Calling all Summer House fans, boy do we have a treat for you. Like many of us, you may have tuned in to the explosive season finale as we finally got to witness Kyle and Amanda officially tie the knot! After a rollercoaster of a season, we couldn’t be more excited to bring you a behind the scenes look at what the cameras didn’t show you. We sat down with their amazing NYC-based planner (who actually planned my wedding, so I speak from experience!), Julie of Julie Lindenman Events to break down every unseen moment! Dying to found out more about that florist drama? How Amanda and Kyle actually felt the morning of? Plus a few hilarious bloopers!? Then keep on reading for an exclusive look, and don’t forget to head on over to the full gallery of details captured to perfection by Melissa Marshall!
One of the important conversations we had with the film crew was that we were planning a wedding for Amanda and Kyle and Bravo’s role was to remain as a “fly on the wall” – no input or anything “redone” for TV. This would be a live event/true to life as all real weddings are, and they were simply there to document it. Kyle and Amanda had this mindset from the get-go too, so the entire day was planned authentically to them and their love story. Kyle and Amanda are friends with the crew and are used to having cameras around them all the time but from a wedding production point of view, it added another element of pressure knowing we were being watched! So much goes on behind the scenes that guests never know about, and we weren’t sure what they planned to capture and show.
Most people are used to videographers at weddings, only the cameras are much smaller and the crew is typically two people. The TV crew was much harder to hide, so one thing we made sure of was that they all dressed the part (suits etc!) so they blended in as much as possible.
One of the first things I picked up on when I met Amanda and Kyle was how down to earth they both were. They’re authentic and good humored and they truly complement one another. They were both so invested in making sure their wedding weekend was great for their families and guests and they wanted to enjoy the process as much as possible (despite a ton of stress in their lives which the show highlighted!) Our first day meeting in the Batula’s backyard was a lot of fun. Kyle and Amanda were fostering puppies at the time and they had driven all of them to NJ so we could have this meeting together, and Amanda was simultaneously telling me about her wedding aesthetic, cleaning up puppy poo, and somehow looking beautiful without a stitch of makeup on. Both parts of that couple manage so much and make it look easy. They also did a great job of incorporating their parents into the planning process and decision making. Both Kyle’s and Amanda’s parents are so lovely; managing family dynamics can add another dimension to wedding planning, but theirs were part of the process throughout and it was fun to see how they added touches here and there for their respective families (making sure a “first look” with Amanda and her dad was added into the timeline, incorporating a mini lobster roll as a nod to Kyle’s New England upbringing – those types of things!)
I echo this – weddings can be so stressful, let alone during a pandemic, multiple postponements, coming down with COVID 2 weeks before your own wedding, and so many other planning hurdles we faced. Even the days prior to the wedding there was so much going on, but that day both Amanda and Kyle were cool as cucumbers and just went with the flow. They definitely were present on their wedding day and enjoyed being with their families and friends, taking it all in, and celebrating. It was fun to watch the first look unfold on the Summer House finale and see the emotions they both shared. There’s a whole lot of love between those two.
The first florist was not exactly someone in the wedding industry. During a floral presentation, we gave them feedback that they didn’t like and they abruptly backed out. A friend of Kyle and Amanda’s introduced Dearest Rachel and she moved mountains to be available and take on their wedding. Her style, personality, and approach were so much more in line with the clients’ and it ended up being a perfect fit. Later on Rachel and I realized we had actually worked together on her very first wedding years ago! She deserves good karma and endless bottles of champagne for coming through the way she did.
It was the peak of when those big red spotted lanternflies were making headlines about being an invasive species. All of the news said if you see one to kill it. I hadn’t seen a single one until I made the trip to NJ for the week – all week long I was smashing those bugs in their backyard! I didn’t want them making an entrance at the wedding!
I would say the client catching COVID 2 weeks before their wedding was just wild. All of the final things on their To Do list suddenly had to be done virtually since they had to quarantine. Dance lessons were even virtual! I’m just so glad they got better in time for the wedding (and tested negative of course!)
Working with Amanda and Kyle was a lot of fun – they both have a great sense of humor and are incredibly down to earth and sweet. They were really invested in their day fitting their vision, but had this incredibly calm and humble approach because of the hand they had been dealt being engaged through the pandemic. Amanda might go down in history as the chillest bride ever. She was so calm, she was even comforting me at one point! I watched them turn lemons into lemonade (or Loverboy?!) time and time again throughout the planning process. Between shuttle driver shortages, increased costs, unavailable rental product, and simultaneously filming their show all summer while working and planning a wedding, there was so much that could have gotten them down, but they stayed positive. When you manage so many ups and downs like that as a team you come out stronger than ever, and I feel like their support of one another really shone through. As the wedding neared we decided to add language to the menu cards with the help of Swell Press that read “We’ve waited 1,120 days for this, party accordingly” – and they did!
