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Romantic Summer Wedding at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

This wedding just jumped to the top of my favorites list and while the florals are beautiful and the bridesmaid dresses beyond gorgeous, what really grabbed my attention and has yet to let go, are the abundance of amazing moments. Emotions are pouring out of every one of Nicki Sebastian and Quyn Duong’s pics and I feel like I not only know this cute couple, but that I’m one of these best friends. There is so much genuine joy and if I could, I’d join in every single one of these hugs. See it all right this way!

From Nicki Sebastian… To put it simply, Andrea and Dan’s Brooklyn Botanic Garden wedding transcended words. The two were married at the very same place where Dan proposed, and every last detail—venue included—was infused with meaning. The gardens were the ideal backdrop for this elegant, floral-inspired affair, and the soft neutral color scheme was the perfect complement to the surrounding blooms and lush expanses of the grounds.

After an emotional outdoor ceremony, guests enjoyed summery cocktails, unseasonably mild temperatures, and a stunning golden hour around the Garden’s Lily Pool Terrace, followed by a delicious dinner under the stars and a dance party for the ages in the glass-walled Palm House. The wedding itself was indeed a joining of two incredible families, but it certainly felt as though everyone had known each other for decades—never have I experienced so much unabashed love, joy, and true connection in one event.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what adventure lies ahead for these two, and I’m endlessly grateful that I was able to document the indescribable day that kicked off Andrea and Dan’s next chapter!

Photography: Jennifer Kulakowski | Photography: Justin Tearney | Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Photography: Nicki Sebastian | Cinematography: Robert Allen Of BKWV | Coordination: Whimsy Weddings | Floral Design: Whole Foods Market | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Jewelry: Alexis Bittar | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: Cafe Pinot | Hair and Makeup: Dvir Salon | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Jeddah Vailakis, NYC Wedding Officiant | Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Brides' Dress Alterations and Restoration: The Wedding Dresser NYC | Invitation Printing: Boxcar Press | Matches And Napkins: For Your Party | Music: 747 Orchestra | Photography - Assistance: Quyn Duong | Programs: Minted

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NST Pictures + A Giveaway!

There are exciting giveaways, and then there is the kind of exciting giveaway we are about to announce right here, right now on the pages of SMP.  Think the fabulously talented NST Pictures + YOU, our dear and very awesome readers + an all-inclusive wedding cinematography package giveaway valued at $4810. It’s a prize package to end all prize packages and you can find out all you need to know below!

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Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, but with all of the hustle and bustle of every moment, you’ll barely have a chance to soak it all in.  Enter NST Pictures, an artistic cinematographer that knows all there is to know about capturing those moments you’ll cherish for always; from their stunning films using multiple camera angles to their breathtaking HD footage to their fabulous music choices that will leave your heart swelling ’til the very end.  And with packages starting at just $980, there’s most definitely a customizable option perfect for you and your sweetie in the Tri-State, Mid-Atlantic, New England and Southern California areas.

Call NST Pictures today to begin your cinematic journey.  Then read below to enter one of the coolest ever giveaways.

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What: NST Pictures is giving away an all-inclusive wedding cinematography package to one lucky couple, including a full day of coverage with two cinematographers, a trailer film, a feature film, a documentary edit, USB copies and HD digital film links! (Value $4810)

How: To enter, and for all terms and conditions, click here. Good luck, lovelies! xo

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A New York City Engagement

The very first time I stumbled on Greg Finck‘s work, I proceeded to spend the entire day getting lost in all of his gorgeous images. It wasn’t the most productive day ever, but to me, it was a day well spent. And today we all get to soak up all his talent by way of this sweet session. With the City providing the perfect backdrop and this couple stealing the show, this gallery is one to get lost in for sure.

From Greg FinckAs I mostly specialize into destination weddings, I like to travel to the cities where my clients live to shoot their engagement session. For example, I travel twice or three times a year to New York City, to meet my clients in person and realize their pre wedding shoot. This is what I did with Eva and PJ, who will get married next Spring in Puerto-Rico.

Eva and PK both live in New York, and we decided to realize their session, on a hot and early Sunday morning, between the West Village and Chelsea Market. This sweet couple came with an impeccable style, sign that the bride-to-be works in fashion, and a stunning pair of Valentinos. We started our walk around Gay Street, and the typical brownstone mansions, before to have a regenerating coffee at Why Not. We then took a cab to Chelsea, where we wandered around the High Line, and the warehouses. We ended up with a great Sunday brunch at Catch!

What a beautiful Sunday morning spent with this lovely couple ! I just can’t wait for their wedding in Puerto-Rico now!

