Every now and then we get one of those weddings. A wedding that makes you stop in your tracks and really pause. To soak up the simplicty, the sweetness, the love. To remember that weddings don’t have to be over the top to be beautiful. To remind you that love is a pretty thing and that if it can take center stage, well, you’ve done something really right. And this wedding, photographed to heartbreaking perfection by Chaz Cruz is just that. So very right. So very lovely. Click here to see even more.
And definitely be sure to watch this amazing video from Velare Imaginarium:
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From the Bride… After Curtis and I got engaged, we didn’t quite anticipate the work ahead. We spent a few months enjoying the winter and holidays. Six months before the wedding, we finally began our search for the perfect venue. Curtis is from Iowa and I am from Hong Kong, but both of us wanted a wedding near our current home in Brooklyn, New York. We were hoping to have roughly 80 guests and keep it intimate with close family and friends. On a freezing cold weekday morning, we traveled to the Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. We spoke with a staff member of Abigail Kirsch who showed us their amazing wedding menus. We were thrilled! Curtis and I are both foodies, and it was very important for us to make sure our guests would have incredible food. In addition, the Stone Mill has so much personality, and it is perfect for small weddings. Not to mention a breathtaking setup for the outdoor ceremony we dreamed of! Every detail feels natural and authentic. While the space was recently renovated, it maintains a modern rustic warmth. We found the one!
Curtis and I are both graphic designers, and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to design our own invites, menus and other printed pieces. Both coming from different cultures, we tried our best to create bilingual invites and created an online RSVP since a lot of guests were spread across the USA and China. To share our obsessions, in the invites we highlighted some favorite food spots in New York City for the guests to visit during their stay. Together we managed to plan the entire wedding in just five months with no wedding planner! Although there were many late nights and some testing of our relationship as soon-to-be-newlyweds… With some technical help from a few friends to film our save the date video and program our wedding, site we were able to design a wedding that truly spoke to our personalities.
To complement the selection of natural flowers, we added personal touches including painted jars, cookies from Hong Kong (they arrived via my mom’s suitcases!), quirky illustrations throughout the collateral, little hidden animal figurines on the reception tables, and a lot of silver sequins for a post-ceremony shower! We also made some personal props for the photo booth, which featured items related to Hong Kong and Iowa. In the end, it was the perfect setting for fun, laughter, hugs, dancing and “double” happiness!
Wedding Photography: Chaz Cruz Photographer / Wedding Venue: The Lillian and Amy Goldman Stone Mill at The New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, New York / Floral Design: Martin Jobes Design / Wedding Day Coordination, Catering + Wedding Cake: Abigail Kirsch / Wedding Decorations, Stationery, Signs + Cake Topper: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Cinematography: Tim Twinem of Velare Imaginarium / DJ: DJ RT of Scratch Weddings / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang “Hayden” / Bride’s Reception Dress: Matthew Williamson “Asymmetrical Shift Dress” / Chinese Gown Rental: New York Wedding Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu / Bride’s Hair Piece: Custom by Sabina KW Design / Hair: Takeo Suzuki / Makeup: Rie Hirabayashi / Groom’s Suit: J.Lindeberg (Spring/Summer 2012 in Indigo) / Groom’s Bow Tie: Forage / Groom’s Shoes: Florsheim by Duckie Brown / Groom’s Socks: Etiquette Clothiers