Neriza Ally, Esq. 29, and Fredrick Selby, 29, recently celebrated their wedding on Long Island, NY with a four day extravaganza with beautiful décor and incredible food for their family and friends.
Neriza was born in Guyana and lives and works in New York City as a corporate attorney while Fredrick was born in Sweden and lives in Florida where he owns and operates his own consulting firm.
How They Met
The two met when the bride’s mother got a crazy idea to introduce them. A year later, after many emails, phones calls and flights back and forth from NY to FL, Neriza & Fredrick made that journey down the aisle as husband and wife. Incorporating both Swedish and Guyanese traditions, the wedding was a beautiful day filled with laughter, love, good food, good wine and wonderful people.
Engagement Party
The couple was engaged in 2006 in an intimate Islamic ceremony at the bride's home. The Imam is a close family friend that showered them with blessings for a long and happy married life together. After the ceremony where the bride and groom exchanged rings, guests were lead outdoors to a tent for a traditional Guyanese dinner. There was a buffet with a sampling of every traditional Guyanese food that everyone Swedish and Guyanese alike enjoyed. There was great music, lots of dancing and a beautiful cake designed especially for the couple by Collette of Alice’s Tea Cup.
The next day, family and friends continued the engagement celebration at Caffe on the Green in NY, the former house of Rudolph Valentino. There, by a gigantic fireplace, a piano player entertained a close guest list of 50 friends and family as they dined on a four course dinner. Beautiful family photos were taken in the garden of the estate as the couple prepared for the wedding to come.
Rehearsal Dinner
On June 20, 2008, the couple held a rehearsal dinner for family and friends at the historic Maine Maid Inn in Jericho, Long Island. Built in 1798, it was the original home of Valentine and Abigail Hicks, prominent members of the Quaker community that helped found Jericho, NY and also worked on the construction of the Long Island Rail Road. The house was also a point on the Underground Railroad. Neriza and Fredrick's guests were treated to a gourmet dinner as family and friends mingled and explored this historical landmark.
The Sangeet
The next night, on June 21st, 2008, Guyanese Tassa drummers announced the arrival of the happy couple at their Sangeet, held at Akbar in Garden City, Long Island. Along with the couple, the bride's attendants were all decked out in matching saris. Celebrating the bride's heritage, guests dined on scrumptious Indian food while singing and dancing the night away. In addition, guests were also treated to entertainment by a professional Indian dancer. Guests also received a bevy of favors for the evening; from boxes of traditional Guyanese black cake to personalized satin pouches of bindiyas for women. Personalized matches along with Swedish crystal candle holders were shared as well. The floral arrangements were a multi-tiered three vase centerpiece that the guests were delighted to take home. All guests wore traditional Indian garb. The bride wore a custom designed fuschia and gold lengha while the groom wore a traditional white and gold sherwani.
The wedding was held on June 22, 2008 at the Venetian Yacht Club in Babylon, Long Island. The couple chose a non- denominational ceremony to be held outdoors overlooking the beautiful South Bay of Long Island. Guests filled the golden chairs decorated with hanging fresh roses as a melodic harpist filled the air with romantic music while the bridal party, and finally the bride, made her way down the aisle. The bride wore a couture Italian wedding gown with a cathedral veil lined with mother of pearls.
After the couple pledged their commitment to each other, their guests were lead to the Regency Suite for a lavish cocktail hour that included various passed hor d'oeuvres, two carving stations, a pasta bar and many seafood stations as well as a large selection of American and Italian dishes. The couple also took pictures with guests during the cocktail hour as people greeted each other.
After the cocktail hour, guests were lead upstairs to the State Suite at the Venetian Yacht Club. The golden hall with its marble dance floor, majestic ambiance and beautiful views of the South Bay set the tone for a truly memorable event. Each table had a towering arrangement of fresh flowers, beautiful place settings adorned with fresh orchids, jeweled menu cards, and a generous display of favors for the guests. For favors, the couple had satin wrapped crystal paperweights, engraved with their special day and in their wedding colors. In addition, each guest was treated to an individual gourmet cake from the exculsive NYC bakery Financier and a personalized bottle of wine. All of these elements set the tone for a truly platinum event.
Neriza and Frederick arrived to their sweethearts table, adorned with large fresh floral centerpieces so as to make the couple seem like they were in a garden. Family and friends then toasted the couple delivering heartfelt speeches. In particular, both mothers made speeches as both the bride and groom's fathers had passed away.
After speeches, guests dined on a five course gourmet meal that included an appetizer of grilled sea scallops with polenta, balsamic pear and fresh greens salad, lemon mint sorbet intermezzo, filet mignon with lobster (as well as 5 other main courses including roasted duck, grilled sea bass, rack of lamb, & a vegetarian dish), and finally the white chocolate and raspberry filled wedding cake was served with a chocolate and strawberry garnish. Lastly, the night concluded with a wonderful Viennese dessert display with a towering five tier chocolate fountain and a fresh flambé station along with cakes, cookies, warm apple pie, cheesecake, tarts, a make your own ice cream bar with toppings and an international cordial station. Guests dined and danced the night away.
As per Guyanese tradition, a Kanghan is an after-party celebrated the day after the reception. This is an opportunity for all guests to spend time together before saying their final farewells to the couple. The celebration was held at the bride's home in New York. At the Kanghan, traditional Guyanese cuisine was served as family and friends relaxed and recalled their memorable weekend.
The Honeymoon
After their tiring four day wedding, the couple escaped for a month of fun and relaxation in Reijkavic, Iceland and then went on to Paris & Reims, France and finally to Stockholm & Saltojobaden, Sweden.
Bridal Wisdom
Smile. Be kind to everyone - your family, your friends, your vendors. Remember that all of these wonderful people are here because they love you and care about you. All of these beautiful flowers are here to make you smile and to fragrance your day. All of this delicious food is here for you to enjoy; so enjoy it. Focus on your groom and be happy, come what may!
