[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Blue, white, green[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]We were going for a vineyard chic vibe. Something a bit more laid back than your traditional venue – yet still beautiful, classic, and most importantly, true to us. The North Fork of Long Island has always had a special place in our hearts since we’ve spent many summers there together. From the beginning, Raphael Vineyard had such a picturesque backdrop and we wanted to let the character and charm speak for itself. We opted for a palette of soft blues and blushes to compliment the surroundings of the vineyard. [/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]One of the most perfect days of our lives started as a chaotic morning. After months of planning, Steven received a text at 4:30 am from the photographer he had originally booked, saying that they were no longer able to make it to the scene of the proposal. This meant Steven had his work cut out for him. However, living in NYC where anything can happen in a split second has its perks. Steven, enlisting the help of some friends in the wee hours of the morning, was able to find a new photographer. Yosaidy Gonzalez came to our rescue and committed to the job before Amanda even woke up.
Amanda thought they were meeting her sister and her sister’s boyfriend for brunch, but little did she know what was about to happen. Stopping at one of our favorite coffee spots on the Upper East Side, Ralph’s Coffee, Steven suggested that the quickest way to get to the brunch spot to avoid traffic was a stroll through Central Park. He was taking a risk, hoping Amanda wouldn’t be suspicious with a bit of a walk and it paid off. This lazy Saturday morning together, with coffee in hand ended right near the Bow Bridge where Steven got down on one knee and popped the question, much to Amanda’s surprise. We then walked to Tavern on the Green where both of our families were waiting for a delicious brunch celebrating our engagement, in sync with a very light snow beginning to fall. Perfection. [/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]
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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Amanda’s wedding dress was Ines De Santo’s Alexis gown. Although she originally tried it on at Kleinfeld in the city, she ended up purchasing it at Manhasset Wedding Salon on Long Island.
It was the perfect combination of romantic and delicate, which worked perfectly for the vineyard setting! It originally came as a strapless gown, but Amanda worked with the seamstress to add draped off-the-shoulder sleeves, which made the look complete. The best part was that they were removable and coupled with the bustle, gave her a completely different look for the reception.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]To keep with the color palette, the bridesmaids wore Amsale dresses in the color ‘ice’. Amanda loved the muted blue and it was the inspiration for the color scheme throughout the whole wedding process. The girls each wore a style of their choice that they felt most comfortable in and they all looked beautiful and elegant.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Steven wore a custom white silk suit from Suit Supply, as a nod to both his father and his father-in-law who wore white on their wedding day. The groomsmen (and dads) wore black tuxedos, which created a classic and cohesive look that paired well with the bridesmaids and the overall tone of the wedding.[/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]
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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]
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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]As two devoted NYC foodies, we needed to wow our guests with unique and special food and beverages. The staff at Raphael Vineyards did not disappoint. There was more food than we have ever seen at a wedding, and each offering was unique and perfectly prepared. The relaxing extended cocktail hour allowed our guests to roam the stunning vineyard grounds, take photos, play with our custom cornhole boards, and socialize on the veranda.
Our guests enjoyed exceptional options such as shrimp on sugar cane, pomegranate lamb chops, tuna wontons, truffle arancini balls, and even a Mediterranean table with an assortment of cheeses. That said, the fan favorite may have been the pierogi/kielbasa station to pay tribute to Amanda’s Polish roots. And what Hamptons wedding isn’t complete without mini lobster rolls?
For the main entrée, we switched up the traditional fillet with a ribeye, along with a teriyaki salmon, and a roasted chicken.
Steven’s signature cocktail was an Aperol spritz, while Amanda went with her favorite cocktail: a margarita. Being on the vineyard, there was delicious Raphael wine flowing throughout the evening, and guests were each given a bottle as a favor on the way out.
At the end of the night, as our guests danced the night away, they were offered passed pizza and sliders. [/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]We were going for a whimsical and romantic look for the florals and decor. We also wanted to keep the flowers seasonal in the Hamptons during that time of year. We envisioned florals with touches of blues and whites with tons of greenery but ultimately, Carolyn Morin executed it beyond wildest dreams! Our reception room and bouquets were exquisite, and Carolyn’s vision was truly a work of art. We also worked with Letters by Linden to create large mirror seating charts and Brittney Nichole to design custom bar signage that aligned with our overall aesthetic.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]What do you do when the bride doesn’t like dessert? Leave it all up to the groom with the sweet tooth! For the wedding cake, we went with a vanilla cake with layers of half funfetti and half cannoli. It was decorated with buttercream icing and beautiful greenery and flowers. There was also an overflowing dessert table filled with never-ending delicious treats such as cookies, cake pops, chocolate-covered strawberries and a surprise to us from Raphael –a fully stocked ice cream bar with all the fixings![/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]We were unable to get married in Amanda’s home parish due to the vineyard location but were lucky that St. Isidore RC Church in Riverhead welcomed us. St. Isidore is very special to us because it is where Amanda’s extended family goes to church and is a traditional Polish parish. Amanda’s hometown priest was able to make the long drive out to eastern Long Island to be the officiant. Ceremony music centered around traditional religious songs, with some of our closest friends and family doing the readings.
As for our reception music, we picked a phenomenal band, Brooklyn Sound, by Hank Lane Music. Their reputation was amazing, we trusted them, and they completely understood our vibe.
Our first dance was to a slow and intimate version of “Simply the Best.” Then, Amanda danced with her father to “Slippin’ Through My Fingers” by Abba, and Steven and his mother enjoyed a turn to “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. The dance floor was full all night and we are still hearing from guests about how great our band was![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Having unique personal touches included throughout the day was extremely important to us! As a homage to Steven’s love of IPAs, we had custom “I Do Brew” labels made for the beer from our favorite Brooklyn brewery, GRIMM. The cornhole boards used by our guests at the cocktail hour were homemade, decorated with our new shared last name, Hawkey. Building these from scratch involved hours of family bonding. Our venue also surprised us with a prosecco cart that welcomed our guests upon arrival. We had customized “terrible towels”, given as favors at our “welcome party” the evening before the wedding (Pittsburgh Steelers reference, for those who are unaware). They were waving throughout the entire weekend! Welcome bags were given to our guests, greeting them at their hotels and accommodations: OUT EAST tote bags filled with goodies to represent the wedding location including Tates cookies, North Fork Chips and Hampton Popcorn. Last but not least, we hired Cassidy Coordinates to ensure every detail was executed to perfection – and she did just that![/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]
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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]
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Photography: TheLockharts | Planner: Cassidy Coordinates | Floral Design: Carolyn Morin | Dress: Wedding Salon Of Manhasset | Cake: Have Your Cake | Stationery: Letters of Linden | Ceremony Venue: St. Isidore RC Church | Reception Venue: Raphael Winery | Makeup: Make up by Cole | Hair: Bridal Rush | Band: Hank Lane Music | Dress Designer: Ines Di Santo | Sationery: Brittney Nichole