Photography: Greg Finck Photography | Venue: New York City

Rustic + Glam Finger Lakes Wedding

Outfitting a venue from top to bottom is no easy task, but the payoff? So. worth. it. Just ask these engineers who formulating the perfect party. From the sewn programs, to the vintage pews, to local olive oil favors – they vowed their forever underneath a gorgeous oak tree while longtime friend of the Bride and photographer Elizabeth LaDuca captured it all in The Vault!

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From Elizabeth LaDucaAllie and Steve were married under a gorgeous old oak tree earlier this month, as loved ones looked on from vintage pews. I’ve known Allie and Steve for nearly 10 years, and can say their wedding day was truly a labor of love! They are both engineers, and very detail-oriented, and each element incorporated into their celebration demonstrates this! They worked closely with friends and family to bring their vision to life – starting with their invitations!

Allie wanted something that spoke to the elegance and organic nature they were looking to incorporate into their day. I painted the watercolor laurel wreath, as well as some other leaf elements, that provided a beautiful visual link through the all of the paper elements of the day.

The venue they selected was really a blank canvas, and they worked hard to bring many special touches into the space. The pews were Allie’s first big purchase – and really set the tone for the ceremony. She and her father worked closely on transporting, refinishing and creating custom cushions for the vintage pews, and bringing them back to their former glory.

Every detail spoke to Allie’s vision – from the sewn programs that housed tissues for the guests, to the handmade bridesmaid gift bags, to local olive oil favors and the gorgeous dessert bar – it was amazing to see how their venue was transformed.

It was an honor to work with the wonderful vendors who helped bring their vision to life!

When I asked Allie about her favorite part of the day, and to describe her inspiration, she provided me with the following:

From The Bride…Steve and I got engaged on Christmas Eve on the grounds of the place where we first fell in love, RIT. To no surprise, Steve was really passionate about having a wedding to celebrate with family and friends, whereas I wanted the much simpler approach, elope. He won that battle.

We looked for a venue that would represent us the best. We are very low-key people so an outdoor wedding seemed the most appropriate, but we also wanted it to feel a bit “upscale”.

Frog Pond was the perfect fit! Right away the character of the stone carriage house and ruins gave us that bit of elegance we were searching for. Its beauty masked the hardships we knew we would have to go through in order to transform this venue into a place where a celebration could occur. With an empty carriage house and beautifully manicured grounds, this location was a quaint, serene, magnificent blank slate. Every aspect of this wedding had to be hand chosen down to the most minute detail.

Not only was this venue a challenge because it literally came with nothing (ie: no running water, no bathrooms, no tables, no chairs) we also had to “decorate” and fill three spaces on a budget: ceremony, barn and reception under the tent. We used lots of leaves to soften up areas within the barn and as centerpieces on the tables. We ran loose garland (Italian ruscus and seeded eucalyptus) along the tables with red, ox blood and blush flowers throughout.

We kept things classy by incorporating a lot of neutral colors, rustic wood and a mix of metals such as bronze and gold. The outfits for our bridal party were simple champagne dresses for the girls, and navy suits with champagne ties for the guys. A very classic, timeless look.

Our pops of color were used very sparingly like in the napkins, straws and flowers. We added flowers to soften the dessert table, and I just fell in love with the idea of a “naked” cake. It looked almost white washed and was so beautiful. Providing mini bite sized pieces of a variety of desserts made it possible for people to try a little bit of everything if they wanted to. People love options!

I would have to say that the ceremony was my favorite part, and I think Steve would agree. The vision for the ceremony first came when I saw some beautiful southern outdoor weddings on Pinterest that had pews for seating. I thought it was so unique and I just needed to have them at our wedding. I asked every rental place in the Rochester and Syracuse area if they had pews, and they said no. In a stroke of luck, I found them on Craigslist and purchased the whole set.

I loved the idea of incorporating free-standing doors to aid in the “build up” of waiting for the bride. A co-worker helped custom-build white washed doors exactly like what I had envisioned. Steve had also mentioned that he would love it if I sang to him on our wedding day. I didn’t feel confident that I could sing without crying, so I had a friend record me and it played as I walked down the asile. We also said our own vows, signifying the importance of family, friends and God through the unity tree ceremony and communion.

Our friend Beth (who also was our wonderful photographer) impressively helped design our invitation so that it was an accurate representation of what our guests would experience. She helped incorporate the soft romantic elements by using water colored olive leaves, and using kraft and cotton paper for organic elements. We inserted fine details of gold using bakers twine and gold calligraphy. She even took the time to design a map so that people had a visual aid of where this venue was in relation to Skaneateles lake. Just a beautiful invitation!

Everything about this wedding turned out exactly how we had envisioned it! At 72 degrees and cloudy, we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Everywhere we turned we saw smiling faces and people truly enjoying themselves. We got so many compliments with many people pointing out a lot of the little details. It made all that hard work seem soo worth it! Some people even went as far as saying it was one of the best weddings they had ever been to. For two engineers, it was quite the compliment! However, this wedding wouldn’t have been anywhere close to as perfect had it not been for the help of our closest friends and family. They came through when Steve and I needed them the most! I’m happy to finally be Mrs. Cramb!

