New York Weddings

The vision behind this New York day was perfectly simple: a minimalist approach to the traditional Hindu affair with whites, golds and greenery galore. A sort of urban garden party, if you will. And with The Foundry serving as the perfect backdrop, Naturally Delicious coordinating behind-the-scenes and Christina Szczupak capturing the day, it’s no wonder this gallery is chock full of cultural gorgeousness.

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From the Bride…Munish asked me to marry him on a beautiful spring day in the most charming brick-walled garden in the West Village. Eleven months later, after five years together, we were married in an intimate ceremony surrounded by our closest friends and family at The Foundry in Long Island City, New York. I fell in love with the space at The Foundry even before seeing it in person. The atmosphere so perfectly fit with our vision for the day, and it also reminded us of the garden where we were engaged. I envisioned our wedding as an urban garden party with touches of the exotic, and we worked to create the perfect environment to merge Munish’s Indian heritage with both my upbringing in the Virginia countryside and our life together in New York City. Munish and I walked down the aisle together and met our four parents at the altar, or mandap, where we all exchanged hugs before beginning the Hindu ceremony. While Indian weddings are often extremely colorful with ornate decorations, we decided to take a more minimal approach, using a muted color palette of whites and golds with an abundance of greenery.

We wanted the mandap to look very organic, and our florist Ariel Dearie perfectly executed our vision with the structure she created from wood and delicate branches. We decorated The Foundry’s entrance with lanterns and vintage brass trays that I purchased from Etsy and eBay, and placed napkins screen printed with gold South Asian-inspired motifs at each table setting. We gifted Indian hand-carved woodblock stamps to our guests at the end of the evening, as well as CDs we made with songs important to our love story. Munish and I used deckle edge Italian stationary to create our programs, and we added our names with a beautiful stamp designed for us by Meagan Tidwell. Her calligraphy that graced our invitations, place cards, table numbers, and menu items added the loveliest touch to our wedding. She also created beautiful signs for our bars explaining our specialty cocktails: mine, a Pani-Puri Margarita, and Munish’s, a Perfect Manhattan. Shannon at Naturally Delicious worked with us to create a menu that reflected a wonderful fusion of Indian food and fresh, springtime Western dishes.

After dinner, our friends performed a Bollywood-style dance that they choreographed for us, which kicked off a dance party that lasted well into the night. Our fantastic photographer Christina Szczupak, who I am lucky enough to count as a great friend, captured our day with such a keen and beautiful eye, and Tree of Life, our videographers, created a film that perfectly reflects the spirit of our day.

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Overflowing with style, this beauty captured by Pat Furey at The Metropolitan Building is the perfect stop for your daily dose of inspiration. We owe it all to the Bride’s vision of how her day should unfold, and boy did it unfold beautifully. With florals from Sprout Floral complimenting every personality-packed detail, one gorgeous venue and my favorite detail of all – love, it’s hard not to fall head of heels for this fête. It’s a bit whimsical, a bit modern and a lot fabulous – and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

From the Bride… When people asked me about my wedding planning process and what my theme was, I could never really find the right words. I had snippets of words to describe the feel and colors, but I could never find the words to describe my vision and my mental photographs accurately. Everything seemed like random bits and pieces. I usually just referred people to my Pinterest and described things as ‘anthropologie-esque.’

Tunaidi and I are an eccentric, fun, loud couple and we wanted to have a wedding that truly captured our spirit and love for one another. When it came to planning, I had the pleasure of executing my snippets. The most important step for me was to find a venue. When I stumbled upon the Metropolitan Building online, I knew I had to visit. I showed up by myself on a snowy day in January. It was pretty surreal, and I felt like a character in the movie, Amelie. I called Tunaidi, who was back in Wisconsin, and said, “I found our venue. But it’s in New York…” From that point on, everything else fell into place.

I wanted things to be ‘different.’ Consulting my friends with my gazillion ideas, Tunaidi and I handmade all the wedding decorations, along with some help from Etsy. We sat for months on the floor of my apartment printing, cutting, gluing, stamping, and sewing. As a results, we had little spools with plush hearts and handmade bow ties, fabric kites, fun photobooth props, bunting, hand assembled invitations, fun favor tags, hand-embossed programs and custom designed programs and signs.

I was terrified that my mental snippets would just seem like a random Pinterest board on the day of the wedding. But I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. With our loved ones present and as we exchanged vows, it started to snow outside. It was truly beautiful.

The wedding was full of little things that represented us. We had an espresso bar because I love coffee. Braised short ribs as one of the entrees because Tunaidi loves braised meat. Honey stick favors from Madison, Wisconsin, where we first met. From the music to the flowers and decor, everything seemed random. But it was truly us. Perfect. [dotted]

Photography: Pat Furey | Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building | Catering Coordinator: Greta Poretsky of Bartleby & Sage | Catering: Bartleby & Sage | Cinematography: Kiss the Bride Films | Floral Design: Doan Ly of  Sprout Floral | DJ: James Mulry of 74 Events | Coffee Catering: Joe Coffee | Favors: Honey Sticks via Gentle Breeze Honey, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin | Wedding Dress: Wtoo | Hair piece: Handmade by Sara Kim | Makeup + Hair: VickyC5 | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew | Invitation Design: Jisoo Kang | Wedding Decor: DIY by Bride

Seeing a wedding through the lens of Karen Wise is always a treat. Her images always have a way of capturing our attention, and making us stop and stay awhile to pour over all the pretty. So on this lovely Monday morning, she’s treating us to a gorgeous fête at The Metropolitan Building where every image is simply frame-worthy, and you can see them all right here. 

From the Bride… When Christian and I first met in business school, we didn’t imagine then that we’d end up married! We come from such different backgrounds – to start, he’s German, I’m Chinese-American – but we clicked, fell in love, and it all worked out fabulously in the end. And how we came to be a couple also sums up our approach to our wedding. Neither of us had any idea what we wanted for the wedding, but we just went with it, fell in love with different things along the way, and it all combined to give us the perfect day in the end.

As soon as we stepped into the Metropolitan Building in NYC, we were amazed by how unique the venue was – French chateau meets antiques store, with exposed brick, peeling walls, and fantastic little details everywhere you looked. Who cares that the dates we wanted were no longer available – our fall wedding turned into a winter one! From there we made each decision and choice as it came to us, trying to stress out as little as possible, and while we were behind schedule, I don’t think we could have assembled a better team for our wedding.

On the big day, I subjected Christian to the Chinese tradition of “door opening games” and then tea ceremony. Then we started drinks early (as the Germans like to do!) with a pre-ceremony cocktail hour, complete with warm spiked cider to help guests warm up. As I saw the space while getting ready to walk down the aisle, it was more beautiful than I had imagined, with candles, gorgeous florals, and pussywillows that I spent weeks hunting down but loved as they fit the setting and season perfectly. After the beautiful ceremony and another cocktail hour, the rest of the evening went by in a blur. We had such amazing food, and I’ve never seen a wedding dance floor so constantly packed! We had 4 different tiers of Momofuku Milk Bar cake (our favorite), and our “mustaches and lips” theme was a hit, helped along by a fun photobooth and even guests bringing their own stick-on mustaches! We had spent hours upon hours making jars of different flavored hot cocoa mixes as favors, and I was surprised that the cake toppers I painted of us also turned out well. I loved that we were able to infuse many personal touches into the wedding and was happy our day-of coordinator made everything happen seamlessly. And at the end, we couldn’t be more grateful that Karen Wise captured the whole day with her beautiful photos that caught big moments as well as little details for us to cherish as we live happily ever after!

