A Moody Supper Club-Themed Wedding at Giuseppe & Sons
The couple wanted the party to feel like an evening out with friends.
Steven Borzillo and Chris Vericella held their Giuseppe & Sons wedding on Leap Day. Photography by Elizabeth Gibbs Photography
We, like you, are looking forward to the day (hopefully soon!) when we can once again celebrate Big Days at Philly’s coolest restaurants. Till then, we’re honoring those that took place in the past — like this Giuseppe & Sons wedding, held on Leap Day 2020. It was one of the last restaurant weddings before the pandemic hit, and it was a beautiful ode to the things the couple holds dear. Elizabeth Gibbs Photography captured all the poignant moments. Check them out below.
“Sure beats working!” It’s an inside joke for NoLibs couple Chris Vericella and Steven Borzillo, who got to know each other through the commercial real estate firm where they worked. Steve, who hails from Malvern, visited the Chicago offices where Chris was located, but it wasn’t until about two years after they first met, when he was again in town (for a bachelor party), that they spent significant time together: Steve posted on Instagram; Chris commented, and Steve’s “beats working!” answer made history. “I couldn’t have had a more lame response,” he says.
Regardless, they spent a whirlwind few days soaking up each other’s company. Steve proposed a year later, on a trip to Japan — a special place for Chris, who had planned to go there with her brother, John, before he unexpectedly passed away.
The duo chose February 29th, 2020, for their wedding — they thought it would be fun to get married on Leap Day — but the six months beforehand weren’t easy for the bride. “Knowing John wasn’t going to be a part of it was very tough,” she says. “He would have wanted us to have an amazing time, so I kept that in the back of my head.” And they are glad that their quick timeline worked out: “It forced us to be decisive,” says Chris. “We were one of the last weddings before the pandemic.”
The couple said “I do” at St. Patrick’s Church; the bride carried a loose-mound bouquet with burgundy Fuji mums, scabiosa, ranunculus, dusty pink lisianthus, hypericum tinted navy, green ball dianthus, magenta stocks, green hanging amaranthus, thistle, and variegated pittosporum. The stems were wrapped in a blue silk tie from John.
Afterward, the party walked to Giuseppe & Sons for the reception, which felt more like an evening out with friends. “I was against having a ‘traditional’ wedding in that I didn’t want Steve and me to feel obligated to do certain things,” says Chris.
The couple kept the decor simple to allow the restaurant’s look to provide the backdrop to their supper-club-themed celebration. “I appreciate the service more than anything,” says Steve. “The attention to detail was exceptional.” Each seat featured the three-course menu and a hangover kit for a favor.
Their thoughtful, honest soiree also had a convivial atmosphere, Italian desserts instead of cake, Don Julio 1942 (the 135 guests cleaned the restaurant out), and an Instagram-worthy neon sign from Etsy. It was secured to a wall made from faux greenery and placed in the private Sinatra Room, which became a popular spot throughout the reception. The best part? It bore their signature phrase — one that will make them smile for the rest of their lives.
THE DETAILS
Photographer: Elizabeth Gibbs Photography | Venues: St. Patrick’s Church & Giuseppe & Sons | Planning/Design: Beth Koenig of Schulson Collective | Florals: Wegmans (Cherry Hill) | Catering & Desserts: Giuseppe & Sons | Bride’s Gown: Vintage Vera Wang from TheRealReal | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair & Makeup: The Philly Hair & Makeup Co. | Groom’s Attire: Sport coat from Zara, slacks from Bonobos, shirt from Suitsupply, bow tie from Hugo Boss, smoking shoes from Men’s Wearhouse | Entertainment: The Other Wedding DJ (Chris Ward) | Invitations: ShineInvitations from Etsy
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