Kelsey’s ceremony gown, read “love, yours.”
See more photos from Justin Alexander Warshaw & Kelsey Turchi’s wedding.
This Groom Got Emotional During the First Look and When His Bride Walked Down the Aisle
Photo: Moses Cruz Photography
Couple Hayley & Dave
Venue The Mill Lakeside Manor, Spring Lake
Photographer Moses Cruz Photography
Romantic Moment Hayley’s favorite moment from the big day by far was the couple’s first look. “He gave me the sweetest reaction,” says Hayley. “He turned and immediately had tears in his eyes and I’ll never forget how I felt to be marrying this man at that moment.” Then, during their outdoor ceremony, Dave shed some more tears as Hayley walked down the aisle to “Beauty and the Beast.”
See more photos from Hayley & Dave’s Mill Lakeside Manor wedding.
These High School Sweethearts Took Photos at Their Alma Mater on Their Wedding Day
Photo: Dearly Beloved Weddings
Couple Jenna & Chris
Venue Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury
Photographer Dearly Beloved Weddings
Romantic Moment On their wedding day, the couple had time to kill between their church ceremony and reception at Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury. It had begun to lightly snow and one of Jenna’s bridesmaids suggested driving one mile up the road to their alma mater, Allentown High School, to take pictures outside. “The school ended up letting us in,” says Jenna. “The faculty was so sweet and let us go to the classroom where we met. We sat in the exact same seats and were able to take pictures and videos with our photographer. Previous teachers stopped in to say, ‘hi.’ It was so spontaneous and beautiful. We even went to our old lockers. It’s funny because we were never a ‘high school sweetheart’ couple, but we got to feel like we were in those moments.”
See more photos from Jenna & Chris’ high school photo shoot here and their wedding at Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury here.
This Couple Chose to Laugh Through Their Rainy Ceremony
Photo: Carolyn Jorgensen
Couple Stephanie & Bill
Venue Farmhouse, Hampton
Photographer Carolyn Jorgensen
Romantic Moment Everyone says that it’s good luck if it rains on your wedding day, but let’s be honest, it can put a damper on your special day. But not if you’re Stephanie and Bill. This duo embraced the showers and focused on their love.”A funny memory will always be that the only 15 minutes of rain that happened the WHOLE day – occurred for the 15 minutes we were outside for our ceremony – and it like really rained at one point,” says Stephanie. “My MOH, who was also our officiant, made light of it and all of our guests were such good sports and were smiling the whole time. It made the fact we were literally being rained on much less stressful. Everyone dried off halfway through cocktail hour, and the night was so fun that no one even thought twice about it. But definitely made for an unforgettable ceremony and great pictures.”
See more photos from Stephanie and Bill’s Farmhouse wedding.
This Couple’s Epic Cake Smash Shows How Fun Their Relationship is
Photo: The Pennington Co
Couple Kayla & Steve
Venue Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm, Jobstown
Photographer The Pennington Co
Romantic Moment Smashing the wedding cake in your spouse’s face isn’t for everyone. But for the couples that go for it, like Kayla and Steve, we say give us more of that funloving energy. When it cake time to feed each other a piece of their wedding cake, Kayla and Steve both pushed a chunk of their blueberry velvet cake into each other’s faces. Sure, it was messy, but also super cute.
See more photos from Kayla and Steve’s Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm wedding.
The post Celebrate Valentine’s Day With These Romantic Moments from Real Weddings appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Ciao Bella! How to Plan an Italian Themed Bridal ShowerA trip to Italy was the first major vacation for Alyssa Cooper and her husband, James Cooper Jr. “Day by day, we fell more in love with each city we visited, the meals and gelato we had and, more importantly, with each other,” says Alyssa, who is Italian-American. “It was a trip that defined our relationship and I knew I wanted that to be included in our wedding festivities.”
A blue tile that they brought back from the country that says “Casa Cooper” inspired the whole aesthetic of the bride-to-be’s Italian-themed bridal shower at Piazza di Roma in Matawan. Her venue, which featured a white Vespa, white Fiat and colorful gelato cart, was the perfect fit. “An Italian-themed shower allowed the celebration to be infused with cultural elements that are near and dear to my heart,” she says.
Photos: Photoly Vibrant
VENDORS
Photographer Photoly Vibrant
Flowers Delightful Design
Photo Backdrop Luxe Party
Bridal Display and Flower Market Milano Ink
Cake Amici Bakery
Cookies Sharla’s Sweets
The post Ciao Bella! How to Plan an Italian Themed Bridal Shower appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Cheers! How to Plan a Champagne Bridal ShowerAhead of her wedding to Christopher Dubelbeiss, bride-to-be Amanda Longobardi had a Veuve Clicquot-themed shower at the Vine Room at Caldwell Flowerland in Caldwell.
