The Danielle Mellusi and Benjamin Iorio Wedding

Danielle is Catholic and Ben is Jewish, so they wanted to incorporate both traditions into their ceremony. They lit a unity candle, in accordance with the Catholic tradition, and had a birch chuppah and performed the breaking of the glass, in keeping with Jewish custom. Instead of an interfaith minister, they decided to have both a priest and a rabbi.

For music, they went with a 10-piece band, which Danielle had remembered from a family friend’s wedding years prior. “There were a lot of older people attending the wedding and I wanted to make sure that everyone was dancing, no matter what age, and they were,” Danielle shares. Even her 94-year-old grandmother, Rose—the original owner of the family medallion—boogied the night away.

In the end, Danielle wasn’t the only one at the center of the wedding. “My mom was a huge part of the process,” she says. “I’m her only daughter and she loved every minute of it. I don’t know what I would have done without her.” 

The Details: Photographer: H&H Photography, Irvington (914) 591-4200; www.handhphotographers.com. Ceremony Venue, Reception Venue, and Catering: Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill Mansion, Tarrytown (914) 631-3030; www.abigailkirsch.com. Florist: X-Quisite Flowers & Events, New Rochelle (914) 632-8700; www.xquisitevents.com. Music: New York Players, Albany, New York (518) 482-8252; www.newyorkplayers.com. Invitations: RSVP Designs, Inc., Mamaroneck (now closed). Bridal Attire: Kleinfeld, New York City (646) 633-4300; www.kleinfeldbridal.com. Bridal Hair: Lisa Marie Rinaldi (914) 299-2824. Bridal Makeup: Jeanine Leuci (954) 793-8124. Bridesmaids Dresses: Amelia’s Bridal, Yonkers (914) 779-5900; www.ameliasbridal.com. Engagement Ring/Wedding Band: Tom’s Jewelry NY, New York City (212) 398-9246.