“Jersey Shore”'s Jenni 'JWoww' Farley Marries Pro Wrestler Zack Carpinello in “Beauty and the Beast”-Inspired Wedding (Exclusive)

The couple describes their special day as "a modern fairy tale with a plot twist"

NEED TO KNOW

• Jersey Shore star Jenni “JWoww” Farley married professional wrestler Zack Carpinello in a surprise wedding on June 24 in Old Bridge, New Jersey
• Fifty guests arrived to Madison Modern Social expecting a movie screening, but quickly realized they were attending the couple’s Beauty and the Beast-inspired wedding
• “We wanted an unforgettable moment shared with our closest family and friends,” the bride tells PEOPLE

Surprise! Jenni "JWoww" Farley is married!

The Jersey Shore star invited 50 guests to what they believed was a special screening for her upcoming film, Nanny Cam, on Wednesday, June 24. From creating movie-themed invitations and signage to setting up a red carpet-style entrance, Farley and her now-husband, Zack Carpinello, worked together to fool their loved ones into believing they were celebrating the film. In reality, everyone was gathered to witness their "I dos."

"We envisioned a small, meaningful celebration focused on the people who matter most to us," Farley tells PEOPLE. "We weren’t interested in throwing the biggest wedding possible. We wanted an unforgettable moment shared with our closest family and friends. The goal was creating memories, not creating a production."

She continues, "More than anything, we wanted the day to feel authentic to us. The surprise element, the family focus, and the intimate guest list all allowed us to create something personal and meaningful."

When guests arrived at Madison Modern Social in Old Bridge, New Jersey, they were welcomed by their local mayor, who doubled as the wedding officiant and announced the surprise.

Farley, 41, and Carpinello, 31, told PEOPLE ahead of their celebration that watching everyone's reactions to the big reveal was the moment they were most excited for. They shared, "We’ve spent months keeping this secret, creating invitations, planning the movie-themed details, and building the surprise. Seeing our family and friends go from thinking they’re attending a special screening for Nanny Cam to realizing they’re actually at our wedding will be a moment we’ll never forget."

Instead of walking down the aisle, the bride and groom made their grand entrance to different music. Carpinello — a longtime James Bond fan — popped out to "The Name's Bond..James Bond," composed by David Arnold for Casino Royale. Meanwhile, Farley chose the same Lana Del Rey song as Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi's first dance at her wedding, "Young and Beautiful." She says, "It’s a tribute to my best friend."

The couple chose to tie the knot at the contemporary restaurant rather than a traditional wedding venue because it allowed them to "focus on the moment itself instead of the pressure and expense that often comes with weddings."

Deep ruby reds, rose gold accents, candlelight, and romantic florals added a touch of elegance to the warm atmosphere. Farley explains, "The overall inspiration was a modern Beauty and the Beast fairy tale with a dark romance twist."

"Ruby became the thread that tied everything together," she continues. "From my ruby ring and Zack’s new rose gold wedding band featuring rubies, to our color palette and the gifts we incorporated for our children, the ruby represented love, family, and the next chapter of our story."

The reality TV star shares two children with her ex-husband, Roger Mathews: 11-year-old daughter Meilani and 10-year-old son Greyson. Farley and Carpinello wanted the kids to feel "celebrated and included every step of the way." The professional wrestler gave his stepdaughter a ruby birthstone ring, while Greyson received a soccer-themed gift.

"This wedding is about our family, not just the two of us," the couple shares, noting, "We wanted the day to celebrate not only our love story but also the family we’ve built together over the last seven years."

Although the duo grew up just one town apart, they didn't start dating until years later. The wrestler proposed on top of the Empire State Building in New York City on Farley's 36th birthday in 2021. She recalls, "It was incredibly thoughtful and made an already special day even more meaningful. Birthdays had become difficult for me because of the loss of family members over the years, and he wanted to create a happy memory that I could look forward to every year."

Farley and Carpinello chose to exchange a mix of traditional and handwritten vows on the 24th because the number falls right between their birthdays — Feb. 27 and Dec. 21, respectively — symbolizing them coming together as one.

"We wanted the day to feel personal, memorable, and full of joy, and there’s something really special about sharing such a meaningful surprise with the people we love most," they tell PEOPLE.

Farley wanted her wedding attire to be "romantic, timeless, and worthy of a modern fairy tale," and Castle Couture helped bring that vision to life. Her ceremony gown was "the perfect balance of elegance and drama." Her hair and makeup was done by Kat Fell and Kristen Gallo, respectively.

Saying "I do" was the easiest part.

"Zack has always loved me exactly as I am," Farley says. "He’s supportive, patient, and puts family first."

Carpinello adds, "I love Jenni's bold confidence and ambition on life, but also humorous and softer side that she pretty much only shows me!"

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The "intimate, romantic, family-centered, and completely unexpected" wedding celebration consisted of nonstop dancing and mingling. All food and drink, including a specialized drink menu created by Farley, was passed around to guests so that they didn't have to leave the dance floor or fuss over a formal dinner.

"We wanted our guests to enjoy an elevated restaurant experience with great food, cocktails, and an intimate atmosphere that felt more like a family celebration than a traditional wedding reception," the couple says.

Slices of the couple's multi-tiered wedding cake, which featured elegant draping and deep red roses to tie into the dark romance and Beauty and the Beast theme were served for dessert. The cake was created by the bride's friends from Confections Of A Rockstar.

Farley and Carpinello will kick off newlywed life by traveling to Italy and Switzerland with their closest pals. From there, the couple says they look forward to "more family adventures, continued growth together, and creating a lifetime of memories with our children, family, and friends."

Additional Credits:
Photography: Anthony Serrantonio
Videography: Mark Esposito 
Ring: Castle Couture Fine Jewelry
Florals: Fine Flowers
DJ and Photo Booths: Magic Moments
Backdrop: Boppin Balloons
Gelato Cart, Vespa and Cannoli Bar: Prima Gelateria Events
Cigar Roller: The Cigar Host
Limo: Ross Limo
59 Convertible: Gold Coast Cadillac, Bill Camastro, Joe Puleo

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