Photography: Elizabeth LaDuca | Coordination: Jennifer Bell | Floral Design: In Bloom | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cake: La Dolce Vita Bake Shop | Invitations: Elizabeth LaDuca | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Adrianna Papell | Catering: Daniel's Grill | Makeup: Glam Vanity | Hair: Salon Allure | DJ: DJ Chris Sweet | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Frog Pond Bed And Breakfast

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Vintage Inspired Brooklyn Wedding at 501 Union

Take a crazy cool locale like 501 Union and add in a fab team of vendors (I’m looking at you, READYLUCK), plus a stunning duo that knows a thing or two about saying “I do” in style and the results are this: a vintage-inspired Brooklyn affair almost too pretty to believe.  Think awe-inspiring captures + fall-hued everything.  Head to The Vault for every ounce of pretty.

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From The Bride…We had a tall order for our fall wedding: throw an amazing party with a chic, early 20th century vibe to match our Brooklyn venue, 501 Union, while incorporating elements of a British groom, Nebraskan bride, our New York City life, and a love for all things trivia. And we definitely didn’t want traditional.

We had a lot of help pulling our wedding together! We were so lucky to have talented friends, parents, and amazing vendors around us. The design was mostly black and gold, and with the help of our incredible florist, Alexandra Abruza, we added lush tropical palms, pops of fuchsia, and a variety of ferns in antique bottles. She wrapped my grandmother’s 1930s beaded bridal headpiece around the stems of my bouquet, which made my grandmother’s eyes light up when she saw it. We couldn’t have pulled the night off (or the months leading up to it) without the help of our wedding planner, Melissa McNeeley, who lined the aisle with vintage Persian runners, and designed unique, vintage-inspired spaces throughout the venue to create different atmospheres (and photo ops!) for our guests.

I wore the “Lenox” dress by Amsale, and I kind of wish I could wear it every day. Styles on B did incredible hair, with gorgeous makeup by Anni Bruno at NYC Faces. (One of my bridesmaids even kept the same hair and makeup for brunch the next morning… seriously impressive.)

We were really focused on personalizing the night for our guests as much as possible. Drink stirrers in our signature cocktail contained fun facts about our families and wedding parties (we had the best time writing those), and we used trivia and inside jokes with our guests as an inspiration for the table names. Each guest received an escort card with a question – the answer to which was their dinner table placement. Custom-cut table names (such as “Bruce Springsteen,” “West Village,” “Phil Collins,” and others), had meaning to the people seated at each table. Melissa and her team designed these elements beautifully, and they topped the tables with vintage playing cards in reference to my husband’s love of poker.

People raved about the dinner catered by Betty Brooklyn, and I’ve never seen such amazing catering staff. I’m dying to eat the top of the cake provided by Nine Cakes that we’ve been saving in our freezer for our one-year anniversary. Yes, I am proud of myself for not having eaten it yet.

But what really made the wedding was the people! Thanks to our super talented photographer, Eddie Winter from Readyluck, so many personalities, hilarious moments, and friendships were captured in the most beautiful pictures. He really knows how to capture a moment and the feeling of it, and we adore our photos. Our DJ, Justin Carter, aka Mr. Saturday Night, had people dancing all night, and people are still talking about how great the music was. In a homage to my husband’s Australian parents, we topped off the night with a food truck serving Australian hand-held pies to the guests. It was an amazing night!

Photography: Readyluck | Event Planning: Events By Melissa McNeeley | Floral Design: Alexandra Abuza | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Cake: Nine Cakes | Invitations: Ashley Page Norton | Catering: Betty Brooklyn Catering Co. | Makeup: NYC Faces | Hair: Styles On B | DJ: Mister Saturday Sound | Band: The Lowdown Stoppers | Venue: 501 Union | Painter: Mike Rohner | Rentals: Patina

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Romantic Brooklyn Engagement Session

These two traveling hearts have stolen mine for the afternoon. Fresh off of a Maldives proposal and making the trek all the way from their home in Hong Kong, these two lovebirds landed on New York for their love sesh with Judy Pak Photography—a locale where they went to school and created an abundance of memories together. See all of the hand holding and sunset snuggles over here in The Vault.

From Judy Pak PhotographyAngelina and Howard are travelers at heart. Since they had fond memories of school and work in New York, they wanted to incorporate their love for the city in their pictures. They traveled all way from Hong Kong to take their engagement photos in New York following Howard’s proposal in the Maldives, one of their favourite vacation spots. They will celebrate their destination wedding in Jeju island this September.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Venue: Brooklyn

Fancy Girl Table

Planning your wedding is filled with a lot of difficult decisions, but when it comes to partnering with a team of catering + event design professionals who know everything about crafting a day that is perfect for you and yours, Fancy Girl Table is IT.  Think innovative menus, beautiful decor and organic + locally sourced ingredients that will transform your wedding into the foodie paradise you’ve always imagined.

