They say that you’ll run into the person you’re meant to be with only when you least expect it. “I wasn’t looking for a relationship,” says Pia Toscano. However, when she met Jimmy R.O. Smith, she was immediately taken. They didn’t have a traditional introduction: Pia, who’d been a contestant on the tenth season of the hit TV singing competition American Idol, was a backup singer for pop superstar Jennifer Lopez in the summer of 2014 when she first laid eyes on Jimmy, who danced in the show. “The most memorable part of our first meeting was his southern charm,” muses Pia. “He would go out of his way to get me coffee every day, even though he doesn’t drink it.” Soon, the two became official.

Jimmy popped the question at the duo’s favorite restaurant. As champagne was delivered to the table, Pia noticed that the lights were dimming and the tune of “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran began playing throughout the room. “He kept asking me to dance with him, but of course, I was oblivious as to what was happening, so I kept saying ‘NO,’” Pia laughs. “I was too shy to dance in the middle of the restaurant. He asked me a few more times and when I continued to decline, he said, ‘well, if you won't dance with me, then will you marry me?’” In complete shock, Pia’s mouth fell open while she stared at her beau. With the eyes of every other restaurant goer on her, she excitedly accepted.

With their busy performance schedules, the couple quickly realized that they had limited date options. “Our only month off was in January, so we just had to decide whether we wanted a winter wedding in Los Angeles or in my hometown of New York,” explains the bride. “Neither of my grandmothers can travel by plane and I love the feel of NYC around the holidays, so we chose New York!” With help from her wedding planner and creative director, the pair designed their dream nuptials. 

When the day finally arrived, Pia donned a beautifully unique bridal gown custom-made for her, featuring a deep V-neckline, long and flowing sleeves, a low back, and intricate lace designs and embellishments throughout. She wore a crystal headpiece as a crown atop her brunette locks, which were affixed in a braided, loose bun. Jimmy – sporting a smart champagne-and black ensemble – met his beautiful bride for their “first look” and posed with her for a photo shoot in the New York space.

All of the pair’s 185 guests looked quite similar on the wedding day. “We asked that the women be dressed in a shade of winter white to honor the bride and that the men be dressed in black to honor the groom,” shares Pia. As their supporting friends and family looked on, Pia walked down the aisle in the opulent, indoor ceremony space to join Jimmy underneath a rustic-chic wooden arch adorned with miniature ivory blooms and green foliage. Following their vows, the party moved to the reception, which featured classic and romantic white tablescapes with textured linens and low arrangements of snowy blossoms. “I wanted to keep the décor on more of a neutral side with some pops of gold: classy and glamorous!” she notes.

Both being trained entertainer, it should not have been a shock to anyone that both of the newlyweds planned surprise performances for one another. Pia belted out a lovely ballad, “Say You Won’t Let Go,” to her new husband before their first dance. Jimmy’s own surprise came during the father-daughter dance. “The ultimate highlight of the night was when my dad and I were dancing to ‘My Girl,’ and all of a sudden, Jimmy and his groomsmen came out dancing as the Temptations,” Pia gushes. “Jimmy tossed my father the microphone and he busted out singing! It was epic!” After enjoying a delicious family-style Italian dinner, revelers not only got a taste of the couple’s grand, seven-tier, gold-and-white confection, but were also lead into a sprawling indoor dessert garden. “It was out of this world! It looked like an enchanted garden of sweets – it even had a popcorn bar in there with all unique flavors that you would never expect!” she tells.

Pia’s advice to engaged duos is simple and sweet: “Enjoy every moment. Remember that it’s great to have a big beautiful wedding, but it's more important to have a beautiful marriage full of love. Place more emphasis on that!”