“It was inspired by the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic I attended in Los Angeles,” says Amanda. “We combined ideas from the classic, including the decorated greenery wall, hats, sunglasses and Veuve champagne glasses. Since Veuve is a French champagne, the music and menu included French staples.”
“My absolute favorite details of the day were the flowers,” adds Amanda. “Christina at Caldwell Flowerland exceeded my expectations. Guests were greeted with a French bicycle upon entry that was filled with a gorgeous array of roses, gerber daisies, fuchsia stock, pink snapdragons and gerber poms. It was an absolute dream!”
Photos: Hannah Jean Photography
VENDORS
Photographer Hannah Jean Photography
Food Liv Breads Artisan Bakery & Coffee Bar, Two Crepes, Forte Pizzeria & Ristorante
Flowers Caldwell Flowerland
Planner Cynthia Mordaga
Rentals Rent4parties
The post Cheers! How to Plan a Champagne Bridal Shower appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Calling all Disney Lovers! How to Plan a ‘Tangled’ Bridal ShowerCarly Neuschatz wanted a Tangled-themed bridal shower at Stone Water at 3 Peaks Marina in Lake Hopatcong because she and her husband, Yuri Misseneheim, have a shared love for Disney and previously dressed up as Rapunzel and Flynn for Halloween. “The enchanting details in the movie always captivated me,” says Carly.
“I envisioned transforming the bridal shower into a fairytale experience. Embracing the whimsical atmosphere and romantic essence of Tangled, our passion for Disney and the movie’s beauty inspired me to create a magical celebration. I especially loved how the tables came out, and the dessert bar.” The dessert bar had golden yellow yarn that resembled Rapunzel’s famous tresses and featured everything from cupcakes and cookies to chocolate-covered strawberries.
Photos: Brielle Kaschak Photography
VENDORS
Photographer Brielle Kaschak Photography
Photo Backdrop Fiore Furnishings
Decor The bride (@magicminded), her mom and sister
The post Calling all Disney Lovers! How to Plan a ‘Tangled’ Bridal Shower appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Churn Cart, an Ice Cream Tricycle Cart, Adds Whimsy to Your Bridal Shower or WeddingGive your guests a unique and delicious dessert option with Cory and Amanda Raab’s ice cream tricycle cart, Churn Cart.
Their handmade, pre-packaged, cereal-infused ice cream sandwiches are a hit at bridal showers and weddings. “Every wedding needs a late-night sweet snack!” says Cory.
Photo: @natg_photos on Instagram
Plus, the cart adds a whimsical touch to the aesthetic of the event. “Couples love to book us because we provide an aesthetic look to their shower or wedding while serving a unique and delicious sweet treat to their guests,” says Cory.
The couple behind the business also just got married themselves and, you guessed it, they had the Churn Cart at their wedding. “We loved seeing our guests’ faces light up when we handed out our ice cream sandwiches,” says Cory.
They will travel any distance with the mobile cart but you can also stop by their main business, the Churn House Ice Cream & Cereal Bar at 3255 Asbury Avenue in Ocean City.
The post Churn Cart, an Ice Cream Tricycle Cart, Adds Whimsy to Your Bridal Shower or Wedding appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Forget Live Wedding Portraits. Mollie Fox Studio Creates Guest Illustration FavorsWoodstock-based Mollie Fox Studio offers live wedding painting, with a twist. She creates illustrations of guests that serve as favors. Artist Mollie sums it up as, “How often do you get to walk away from a wedding with something that’s you?” People stop by her table to watch her throughout the night. “It’s a quiet performance,” she says.
She can create about 40 guest illustrations in four hours. If the couple wants every guest to receive one, she’ll work out an agreement to finish the rest after the wedding and then mail them.
Her favorite part is the guests’ squeals of delight when they see the finished product.
Beyond live guest illustrations, she also makes watercolors for place cards, guest books, thank-yous, invitations, and bridesmaid proposals as well as paintings on celebration bottles.
[RELATED: “7 Cute Bridal Cookie Ideas for Your NJ Wedding“]
The post Forget Live Wedding Portraits. Mollie Fox Studio Creates Guest Illustration Favors appeared first on New Jersey Bride.
Unique Centerpiece Idea: Topiary from Atlock Farm Instead of Flowers