Real Wedding: Monika & Charles
From their first meeting, Charles Cronin and Monika Kierach shared a storybook romance, so it seems only fitting that their wedding took place at a destination straight out of a fairytale—a picturesque stone castle on the edge of stunning Lake George. It’s rare that two people know they’re meant for each other, but this couple felt sparks immediately when their eyes met across a bar in New York City. That night, despite the fact that he lived in Albany, he agreed to travel to her hometown of Chicago for a second date the following weekend. When they reunited at a cozy restaurant, it became clear that they had a future. “Our eyes locked, conversation stopped, and we fell in love in that moment,” says Monika. Refusing to let distance get in the way, the couple continued their relationship with constant phone calls and flights back and forth between their respective cities, spending every weekend together.
They soon created their own romantic traditions, such as the daily letter Charles wrote to Monika—a routine that he used to his advantage when he decided to propose. During a trip to Big Sur, a spectacular destination along the Northern California coast, Charles handed Monika her letter as they sat at the beach one afternoon. But this time, he followed it quickly with another note, which simply said, “I now have a question you must answer.” The slight confusion she felt disappeared as he handed her a small box and asked if she would marry him. “It was a beautiful moment,” says Monika.
The couple had little trouble deciding on their ideal spot to get married. Both had visited and loved Lake George, a crystal clear lake in New York’s Adirondacks—and thought a winter landscape sparkling with snow would make a perfect backdrop for their wedding. In addition, Monika says the couple knew they “wanted to get married in a castle.” Enter the historic Inn at Erlowest Castle, a Queen Anne-style stone castle built in 1898 that houses a luxurious inn and gourmet restaurant, where the couple’s good friend, Angelo Mazzone, is the director of catering. They describe the chance to work closely with him, and Susan Baker, the wedding planner with Mazzone’s team, as a great experience that helped make their day more special.
For the day of the wedding, Monika and Charles strictly avoided any stuffy traditions. “We just wanted to share great food and laughter with our closest friends and family,” says Monika. “We chose to have one large, long table for the reception so that we were all sitting together, just as if we were at home.” The event kicked off with a festive cocktail reception to give Monika and Charles the chance to mingle with guests before the formal ceremony began.
A vivid color palette of orange, green, crimson, and gold warmed the setting at every turn, from the floral arrangements to the linens. Monika describes the event design by Renaissance Floral as “absolutely exquisite and perfect.” In the ceremony tent, the wedding colors turned up in lavish pedestal arrangements of flowers that punctuated the aisle; in this serene setting, the couple shared a short but very romantic exchange of vows presided over by their friend Judge William McCarthy.
Monika’s advice to other brides is to choose vendors you’ll enjoy working with, and communicate what you want clearly. “Stay involved, but let the professionals do their job,” she says. “Don’t get so engrossed with details that you can’t enjoy your day.” Enjoyment turned out to be the easy part for Monika and Charles, particularly during their first dance together. “We had been taking lessons to dance the tango at our wedding, and everything was perfect until we both forgot our steps in the middle. Charles said, ‘Just follow me,’ and we went on, and as we neared the end, I said, ‘Dip me,’ and nobody even knew we made a mistake. It turned out to be amazing.” One thing is for sure: Whether it’s living in different cities or finishing the tango, this couple won’t let anything interrupt their chance to dance together.