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Wedding Photography: Karen Wise | Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building | Officiant: Bettina Yiannakourou | Coordination + Planning: Green Apple Weddings | Floral Design: Xylem & Phloem | Catering: The Raging Skillet | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Ceremony Music: Chelsea, Juilliard student | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Invitations + Programs: Minted | Menus + Place Cards: Papyrus | Wedding Gown: Augusta Jones | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay | Tea Ceremony Dress: CFG Boutique | Groom’s Attire: J. Lindeberg | Cufflinks: Hecho en Brooklyn | Guestbook: Karen Wise, Engagement Photo Book created on Blurb | Cake Toppers + Favors + Other stationery: DIY by Bride + Groom | Hair + Makeup: Roberto Gonzalez (roberto.face.artist@gmail.com) | DJ: DJ Sparber | Photobooth: ISH Events

Inspiration is like my coffee, my fuel. It gives me energy to tackle my day in the prettiest of ways, so when I came across this beauty of a shoot at one of my favorite venues, The Foundry, I just knew it would be like a double shot to my morning inspiration-fest. And boy was I right. It was dreamt up by one fabulous team – with florals from Mimosa Floral Design Studio, invitations from Foxy & Winston, delicious desserts from Cake & Co and Fatty Sundays & Co, – and then all snapped up by the seriously lovely Kate of Kate Ignatowski Photography. So it’s safe to say, this is one fabulous start to the day. See it all here.

I LOVE  The Foundry in Long Island City! Our team was inspired by its 19th century history, so we kept the style soft and romantic with vintage decor and soft colors. We focused on creating unique inspiration in all areas of the shoot, from the tablescapes to the dresses and hair styles. 

We chose three dresses, starting with the long slim deco inspired, strapless dress with a center front bodice detail of satin covered buttons. The daisy pattern raschel all over lace, has blossom embroidery, and the soft A-line skirt had a slight train. The second dress was a tea length, strapless dress of silk satin-faced organza. The neckline and hem are trimmed with flower theme lace galloon trim to create a romantic effect. Perfect for a Sunny Spring Garden wedding. The final look was a dramatic, full-length ballerina skirt of Tulle over silk taffeta. When worn with the Lucienne jacket, it creates a handsome tailored look.

The bride’s hair styles start with a sweet side pony, wrapped in a braid; followed by a side braided bun, draping the hair over her ears (known as the grandma bun); and finally she wears her hair down in messy, carefree waves.

The invitation suite was crafted via Letterpress, using Cranes Lettra, Cotton Rag, Lord Byron, Gold and Teal Ink.

The décor includes a Pistachio Velvet Mid Century Arm Chair with tufted detail, “depression” glass for the teal and pink mini cake stands, books from the early 1900s, milk glass candlestick holders, miniature champagne coupes, assorted apothecary bottles, silver cake platters and vintage mismatched micro floral china.

We chose two table settings. Starting with the first beautiful and economic tablescape, we used a combination of vintage glass bottles, milk glass and mercury glass and filled them with an assortment of soft colored blooms. Predominately cream extra large ranunculus, with accents of antique plum ranunculus, tea roses, sahara rose and vendela roses. Heather, jasmine vine, dusty miller and seeded eucalyptus are added in for texture. To tie the flowers in with the invitation we decided to add Queen Anne’s lace which matches the peacocks tail perfectly. We decided a delicate nod to the peacock was better than peacock feathers. The combination and containers give you the ultimate vintage, romantic and antique style.

The second tablescape was set asymmetrically with the crystal candelabra placed at one end instead of dead center. This adds a sense of drama to the table. A small arrangement was placed at the top of the candelabra and a traditional low pedestal centerpiece in a vintage mercury glass vase included more of the same luscious blooms as above: large cream ranunculus, white ranunculus, antique plum ranunculus, sahara roses, vendela roses, tea roses, heather, Queen Anne’s lace, seeded eucalyptus, dusty miller and Swarovski crystals for just a touch of sparkle and sense of royalty.

The traditional hand-tied bouquet used many of the same floral elements, with the addition of an antique rhinestone brooch. Stems are wrapped in ivory satin and finished with dramatic long lace trim.

The dessert table was decorated with a large cream vendela rose display, and vintage bottles were nestled in as well to tie everything together. The cake was accented with pearls, blush flowers, ruffles and a diamond cuff band to tie into the colors and style of the shoot. The naturally flavored, chocolate covered pretzels were laid out as an additional dessert and shown packaged as a wedding favor for guests. The flavors included in the shoot were: Berry Granola and Custom Colored White Chocolate Sprinkle.

We are really excited to share this lovely romantic wedding inspiration shoot at The Foundry in Long Island City.[dotted]

Photography: Kate Ignatowski Photography | Location: The Foundry |  Florals + Chalkboard Design: Mimosa Floral Design Studio | Set Design: Gina Lynn Powell, Event Planner | Invitation Suite: Foxy & Winston | Decor: Little Vintage Rentals | Cake: Cake & Co | Desserts + Favors: Fatty Sundays & Co | Mice Figurines: R.John Wright | Wedding Dresses: Fancy Bridal NY | Make-up: Jonny Polizzi | Hair: Andy Tseng | Model: Nicole Claase

I adore Lindsay from Readyluck, and if you don’t know why yet, you’re about to find out. Beyond the amazing (really, amazing Lindsay) photographs she takes at every single event she captures, she is just the sweetest, which this bride can, and did, attest to. When you’re marrying the love of your life, you shouldn’t have to worry about a single thing. Lindsay makes sure of that, all the while capturing memories in the best way possible.

From the beautiful bride… Neither of us is from New York City, but it is our home together so we didn’t want to get married anywhere else. The Farm Museum was the first and only venue we visited. We wanted something cozy, friendly, and outdoors, and loved the concept of a farm wedding in the city (it is the only working farm in NYC). We are both animal lovers, which made the Farm an appealing choice. (All of our guests loved hanging out with the alpacas.) Plus, our first apartment together was in Queens, so the borough holds a special place in our hearts. Our family and friends were gracious enough to travel here, so we created a New York experience for them spanning the entire Labor Day weekend and several boroughs, including a Yankees/Orioles game and Welcome Party at Doug’s office the night before the wedding. The wedding goes by so quickly, so I’m glad that we had the extra time over the weekend to spend with them.

We had lots of inspiration since we were lucky enough to have been invited by our friends and family to some amazing weddings over the years. We picked out the things that that we liked from these weddings and melded them together in a way that suited us. We incorporated some traditional things into the day, like toasts and a first dance, and chose to ignore others, like a wedding party and a cake cutting.

It was important to us that our guests have a great time and feel loved, especially since many of them had traveled to be with us that weekend. So we wanted a fun, casual atmosphere. We started serving drinks before the ceremony and walked around and chatted with our guests. This helped calm our nerves as well as create a relaxed atmosphere. Since I wanted to spend the entire night dancing, we went right into a dance set after our first dance (a wonderful suggestion from our DJ) rather than waiting until after dinner. We were doing a “soul train” line before the buffet even opened and it was magical.

Doug and I wanted everything to reflect our personalities, so we brought in elements from our respective hometowns (Baltimore, Maryland and Coventry, Rhode Island). We served Utz potato chips before the ceremony and had several cases of Natty Boh and Naragansett beer on hand. Our dogs are a huge part of our lives, but they weren’t allowed at the Farm, so we incorporated them in other ways. We used their images in the Invitations and on the custom pint glasses (which Doug designed) that we gave away as favors. We also included them in our “First Look” photos, which were done near the hotel before we hopped on the yellow school bus that took us, as well as our guests, to the Farm.

