Take a crazy cool locale like 501 Union and add in a fab team of vendors (I’m looking at you, READYLUCK), plus a stunning duo that knows a thing or two about saying “I do” in style and the results are this: a vintage-inspired Brooklyn affair almost too pretty to believe. Think awe-inspiring captures + fall-hued everything. Head to The Vault for every ounce of pretty.
From The Bride…We had a tall order for our fall wedding: throw an amazing party with a chic, early 20th century vibe to match our Brooklyn venue, 501 Union, while incorporating elements of a British groom, Nebraskan bride, our New York City life, and a love for all things trivia. And we definitely didn’t want traditional.
We had a lot of help pulling our wedding together! We were so lucky to have talented friends, parents, and amazing vendors around us. The design was mostly black and gold, and with the help of our incredible florist, Alexandra Abruza, we added lush tropical palms, pops of fuchsia, and a variety of ferns in antique bottles. She wrapped my grandmother’s 1930s beaded bridal headpiece around the stems of my bouquet, which made my grandmother’s eyes light up when she saw it. We couldn’t have pulled the night off (or the months leading up to it) without the help of our wedding planner, Melissa McNeeley, who lined the aisle with vintage Persian runners, and designed unique, vintage-inspired spaces throughout the venue to create different atmospheres (and photo ops!) for our guests.
I wore the “Lenox” dress by Amsale, and I kind of wish I could wear it every day. Styles on B did incredible hair, with gorgeous makeup by Anni Bruno at NYC Faces. (One of my bridesmaids even kept the same hair and makeup for brunch the next morning… seriously impressive.)
We were really focused on personalizing the night for our guests as much as possible. Drink stirrers in our signature cocktail contained fun facts about our families and wedding parties (we had the best time writing those), and we used trivia and inside jokes with our guests as an inspiration for the table names. Each guest received an escort card with a question – the answer to which was their dinner table placement. Custom-cut table names (such as “Bruce Springsteen,” “West Village,” “Phil Collins,” and others), had meaning to the people seated at each table. Melissa and her team designed these elements beautifully, and they topped the tables with vintage playing cards in reference to my husband’s love of poker.
People raved about the dinner catered by Betty Brooklyn, and I’ve never seen such amazing catering staff. I’m dying to eat the top of the cake provided by Nine Cakes that we’ve been saving in our freezer for our one-year anniversary. Yes, I am proud of myself for not having eaten it yet.
But what really made the wedding was the people! Thanks to our super talented photographer, Eddie Winter from Readyluck, so many personalities, hilarious moments, and friendships were captured in the most beautiful pictures. He really knows how to capture a moment and the feeling of it, and we adore our photos. Our DJ, Justin Carter, aka Mr. Saturday Night, had people dancing all night, and people are still talking about how great the music was. In a homage to my husband’s Australian parents, we topped off the night with a food truck serving Australian hand-held pies to the guests. It was an amazing night!
Photography: Readyluck | Event Planning: Events By Melissa McNeeley | Floral Design: Alexandra Abuza | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Cake: Nine Cakes | Invitations: Ashley Page Norton | Catering: Betty Brooklyn Catering Co. | Makeup: NYC Faces | Hair: Styles On B | DJ: Mister Saturday Sound | Band: The Lowdown Stoppers | Venue: 501 Union | Painter: Mike Rohner | Rentals: Patina