Paige & Michael | September

Photography by Emily Crombez Photography, Alexandria Blake // @emcrombez.portraits, @abrykse

Johnson & Wales University sweethearts hosted the ultimate wedding celebration, giving Frank Sinatra vibes earlier in the day, then 2012 EDM vibes on the dance floor.

The Meet Cute: Paige and Michael met in a marketing class through a group project as freshmen at Johnson & Wales University. Being on the Orientation Team throughout the summer allowed them to become closer friends, just before Michael asked her out on a date in August 2016. “Later in September, he took me to dinner and then to Xavier Hall, where we had our first class together,” says Paige. “It was there he asked me to be his girlfriend.”

The Engagement: In November 2021, they watched the sunset at Prospect Terrace Park in Providence, one of their favorite places in the city. As soon as they arrived at the park — photographer ready — Michael asked Paige to step to the side before delivering his proposal speech. Paige inevitably broke down in tears as he got down on one knee. Their immediate family from New Jersey and New York later joined them for dinner to celebrate.

The Venue: “Originally we were thinking [the Ballroom at the Providence G] was going to be insanely out of our price range, but it ended up being the most affordable option,” Paige says. It also helped that the space itself is gorgeous, between the marble in the ballroom and the unparalleled views of the city from the rooftop during cocktail hour.

The Prep: When it came to their vendors, “It was basically just us looking at our phone contact list, texting them and saying ‘Hey, we want you to help at our wedding, can you do this?’” says Paige. “They pulled out all the stops.” So much so that the couple dubbed their team “the Vendors Avengers.” As for the connections, the hair and makeup artist and DJ were professionals the couple had worked with during a staged wedding for a COVID-19 training video back in 2021, while their photographer, Emily, was Paige’s roommate while studying abroad in Florence. Meanwhile, their officiant was Paige’s cousin, who is part of the family who took young Paige in after her mom passed. “He has basically been an older brother to me, so having him officiate was incredible,” she says. “He was so sweet with his messaging. He had everyone laughing and crying.”

The ‘Toast’: Paige and Michael wanted to do something to showcase unity during the ceremony and initially considering lighting a candle, pouring sand in a vase or even taking a shot. But then a more personal and creative idea came to mind a couple months before the wedding: Crack open and share a ‘Gansett at the altar. Not only are they regulars at the Providence brewery, but Michael also has a ‘Hi Neighbor’ tattoo on his thigh.

The Vibe: “We love the super classy and getting dressed up vibe; that’s what we wanted the beginning of the night to be,” says Paige (think: Frank Sinatra in between courses). But once the cake was cut, the tone shifted. Paige ran upstairs for a quick outfit change — pearl sneakers included — and that’s when the party really started. “We told the DJ that the vibe was 2012 EDM with some 2000’s alternative hits, and he blew it out of the water. It was insane,” she adds. The appearance of a CO2 gun was a particularly big hit with the crowd.

“My aunt, who took me in after my mom passed, looked me in the face while dancing and she said, “best wedding ever.” — Paige

The Foodie Accents: Instead of regular table numbers, the Johnson & Wales alums named their tables after restaurants that are significant to their story, such as Michael’s family deli and the site of their very first date, Siena. They also couldn’t let their guests leave without a late-night snack. “The G has a back door that leads out to the streets, so we had the food truck pull up there. People funneled through our archway and could order any of their Friskie Fries flavor options,” says Paige.

The Highlights: “There are so many, but I would have to say the temporary tattoo station. People had tattoos all up their arms and made sleeves out of them and on their faces,” says Paige. “Our second favorite detail were our escort cards, which were also our favors. They were DIY cocktail infusion kits, which we handmade by drying the oranges and rosemary, then we filled and labeled the bottles ourselves. It was a cinnamon-orange fig-infused cocktail, and people could pour in any alcohol to create a cocktail or fill it with seltzer and make a mocktail at home.”