Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers Wedding from Brklyn View Photography
Understated elegance is my end-all be-all. Plain and simple. So when I come across a wedding like this beauty at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers by Brklyn View Photography, my heart immediately surrenders to all the pretty. I can't help myself. I wave my wedding-loving white flag proud, and plan the rest of my day around every chic moment sitting in this gallery. The entire affair is simply the epitome of style, and when the beautiful Bride just so happens to be the PR darling of the TODAY Show, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. See every stylish second here.
From brklyn view... The two southerners met in New York City, and for their wedding, they wanted to bring a relaxed southern feel to the urban loft finish of New York City’s Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. The venue’s sweeping views of the Hudson River combined with classic touches of the South made for a memorable night for the 220 guests that gathered for the event. Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb even chatted about the wedding on the TODAY show (starting at 1:15).
Many elements of southern style were incorporated into the affair, from the food and music to the decor and attire including: magnolia, gardenia, mason jars, luminaries, bow-ties, burlap, twine, grits and good bourbon.Since the couple tied the knot on a Friday night, it was essential to them to create a party-like celebration from beginning to end. Guests were first greeted at the ceremony with glasses of champagne, wine and cocktails to enjoy during the traditional Methodist service. Cocktail hour was filled with hearty hors d'oeuvres and plentiful cocktails (including a specialty Tea Time: Grey Goose Le Citron, St. Germaine, iced tea, and fresh lemon), and the reception started and ended with lots of dancing. The music was the most important element to the couple, and the Michael Hart band played nonstop through the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The ceremony music was done on piano, horn and acoustic guitar and the processional included the Hawaiian version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and In My Life by The Beatles. The bridal attendants walked down the aisle to Lean On Me by Bill Withers, and the bride walked to Pachelbel's Cannon in D. The guests sang the hymn, Morning Has Broken during the service, and Stevie Wonder's Signed Sealed Delivered was played as the recessional. The couple’s first dance was Jambalaya (On the Bayou) by Hank Williams, the father/daughter dance was Take It Easy by The Eagles, and the mother/son Dance was to How Sweet it Is by James Taylor. The band kept guests on the dance floor all night playing an upbeat mix of pop, soul, funk, R&B, and classic southern oldies. Their rendition of Michael Jackson's Thriller was a showstopper, and the TODAY show’s Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales joined the bride on the dance floor for a rowdy version of Gangnam Style.
Adding to the party-like atmosphere was a Polaroid Photo Booth where guests took Polaroids and clipped them with mini clothespins on twine draped between two ladders. Props from the couples alma matters included the bride's Carolina blue pom poms from her days as a cheerleader at UNC Chapel Hill, a Georgia Bulldog foam sign from the groom's school, UGA, and an original Jerry Stackhouse jersey that the groom gave the bride as a Christmas present when they first started dating. During the reception, white light-up "diamond" rings were passed out to the guests and when the party was in full swing, inflatable microphones and instruments, and mini tambourines were circulated and joyfully utilized on the dance floor.
For the menu, Abigail Kirsch designed several stations of the couple’s favorite foods: Soul Food Stations with shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, crunchy bayou chicken, truffled mac and cheese, collard greens and homemade biscuits. Taco Stand Stations with braised pork tacos, grilled mahi tacos and vegetable tacos, chipotle cheese fries and margarita sippers. Slider Stations with pulled beef sliders, lump crab cake sliders, grilled portabella sliders, regular and sweet potato fries and cole slaw. The groom’s cake was made by the couple’s favorite bakery, NYC's Sweet Revenge and was designed as two suitcases with a one way ticket to symbolize the couples' years of long distance dating and the groom's eventual move from Atlanta to New York.Notable wedding guests included Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Ann Curry, Lester Holt, Amy Robach, Andrew Shue, Bobbie Thomas (bridesmaid), Sara Haines and Jill Martin.
