Love is in the air and all around us today thanks to Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re cozying up next to your S.O. or are kicking it with your pals, there’s an undeniable…happiness in the air. We are, after all, celebrating love of all kinds.
One person in particular who is celebrating something really special this year is Gabrielle Parisi {of The Millennial Nonna}. This local Hoboken gal just got the ultimate V-Day gift — a new fiancé {and pizza, just wait and see}. We got the chance to sit down with Gabrielle to learn more about her engagement and her wedding plans, just in time for V-Day. Keep reading to discover Gabrielle’s story.
How They Met
Gabrielle and her now fiancé, Anthony, met back in December 2015. Their first date was a quintessential Mile Square one — they went to the Carlo’s Bakery holiday party.
“On our first date we went to the Carlo’s Bakery Holiday Party when I worked for Buddy Valastro,” Gabrielle explained.
The catch, however, is that both Gabrielle and Anthony are Hoboken transplants — she’s been working in Hoboken since 2011 and has lived here since 2015, while her beau moved here from Boston in 2015. Four years later, however, the two are a true Mile Square couple — please see their aforementioned first date at Carlo’s.
See More: A List of Unique {+ Amazing} Jersey City Wedding Venues
The Engagement
Fast forward to December 23rd, 2019, and fun plans are in the works. It was on that date that Anthony got down on one knee to pop the question to Gabrielle. Since their first-ever dinner date happened at Grimaldi’s, it was only right that their engagement to happen there, too.
“Our first dinner date was at Grimaldi’s in Hoboken. We absolutely love their pizza,” Gabrielle said. “Anthony proposed there with a pizza that had peppers that spelled out ‘Will you marry me?’ on top. He had all our family and friends waiting at City Bistro to celebrate with us afterward.”
Needless to say, Anthony gets the award for the fiancé of the year — he gave Gabrielle an amazing early Christmas present and pizza {oh, and a full-on celebration afterward}.
“I loved how he asked. It was so thoughtful, and I was 100% surprised. The timing was great as well,” she said. “The next morning, we flew to Boston to surprise everyone in Anthony’s family. Surprising everyone was just as fun as the engagement.”
Beyond taking place at a local spot, their engagement was also captured by local Hoboken photographer, Grace Brown Photography.
Oh, and one last kicker — they went to Aruba right after they surprised everyone up in Boston {talk about a seriously amazing December}.
{Photo credit: @croozephoto}
“After we surprised everyone in Boston we went to Aruba for [the] New Year. Anthony had an engagement shoot planned there,” she said. “The photographer {@croozephoto} there was amazing! I hate the heat and I am not a good model, so he really had his work cut out for him.”
Their Wedding Plans
OK, without further ado — the wedding details. Of course, this local couple is in the early stages of their engagement, so plans are still being finalized and kinks worked out, but Gabrielle and Anthony have a few fun + amazing ideas in mind.
“We are planning on getting married at The Park Chateau in August 2021,” Gabrielle said. The pair chose this wonderland in East Brunswick because “the owners truly make you feel like family.” Now that is truly what you want on your wedding day — to be surrounded by friends and family, even if it’s a temporary one. Plus, both Gabrielle and Anthony come from “two big Italian families,” so there will be no shortage of loved ones at their wedding.
As for the specific details, stay tuned, as both are still in the beginning stages of planning their wedding day.
“I have only scratched the surface with planning so far. Anthony trusts me with most of the planning, which makes me so happy because I love party planning,” Gabrielle explained. “Getting the venue and date solidified was most important to us. The only other detail I am sure of is that I will be getting my cake from Carlo’s Bakery. I worked there for six years, so that is kind of a no brainer! I trust Buddy and his team 100%.”
Read More: Unique Wedding Entertainment Ideas + The Local NJ Vendors to Hire
Advice for Other Couples
Now that they’re in the thick of the planning, Gabrielle and Anthony are really working hard to make sure their nuptials are as special as they can be — and to remember the day, since the entire process goes by in a flash.
“Tons of people get married. It is over in one day,” Gabrielle told us. “If you don’t have fun planning your wedding, you are doing yourself a disservice! Keep it light.”
Congratulations again to Gabrielle and Anthony — we can’t wait to see what happens on your special day!
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