Founded by Jeanette Maier with a mission to serve only the freshest food possible, Fancy Girl Table brings local Hudson Valley farmers’ organic ingredients straight from the earth to your table.  Which means better color, quality and flavor in a menu that is completely customized for you and your event. From those special entrees created to take advantage of the season to the hors d’oeuvres served on repurposed wood to the carefully chosen wine pairings that more than complement each amazing course.  Not to mention Fancy Girl Table’s ability to transform your event space into a stunning reflection of you and your love… whether that’s a laid-back affair in your backyard or a ballroom fete for 250 of your closest family and friends.

Call Fancy Girl Table today to begin creating the sustainable, earth-friendly event you’ve always imagined.

Photography: Brian Furbush | Catering: Fancy Girl Table | Hudson Valley Winery: Benmarl Winery

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Traditional + Elegant Wedding at the Roundhouse in Beacon Falls

It’s weddings like this that make my heart go pitter-patter. Because with sweet details like the Bride using her late grandmothers gown to fasten her bouquet, to the officiant being family, it’s meaningful moments that are sure to inspire. Sprinkled with showers, CLY By Chung shared their rustic chic day with us, and it’s happily at home in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Ryan and I are both from Ohio, met in New York City and have called the Big Apple home for 10 years. We have spent several weekends upstate in New York’s Hudson Valley and fell in love with the vibrant colors and culture to compliment our city lifestyle. Ironically enough, we chose a small town on the Hudson River, Beacon, New York. Literally our first venue. It was a gorgeous warehouse venue turned hotel-restaurant with a view into the past with a contemporary feel. We also chose Beacon as a ‘destination wedding’ to invite our family and friends to New York. We knew they would relish in the the charming feel of the cozy and quaint town just 90 minutes north of NYC. After 9 years of dating, we knew our family wouldn’t mind the road trip to finally see us tie the knot!

The Waterfall Room of the Roundhouse is a warehouse turned event space which fit our style perfectly, with its industrial feel, rustic details yet clean modern finish. Once we found the perfect place, we knew we wanted our wedding to be personal and truly be a reflection of us. I carried the memory of my grandmothers who had passed with me. I had the beading of one of their wedding dresses wrapped around the stems of my bouquet and my other grandmother’s handkerchief with blue flowers sewn into the tulle of my dress for my ‘something blue.’ Additionally, we wrote our own vows and asked Ryan’s uncle to marry us. He surprised us during the ceremony by telling a heartwarming story about how Ryan’s great-grandfather had arrived on Ellis Island from Italy over 100 years ago and settled down to start a life in America in Hudson, NY, just 50 miles north of Beacon. We felt very connected about starting the next chapter of our lives so close to where his family story began.

Our wedding day was pouring down rain, but that surely didn’t dampen our spirit. Moving our ceremony and cocktail hour indoors was such a blessing. The ceremony space indoors was much more intimate and romantic and our view out the floor to ceiling industrial windows really gave us the feeling of bringing the outdoors in. After my bridal party was down the aisle, sliding barn doors opened and I emerged on the top of a platform before heading down the stairs to meet my father. That is one moment I will never forget.

My discovery of Pinterest became my wedding inspiration obsession. I am someone who believes the love is in the details. We achieved a rustic chic style weaving grey and blush tones with pops of gold. We created ambiance with loads of candles in various shapes and sizes from clear glass votives, to gold mercury glass, tapers in hurricanes and varying teal and gold hurricanes that flanked the stairs and aisle. I spent a few weekends while in Ohio thrifting in barns and flea markets with family to collect all sorts of treasures that were used to create a “collected” vibe. This included vintage teal mason jars, galvanized buckets of varying sizes that held giant stems of baby’s breath for the ceremony, an old desktop mirror that was stained and used for a welcome sign, old drawers from a card catalog that were used to house succulents and an old post office mailbox that we sanded off the sheen and used to hold our cards. I found old slate pieces that we used to display some of our favorite quotes. Each place card was tied with a sprig of rosemary and displayed on salvaged brass trays. Menu cards were seated at each place setting and the bottom was etched with a quote that in the Victorian times, flowers had powerful meanings. Rosemary meant remembrance, which was a nod to those that couldn’t be seated with us that day, including Ryan’s brother, Eric, who passed away over a decade ago.

