ike many couples who preceded them, Cezanne and Reese met in a very Cape May way.
“We met at Carney’s,” said the newlywed bride. “It’s a classic Cape May love story!”
Their meeting happened by chance. Cezanne had recently picked up a once-a-week bartending shift at the iconic beach restaurant & bar when Middle Township native Reese sidled up. Chatting led to the realization they shared a mutual friend. As they chatted more of a spark was lit.
Soon they were texting, which led to coffee. Smitten, the caffeinated couple drove around afterward despite inclement weather just to spend more time together. “I kept her for three or four hours and she never left,” Reese said.
Shared interests like travel and wine gave Reese the idea to propose while on a trip to Florence, Italy. Cezanne said yes in Piazza de Michaelangelo, overlooking the Arno River.
An engagement in such a stunning locale called for an equally stunning wedding venue back home. A lifelong Cape May resident, Cezanne was instantly drawn to the elegant Willow Creek Winery in West Cape May, known for its scenic rows of grapevines, lush gardens and manicured grounds reminiscent of Tuscany.
Cezanne and Reese had specific requirements of a prospective venue. Chief among them was space to host both the ceremony and reception. The couple did not want to find themselves administrating shuttle busses between sites on their big day. The winery’s 12,000-square-foot tasting room and 50-acre footprint more than satisfied their needs.
Willow Creek also offered a secluded area where the couple could enjoy a private vow reading ahead of the real thing. The only other people present were their photographer and videographer. “I’m really glad we did that privately,” Reese said. “I’m not an emotional person at all, but that was one of the times in my life I was. It was a super- meaningful moment.”
The couple’s other requirements ranged from a bridal party suite to an audio guestbook to an on-site cigar roller. Their wedding guests ultimately enjoyed cocktail hour around a fire pit with the option to play cornhole or a game of giant Jenga. It all went off without a hitch, according to the bride.
“Anything you’re looking for, Willow Creek can probably do,” Cezanne said.
Reese concurred: “We asked for a lot and they were able to deliver. We were in one space for the ceremony, another space for the cocktail hour, then the next space for dinner. And everything flowed so nicely.” One of the couple’s top priorities in selecting a venue was food quality. They wanted a steak option and a seafood option. Both had to be spectacular. Both were.
“They really nailed what we were asking for,” Cezanne said of the meal. “They absolutely killed it. Months later we’re still getting comments from our guests saying it was the best wedding food they ever had.”
Wedding guests made their way from the fire pit to dinner as the orange-red glow of a November sunset surrendered to the starry cape sky. Simultaneously, the entire Willow Creek property twinkled with light.
“I’ll never forget making the short walk to the reception with the ambient light in the
background highlighting all the vines and grapes,” Reese recalled. “I had been to Willow Creek many times but never at night. It’s amazing. It made for some very beautiful photos.”
After dinner, Cezanne used the bridal suite one last time to change from her Sophia Tolli reception gown into a late-night dancing dress by Jovanni. After all, there was one last symbolic stop to make.
“We all went out to Carney’s!” Cezanne said.