Mango Tree by Zac Brown Band. I had actually never heard of their song until they told me what it was and I absolutely loved it. It has the most romantic and sweet lyrics:
“I love you, Say that you love me too, And we can turn the whole world upside down, Just us two, Nobody else will do, ‘Cause baby, you’re the only one for me”
I might need them to answer this one! But I would say some of the cast members looked great. Personally I was a fan of Andrea Denver’s look. I also loved the bridal party’s attire, I’m a sucker for a champagne dress and all of them were beautiful.
Also fun to note that both Amanda and Kyle had outfit changes – it made for some awesome late night photos!
From where I was standing, Kyle. But they both got emotional at different times throughout the day/night. During the ceremony I caught Amanda wiping away Kyle’s tears – if that isn’t the sign of amazing and heartfelt vows I don’t know what is.
Carl did an amazing job as wedding officiant. For someone who had spent years witnessing their journey, he seemed like the perfect person to marry them.
Everyone had so much fun. I didn’t even know until seeing the photos that one of the band members penetrated the crowd and was doing splits on the dance floor! People were being lifted up, drinks were flowing, the dance floor was packed… at the end of the night no one wanted to leave! We finally transitioned to an outdoor after party on the Batula’s stone patio so that we could start the event breakdown. There was a DJ and we tray-passed milk bar treats.
More from Julie Lindenman Events… When I met Amanda and Kyle in 2021, they had already had 3 other venues and 5 other dates from pandemic postponements and changes. It was time to find a new plan and get married already! They wanted a fail safe option and Amanda’s parents’ home in New Jersey became just that. They chose the backyard where we would first meet and measure for a sailcloth tent as the backdrop and we decided to map the entire day out from there.
Their original venue was sleek and had views of the city, so we wanted to incorporate that New York style into a backyard celebration. Sophisticated and modern in style, Amanda was really drawn to the color teal – it kept showing up in all of her inspiration! She also loved neutrals and romantic touches, so the design became a marriage of modern, fresh, and romantic. We used the color black as an accent throughout to balance the feminine florals and lighter tones.
Amanda’s background is in graphic design and she’s super talented (check out the Loverboy branding!). So she was really invested in the printed materials and signage of her day. We worked with the amazing Swell Press to create gorgeous invitations with that special teal color we loved. Amanda was very involved in that part of the process; we worked with Swell Press to select specific typefaces and modern shapes/textures all while using our whites, neutrals, teal, and black color palette. While Swell Press handled the invitations, escort cards, place cards, and menus, Amanda took on some DIY projects of her own, such as the escort card boards and specialty cocktail signs to name a few.
Amanda and Kyle wanted to focus on keeping the event fun, so a great band for plenty of dancing was a must and we added in a fun disco ball installation over the dance floor. We even added wax seals to each escort card that read “let’s party”! While guests were in the tent dancing we quietly set up a photobooth outside which became something fun for guests to explore and take part in. Amanda’s parents have bistro lights over their back patio area, so we decided to use string lighting within the tent so it felt like a continuation of their home. Incorporating a black and white checked dance floor helped elevate the space. The attire we settled on was Creative Black Tie Optional, and guests really showed up. It was another great way to elevate a “backyard” wedding.
There were lots of personalizations, such as having their good friend and Summer House cast mate Carl Radke officiate their wedding. Plus we had to incorporate Kyle and Amanda’s product Loverboy on the bars and in the specialty cocktails.
Photography: Melissa Marshall | Event Planning and Design: Julie Lindenman Events | Floral Design: Dearest Rachel | Wedding Gown: Amsale | Wedding Bands: Lauren B Jewelry | Catering: Bartleby & Sage | Tuxedo: Alton Lane | Transportation: BBZ Limousine & Livery Service | Bridal Hair: Beauty Icon NYC | Bridal Makeup: Sophia V Makeup | Ceremony Musicians: Diverse Concert Artists | Party Rentals: Party Rental LTD | Photo Booth: NYC Photo Party | Printed Materials: Swell Press Paper Co. | Restroom Trailers: Potty Shed | Specialty Drinks: Loverboy | Tenting: Sperry Tents NJ | Wedding Band: Hank Lane Music | Wedding Cakes: Afragola Dolce