Our Craig Scott Entertainment band, Escapade, really made our reception rock! They were so awesome! We danced the night away. In between courses, literally every one of our guests was on the dance floor. The food at the Roundhouse was outstanding and capped off by our same day edit video put together that day from Red Bicycle Media to recap the whole day! The wedding cliche held true for us as well, where the night just flew by at lightening speed, but it felt so amazing to look around and see the people we love most. It was a night we will never forget, having all those who have shaped us over the years, together in one place celebrating us. We wish we could bottle that spectacular feeling!

Photography: Haseok Chung Studio | Cinematography: red Bicycle Media | Floral Design: Seed To Fruit | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Catering: Roundhouse | Makeup: Cati James | Band: Craig Scott Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Alton Lane | Venue: Roundhouse

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Fall Engagement Session on the North Fork

For those of you totally excited for the arrival of fall (read: me), this darling e-sesh is exactly what the doctor ordered.  Think two adorable sweeties frolicking amongst towering trees (in rich autumn colors) and you are sooo on the right track.  It’s true love meets chilly days meets the breathtaking images ofW Studios New York.  Head to The Vault for all of the pretty.

From the Bride… We chose to have our engagement pictures taken out on the North Fork of Long Island, because it is so pretty in the fall months. In November, the leaves are changing colors and the sunsets are amazing. We wanted to pick locations that held special meaning to us and the North Fork is our favorite place to go all year round to relax and enjoy each other.

We were relaxed and confident working with W Studios New York and had such a great time throughout the day. We hit multiple spots from a shady walk through the leaves to our favorite rocky beach and got all that we hoped for and more in our pictures. Stephen and Yuliya gave us great direction and were so helpful with moving around the east end and making the most of our time. We can’t wait to see how beautiful our wedding photos come out!

Photography: W Studios New York | Venue: North Fork New York | Bride's Accessories (Necklace): J.Crew | Bride's Attire (Jeans): 7 For All Mankind | Bride's Attire (Sweater): Zara | Bride's Attire (White Top): Zara | Bride's Shoes (Ankle Boots): Lucky Brand | Bride's Shoes (Flats): J.Crew | Groom's Attire (Boat Shoes): Sperry | Groom's Attire (Jeans): Levi's | Groom's Attire (Long Sleeve Gray Henley T-shirt): J.Crew | Groom's Attire (Quilted Blue Jacket): J.Crew

Romantic Central Park Engagement Session

These two fell in love via love letters and continued as they celebrated one holiday right after the other before this Groom-to-be left for Afghanistan. The proposal came at the same spot where they celebrated that faux Valentine’s Day, so it’s only proper that their engagement pics were captured there as well. As if it couldn’t get any better, these cuties say “I do” next February 13, to toast the next day, as husband and wife, properly and officially. See all of Meg Miller’s pics accompanying this love story right this way!

From the Bride-to-be… Mike and I were good friends for nine years before we went on our first date. And from that friendship, both our playful banter and unfaltering trust in each other have continued to be the heart of our relationship. Mike is a First Lieutenant Officer, and I first knew I loved him when I sat down to write him a letter while he was in the US Army Ranger School. I really wanted to help distract him from his tough training, but I did not know how I could write anything without seeming completely in love. So it took me a few weeks to admit it and gather the courage, but once I had received a letter from him, I bit the bullet and wrote my own. From there, our dating courtship took place over dozens of letters to each other over five months before a weekend visit in Atlanta where we told each other how we felt in person.

Eventually, Mike moved to upstate New York and I lived in Manhattan. We dated long distance for over two years including nine of those months with Mike deployed in Afghanistan. We had only three weeks’ notice when he was told he would be leaving. I worked with our families to surprise him with celebrating every holiday he was going to miss while away. Our first dual family dinner was “Thanksgiving.” “Christmas Eve” was spent making cookies and opening stockings at his parent’s house, and “Christmas morning” was the hardest to pull off but I managed to set up a mini tree with lights (in October!) while he slept in the same room. But Mike wanted to know when “Valentine’s Day” was going to be, so he could be prepared. We spent Valentine’s Day in Central Park with a picnic and a carriage ride that started off from Columbus Circle. He says in that moment when I walked up to meet him was when he knew he was going to marry me when he came home.

That was the reason why he proposed to me at Columbus Circle, and also the reason why we wanted to have our engagement pictures taken there. We brought a bottle of champagne and a blanket to have a small picnic like our first “Valentine’s Day” date during our shoot to feel more candid. I love anything and everything white, so Mike surprised me by having a posy made of these beautiful white flowers the day of our session to carry throughout the park. Our wedding day will be February 13, 2016, and the next day will be our first day as man and wife, and our first Valentine’s Day spent in person together as well. So for us, everything has come full circle.

