Liz Johnson, Director of Global Merchandising for Men’s Polo at Ralph Lauren, and Dan Cappetta first crossed paths while in college at Cornell at the same time. They knew of each other but didn’t share a friend group and were a few years apart. “He claims he had a crush on me, but I don’t believe him,” Liz laughs.
Years later, they ran into each other at a concert in New York. “Dan remembers being incredibly confused to see ‘his crush’ at a hip-hop show, which he said did not fit my vibe,” Liz shares. “I remember telling him I liked his ripped jeans, and his friends making fun of him.” From there, it all unfolded naturally.
Five years later, Dan proposed in Williamsburg. “The proposal was very simple, very intimate—very us!” Liz says. “Just me, him, and our golden retriever, Nala. I was out walking Nala, and Dan had our doorman hiding tons of flowers in the service elevator. They rushed them up while Nala and I were taking our walk, and when I came back, the apartment was filled with roses everywhere, candles lit, music playing, and he was waiting for me with the most beautiful engagement ring.”
Once engaged, Liz and Dan planned to marry at her family’s home on the North Fork of Long Island. “[It’s] a place that’s very special to me—I grew up going on the weekends—and one that has become so important in our relationship,” she says. Planning and design for the weekend were led by Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Planner Lyndsey Hamilton Events.
The weekend began with casual welcome drinks for a small group of family and friends on Thursday evening. On Friday, early arrivals gathered for a beachside lunch at Eddie’s at the Silver Sands Hotel, followed by a rehearsal dinner at The Halyard later that night. For the sunset fête, the bride-to-be wore an ethereal cape dress by Lanvin.
“Our goal for the wedding was to create a special and unique atmosphere that didn’t feel over the top or performative, so we tried to include personal touches to make the weekend feel one of a kind,” Liz says of her wedding vision. The reception venue, Duryea’s Orient Point, informed the décor—think rattan and citrus accents. “My mother took up pottery in retirement and has gotten quite good! She spent the year leading up to the wedding making more than 100 vases, painting them in citrus colors and patterns to display with our florals during dinner.” Every detail was designed to feel personal, tactile and entirely their own.
On September 9, 2023, Liz dressed in her custom Danielle Frankel dress, topping the look with Mizuki accessories and a pearl ear cuff—“to add a bit on edge!” she says. As for shoes, she chose a pearl-embellished pair by Jimmy Choo. Veronica Velez and Liana Le handled makeup and hair.
Liz then joined her bridesmaids for a few portraits alongside Over The Moon The List Photographer Collins Nai, before Liz and Dan shared a first look ahead of the ceremony.
The bride walked the aisle to Calum Scott’s “You Are The Reason.” Beneath a Wildflower Floral chuppah, the couple exchanged personal vows. “I was definitely nervous at first!” Liz exclaims. “I don’t love having all eyes on me. But the nerves subsided as I started walking down the aisle. I saw Dan crying at the chuppah, and then I cried, and then my parents cried—so it was basically a sob fest!”
Afterward, the celebrations continued at Duryea’s. “The beach club at Duryea’s feels like you’re transported to a Greek island. It’s a sandy beach right on the bay with beautiful rattan loungers and sofas,” the bride notes. Jason Fioto of Generation Events played from the on-site DJ booth, setting the tone for the evening. Guests enjoyed a seafood tower and passed hors d’oeuvres, including lobster sliders and tuna ceviche, “all of the best seafood that Duryea’s has to offer.”
After cocktail hour, everyone moved up to the dockside restaurant for a seated, family-style dinner detailed on the menu by Karli Strohschein Art. “The food was one of the highlights; having our wedding at our favorite restaurant did not disappoint,” she says.
Once dinner concluded, guests headed to the “dancing deck” on the far side of the restaurant underneath a custom Revolve Design Studio pergola. “With our crew of friends, it didn’t take long for the dance floor to get into full swing,” Liz shares. Jason returned to the DJ booth alongside a live violinist, drummer, and saxophonist. “The dance floor was absolutely packed until the pizza truck arrived at 12:30 a.m. Our favorite pizza on the North Fork, 1943 Pizza Bar, brought their famous ‘Rolling in Dough’ truck for a perfect late-night snack to finish off the evening.”
As the evening wrapped, guests grabbed slices of pizza and mingled on their way out. The Duryea’s staff displayed the vases the bride’s mother had made by hand, and guests took them home as parting gifts. “I love the fact that everyone has a piece of our wedding in their home on display,” Liz reflects.
After a few days to rest, the couple departed for Italy. They began their honeymoon in Ischia before continuing to Capri and finishing in Ravello. Liz remembers, “It was the most amazing way to relax, filled with pasta, wine, and the sea—just what we hoped for.”