My mother grew most of the flowers that we used to decorate the reception. She spent the year before the wedding collecting vases, pots, etc. at antique stores and Goodwills. The rest of the flowers, including the flowers for my bouquet and Doug’s boutonniere were picked on the Farm the day of the wedding. (Jeanne, my mother’s best friend, made the most beautiful bouquet for me hours before the ceremony, as well as Doug’s boutonniere.) My mother and an amazing group of people, including a family friend, my aunt and my best friend’s mother, spent the day decorating the barn for the reception. Doug and a group of our friends set up the outdoor lighting and decorations. At the end of the reception, my mother gave away the table decorations to our guests.

The few minutes that Doug and I had alone before the ceremony were awesome. We were standing in the barn/reception space. It was very surreal; seeing the tables set up beautifully, the late afternoon sun reflecting off the glasses and silverware. The entrance song, “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds, was just about over. We looked at each other (between sips from our cans of Natty Boh), smiled, and walked out. I thought I would be terrified walking the length of the field from the barn to the ceremony spot, but instead I was thrilled and completely happy. Our friends and family stood and clapped and cheered as we made our way to them. They were giving off so much love that it was impossible to be nervous.

We danced our First Dance to Adele’s One and Only. We danced for a few seconds by ourselves and then invited our guests onto the dance floor to join us. I will never forget the feeling created by all of those couples, and even a few trios, sharing that experience with us. The love in the room was palpable.

Lindsay was terrific. A close friend of mine hired Lindsay to photograph her wedding, which took place a few months before ours. When she emailed me the link to Lindsay’s portfolio I knew immediately that she was the right person for us too. Doug and I wanted someone who shot in a photojournalistic style and would be able capture the spirit of our event without a bunch of staged shots. I was nervous about being the subject of so many photos, but Lindsay made me feel completely at ease. I never once felt like having my photo taken was an intrusion or annoyance. She blended seamlessly with out guests and was delightful to work with. She went above the call of duty and even carried our oldest dog, along with her cameras, to the “First Look” when he decided he didn’t feel like walking.

We loved her sense of adventure and desire to try things that were outside the box. She brought a Polaroid, which resulted in some awesome and unique photos. Doug and I are creative and adventurous, so we were totally on board and appreciative.

When we saw the photos for the first time after the wedding, I was speechless. They were spectacular and perfectly captured the love and spirit of the day. I felt like I was back at the Farm surrounded by all of my favorite people. Every time I want to conjure that feeling, I have the photos as a guide.

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Photography: Lindsay of Readyluck | Dress: Jill Andrews Gowns | Venue: Queens County Farm Museum | Music: DJ Gary Hoffmann | Officiant: Roberta Koepfer | Food: A. Jeff Riley Bon Soir Caterers | Flowers: Queens County Farm

Peplum is bar none my favorite trend of the season. Skirts, shirts, dresses, you name it. But when I came across this bride bold enough to rock the prettiest Oscar De La Renta peplum gown, let’s just say I found a wedding that will forever be a fashion favorite. Throw in one of the coolest city venues plus design by Hatch Creative Studio, and you’ve got an urban affair that’s made to be swooned. Get ready for Photopink NYC’s gallery of stunning captures and a film from Tweed Weddings that’ll have you reaching for the nearest tissue.

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From the Bride…When we envisioned our wedding we saw a very organic, woodsy and mismatched vibe. That is why we fell in love with the Metropolitan Building from the start. The collection of furniture, alcoves, vignettes and unique rooms-it was exactly what we were looking for. In fact it was the only venue we saw because when we found out they had the date we wanted we immediately signed up! We also wanted the wedding to be very personal and very “us” so we incorporated goofy, creative accents to add to the already unique vibe. We used mismatched chairs, a mix of round and rectangular tables with different centerpieces and floral arrangements throughout. We loved the vintage feel of the Metro Building and I played off of that idea for my dress, a 50’s-esque peplum to which I added black band around the waist.

Our color palette was deep and autumnal. We didn’t want it to feel like there were any set color schemes so we went with a mix of jewel tones like bordeauxs, greens and eggplants mixed with neutrals. We wanted a warm and intimate feeling that coordinated with the loft-like atmosphere in the building like bringing a bit of the outside in. The floral arrangements spoke beautifully with the brick and wood in the room and we kept the rooms dimly lit with candlelight.  All we wanted for our wedding day was to fill the room with love, laughter and a whole lot of dancing. We were so happy to be surrounded by all of our friends and family and couldn’t wait to finally be a Mr. and Mrs. The entire night was full of smiles and crazy dance moves which is everything we could have asked for. I wanted a mix in the floral arrangements so each table was a bit unique. Adding mercury glass, bell jars, candles and vases the tables added to the organic and wild look that we were going for.

Aaron and I tried to make the wedding as unique and personal as possible. Starting with the ceremony- my oldest brother composed our wedding march, which was absolutely beautiful, it meant a lot to us to involve our family in more ways than one.  We designed the programs ourselves (along with all of the other invitations) including custom illustrations of each member of our wedding party which were later projected onto white balloons, a creation of my other brother, over the photo booth- it added a bit of humor and whimsy. We also custom designed our escort cards using a vintage chair motif, which was incorporated in our save the dates- a nod to the furniture collection at the venue- on post-it notes. Aaron always leaves post-its with funny and sweet messages around our apartment for me and we wanted to work them in in a special way. The guys all wore custom Converse sneakers with the date and their nickname embroidered on the side in Aaron’s favorite colors-orange and black of the Baltimore Orioles. One more special touch was dessert, which I had overnighted as a surprise for Aaron. Since our wedding also happened to be our 5-year anniversary I had his favorite dessert, Ted Drewes Custard, shipped directly to the venue from St. Louis, where we met during college.

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Wedding Photography: Randy at Photopink NYC | Wedding Planning: Loli Events | Floral + Event Design: Hatch Creative Studio | Wedding Cinematography: Tweed Weddings | Photobooth: Magnolia Photo Booth Co. | Invitation Design: Tiny Awesome Things | Officiant: Rabbi Sari Laufer | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Metropolitan Building | Lighting: Lightworks Interactive | Music: Bobby Attiko with Hank Lane | Catering: Inhouse + Baked Red Hook | Cake: Nine Cakes | Hair: Lacy Redway with Timeless Glow Bridal |    Make-Up: Anthea King with Timeless Glow Bridal | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Shoes: Valentino | Jewelry: Miriam Salat | Tuxedo Cuff: C Wonder | Ring: Grandmothers Heirloom | Groom + Groomsmen: J.Crew + Converse

When I first spot a wedding, I immediately start pulling apart all the details that I love but this one struck me because, to be honest, I loved all of it. It has all the elements for a gorgeous affair. One part summery blooms by Rebecca Shephard, another part great venue like The Foundry and two parts fun loving couple. And we can’t forget the towering cupcakes or the rockstar photographer Trent Bailey. See what I mean? It’s way too hard to pull apart. Instead, enjoy this baby as one beautiful whole in the full gallery.

From Trent Bailey Photography…Veronica and Eddy had a modern meets vintage vibe with fusion of cultural elements (mainly Latin and some European).  They actually greeted guests for the cocktail hour BEFORE the ceremony took place, which helped set the celebratory mood of the day.

