Real Wedding Flashback

Sydney + Kyle Celebrate One-Year Anniversary

You may already know Crystal Ballroom’s amazing Catering Sales Director, Sydney Boyd, if you booked your wedding, mitzvah, or other event with us over the past few years. What you may not know is that before she began working at the Crystal Ballroom of the Radisson Freehold, Sydney and her now-husband, Kyle, booked the ballroom for their own wedding! Sydney and Kyle had an A-MAZ-ING wedding on January 16, 2016 filled with tons of food, tons of flowers, tons of dancing, and of course, a lot of love between the newlyweds and from their family and friends. In honor of their one-year wedding anniversary, we interviewed Sydney and wanted to share some details of their special day.

Sydney and Kyle met in high school (high school sweethearts!) through a mutual friend. Sydney said they “immediately fell for each other. There was no doubt in my mind that he would be my husband one day. We just connected.” Sydney’s immediate intuition was 100% correct. On Wednesday, November 13, 2013, Kyle dropped down to one knee and proposed. Shocked, completely surprised, and totally ecstatic, Sydney of course said yes – even if she doesn’t remember uttering the exact words. “All I kept saying was, ‘Is this real life?!’”

After touring 16(!) other venues, Sydney and Kyle couldn’t stop thinking about the experience they had when they visited the Crystal Ballroom. “We were treated like royalty, and that was just the tour! We knew after meeting the staff that we would be in great hands.” The value was another element they couldn’t stop raving about. “The package, the amount of food, and the price were things no other venue could beat. Plus, the hotel had everything in one spot. Talk about convenience!”

Sydney and Kyle booked the Diamond Package for January 16, 2016 and added on an indoor ceremony along with an array of accessories. Their ceremony wasn’t until later that evening, so the couple and their entire bridal party went to Mount Mitchell in Highlands, NJ for their first look and formal photos. Sydney let us know that this was the same place her parents took their wedding photos 29 years ago. How sweet! Since it was a bit chilly outside, the bridal party went back to the Radisson Freehold to take some photos in the Emerald Ballroom and Crystal Ballroom.

Sydney and Kyle completely transformed the Crystal Ballroom into their personal wedding wonderland. For their ceremony, they brought in their own aisle runner and lined the walkway with illuminated white trees, roses, and hanging orchids along with a white backdrop draped with lights. It was stunning!

For cocktail hour and wedding reception, the couple went with a white, silver, and black color palette. They brought in white and silver lounge furniture that paired perfectly with the ivory spandex table and chair covers, black chair wraps accented with a silver jewel, black napkins, and silver charger plates. To set the mood, Sydney and Kyle chose blue wall wash lighting with pink ceiling cove lighting. Don’t forget – you can customize practically everything at the Crystal Ballroom! As a sweet surprise to her hubby, Sydney hired a professional cigar roller to make hand rolled cigars during cocktail hour along with custom matches. Best. Wife. Ever!

Sydney described the entire day as a “bundle of emotions” and “a total whirlwind,” but “it was flawless and perfect in every way.” She continued to explain how it was amazing seeing every little detail that they had been planning for months finally come together.

Her favorite moments of the entire day? “Kyle and I did our first look with just our bridal party and our parents watching in the distance. It was nice to have that calm, emotional moment together. My second favorite moment had to be the dance with my daddy. He held me so tight. We waited a long time for that dance!”

Of course, being the Catering Sales Director, Sydney has some advice for future brides and grooms. “Enjoy it all. Every now and then just take a moment to stop and look around. Everyone in that room is there to support and celebrate the two of you. It’s a great feeling.”

Congratulations, Sydney + Kyle! Cheers!

All photos by Inspire Me Imagery.