Photography: Meg Miller Photography | Dress: Elizabeth And James | Bride's Shoes: Sam Edelman | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Venue: Central Park

Elegant Manhattan Wedding

One part sleek meets sophisticated, one part traditional meets classic, this stunning Manhattan affair from Classic Events NYC will completely make your Monday.  From the breathtaking orchid-filled florals from Pedestals to the bride’s fabulous Nicole Miller gown to the take-your-breath-away reception at Guastavino’s.  Head to The Vault for every amazing moment captured by Joseph Lin.

From the Bride… When Mario and I got engaged my first priority was to hire Classic Events NYC to plan and organize the affair and make my vision of an elegant Manhattan wedding a reality. Upon meeting with Danielle from Classic Events, I explained what my wishes were for my wedding day and, based on our first conversation, I knew it would be exactly what I wanted and more. We set up an appointment at Guastavinos and immediately fell in love with the space and their team. We booked it the following day without seeing any other spaces.

For ceremony location, we knew wanted to get married at the historic St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mott Street. The church held significance for us as both my grandparents and parents were married there. In our search for a photographer who would take flawless photos and capture every significant moment of our day, I was recommended by a friend to call Joseph Lin Photography. As soon as I saw his work, I immediately was intrigued by his artistic style and creative ideas.

For our flowers, we wanted something elegant and chic to complement the gothic urban style of our venue. We hired Steven Polizzi from Pedestals who was able to deliver exactly what we were looking for and make everything flawless.

For makeup and hair, I was very concerned about looking overdone and unnatural. I hired the talented team from Alex Anthony Salon who listened to all of my concerns and knew exactly how to make me look and feel like the most beautiful version of myself.

Photography: Joseph Lin Photography | Event Planning: Classic Events NYC | Floral Design: Pedestals Floral Decorators | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Ceremony Venue: St Patricks Old Cathedral | Reception Venue: Guastavino's | Makeup: Alex Anthony Salon | Hair: Alex Anthony Salon | Band: Hank Lane Music | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Getaway Car: Romantique Limousines

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Romantic NYC Elopement

You know what I’ve realized? Just how small the world actually is. Like, when you meet someone in the Big Apple who just so happens to live in the exact same Russian city as you. Take these two, who did exactly that, fell madly in love and eloped in NYC, the city that stole their hearts. Complete with monumental moments and a carrousel ride, it’s a tale of two from the lens of Cynthia Chung Weddings and you can see it all in The Vault!

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From Cynthia Chung WeddingsHad the lovely opportunity to photograph this beautiful couple, Kira and Mikhail. They met in NYC but were both from the same city in Russia! After living in Brooklyn for a few years, they both decided to move back to their home country of Russia after they get married. Their plan was to spend their honeymoon traveling across the United States and then finish up their honeymoon in Russia. Kira worked as a gallery manager, so NYC, fashion and art was a huge part of her life. She wanted to capture the liveliness of NYC forever. With Kira’s custom hand-painted high heels, we began the day in Soho, photographing throughout the streets, went to DUMBO, rode on Jane’s carousel and finished up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for their reception at Acqua Santa. It was a beautiful day!

Photography: Cynthia Chung Photography | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Venue: Acqua Santa | Carousel: Jane's Carousel | Hair & Make Up: Mount Tabor Park

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Romantic Engagement Session in New York City

NYC engagement sessions are some of the prettiest you will ever see.  There’s just something about the breathtaking scenery + the hustle and bustle of one of the world’s coolest cities that makes for one seriously romantic backdrop.  Add in a duo as stunning as these two and the brilliant eye of Alicia Swedenborg and, well… happy Monday.  See it all here, then head to The Vault for more e-session lovely.

From Alicia Swedenborg… Christina was was a medical student and Brian was a doctor working at a hospital in Brooklyn when they met. The proposal took place on vacation in Tuscany and took a day trip to a vineyard in one of the hill towns, Montelpulciano. “After a perfect afternoon of vineyard tours, wine tasting, and lunch on the terrace, we took a walk around the property. While strolling through a field of yellow flowers, I turned around, and Brian was on one knee with a beautiful emerald-cut diamond ring.

They wanted their engagement pictures to reflect their favorite places in New York City. “One of our first dates was a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, so that seemed like the perfect place to start.” The couple lives in Greenwich Village so that was also a natural spot for some photos, we even snuck up on the roof top where the couple had their first kiss and snapped some photos sitting on that same been. “We really enjoyed shooting photos around our neighborhood. Alicia made the session fun and captured breathtaking images of us around downtown Manhattan!”

Photography: Alicia Swedenborg | Venue: New York City | Blue Beaded Top: Anthropologie | Bride's Blue Shoes: J.Crew | Bride's Gray Shoes: Madewell | White Dress: Trina Turk | White Skirt: Anthropologie

Romantic Long Island City Engagement Session

From the coziness of their home to the glow of sunset high above the Manhattan skyline, Lauren Fair’s photos take us on a romantic journey with this adorable engaged duo. By the end of the photographic adventure, we feel like fast friends – can we join you guys on that picture perfect rooftop patio?

