Girl Next Door
True love is worth traveling anywhere, but this Bergen couple found it right here.
“I’ll never date a townie.”
Both Jaclyn Offitto and Paul Rance made that vow during their youth in Wood-Ridge. Each had dreams that went way beyond the one-square-mile borough. And while they didn’t know each other growing up (she was one grade ahead of him), they couldn’t help but know of each other. After all, both attended the local elementary and middle schools, and they had mutual friends.
Oddly their paths never crossed. She went to Paramus Catholic High School; he attended Don Bosco Prep. They chose colleges in different states, then he moved to New York City, she to Jersey City. They finally “met” at a friend’s “ugly sweater” party.
Paul, a marketing executive at a New York City agency, did an imitation of the main character in the 2006 comedy Borat. “I love that character, and Paul had me in stitches,” recalls Jaclyn.
A few parties later, Paul invited Jaclyn, a speech pathologist working in a New York City hospital, to join him for a concert in the city. When it was canceled because of a blizzard, they visited a mutual friend and ended up talking into the wee hours of the night.
Jaclyn not only tagged along when Paul trudged home to dig out the family’s driveway, she grabbed a shovel to help. His mom, BERGEN editor in chief Rita Guarna, thanked her but protested, saying she should be helping her family. “Jaclyn looked at me, smiled and said, ‘My brother can help my dad; I’ll just stay and help Paul.’” Guarna recalls. “There was something about how she said it and the way he looked at her; I just knew they’d end up together.”
The couple began dating and eventually Jaclyn moved in with Paul. Their lives revolved around work, travel, jogging and picnicking in one of many parks near their apartment overlooking the Hudson. Because they’d created the tradition of an elaborate picnic on the day of the summer solstice, Paul chose that day—June 21, 2015—to lay out a blanket and his hopes for their life together. He proposed.
Then on September 16, 2016, Jaclyn and Paul exchanged vows before 225 of their nearest and dearest at the Church of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady in Wood-Ridge. After the ceremony, everyone headed to the Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes to watch the sun set on the lake while they feasted on prosecco, Italian cheeses and charcuterie, and passed hors d’ouevres such as mini crab cakes with basil beurre blanc, tacos and lobster risotto cakes. Guests then moved indoors for a three-course meal featuring Chilean sea bass and filet mignon, favorites of the couple. “We didn’t want to feel rushed,” says Jaclyn.
“We wanted a night filled with great food, great company, great music and, of course, great drinks,” Paul adds.
Later, with the glow of the outdoor stone fireplaces adding to the light of the harvest moon, the couple danced and laughed, sipped from Paul’s single-malt Scotch collection and promised never again to say “never.”
Sources:
Location
Ceremony: Church of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady, Wood-Ridge; assumptionparishwr.org Reception and catering: Indian Trail Club, Franklin Lakes; indiantrailclub.com
Flowers
Dahlia Floral & Event Design, Garfield; dahliaflorals.com
Photography
Stilwell Photography & Films, Montgomery, N.Y.; alisastilwell.com
Cake
A Little Cake, Park Ridge; alittlecake.com
Music
Affiniti NYC, New York City; affinitinyc.com
Champagne
Favors Heights Beer & Wine Emporium, Hasbrouck Heights; heightsbeerandwine.com
Hair and Makeup
Jovi O, Brooklyn, N.Y.; jbrooklynsocial.com
Bride’s Gown
Allure, Park Avenue Bridals, Cedar Grove; parkavenuebridals.com
Groom’s Tux
Armani Collezioni, Garmany, Red Bank; garmany.com
Brides Maids’ dresses
Impression Bridal, Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Paramus; aleanasbridal.com
Grooms Men’s tuxes
Men’s Wearhouse, multiple locations; menswearhouse.com
Mother-oF-the-Bride Dress
That Look, Woodcliff Lake; thatlookonline.com
Mother-of-the-groom Dress
Bijou, Paramus; bijoubridal.com