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Photography: Trent & Dara of Trent Bailey Photography | Getting Ready: Hotel Ravel | Venue: The Foundry | Floral Design: Rebecca Shephard Floral Design | Cupcakes: Kumquat Cupcakery | Catering: Real Food Catering | DJ: Valley Entertainment

When two architects wed in NYC, you just know The Foundry is going to hit it out of the park on every level. The stunning venue is perfect for two architectural lovers… the perfect backdrop for the biggest day of their lives. And with both Belathee Photography + Elaine Melko Photography there with their cameras, you just know the gallery is worth an hour or two of your time!

From the Bride… Planning a wedding together seemed like the perfect first project for two young designers from Brooklyn, New York. Scott and I met on the first day of graduate school where we studied Architecture, and were pretty much inseparable from the beginning. Scott’s undergraduate background is in graphic design, so I knew this groom would definitely want a say and a role in the details of the wedding. Our wedding was a way for us to share our love and love of design with our family and friends, so they could get to know us even better as a couple and feel like a true part of our special day.  

The ceremony for us was a highlight of the day. We chose St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University for its historical, architectural beauty and also because it provided a non-denominational space to share both our faiths equally. We integrated both our faith traditions through music selections, readings, and messages shared by family and good friends. Our string quartet did a beautiful job keeping the ambiance intimate and special, as did my amazing friend Kathryn’s piano solo. The contributions of our friends and family were a true gift to us.  

After leaving Columbia, we were taken by trolley through Central Park (one of our favorite spots and where Scott proposed during a NYC Marathon training run) and then finally to The Foundry in Long Island City.

The Foundry was such a stunning, unique place for us to celebrate our reception. We loved the raw feel of the space, the urban surroundings, and the ivy filled courtyard. We wanted to highlight these features with minimal decorations. Therefore, we gravitated towards a subdued palette and let white flowers and tea candles highlight the space. We focused on small details for each of our guests. At each seat, a letter-pressed menu was held by a white, faceted cube. These ‘cubes’ have a story for Scott and me, which we wanted to share with our guests even in a small way. The faceted design is also quietly carried through in our white on white embossed invitations, response cards, and name card holder. All of these objects were designed and fabricated by the bride and groom (well, mainly the groom, but I did do a lot of sanding if I recall).

Our wedding gave us a chance to collaborate with some amazing and talented individuals. Yen and Gary of Real Food Catering were so much more than caterers to us. They created a delicious, inventive menu for our guests as well as patiently guided us in so many decisions for the day. Our friend and designer Sarah Fulton created simple yet stunning silver and crystal earrings for each of the bridesmaids. Our florist, Rose, helped us celebrate spring through her subtle peony and ranunculus bouquets and arrangements. We are grateful to our photographer, Annabel of Belathee Photography for sharing her visual talents with us.

When we look back, it’s definitely the most memorable and beautiful project we’ve collaborated on so far and such an unforgettable way to ‘officially’ start our lives together.

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Wedding Photography: Belathee Photography + Elaine Melko Photography | Ceremony Venue: St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University in New York, New York | Reception Venue: The Foundry in Long Island City, New York | Floral Design: Designs by Rose | Catering + Event Planning: Real Food Catering | DJ: David Swirsky from Expressway Music | Cubes + Name Card Display: Scott Savage | Wedding Invitations Design: Scott Savage | Invitation Printing: Boxcar Press | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Jim Hjelm | Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Sarah Alice Fulton | Makeup: Amanda Sheehan | Groom’s Cufflinks: Scott Savage

The Metropolitian Building in Long Island City just might be the coolest venue of all time.  You know, if you’re into glamorous backdrops and show-stopping weddings.  And since I know that happens to be every single one of you, you’ll most definitely want to feast your eyes on this elegant affair captured by Brookelyn Photography, aka, the perfect combo of drop-dead gorgeous details, beautiful blooms from Melarosa and one crazy cool moment after another.  (Bagpipes, anyone?)  It’s industrial chic meets all sorts of pretty and you can see every last moment in the full gallery.

Need even more of this gorgeous wedding?  Check out this film from Tweed Weddings… it’s amazing.

From the Bride… We were married on a beautiful day in mid-September at the Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York.  When we began planning, I was overwhelmed by themes and color combinations but in the end we decide to use a color palette natural to the venue that would let its spirit shine… after all, that’s why we fell in love with this magical place! Many of our guests weren’t familiar with the area so we had a musician play bagpipes outside to guide our guests through the industrial area and into the venue.

A family friend married us which was really special. We spent a lot of time with “Rev. Fred” thinking about what was important to us, choosing our passages and designing a ceremony that was meaningful to us. One of the most memorable parts of our ceremony was the way we incorporated the unity candle ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, after we had lit our candle, our bridal party lit candles from it and very quickly, all of our guests were smiling at us with small candles in hand. We walked out of the room looking at such beautiful light and beaming faces while a french inspired band played Pheonix’s “Lisztomania.” The moment was perfect.

We spent twenty minutes after the ceremony together in a small room eating and taking it all in.  We did all of our pictures before the ceremony and were glad to have so much time spending with our guests at the cocktail hour so we could spend the entire reception on the dance floor. We had the most amazing DJ who kept the energy high. We used the venue’s old trunks to create a gorgeous backdrop for our photo booth and our guests took home silly photos to remember our special day.

Our wedding day was the most memorable and most fun day of our lives!

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Wedding Photography: Brooke Fitts from Brookelyn Photography | Second Photographer: Ruth Powell | Wedding Venue: Metropolitian Building in Long Island City, New York | Wedding Cinematography: Tweed Weddings | Wedding Coordinator: Kate O’Donnell Diaz from Green Apple Weddings | Floral Design: Melarosa | Caterer: Maia Pearl Catering | Wedding Cake: Goodie Box Bake Shop | Ceremony Band: Hot Club of Flatbush | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Rentals: Party Rental LTD | Photo Booth: Not A Booth | Bride’s Hair: Butterfly Studio | Bridesmaid Hair: DryBar | Bride’s Makeup: Ashlee Glazer Makeup | Bridesmaid Makeup: Jennifer Margaret Makeup

Modern mingles with tradition in this Long Island City soiree from one of our favorites, Judy Pak. And while there’s a million and one things to love about this day, it’s the sense of understated chic, not to mention that Funfetti wedding cake, that had me at hello. See every stunning moment from beginning to end in the full gallery here.

From the Bride…My husband, Richard, and I met over ten years ago and have been dating for about six of those years. We knew from the first day we met that we were meant to be together. Our first trip together was to France, and we just fell in love with the city. Five years after our first trip there, Richard took me back and proposed in Paris, so our wedding had a little bit of a French influence. We chose the metropolitan building in Long Island City, Queens, because we felt it was such a unique venue, with antique furniture, vintage pieces, romantic style and amazing lighting. My personal favorite part of the wedding had to have been a) our crazy first dance to bruce springsteen’s “no surrender” and  b) our momofuku milk bar funfetti wedding cake. This day was something both of us reflect on all of the time – it was truly the best day of our lives!

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Wedding Photography: Judy Pak | Assistant Photography: Jonathan Tan, Dreamlite Photography | Floral Design: Elaine Burns | Ceremony Location: Church of Our Lady of Peace | Reception Location: Metropolitan Building | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | DJ: Greg Poole | MUA: Hillery Williams | Hair: Bennett Gray | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: Madewell | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew

Firefly Events took one of our favorite spots, The Foundry, and transformed it into this sparkliest of Fall affairs. Folded into the day is the coziness of candlelight, the beauty of autumnal florals by Fox Fodder Farms and an event with the ease of a dinner party yet the unbelievable beauty of one of the biggest days of this couple’s life together. And the whole lot is made even more beautiful at the hands of Mademoiselle Fiona. Her images are artwork pure and simple and they’re all sitting pretty right here.

