The Meet Cute : Taylor was with Ed ’ s friends at the Thirsty Beaver Pub and Grub in Cranston . Unbeknownst to her at the time , Ed was one of the owners , as he was there as a guest with a friend . She thought he was shy , handsome , funny and kind .
The Engagement : Ed prepared a series of seven dates inspired by the seven senses around the anniversary of their first date . He proposed at one of their team ’ s restaurants with a private dinner by corporate executive chef Andrea Leonardo . They had the entire restaurant to themselves with flowers throughout and romantic music . When they were enjoying the course for the “ taste ” sense , Ed got down on one knee and proposed . Family and friends surprised them afterward to celebrate the surprise and intimate occasion .
The Pre-Wedding Photos : Taylor and Ed had to get some shots at one of Rhode Island ’ s most historic places , the Redwood Library and Athenaeum . Even with a larger wedding party , library staffers were willing to accommodate their request to take fun pictures playing off the beautiful history .
The Venue : Both Taylor and Ed had been to the Atlantic Resort at Wyndham for previous weddings and thought it was one of Newport ’ s greatest hospitality venues . “ We couldn ’ t think of a better place to have our wedding after an amazing experience , and we enjoyed the people and the simple elegance of the space ,” Taylor says .
The , Fits : Ed bought custom gifts for each of his groomsmen , which included sneakers from his favorite local Rhode Island sneaker shops , Future Fashion and the Sneaker Spot in Cranston .
The Theme : The theme was black tie with simple elegance and a fun New Year ’ s Eve flair . During the first dance , cold sparklers illuminated the dance floor and dry ice made it look as if they were dancing on clouds .
The Special Moment : It was also Ed ’ s grandparents ’ seventieth anniversary and they loved watching them dance together . Throughout the night , they took it all in and reminded themselves how thankful they were to have such a great support system when they looked around the room full of people celebrating their love .
The Highlights : Taylor ’ s father-in-law was given five minutes for a speech at the rehearsal dinner . Forty-five minutes later , Big Ed had the entire family in tears of laughter . “ It was beautiful to see both of our families and friends come together as one through laughter and love ,” Taylor says . One of Ed ’ s groomsmen , friend and singer Johnny Gates , wrote and performed a custom wedding song called “ This Is Our Wedding Song .”
104 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2023