Photography: Brklyn View Photography | Second Photographer: Angela Newton Roy | Band: The Michael Hart Band, Hank Lane | Brides Dress: Kleinfeld | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Dress Designer: Amanda Wakeley | Hair: Laura Bonanni Castorino | Videographer:David Seth Cohen | Wedding Venue: Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers | Floral Design: SPINA | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Makeup: Mary Kahler | Invitations: Empress Stationary, Birmingham, Alabama | Calligraphy: The groom's mother, Cathy Stackhouse | Programs and Welcome Bags: Paper Source | Videographer: Seth David Cohen | Reverend: Family friend, Dr. Richard H. Ciordia | Wedding party attire: The bridesmaids each wore a black dress of their own choosing | Bowties: Carrot & Gibbs | Grooms Cake: Sweet Revenge | Bride’s Farewell Dress: Milly | Bride’s Farewell Shoes: Christian Louboutin | White Light Up Rings: Jazzy Lites | Inflatable instruments: 4Funparties.com | Champagne Flute Bubbles: A Little Favor
Many elements of southern style were incorporated into the affair, from the food and music to the decor and attire including: magnolia, gardenia, mason jars, luminaries, bow-ties, burlap, twine, grits and good bourbon.Since the couple tied the knot on a Friday night, it was essential to them to create a party-like celebration from beginning to end. Guests were first greeted at the ceremony with glasses of champagne, wine and cocktails to enjoy during the traditional Methodist service. Cocktail hour was filled with hearty hors d'oeuvres and plentiful cocktails (including a specialty Tea Time: Grey Goose Le Citron, St. Germaine, iced tea, and fresh lemon), and the reception started and ended with lots of dancing. The music was the most important element to the couple, and the Michael Hart band played nonstop through the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The ceremony music was done on piano, horn and acoustic guitar and the processional included the Hawaiian version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and In My Life by The Beatles. The bridal attendants walked down the aisle to Lean On Me by Bill Withers, and the bride walked to Pachelbel's Cannon in D. The guests sang the hymn, Morning Has Broken during the service, and Stevie Wonder's Signed Sealed Delivered was played as the recessional. The couple’s first dance was Jambalaya (On the Bayou) by Hank Williams, the father/daughter dance was Take It Easy by The Eagles, and the mother/son Dance was to How Sweet it Is by James Taylor. The band kept guests on the dance floor all night playing an upbeat mix of pop, soul, funk, R&B, and classic southern oldies. Their rendition of Michael Jackson's Thriller was a showstopper, and the TODAY show’s Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales joined the bride on the dance floor for a rowdy version of Gangnam Style.
Adding to the party-like atmosphere was a Polaroid Photo Booth where guests took Polaroids and clipped them with mini clothespins on twine draped between two ladders. Props from the couples alma matters included the bride's Carolina blue pom poms from her days as a cheerleader at UNC Chapel Hill, a Georgia Bulldog foam sign from the groom's school, UGA, and an original Jerry Stackhouse jersey that the groom gave the bride as a Christmas present when they first started dating. During the reception, white light-up "diamond" rings were passed out to the guests and when the party was in full swing, inflatable microphones and instruments, and mini tambourines were circulated and joyfully utilized on the dance floor.
For the menu, Abigail Kirsch designed several stations of the couple’s favorite foods: Soul Food Stations with shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, crunchy bayou chicken, truffled mac and cheese, collard greens and homemade biscuits. Taco Stand Stations with braised pork tacos, grilled mahi tacos and vegetable tacos, chipotle cheese fries and margarita sippers. Slider Stations with pulled beef sliders, lump crab cake sliders, grilled portabella sliders, regular and sweet potato fries and cole slaw. The groom’s cake was made by the couple’s favorite bakery, NYC's Sweet Revenge and was designed as two suitcases with a one way ticket to symbolize the couples' years of long distance dating and the groom's eventual move from Atlanta to New York.Notable wedding guests included Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Ann Curry, Lester Holt, Amy Robach, Andrew Shue, Bobbie Thomas (bridesmaid), Sara Haines and Jill Martin.
Photography: Brklyn View Photography | Second Photographer: Angela Newton Roy | Band: The Michael Hart Band, Hank Lane | Brides Dress: Kleinfeld | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Dress Designer: Amanda Wakeley | Hair: Laura Bonanni Castorino | Videographer:David Seth Cohen | Wedding Venue: Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers | Floral Design: SPINA | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Makeup: Mary Kahler | Invitations: Empress Stationary, Birmingham, Alabama | Calligraphy: The groom's mother, Cathy Stackhouse | Programs and Welcome Bags: Paper Source | Videographer: Seth David Cohen | Reverend: Family friend, Dr. Richard H. Ciordia | Wedding party attire: The bridesmaids each wore a black dress of their own choosing | Bowties: Carrot & Gibbs | Grooms Cake: Sweet Revenge | Bride’s Farewell Dress: Milly | Bride’s Farewell Shoes: Christian Louboutin | White Light Up Rings: Jazzy Lites | Inflatable instruments: 4Funparties.com | Champagne Flute Bubbles: A Little Favor