From Firefly Events: One of the biggest perks of planning Norah and Jacob’s autumn wedding, was getting to know them and becoming friends! These two are not only super sweet and laid back, but also creative, thoughtful, and completely in love. Right from the start, these two knew they wanted something a little different for their wedding…at our first meeting they told us they wanted the day to have the feel of  “machinery reclaimed by nature”. We immediately fell in love with this unique concept and got right to work fleshing out all the fun details.

The Foundry provided the perfect backdrop with it’s authentic industrial aesthetic and ivy covered walls. Guests were led into the intimate greenhouse space for a ceremony filled with beautiful ferns and colorful branch arrangements. We worked with Taylor from Fox Fodder Farm to create industrial vignettes throughout the ceremony and reception, using everything from rusted iron wheels and aged Terracotta pots, to vintage apothecary jars and organic pieces of driftwood. Taylor’s beautiful floral designs, including the brides stunning bouquet, provided the perfect balance of softness and a hint of romance.

Although Norah and Jacob currently live in San Francisco, (with their adorable dog Mellie) they both LOVE New York, and have tons of friends and family living close by. Getting married in NYC provided the perfect excuse to head east and enjoy the city. We made sure that guests got a chance to take in the beautiful city skyline on this crisp fall night, as we invited them to enjoy cocktails on The Foundry’s sprawling terrace. This space was extra cozy thanks to a good old fashioned bonfire where guests could make their own s’mores. Radish provided a sweet version with Mast Brothers chocolate, as well as a savory version created just for Norah and Jacob, featuring homemade cardamom marshmallows. Yum!

Radish continued to wow the crowd with a family style feast of seasonal treats including Grilled Honeycrisp Apples, and Wild Mushroom Ravioli. Taper candles in vintage brass holders, along with strings of amber lights, created a warm and intimate atmosphere where guests toasted the bride and groom with plenty of champagne and funny stories.

One of the best parts of the night was watching everyone cut loose on the dance floor to the amazing mix of dance music, provided by Kenan of Les Loups. Norah and Jacob wanted to skip the pop music, but not the dance party- and that’s exactly what they got! After working up a sweat, guests were also treated to velvety slices of chocolate cake from 9 Cakes. With gold icing and delicate sugar flowers, this trio of cakes were almost too pretty to eat.

Thankfully Fiona Conrad was with us from beginning to end on this magical day, catching every sweet and beautiful moment. Norah and Jacob are such a special couple, and Fiona captured that in every image.

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Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona with Second Shooter: Caroline Frost | Event Design and Planning: Firefly Events |Ceremony and Reception Location: The Foundry | Getting Ready Location: Soho Grand | Flowers: Fox Fodder Farms | Caterer: Radish Catering | Baker: 9 Cakes | Wedding Dress: Ian Stuart | Invitations and Stationery: Winsome Brave | Hair: Sally from Styles on B | Makeup: Nicole Sievers | Music: Kenan from Les Loups | Officiant: Hope from A More Perfect Union | Bride Shoes: Kate Spade

I am just smitten over fall in the city. A time where cobblestone streets and brick buildings create the perfect pairing for fiery autumn foliage. And who better than Poppies & Posies to craft gorgeous floral designs of deep red and orange hues that are not only the bride’s favorite colors, but the groom’s alma mater team colors as well! Oh, and photographer Charlotte Jenks Lewis took this gorgeous day and made it nothing short of brilliant. To see more of this pretty day, head on over to the gallery.

From the Bride… When we started planning, all Moody and I knew was that we wanted our wedding to be a great party! I had been to events at the Foundry before, and given that we lived just a few miles away in Astoria, it seemed like the perfect spot. I brought Moody there and he loved it just as much as I hoped he would. The venue encapsulated everything we wanted in a wedding location: beauty, history, and a view! I had always dreamed of a fall wedding. Moody and I are both drawn to autumnal colors (I love the vibrancy of reds, oranges and yellows, and Moody, um well, he’s partial to the color orange representing his Syracuse basketball team). Poppies & Posies brought our vision to life with their gorgeous arrangements. 

It was also important to us not to have a formal sit-down dinner. We loved the idea of people moving around, dancing and chatting without being stuck at a table all night. Melissa and Shaun at Great Performances understood what we were looking for and helped us create the ideal menu for our “floating dinner.” We served a “Fall Harvest”, which included kabocha squash roasted with maple syrup, roasted cod, a pork roast with cranberry relish, Peter Luger’s steak sauce, root vegetables, creamed spinach, “Syracuse” salt potatoes, wild mushrooms, and seckle pears with cardamom, among other things. We served a variety of pies instead of a wedding cake, plus a side of fall-toned M&Ms (which we couldn’t resist given our matching initials).

Moody is a full-time stand-up comedian, and we had many funny friends in attendance. Moody incorporated some of his act into his incredible toast; fellow comedian Jon Fisch did a wonderful job of officiating the ceremony (jonfisch.com), and my best friend Erica gave a toast based on the well-known Letterman bit. It was called “The Top Ten Things You Always Wanted To Know About Molly But Were Afraid to Ask.” My uncle Arnold and his dear friend Allan sang us some a capella doo-wop love songs, and they were amazing. They sang ABCs of Love and I Promise to Remember both originally by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. They should go on tour. DJ Kenan kicked-off the dance party, and our guests danced from cocktail hour ‘til the very end of the night. It was an absolute blast. We truly had the best NYC wedding team ever. And we can’t thank our family and friends enough for making it such a perfect night!

Wedding Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography / Second Photographer: Sandy SooHoo, Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography / Wedding Venue: The Foundry in Long Island City, New York /  Floral Design: Poppies & Posies / Officiant: Jon Fisch (Friend of Couple) / Catering: Floating Dinner by Melissa Perrotti + Shaun Roberts of Great Performances / Pies: LittlePie Company / Invitations: Vera Wang / Calligraphy: Janelle Sing / DJ: Kenan Juska of Les Loups pictures + songs / Wedding Dress: Dennis Basso for Kleinfeld / Bride’s Sash: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bride’s Bracelet + Earrings: Borrowed  / Bride’s Hair Clip: Amanda Judge / Groom’s Suit: Theory / Groom’s Tie: Armani (Bride’s Late Father’s) / Engagement Ring: Bride’s Grandmother’s / Groom’s Wedding Band: Bride’s Late Father’s

We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again (probably a thousand times) – we love, love, love weddings hosted at The Foundry. With it’s industrial chic vibe, we swear it attracts some of the most stylish couples around. This wedding planned to perfection by Ang Weddings and Events and captured by Catherine Leonard Photography happily proves our point, and it all comes to life image after image in here.

From the Bride: We got engaged just two months before we moved from New York City to Paris. Knowing that it would be difficult to plan a wedding from overseas, we decided to get as much done before we left. The Foundry was only the second venue we visited. As soon as we walked in and saw the exposed brick and unique metal work, we knew it was the perfect spot for us. With the venue in place, we found an amazing planner who could help us execute the smaller details from afar.

