A Castle, Regal-Inspired Wedding At Oheka Castle In Huntington, New York

Figen Gungor and Joseph Annuziato were introduced through a mutual friend and had a week’s worth of phone conversations prior to meeting for a dinner date.

Fig was overly eager with anticipation and excited to meet Joey after having had so many great phone conversations. She was less than impressed with his first in-person impression. “We met on May 28th, 2012, our official first date… remembers Fig 'and it was a total bomb!' Joey was so nervous that he didn’t act like himself." 

Fig was sure he was not “the one” and ready for that date to be over. When it was, Fig was certain she had seen the last of Joey. But he didn’t give up. He was so persistent that Fig later agreed to a “first date do-over.” Thankfully, that date was wonderful. Joey gave Fig a card on their wedding day, to mark the occasion of that date that read “I’ve loved you for 815 days.”

The couple had celebrated their one year dating anniversary at Oheka Castle with a decadent dinner. They immediately fell in love with the magical property. They found it so special in so many ways. While they were touring the property during their anniversary celebration, they met another couple that was planning their wedding at Oheka later that summer. During a brief conversation with them, they insisted that, if Fig and Joey did get engaged and married, Oheka was an exquisite venue.

Once they were engaged, it wasn’t long before Fig took both her mom and Joe’s mom to see the Castle. When they saw it, they were equally overwhelmed by the property’s beauty and majesty. Since the couple and their immediate families were from Long Island, Fig and Joey knew Oheka was the perfect place for them in every way. They also knew they wanted an early fall wedding, so they decided Oheka Castle was the place for their wedding celebration.

“Long before our wedding day,” remembers Fig “our lavish, custom wedding invitations set the tone for our wedding weekend. The waterfront welcome dinner at Prime Restaurant the night before the wedding set the stage for a beautiful experience for everyone that celebrated with us throughout the weekend.”

On the day of the wedding, a harpist and violinist playing classical music welcomed guests as they arrived and Veuve Cliquot champagne was served in vintage coupe glasses that fromed a six foot tower. The ceremony took place outside in the majestic water gardens on the Oheka grounds under a beautiful sunset. Cocktail hour followed the ceremony, which was held both indoors and outside.

A formal dinner was served in the Grand Ballroom designed with three–sixty foot tables to accommodate 180 guests. The tables were covered with custom linens in champagne and emerald green silk, perfectly arranged dinnerware, glassware, flatware and menus complemented with silk napkins adorned with emerald green brooches. Lush flower arrangements adorned the tables.

A vintage French band played background music throughout the meal prepared by Oheka’s Master Chef Chris Cappello. Dinner was followed by an all out dance party in the Terrace room. A decadent dessert display prepared by Oheka’s Master Pastry Chef Daniel Andreotti was literally the icing on the cake. The night ended in Oheka’s Library with cordials, a cigar roller, a jazz pianist and a mobile food truck stocked with every candy and treat imaginable.

Fig and Joey reserved all 32 rooms in the estate to accommodate an overnight stay with their closest friends and family. Every overnight guest received a custom silk hatbox inscribed with the couple’s wedding monogram, filled with Prosecco and snacks to enjoy during their stay.

“A farewell brunch the following day was the perfect way to end, what we can only be described as the weekend of a lifetime” says Fig. “We wanted to spoil our guests at every turn and we accomplished our goal.”