Lush Garden-Inspired Wedding On Top Of A Mountain
Avita and Brian's story began with a chance encounter in 2014 at a bar on New York City's Lower East Side. Their connection was instant, and from that point on, they became inseparable. Five years later, the couple embarked on a spontaneous weekend getaway to Nantucket, A quick getaway, just because — or so Avita thought. After a sunset walk along the seaside cliffs, Brian proposed in front of the historic Sankaty Head Lighthouse with a custom-made, sapphire and diamond engagement ring (Avita’s birthstone). As his IG caption will tell you: SHE SAID YES!
Avita's wedding dress, a creation by Lee Petra Grebenau, was discovered at Spina Bridal in New York City. Her choice was the enchanting Esther gown, originally featuring floral embroidery, a fitted skirt with peek-a-boo panels along the sides, and a luxurious embellished train. To infuse her personal style into her dress, Avita added layers of tulle to the front and side panels while altering the straps for enhanced structure. She also worked with the designer to create a fully custom, long-sleeved, floral-embellished bodysuit designed for the ceremony, allowing her to seamlessly transition between two distinctive looks within the same dress. During the ceremony, she donned a pair of ivory satin and pearl Badgley Mischka high-heeled sandals, switching to flat Jimmy Choo pearled sandals for the reception. Completing her ensemble were a pearl and gold bracelet borrowed from her mother and classic diamond and pearl drop earrings.
Brian had his tuxedo tailor made at Giorgenti New York. Crafted from deep navy Italian wool, it featured a black satin shawl collar lapel and matching pants adorned with a black satin side stripe. Beneath the jacket, he wore a textured white shirt personalized with his initials embroidered on the cuff. Completing the ensemble were a black bow tie (because it looks cooler with a tux), black suspenders, a white silk pocket square, and sleek black velvet loafers.
To cater to various palettes throughout the night, we included an abundance of food. Cocktail hour featured six different passed hors d'oeuvres, including bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese, tomato and basil bruschetta, brown butter-seared scallops, duck confit tostadas, house-made hummus on rye bread with toasted pumpkin seeds, and wild mushroom tartlets with Parmesan cheese. For the plated dinner, we started with a spring salad made with a mix of greens, shaved carrots, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and citrus vinaigrette. Guests had the choice of oven-roasted chicken, seared salmon fillet, beef filet mignon, or a vegan option of tofu and vegetable stir-fry in curry and saffron rice. Late-night snacks during the after-party included passed canapés like crispy mac and cheese, fried cauliflower with truffle aioli, and mini pizza bites. Stationary options featured Maine lobster rolls, wagyu burger sliders, and buffalo chicken sliders. For our drinks: In addition to full bar services, Brian and I opted for two signature drinks. The groom's choice was an old-fashioned bourbon named the Szab-Old Fashioned, and the bride's preference was a spicy mezcal margarita named the Spicy Marg-Avita. We welcomed guests into our ceremony with a Lillet Rose aperitif served in coupe glasses and enjoyed Prestige Domaine Carneros Brut Rose during our toasts. For dinner, we selected California-made wines - La Crema Chardonnay and Landmark Overlook Pinot Noir.
Partnering with ARVO floral studio, we aimed for a summery, vibrant palette featuring shades of light pink, dusty rose, and pale peach, with buttery tones for dimension and a pop of brightness. The floral arrangements included ranunculus, garden roses, peonies, magnolias, and sweet pea flowers. We opted for an asymmetrical open arch at the end of the aisle to showcase the mountain scenery and oversized arrangements at the aisle's start. Lush centerpieces, filled bud vases, and tapered candles adorned the reception tables, creating a garden-like atmosphere inside as well.
To offer variety, we collaborated with Allison Kern from Lake Tahoe Cakes for our sweets. We chose a classic 3-tiered wedding cake. The top and bottom layer consisted of vanilla cake with a raspberry jam and vanilla cream filling. Our middle layer was a chocolate cake with a dark chocolate ganache. The cake, frosted with vanilla buttercream, had a pale blue base and a piped gold leaf filigree pattern. Our dessert table featured assorted cupcakes, cake pops, macarons, cheesecake, personal strawberry shortcakes, lemon meringues, and tiramisus.
For Avita and Brian’s ceremony, they opted for a string quartet to welcome guests. Avita walked down the aisle to Kris Bowers’s rendition of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, featured in Bridgerton, as a reminder of Avita’s upbringing and her love for the romantic Bollywood movie of the same name. To conclude their ceremony, the quartet played "At Last" by Etta James - an ode to their long-awaited celebration due to the pandemic. For their cocktail hour, Avita and Brian paid another heartfelt tribute to her heritage by featuring the sounds of a Steel Pan group named Spice Island to entertain their guests. This delightful addition brought a whimsical touch to their event, which was enjoyed by all! For Avita and Brian’s reception, they chose DJ Patrick Diaz to keep the party going! They entered their reception to “Everlasting Love” by Carl Carlton and had their first dance to “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges. They closed out their wedding reception with a traditional Trinidadian tassa drum recessional to clear out the dance floor and get everyone excited for the after-party!
Avita's meticulous attention to detail was a cherished aspect of her wedding planning. She sought to create a unique atmosphere by incorporating personal touches throughout the venue. To evoke lasting memories, she filled the space with her and Brian's favorite scent, "Santorini," from a local candle company called Brooklyn Candle Studio, which was present through candles and room diffusers.
The reception area featured treasured family photos in elegant gold antique frames alongside their photo booth to create new memories. They also opted for a “telephone guest book” with After the Tone so that their guests could leave messages on vintage phones that they could treasure forever. At the children's tables, cookie painting sets kept the little ones entertained, and a delectable dessert bar showcased the couple's favorite treats alongside their wedding cake.