Our goal for our wedding day was that every detail would reflect something about us as a couple. My husband’s family is from India and mine is from the South, though we are both New Yorkers to the core. As neither of us is religious, we chose a non-traditional ceremony that blended our cultural backgrounds. Our aim was that everyone there–religious or not–would feel comfortable. We said both traditional American vows and Hindu vows and we exchanged flower garlands, a Hindu tradition that symbolizes two families uniting into one.

We looked long and hard for a caterer who could execute our culinary vision for the evening: Indian-inspired passed appetizers during cocktail hour, an inventive new American dinner, and passed mini French desserts during dancing. We were blessed to finally find Sonnier & Castle, who went above and beyond our expectations and had people raving about the food. In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, we instead chose banana cake with cream cheese frosting from Billy’s Bakery–my absolute favorite in New York. This ensured that people got amazing cake, and it was also quite budget-friendly.

And all of this was captured by the very talented Catherine and Allistair from Catherine Leonard Photography. We loved working with them: they put us at ease during the first-look and kept everyone in line during the group portraits. We couldn’t have asked for a better team to immortalize our perfect day.

Wedding Photography: Catherine Leonard Photography / Wedding Venue: The Foundry in Long Island City, New York / Event Planner: Ang Weddings and Events / Floral Design: Bride and Blossom / Officiant: Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway / Caterer: Sonnier & Castle / Wedding Cake: Billy’s Bakery / Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals / Lighting: Universal Light and Sound / DJ: Scratch Weddings / Ceremony Music: Penguin Music / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Christine / Ring Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Wedding Dress: Victoria Nicole via Wedding Atelier / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Banana Republic / Groom’s Attire: Baldwin Formals

The Foundry is one of those venues that needs almost nothing in the way of decor, and this simple beauty from Shannen Natasha Photography proves this point perfectly. Just some jaw-droppingly gorgeous florals by Melarosa, adorable paper goodies from Anthologie Press and a sweet-as-can-be bride + groom are all it takes to turn the industrial space into a wedding dream. See the rest here!

From the Bride… Tyler and I spent the last seven years traveling the world together. We lived in Korea, Australia, Oklahoma – you name it! But when it came time to plan our wedding, we couldn’t think of a better place than New York City. We wanted it to feel like a destination wedding, without having all of our friends and family (mostly based in Connecticut) travel very far. Once we viewed the Foundry for the first time, we knew immediately that it was the place. We loved the mix between a modern, industrial interior and the romantic cobblestone courtyard crawling with vibrant green ivy. I tried to have our décor capture that same blend of industrial romance. We chose a color palette of soft white, green and purple and had lots of mercury glass votive candles, rustic barn tables and chairs for the reception and antique crystal glasses. Our florist, Melanie Arden of Melarosa, did a phenomenal job incorporating this look into the flowers. The centerpieces were mixed collections of glass vases with hydrangeas, mini calla lilies and a splash of purple lisianthus. She also created custom metal chandeliers for the space to complete the look. And even though most brides are bummed when it rains on their big day; with the clear top tent, everything looked even more romantic.

Our guests are still raving about the food. Chef Rossi of raging skillet was a joy to work with. We were able to completely customize the menu (a must for picky eaters!), and she had all sorts of unique ideas of her own. Tyler’s brother, James, an aspiring baker, wanted to make our wedding cake. I was a little nervous at first because he hadnever made one before, but he absolutely nailed it. It was simple, delicious and from the heart. My dress was my favorite part! I’m petite, so I knew a puffy ballgown wouldn’t do me any favors. I opted for a fitted, lace Oscar de la Renta gown with a sparkly pearl belt. I didn’t want anything to take away from that dress, so I chose a small bouquet of lily of the valley. The bridesmaids wore gray, silk chiffon dresses from J.Crew, which I thought paired beautifully with their purple bouquets.

It was a whirlwind of a night, and the big hit was our favor: a photo booth. Almost every guest snapped a goofy picture, and we had some major laughs viewing them later. Shannen Norman’s photography also captured the day beautifully. Her candid shots, in particular, are very special. We are very fortunate to have worked with such amazing people on our wedding. It was such a joy to see all of our ideas brought to life. We cannot thank our friends, family and wedding team enough. What a blast!

Wedding Photography: Shannen Natasha Photography / Wedding Venue: The Foundry in Long Island City, New York / Floral Design: Melarosa / Officiant: Reverend Rick Alton / Catering: Raging Skillet / Wedding Cake: James Harris, The Groom’s Brother / Travel-Themed Table Markers + Escort Cards: Anthologie Press / Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals / Photo Booth: We Love Photobooths / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Ring: A Family Heirloom / Hair: The Beauty Collective / Makeup: Lindsey Jones / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

One of our most favorite things about The Metropolitan Building is its mix of both modern and vintage, making it the most perfect place to celebrate your big day because it can be anything you want it to be. We love this couple’s take on it and how they brought loads of modern touches like crisp black and whites, lots of chevron, and pretty pops of purple. Josh Wong Photography captured this gorgeous day perfectly and there’s a whole lot more to see right here.

From the Bride… The Metropolitan Building was the first and only place Matthew and I visited. I went to school for architecture and have a love for interior design, and Matthew is a teacher and avid painter. We instantly knew it was perfect for us! I love the juxtaposition between modern and vintage, so I used this as our theme, starting with our modern chevron place cards. The colors were black and white with pops of cobalt blue and royal purple. I kept the chevron pattern going throughout the space, from the napkins to seating cards — and even our wedding cake. I brought in my Italian heritage with tiramisu push pops, tri-color cookies in our colors and cannoli, which were amongst cake pops and candy. I wanted a structured dress that was still soft and sexy, and my Marchesa dress was just that. It had structured rose sleeves and an open cowl back. This was the most special and perfect day that we both will never forget!

Wedding Photography: Josh Wong Photography / Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York / Event Design + Planning: Kate O’Donnell Diaz of Green Apple Weddings and Events / Dessert Bar: Corina Elgart of Taste. It’s in the Cake / Wedding Dress: Marchesa / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

If there is one detail that pulls us all together over here at SMP, it’s candlelight. It’s the classically perfect detail that oozes romance all while providing the perfect ambience, and it never, ever fails to have us all wishing we could be seated amongst the flickering. It shines particularly well in this elegant yet personal affair curated by Bespoke Only captured by Pat Furey Photography, but even with that dreamy glow it’s this new Mr. & Mrs. that outshines all the prettiness, and it’s all waiting for you here.

From the Bride… Mark and I wanted something special for our big day. Something classic, beautiful, aesthetically minded, yet raucous and entirely quirky…a little unexpected. Our to do list was simple: An intimate and moving ceremony, tables dotted with hundreds of candles, a string quartet giving a stirring rendition of ‘Smells like Teen Spirit,’ and one adventurous Grandmother posing in a gorilla suit. We got all of these things on a our wedding day and then some. As you can imagine, keeping all of our demands in mind and orchestrating them was no easy task. From start to finish, Melissa handled it all with ease. Not only did she seamlessly create our wedding day vision but she consistently made thoughtful suggestions and improvements that elevated the design beyond where we could have taken it on our own. Many thanks to her and our very talented dream team everything (food, music, flowers) turned out well above our expectations. It really was the most special and magical day a girl could dream of.

