Real Wedding: Salvatore Forte & Bryan Finocchio
August 6, 2016
The Liberty Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts
“It was important for us to have him there,” says Salvatore of the couple’s black Lab/beagle mix, who strutted back down the aisle with them. / Photograph by Newbury Photographs
THE STORY
Ask Bryan Finocchio and Salvatore Forte how they met, and they both laugh: “I was a Jet, and he was a Shark” in a community theater production of West Side Story, Bryan explains. In a scene that definitely wasn’t scripted, the two college students fell for each other. “It was kind of love at first sight,” he adds. Over the next six years, the pair would move in together, buy a loft in Lynn, and adopt a dog named Duncan. Finally, “it was time to take the leap,” Salvatore says.
Knowing how much Salvatore loved Christmas, Bryan, an event planner, decided to propose around the holidays. After they’d finished decorating their tree, Bryan brought out a box of six ornaments—“one for every year we’d been together,” Salvatore says. There was a little black dog that looked like Duncan; a New York taxi to represent their fondness for Broadway shows; and Mickey Mouse (“I love all things Disney,” Salvatore says), among others. The last ornament was a glass bulb, and inside, on repeating loops of ribbon, were the words, “Will you marry me?”
For their August celebration at the Liberty Hotel, “we did everything a little differently,” Bryan says. Instead of assigning seats, they asked guests to sit wherever they felt comfortable. In lieu of a sit-down meal, they offered stations with gourmet sliders and pasta. And their wedding cake, from Whole Foods, was for cutting purposes only; the real dessert was oversize Munchkins and doughnuts. “We didn’t want our wedding to be cookie-cutter,” Bryan says. Of course, there’s little chance of that when your ring-bearer is your dog.
THE DETAILS
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
Although it rained on their wedding day, the sun came out long enough to have the ceremony outside in the courtyard.
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
Rosemary accents on the men’s boutonnieres added a touch of green and a fresh, soothing aroma.
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
The groomsmen donned light gray suits, while the bridesmaids wore gray A-line Alfred Sung dresses.
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
Guests enjoyed cocktails on the fifth floor of the former jail’s soaring 90-foot central atrium.
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
The music was very important to Bryan and Salvatore: They sent the DJ a four-hour playlist as inspiration. “He enhanced it and made it even better,” Salvatore says.
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
The couple had their own table for the reception, but they rarely sat down, opting to spend most of their time on the dance floor. “I don’t even think we ate dinner,” Bryan says.
Photograph by Newbury Photographs
“We both love the city but wanted something that still felt cozy and beautiful,” explains Bryan, who imbued the décor with an “urban garden” feel.
THE FILE
Bridesmaid Dresses Alfred Sung, Nordstrom
Calligraphy Posh + Prep
Dessert Union Square Donuts
Entertainment DJ T-Rex
Flowers Bloom Couture Floral Studio
Grooms’ Suits Calvin Klein
Grooms’ Ties General Knot & Co.
Hair Salon Eva Michelle
Makeup Makeup by LKH
Planner 33 Munroe
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