From the Bride-to-be… The very first wedding-related decision we made was that we absolutely had to have Lauren Fair Photography shoot our wedding. One of the major criterion that our venue had to have was an opening that matched with Lauren and Tim Fair’s available dates. We looked at venues in NYC, Philadelphia, Mexico, and finally decided on Shadow Lawn in The Hudson Valley region of New York. The quaint and rustic venue was perfect for us and we couldn’t have been more excited to learn that it worked out with our photographer’s schedule as well.

We weren’t interested in engagement photos at first, but decided to have them done since Lauren and Tim include them in all of their packages. They explained to us that it helps them get to know each couple before the big day and allows the couple to gain some experience with “acting naturally” while being photographed. We were super excited to meet them, so we happily took their advice, and couldn’t be happier that we did. We had so much fun during the shoot and can’t stop gushing over the photos. As an added bonus, Lauren and I discovered that we have a lot of similarities including our names, our love for our dogs (both named Oliver) and our style (which came in handy when I realized I forgot a belt and Lauren gave me the one she was wearing!)

We began the shoot in our apartment in Long Island City, with our beloved pup Ollie, and then headed across the street to Gantry Park, which spans about 3/4 mile and abuts the East River, with spectacular Manhattan views. Our favorite photos were underneath the gantries themselves. Next we headed up to the rooftop of a 32 story high rise for some of the best views of Manhattan right at sunset.

Needless to say, we cannot wait to have the opportunity to work with Lauren and Tim again for our wedding in September. We hope you enjoy these photos as much as we did!

Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Venue: Shadow Lawn

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Elegant NYC High Line Engagement Session

When this beautiful bride-to-be arrived at the High Line to meet her beau for a couples’ photoshoot, she had no idea he was about to propose — or that it would be captured on film! Oh, and the helicopter tour around the city and private dinner with both their families he planned after the shoot? Just icing on the cake. Captured by the always lovely Alicia Swedenborg, this e-sesh is jammed packed with urban charm, intimate moments, and happy smiles you can imagine. Take a peek at the full gallery here!


From The Bride…Paul and I met at NASDAQ, where we both worked, when I was on a work trip to NYC and was seated next to Paul by chance. After Paul unsuccessfully asked me out right then and there, he pursued me for months through witty emails and IMs from afar. When I finally moved to New York City 6 months later, I couldn’t say no to his relentless charm! 3 years later, after sharing trips around the world, meals in almost every restaurant in Manhattan, and the incredible love and support from our friends and families, Paul and I are so excited to start our married lives together!

Our mutual friend reached out to me months ago asking if I could convince Paul to pose for couples portraits to enhance his portfolio. Thinking I was completely in charge of the plans as usual, I committed us after pitching the idea to Paul. Unbeknownst to me, this was all part of a master plan to get me to the Highline, our first date location. When we arrived, Paul got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, and our friend was hiding in the bushes documenting the whole event!

After the proposal, we went to Hogs and Heifers, our classy part 2 of our first date, and shared our news with the bra-clad waitresses over a tequila shot. Paul brought me to a few more meaningful spots before telling me “there weren’t enough hours in the day to revisit all of our special places”. With that, we arrived at the Manhattan helipad, where both of our families were there to surprise me (enter: me completely losing it, ugly tears) and we took an amazing helicopter ride around the city.

After some bubbly and Skype sessions to family abroad, Paul’s brother, a sous chef, prepared a massive feast for our families at his restaurant, Lupa. We finished the evening with celebratory drinks at Houston Hall with our best friends. It couldn’t have been more perfect. And here I was thinking I was the planner in the family!

Photography: Alicia Swedenborg | Bride's Shoes: Tory Burch | Hair And Make Up: Glamsquad | Groom's Suit: Charles Tyrwhitt | Venue: New York City | Bride's Dress: Alice And Olivia | Groom's Blazer: Mark Marengo | Groom's Pants: J.Crew | Groom's Shirt: Suitsupply | Groom's Shoes: Allen Edmonds

Romantic Garden City Wedding

A classic yet personal affair that’s one part preppy and one part romantic, this sweet fête captured by Judith Rae Photography is lovely from the very first image to the last. With gorgeous invites from Katie Fischer Design that truly set the style and overflowing florals from B&W Mockawetch Florist, this couple has one gorgeous gallery of images to cherish forever.

From The Bride…Jeff proposed in front of our Christmas Tree in our New York City apartment on Christmas Eve. His proposal was romantic, heartfelt, and such a lovely surprise! We were fortunate enough to spend the Christmas and New Year’s holidays celebrating the happy news with family and friends.