From Bespoke Only… When hundreds of candles lit up a historical antique-warehouse-turned-mansion, the surroundings transformed this black-tie wedding into a dreamy fete from another era. Megan and Mark met and fell in love in Florence, Italy while they were both studying art history. When planning their wedding years later, their shared appreciation for the beauty of European art and history naturally became the focus of the event. As the couple are two very fun-loving people, we wanted to keep their personalities in mind when designing–to create a day that is not only classic and sophisticated but also fun with an edge. We approached the overall design with a modern take on the classic elements. The concept was to develop a juxtaposition of the old and new; simplicity and detail – with the contrasts giving the design an interesting twist and rich texture. For instance, clean and modern typography was used on the stationary suite, while gilded edges were a subtle nod to glamour. With velvet navy and linen white setting a tone of harmony, gilded accents were also woven into the design to imbue a sense of drama, including scattered vintage brass candlesticks, painted animal cocktail stirrers and gold calligraphy signs throughout the space. Inspired by Mast Bros., we wrapped chocolate bars in patterned papers of Fleur de Lys, the symbol of Florence city, which served dual purpose as the favor and the placecard. The same motif was carried over as a wax seal to complete the finishing touches of a well-crafted invite.

The venue was chosen for its unique charm and nostalgic sense of history behind the walls. Being furnished as if it were a private home and filled with intriguing antique finds, Metropolitan Building provided the perfect backdrop for a grand affair for Megan and Mark. Candlelight in varying heights complimented the alluring patina of the space with a romantic and moody ambiance. Jewels of New York designed an amazing menu with fresh farm-to-table ingredients to celebrate the harvest of autumn. The tablescape was also formed around the harvest concept – Saipua created the most exquisite flower centerpieces incorporating seasonal fruits such as persimmons. In addition to the gold flatware and rimmed china, pear tree foliage was painted in gold and spread on the tables in lieu of a runner to connect all the gilded table elements together. As the wedding was held on the weekend before Halloween, a whole room was dedicated to the most awesome prop collection (that even included a vintage ET mask from the 80’s!) collected by the bride for the photobooth. With a rack of costumes, funky masks, and trunks full of quirky little props, the room could be easily mistaken for a cool pop-up shop in New York city’s west village. The end result? Some of the most fun photobooth photos ever!

Wedding Photography: Pat Furey Photography / Venue: Metropolitan Building in Queens, New York / Wedding Planning + Design + Stationery: Bespoke Only / Floral Design: Saipua / Officiant: Jeddah Vailakis / Wedding Catering: Jewels of New York / Cake: Hope, Faith & Gluttony Bakery / Music: Tribute String Quartet of Lucy Music / DJ: Jason Fioto of Generation Events / Wedding Photobooth: We Love Photobooths / Bridal Suite: Soho House / Wedding Dress: Designed by the Bride / Hair: Andreas of Chris Chase Salon (andreas@andreasanastasis.com) / Makeup: Nam Vo

 

I’m in love. A head-over-heels, heart pounding + starry eyed kind of love. And it’s all because of this etherial Edwardian garden party themed wedding from the ever amazing Mademoiselle Fiona. Long Island City’s Metropolitan Building was the perfectly vintage locale for the fête and home made bklyn filled it to the brim with stunning lush florals and old-fashioned mercury glass. Fall in love with every.last.detail in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When I first saw pictures of the Metropolitan Building, I was immediately taken with the dreamy, faded beauty of the place and the owner’s vast collection of antique furniture. As soon as we booked it, many of the key style decisions fell into place. I wanted the feel of an outdoor wedding without being outdoors, and much of my inspiration came from garden parties of the Edwardian era. I wanted white lace, wicker, tumbling ferns and old mercury glass. The color palette of green, peach and white was another extension of the garden party vibe and were colors that I thought would be pretty against the gray and green walls. As for the flowers, I had the great fortune of working with Monica and Leisah, owners of home/made in Red Hook, Brooklyn. They provided the most lush and exquisite arrangements, as well as styled the tables and all the vintage glass and candles. They added an otherworldly layer to the space and completely exceeded my expectations. Carlos from the Metropolitan Building was also an integral part in arranging the antique furniture, managing the incredible waitstaff, receiving day-of deliveries and even calling cabs for guests at the end of the night. He was great.

I found my dress at Cymbeline rather early on and fell hard for its lacey, antique look, but the best part was how comfortable it was. I had trouble with “veil or no veil” right up until the end. And even now I’m still not sure. I decided to change my hairstyle the day of the wedding, and luckily, my hairstylist didn’t flinch. My makeup was done by my maid of honor. I don’t wear that much makeup in real life, and she was so patient with me. We had a few practice sessions in her living room followed by a couple glasses of wine. I chose white for the bridesmaids’ dresses to keep the colors light and airy. Also because I liked an old-fashioned superstition — I read somewhere that bridesmaids used to wear white to confuse the “bad spirits” as to who was the bride. I’m not superstitious at all, and I thought this was funny.

Duane, our DJ, provided the music for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. The music was a big deal to us. Chris is a drummer, and we both love funk and soul. Duane really listed to us and kept everybody on the dance floor. I don’t think I stopped dancing the whole night. Duane also took care of managing the speeches at dinner and paced the whole evening very well. Our photographer, Fiona, was wonderful. Her compositions, attention to detail and color were what drew us to her in the first place. When we got the pictures back, we were so happy to see she had also beautifully captured the extraordinary emotions of the night. I’m biased but I love how everything turned out. We took a year to plan, and the whole process was pain-free thanks to the talented and professional people involved. Because of their efforts, Chris and I were able to focus completely each other, our friends and family — which, at the end of the night, is all that really matters.

Wedding Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona / Wedding Venue: Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York / Floral Design: home made bklyn / Catering: Maia Pearl Catering / Bakery: Momofuku Milk Bar / Music: DJ Duane of 74 Events / Chairs + Linen Rentals: West Side Party Rental / Wedding Dress: Cymbeline / Bride’s Shoes: Peter Fox / Hair: Luisa Vieira of Pelo Salon / Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic

It should go without saying at this point, that any wedding we see at The Metropolitan Building in Queens, quickly climbs the charts of our all time favorite weddings. It’s pretty much the coolest venue ever and we’re so in love with how each couple makes it unique and all their own. Our fav element of this wedding just might be that incredible chuppah…but we love all those gorgeous candlesticks too! Jenny Ebert Photography snapped up all the pretty and there’s even more right here.

Be sure to watch this gorgeous wedding come to life in this film by First Day Films:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… It was a given that we would marry in New York, the place where Matt and I are from, where we met and where our families live. Matt proposed along the West Side Highway just blocks from our West Village apartment, four years after our first (blind) date in Nolita. Of course, like everything else we love about our great city, the venue options were limitless and overwhelming, each with their own reviews, critiques and blog posts. The biggest problem we faced was scale. As the daughter of three rabbis, my vision of 50 guests on a private farm on the North Fork of Long Island was out of the question. As the numbers crept toward 300, and many of the spaces we looked at could no longer accommodate us, we thought seriously about cutting down the list. But we quickly realized that having all of our loved ones (and many of their loved ones) with us to celebrate our marriage was the most important thing about the wedding.

Someone wise told me once you find “The Venue,” everything else would fall into place.  As I stood on the corner of 44th Street in Long Island City, staring up at the brick warehouse that is the Metropolitan Building, I knew, before even going inside, I would marry Matt in that space. As a specialist in the post-war and contemporary art department at Christie’s, I love warehouses. Inside, I met Ellanor, an elderly German woman seated in an upholstered rocking chair drinking a cup of tea. We talked about art, the transformation of the neighborhood, artists who had studios nearby and her personal history of collecting. She showed me floors of her furniture collection — stacks of antique end tables, couches, lampshades and various bric-a-brac. “Whatever you like, you can use, for your wedding,” she said. I called my mom. I was done. The rest was easy. We just wanted to work with great people who knew what they were doing, because we did not. Photography was paramount because we’re both in the arts. I had seen Jenny Ebert’s work and fallen in love. Twenty minutes of meeting with her and looking through her amazing images, and the check was in the mail.  Flowers worked pretty much the same way. What did I know about flowers? Fortunately, the brilliant Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua knows loads. After hearing March was a perfect month for flowers, it was decided we would use whatever looked best at the market that week.

