I knew there was a good chance I’d have my wedding at The Landmark in East Rutherford as soon as I found out that the Italian lady in charge, Nella, comes from the same part of the boot that my family is from (Campobasso). That was a sign right there.

Also, my bride Megin and I both had several mutual friends and family members who got married there and said that they had an absolutely wonderful experience. And the experience that we both had last week was truly wonderful as well…

The layout of the hall was stunning. From the white and gold chapel area where Megin and I said our vows under the flower adorned arch, to the party area—decked out in our wedding colors of black and gold—my choice (FYI: the colors of Rocky Balboa’s boxing trunks). The lighting was perfect, the tables were elegant, and everyone truly seemed extremely comfortable and relaxed—both our guests and our entertainers (and we had a lot).

We had Tony Santana of the Tony Santana Cigar Company hand-rolling a variety of amazing cigars at one end of the room, Gigi-The-Clown and her face painting friends in another section, a Frank Sinatra impersonator, the best Italian DJ in New Jersey in Joe Zisa of DJ Express as well as a few pretty popular dance music performers, just to name a few of the special treats. (You’ll just have to wait for the videos to see all that this ultimate Jersey wedding featured!)

“Banquets of Uncommon Excellence” is The Landmark’s motto, and that defined our affair perfectly. Conveniently located right on Route 17 in East Rutheford, literally a few blocks from our home, it was the ideal venue. Beautiful, classy, not at all “cookie cutter” as many banquet halls, we were treated so well it was as if we were members of Nella’s own family. And the food—wow—that’s all I can say. Of course I will say much more here, get ready to hear this mouth-watering menu…


The feast started with eight magnificent stations. There was seafood (shrimp, scallops and mussels in a spicy plum tomato sauce), pasta (tortellini Alfredo and rotini in vodka sauce), Luganica sausage, loin of pork, a turkey carving station, corned beef, caviar in our hand-carved meatball-shaped ice sculpture, and even an Oriental grill. But I’m just beginning. We also had a fresh fruit table, an international cheese display, a Caprese salad, a Roma tomato & cucumber salad AND a Tabouleh salad. Plus, marinated squid and shrimp, grilled vegetables and silver chafers filled with eggplant rollatini, sesame chicken, fresh baby corn in an orange glaze and calamari. Not to mention an array of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. This was all just the cocktail hour!

Following all that, our guests enjoyed a champagne toast, premium open bar and an entrée choice of filet mignon with French-cut chicken or fresh salmon in a dill sauce. Oh, I also had my very own suckling pig nicknamed “Pimped-Out-Porky” to enjoy (yes, I did share it). And you know I had to serve my meatballs as well! After dinner cordials and a chocolate fudge wedding cake (old-school style with the tiers) rounded things out along with a popcorn and cotton candy machine, chocolate fountain and an ice cream sundae bar for the kiddies. Again I’ll say—WOW!

Nobody left hungry, I’ll tell you that. We all danced, ate, drank and were very, very merry. But being with our closest friends and family and uniting with my Megin in front of all our loved ones was truly the most special part of the evening.