Stephanie Ruttura and Nick D’Erasmo aren’t quite high-school sweethearts—they actually go back much further than that. “We met in elementary school,” Stephanie says. “We were in the same fifth-grade class. We were crushing on each other on-and-off for years but started officially dating in high school.”
Nick had had a lot of time to think about how he’d like to propose, and he kept coming back to one particular place. “Often in the summers, we would watch the sunset at 67 Steps Beach in Greenport, New York, which is our favorite place to visit an unreal view,” he says. “Every time we went, I would think, ‘Wow, this would be a perfect place to propose one day.’” When he finally did, on a clear, hot summer day, Stephanie screamed, “Yes!” and beachgoers cheered them on.
The proposal locale had another sentimental touch—it is connected to the same beach as their one-day wedding venue. “We always knew we wanted to get married out East,” Stephanie says. “My family has spent summers there since I was little, and once Nick came into my life, it quickly became our favorite place together. Kontokosta Winery was always my dream venue—the perfect blend of East Coast charm, with views of the Long Island Sound and a beautiful vineyard at the front of the property.” They leaned into the theme with “See You Out East” as their wedding slogan—splashing it across the invites, welcome bags, and hats—and inviting guests for a three-day affair that included an intimate church ceremony on Thursday, welcome party on Friday, and wedding and reception on Saturday.
As a style-focused content creator, Stephanie thought the dress would be the easy part. But “even though I love fashion, finding the perfect wedding dress was very hard for me,” she says. “Nothing felt like me, or like it was right for an outdoor tented wedding.” But when she saw her new-season Mira Zwillinger dress online, things instantly clicked.
“Since it was a new style, it was traveling in a trunk show, so I had to hunt it down,” she remembers. “It just so happened to be in a wedding shop on Long Island for a few days—it was really meant to be! As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was the one—fashionable yet timeless and perfect for an outdoor wedding in Greenport.” (Yet, in the back of her mind, she’d always wanted to wear Monique Lhuillier, so she found three additional looks—for the church ceremony, reception, and welcome party, the latter a pink floral mini with a dramatic watteau train—by the designer.)
On July 20, 2024, Stephanie lounged in a LoveShackFancy dress while Elite Bridal Beauty gave her a slick bun and glowy natural makeup that felt summery and not too overdone. “The ceremony took place right on the bluff, facing the Long Island Sound and overlooking the beach,” Stephanie says. “Jenny from Wildflower Creative Inc. created a stunning basket arrangement of mixed flowers for us to stand in front of, making the setting even more beautiful.”
A guitar and violin duo played “A Thousand Years” as she walked down the aisle. “I felt calm and so ready to marry Nick,” she says. “I’ve known since I was 16 that I would marry him, and I was trying to just take in every moment that the day was finally here.” Her brother officiated the emotional ceremony. “We read our own vows, bringing everyone to tears,” Stephanie says. “We’ve been through so much together over the years—high school, going to separate colleges, a pandemic, and my struggle through some difficult years battling health issues. It was an unforgettable ceremony that I will cherish forever.”
The tented reception was a dream. Wicker lanterns and bistro lights were strung up beneath a sailcloth Stamford Tent, and a custom bar was adorned with the newlyweds’ floral crest. Pink linens and poppy florals topped tables. “We wanted the menu to reflect local seasonal items, so we had an heirloom tomato and local watermelon salad, followed by herb-roasted free-range chicken, local bass or pepper-crusted filet mignon,” Stephanie says. Dinner was served with Kontokosta wine. They skipped the traditional wedding cake in favor of a pie bar with delicious creations from nearby Briermere Farms.
Nick and Stephanie shared a first dance to "Young and Beautiful" Lana Del Rey and Cedric Gervais, which led into everyone joining them on the floor. “We had the most incredible hybrid DJ/band combo with singers from Generation Events," Stephanie shares. "The dancing did not stop all night.”
The bride changed into another Monique Lhuillier dress, this time with Miu Miu platforms, for the second half of the night. As the reception wound down, guests kept going. They threw on their “See You Out East” hats and boarded buses for an after-party in town.