The community of assistance and support surrounding the day grew organically. Jenny recommended Lauren Sozmen of Loli Events to help bring everything together. Lauren brought me Face Time Beauty, who effortlessly made me look effortless. Matt’s music connections as the co-founder of Indaba Media led us to The Karen Lloyd Band through Hank Lane who rocked down the house. My sister and maid of honor sourced the Kosher taco truck so that guests would have something to eat before the ceremony. Each of our mothers crocheted over 200 yarmulkes for the guests. Matt and I spent the two weeks up to the wedding writing and re-writing the programs. I didn’t care so much about the cake, but I made sure to have a wooden cake topper created in our likeness, along with our beloved dog, Maggie, by elves at the Lollipop Workshop. In the end, it came together beautifully, and I can say with total delight and satisfaction the night was perfectly imperfect. Our brilliant rabbi forgot a glass for Matt to smash at the close of the ceremony (a traditional Jewish custom at weddings). I was dropped by Matt’s friends as they lifted me up in a chair during the hora (the horror!). Red wine splashed all over Matt’s father during the cocktail reception. But it didn’t matter. We were together with everyone we loved, dancing the night away in Ellanor’s warehouse in Long Island City. We were married.

Wedding Photography: 1. Art Beauty Life : Jenny Ebert Photography / Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York / Wedding Planning: Lauren Sozmen of loli events / Floral Design: Saipua / Officiant: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah / Wedding Cinematography: John Miller of First Day Films / Catering + Wedding Cake: Dan Lencer of Manna Catering / Wedding Invitations: Swayspace / Calligraphy: Lee Friedlander (Father of the Bride) / Music: Hank Lane Music & Productions / Wedding Dress + Veil: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Ava of Metodoro Rossano Ferretti (212-759-9300) / Makeup: Linsey Snyder Wachalter of Face Time Beauty Concierge / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Chanel / Groom’s Attire: Joseph Abboud

Remember when you were in elementary school and if you said you loved something, you’re friends would tease, then why don’t you marry it? Well my friends, I just might have to marry this wedding! I’m that obsessed. And why wouldn’t I be? From the adorable brides dress to the fabulous gold pumpkins, each and every detail is beyond beautiful. Lindsay Madden Photography snapped up all the goodies in such a fabulous way, that I dare you not to spend hours upon hours soaking it all up in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… Matt and I got engaged during a sunset on Gardiner’s Bay, a beach where I spent my summers growing up. We didn’t want to jump right into wedding planning, so we took the summer to celebrate and enjoy our engagement. Once we started looking at the catering halls in our area, we realized they weren’t for us. So I started searching for a unique and intimate space. The moment we walked into the Metropolitan Building, we both knew it was where we would be saying I do. We wanted to move in! We both love the fall and set the date for late October. Over the next year, I gave myself two or three major tasks a month so that I would not be overwhelmed with the wedding planning process. Matt turned out to be a huge help finding local vendors through his friends and coworkers. We could not have asked for a more talented, passionate and fun group of people to work with! We worked with friends, friends of friend, and other vendors (who we felt we could be friends with). Their professionalism and organization was invaluable! We felt so comfortable putting the tasks of the big the day in their hands, which is why we truly were able to RELAX and enjoy the big day.

When I started looking into planning basics, like picking a theme or wedding colors, I felt it was too restricting. So I decided to throw that out the window and picked neutrals with metallic touches that let the beauty of the Metropolitan Building shine through. We just wanted romantic, intimate and fun wedding. Julia at Love and Philanthropy understood exactly what I envisioned. She created romantic garden floral arrangements and filled with room with hundreds of candles. Along with help from family and friends, I took on some DIY projects — spray-painting 130 mini pumpkins, making cocktail stirrers, escort cards, welcome bags and more. Another of my priorities was that the wedding would be 100% vegetarian. As a vegan for the past six years, I could not have imagined a more kind way to celebrate our marriage. Our favorite restaurant, Roberta’s, blew all of our guests away with the insanely-delicious vegetarian feast! Matt’s priority was beer. He works in the industry, so we had a selection our guests were raving about.

By far, our favorite moment of the day was reading the vows we wrote ourselves in front of all of our family and friends.  We have been together for 10 years, so standing there promising to love each other was amazing! The reception that followed was filled with hilarious toasts (more like a roast of the groom), an EPIC dance party and celebrating our love with our closest family and friends. The wedding felt like a dream, and we could not have imagined a more magical day.  Lastly, I cannot thank Lindsay Madden enough for beautifully capturing every special moment of the day. She kept me so organized and at ease, and she made everyone so comfortable in front of the camera. She is an incredible artist!

Wedding Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography / Second Shooter: Sasithon Photography / Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York / Floral Design + Lighting: Love & Philanthropy / Officiant: Mark Giller of One Heart Ceremonies / Catering: Roberta’s / Wedding Cake: Baked / Entertainment: Aria Melody / Chuppah: Dufine Furniture / Bridal Preparations Location: Holiday Inn Manhattan View / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Makeup: The Parlour Brooklyn / Bridemaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein

CLY CREATION plus The Foundry? Can you get anymore stylish? Well I am going to answer that little diddy with yes, why yes you can – by placing the two of the cutest newlyweds you ever did see into that equation. When those kind of stars aline, when style is taken to that kind of level – we pay attention here at SMP, because it automatically makes for galleries so pretty we can barely take our eyes off of them. And that’s just what’s going on right here.

And let’s keep this pretty party going with their film from  Kiss the Bride Films…

From the Bride… When Billy and I decided to get married, the first thing we did was book The Foundry. We both value our friends and family dearly, and although it was our wedding day, one of our main priorities was to make sure everyone was comfortable and having fun. We thought The Foundry provided the casual and non-traditional atmosphere we were looking for, while still maintaining an elegant  and intimate setting. 

At the end of the day, our wedding was a true labor of love. With the help of our friends, we designed and made most of our paper goods ourselves, which proved to be challenging but fun and rewarding at the same time. In an effort to incorporate some personal elements, namely, my love of sugary sweets and Billy’s addiction to coffee, we also set up a candy bar and iced coffee station for our guests to enjoy.

The weather on our actual wedding day could not have been more perfect, and it helped to set the overall mood for the night. Our main goal had been to make sure our guests had a great time, and it was amazing to see all the individual elements that we had spent so much time planning all come together so beautifully! Everyone seemed relaxed and entertained, and our vendors really worked their magic to make sure the evening ran smoothly. Billy and I honestly could not have imagined a better night, and we are so thankful that everyone we love was there to share it with us!

Wedding Photography: Chung of CLY CREATION / Ceremony: St Paul Chong Ha Sang RC Chapel in Flushing, New York / Reception: The Foundry in Long Island City, New York / Event Planning + Catering: Real Food Catering / Floral Design: Blush Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Kiss the Bride Films / Wedding Cake: Runcible Spoon Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Beyond Creative Design / Wedding Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Band: Avalon Jazz Band / DJ: DJ Ceremony / Photo Booth: Sweet Booths / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Tuxedo: J.Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Antonio Maurizi