From Radio City to Right Here in Bucks County

There is so much talent nestled right here in beautiful Bucks County, including one incredible dancer who will grace the stage this Friday for her 11th year with the Radio City Hall Rockettes. Taylor Shimko started those high kicks right out of high school after training in many styles of dance at The Dance Academy in Holland, PA. This is technically her twelfth year with the company but 11th as a Rockette due to the cancellation of the Christmas Spectacular last year. In her off year, something else spectacular happened- she got engaged. Taylor has given Happenings Media a first hand peek into her bridal journey. See below how she found her perfect Bucks County venue and stay with us as we follow that bride all year as she dances her way to the alter.

Hi! I’m Taylor

Hi! I’m Taylor, a New Jersey native who has grown up loving Bucks County so much that in just a few weeks I’ll be moving to Yardley. In the midst of moving into a new home, I am also in the process of planning a wedding! These moments are ones I’ve dreamt of since I was a child. My fiancé, Matt, and I recently got engaged on an epic vacation in Greece. An already incredible trip became one I would never forget, topping all of my expectations for how he would someday pop the question. After a twelve hour travel day, we were welcomed home by our parents who were so excited to finally be able to talk about the proposal that Matt had been planning for almost three months.

We were in no rush to start planning a wedding and were just looking to enjoy being engaged, so we figured we would start looking at venues in January since we were still house hunting.  Reality quickly set in when I had heard that many local venues were booking up through 2023 due to Covid-19 rescheduling… so the search began! When it came time to search for a venue, we knew we wanted to celebrate in either New Jersey or Pennsylvania since both of our families are local. We also discussed seasons and knew we had to avoid fall and most of winter due to my career with the Rockettes. Matt and I agreed that a Saturday evening in May or June would be ideal. As far as style, I wanted to avoid the typical banquet wedding, instead I was on the hunt for a place with character and charm. I also had always dreamt of a beautifully scenic location that would make for a picturesque outdoor ceremony. And most importantly, we were only considering venues that held one wedding a day.

Picking Her Perfect Venue

We began our search using Bucks Happening’s “Happening List” as well as The Knot; I emailed probably 20 venues in one day! Just 2 weeks after getting engaged we had 4 tours scheduled which included Aldie Mansion, Holly Hedge Estate, The Bucks Club and Trenton Country Club. We toured these four venues plus two more in North Jersey before narrowing it down to HollyHedge Estate and Trenton Country Club. I made a spreadsheet to document details for each venue, including price, inclusions, add-ons, and capacity. We also realized that in case of inclement weather, the “Plan B” indoor ceremony option would hold quite a bit of weight in our final decision.

We mulled over this decision for 2 weeks. Trenton Country Club had more flexibility when it came to guest count, the ballroom is huge and overall it was less expensive. I loved the menu options and all the potential add-ons, especially the “departure snacks” that could include the likes of pork roll and cheese sandwiches or Philadelphia soft pretzels. But overall, Holly Hedge Estate gave me the FEELS! It had the charming, rustic vibe that I have grown to love. I could picture guests talking about how beautiful it was and could see myself walking down the aisle on the gorgeous brick terraced English garden. The indoor ceremony option in case of rain was also stunning, not the typical “Plan B”.

Back to the Bright Lights & Big City… for now

Matt and I made it official and plan to wed in May at Holly Hedge Estate. I think the hardest part is over, but I really have no idea! Thankfully, I think we can put a mini pause on wedding planning and get settled into our new home, just in time for my super busy holiday season. I’ll be back performing with the Rockettes for the Christmas Spectacular this year and can’t wait to celebrate my engagement with my fellow Rockettes. I’ve attended several weddings over the years and am eager to take in all of the tips and tricks when it comes to planning. Follow along my journey as I navigate the ins and outs of planning a wedding as a Bucks County Bride!

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