Sophisticated Whimsy at the Yale Club of New York City

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May 8, 2024

The Planning

Design / Vibe / Vision

Kate and Ali were originally stumped when it came to wedding venues. Nowhere in the city felt representative of them as a modern queer couple. While out to dinner on a family vacation, Kate's father suggested the The Yale Club Of New York City. Kate, her parents, grandfather, and several uncles and cousins are all proud Yale alums. Though Ali didn't have the same connection to the University, she immediately fell in love with the historical significance and architectural details of the Main Lounge. Coupled with the rooftop views of midtown, the couple knew this was the perfect venue. Their vision for the wedding was "sophisticated whimsy." Relying on the cream and gold backdrop of the Yale Club, Kate and Ali brought in bursts of wildflowers and pops of color that tied together the grandeur of the venue with the personality of the couple.

Proposal Story

As a native Washiongtonian, Kate grew up playing in the gardens of the National Cathedral. At the start of the pandemic, she would often walk the grounds while on the phone with Ali—rekindling their friendship from graduate school. That friendship eventually blossomed into something more. Many months later, when Kate started planning the proposal, she knew there was no better place to ask Ali to marry her. On an innocuous weekday in June, Kate suggested stopping at the Cathedral to admire the blooms on the way to dinner. As they entered the Bishop's Garden, Kate dropped to one knee and told Ali that this was a place that had always brought her an immense amount of peace. But with Ali, she had found the person who always brought her peace. After a prompt acceptance, a photographer jumped out and the couple proceeded to have an engagement session at the National Cathedral, fake dinner plans forgotten.

Getting Ready

Flat Lays

The Fashion

Wedding Gown

To ensure that their wedding gowns complimented, rather than clashed, Kate and Ali purchased their dresses together at Kleinfeld Bridal. Kate wore a classic off-the-shoulder gown by Sareh Nouri, which featured satin-covered buttons down the back. Ali's dress by Martina Liana had beaded floral appliqués from the bodice to the tip of her train and an organza overskirt was added for the wedding ceremony for a bit of fun and flare. The brides wore matching veils with scattered pearls.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Kate and Ali opted to forgo a wedding party and therefore did not have bridesmaids.

Groomsman Attire

Kate and Ali opted to forgo a wedding party and therefore did not have groomsmen.

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

The Details

Food & Drink

Guests were welcomed to the ceremony with sparkling water and champagne. Cocktail hour began with signature drinks named for each bride: "Empire Kate of Mind" and "Simone in the City." Passed hors d'oeuvres featured flavors from special places with favorite bridal bites including lobster rolls and mini franks en croute. Dinner was held in the Main Lounge with stations around the room featuring freshly made pasta, mediterranean salads, a carving station, and cones of french fries. Special touches included a raw bar served in a boat and ice cream sundaes to end the night. Guests continued the sweetness of the evening with locally made chocolates and custom black and white cookies from their welcome bags.

Florals & Decor

Kate and Ali wanted to bring the outside in on this beautiful summer day. They accomplished this by adorning the chuppah in wildflowers and transforming the Main Lounge into a floral oasis for dinner and dancing. Rectangular tables were covered in long runners of flowers, while circular tables had overflowing floral centerpieces. Lest anything go to waste, flowers from the chuppah were reused around the Main Lounge to help complete this vision. Each table was named for a place that held special meaning to the couple and featured a hand-lettered sign. Personalized hand-lettered oyster shells were placed at each guest's seat.

Wedding Cake

The cake was four tiers with multicolor sugar flower petals cascading down the sides. Each slice included funfetti cake with passion fruit frilling and chocolate cake with espresso filling.

Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs

A string trio played "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles as Ali walked down the aisle and Kate followed to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel. During the ceremony, friends of the couple performed readings from the Book of Ruth and Shakespeare. The brides exited the ceremony to an instrumental version of "Paper Rings" by Taylor Swift. The reception began with Kate and Ali's first dance to Ben E. King's "Stand by Me," performed by a nine-piece band, followed by the hora. Each bride shared a dance with her father: Ali to "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon and Kate to "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra.

Special Detail #1

Kate and Ali welcomed their guests to the wedding weekend with a sunset sail out of Chelsea Piers on the Mariner III. Passengers enjoyed food and drinks while sailing down the Hudson River and were treated to spectacular views of the Statute of Liberty and Manhattan skyline.

Special Detail #2

The brides prioritized photography and were thrilled with the final images from their photographer. In addition to the professional photos, the couple loved getting to see the day from their guests' perspectives. Each table at the reception contained several disposable cameras bearing the couple's custom crest. The photos serve as a fun (and sometimes blurry) look into the day's festivities.

Special Detail #3

The wedding date itself was a purposeful choice, as Kate and Ali were thrilled to host their special day on the weekend of New York City's Pride (and even showcased some personal pride with rainbow accents on reception shoes).

Couple Portraits