Marcella and Nicholas got married at The Venetian on June 30, 2024.

Their Story

When Marcella Bruno, of Hillsdale, and Nicholas Altero, of Mahopac, New York, began dating in 2015 as students at the Culinary Institute of America, they bonded over food and family: She approved of the Parmesan risotto he cooked for her on one of their first dates and loved how his family embraced her like one of their own at a Sunday dinner.

Marcella loves that Nick is family focused and career driven, and she sees her dad’s great qualities in Nick.

“He treats me like a queen,” says the bride. “On our wedding day, he told my dad that he was going to take care of me and he has. He’s just perfect.”

The Proposal

The couple visited the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, to have lunch for Nick’s birthday in 2023.

On that snowy February day, Nick led Marcella toward a beautiful gazebo and dropped to one knee as a photographer captured the surprise engagement just as the sun came out.

“I love that he thought about bringing it back to where we met,” says Marcella. “It was just us. It was so special, so quiet. Then we did our whole engagement photo shoot all around campus. It was just the perfect day.”

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Details of the Day

Nick and Marcella were married on June 30, 2024, in an afternoon Catholic church ceremony followed by a lavish and elegant reception with 250 guests in the grand ballroom at the Venetian in Garfield.

Marcella knew she wanted to prominently include a bold color—red—on her big day. The hue was featured in the flowers, the bridesmaids’ dresses and the beautiful candle-and flower-filled backdrop behind their sweetheart table. The ballroom also featured accents in white, cream and gold, but the dominant color was crimson.

“My dream, ever since I was a little girl, was that I wanted red roses everywhere,” says Marcella.

She also wanted a romantic feel, accomplished through an abundance of candlelight. The food was delicious, and they had a fun night of dancing. The bride and groom even got to spray their guests with a CO2 gun on the dance floor.

The event turned out just as Marcella had imagined. “It was the most amazing day of our lives,” she says. “It was everything we wanted. Our families are still talking about it.”

Bridal Style

Marcella loved her form-fitting lace gown with a long train by Enzoani. “I felt like a princess,” she says, “and it fit like a glove.” She also wore a rhinestone headband and a fingertip-length veil.

Favorite Moment

After practicing for months, the couple perfected a dip and a lift for their first dance to “From the Ground Up” by Dan + Shay.

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Special Detail

The couple had a live event painter who captured the ballroom, their beautiful backdrop and first dance.

“It was so cool having him there the entire night with all of my guests seeing the painting come to life,” says Marcella. “Now it’s hanging in our bedroom. It’s something we’ll have forever.”

Advice For Other Couples

Don’t get caught up in the little problems that pop up. “Just remember that the wedding day is about you two and your love,” says Marcella.

Honeymoon

Nick and Marcella traveled to Sandals Barbados for a week, where they enjoyed butler service. “We felt like royalty,” Marcella says. The couple, both 30, are now at home in Mahwah.

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