Before we even began seriously wedding planning, we knew that we wanted a party that really highlighted what matters to us most as a couple: family, friends, and fun! We wanted a relaxed atmosphere with good food and great music where everyone could let loose and really celebrate and enjoy this special time in our lives with us. As we began planning, we wanted all of the details from our wedding to reflect our personalities and our focus on creating a fun, laid back environment for our family and friends. We chose a classic, preppy color palatte (navy, green, and grey) and tried to incorporate meaningful details wherever we could: Jeff chose socks commemorating an element of their friendship for all of his groomsmen, while I carried a shamrock charm on my bouquet as a nod to my family’s Irish heritage and all the guests that were attending from Ireland. The escort cards were handmade using stamps that we picked up in London, near where we are currently living. We worked with Katie Fischer Design for our invitations as we wanted something unique and reflective of our personal style. My mom even made and decorated our traditional Irish wedding cake!

On May 31st, we were married at Our Lady of Victory Church in Floral Park, New York in front of our closest friends and family. We were blessed to have guests travel in from Ireland, London, Australia, and eight different states! Our families played an integral role in our ceremony as our siblings presented the gifts and read passages we had specifically chosen, while Jeff’s nephew, Reid, handed out the program’s Jeff’s brother designed and printed for us. After the ceremony, our guests joined us at the Garden City Country Club which provided a beautiful backdrop for the evening. We loved the venue from the moment we saw it and we were so happy that our guests were able to fully enjoy the outdoor cocktail hour space! We enjoyed the heartfelt toasts, delicious meal, and celebrating with the people we love most. Jeff and I are pretty certain that our ultimate goal of creating a fun environment for family and friends was achieved because the dance floor was packed all night!

A very special thank you to all our friends and families that shared this special moment with us and to all our vendors for making our wedding day exactly what we were dreaming of. Finally, thank you to Judith Rae Photography for so perfectly capturing this time in our lives.

Photography: Judith Rae | Floral Design: B&W Mockawetch Florist | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Invitations: Katie Fischer Design | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Victory Church | Reception Venue: Garden City Country Club | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Lula Kate | Makeup: Dani Finocchiaro | Hair: Dina Gucciardo | Band: East Coast Band | Officiant: Our Lady of Victory Church

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Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties
Romantic Apple Orchard Engagement Session

This next e-sesh is what I like to call “pretty punctuated with purpose”. For it was in the exact same orchard where this handsome groom proposed and Judith Rae Photography was behind the lens snapping every sentimental spot. A crisp day complete with apple picking and cozy kisses, see it all unfold in The Vault!

From the beautiful Bride-to-be… Mike and I fell in love at first sight five years ago while both sharing a passion for live music. I was enjoying the music of a local band when he casually came over to me and asked to sit beside me. I softly said yes, and our love story began. We went on our first formal date the following night and quickly became inseparable. We had both never felt this feeling before. As the months and years went by our love only grew more and more strong.

We both loved spending time with our families and loved any outdoor activities. After my twin sisters went off to college we found a beautiful farm that was close to both of their schools. We started to make it a tradition to all meet there every fall and go apple and pumpkin picking. On our third year enjoying the farm, in the rolling hills of the apple orchard, Mike got down on one knee and uttered those magical words; “Jenna, will you marry me”. It was so magical to have that once in a lifetime moment shared with my sisters in a spot we held so many memories.

The following year we came back to that magical farm and enjoyed taking our engagement photos there. It was so special to be able to capture that love and that feeling all over again. We often speak about how excited we are to one day bring our family to that farm and tell them about our love story.

Photography: Judith Rae | Venue: Harvest Moon Farm And Orchard

Elegant + Chic Fort Tryon Park Outdoor Wedding

Planning an outdoor wedding? Consider color – lots and lots of color. Take this celebration as example. Exuding an aura of splendor like no other, it’s a fete that proves nature is an an extraordinary canvas for intensely bright florals and lovely lace accents. Cynthia Chung Weddings shared the special day and it’s all waiting in the gallery!

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From Cynthia Chung WeddingsWhen you have a outdoor wedding in Fort Tryon Park… it’s going to be amazing. Hands down. Lauren and Eric couldn’t have planned it ANY more beautifully. The weather was perfect, their outfits were perfect, the florals for this wedding blew me out of the water and their taste for music was right on point.

Eric used to always stop by a florist near their home in Brooklyn, but when they moved out of Brooklyn and into the city, the florist was so sad about them leaving, she actually cried. That’s how close they were to her. So when they called her to do the flowers for the wedding– she was thrilled and she created some amazingly gorgeous bouquets and decor!

Lauren and Eric are really down to earth, fun loving and food loving couple. Their sense of style also was so well represented through the little details of their wedding. Both being huge foodies, picking tabasco sauce as their wedding favors couldn’t have been any more perfect- “keeping it spicy”.

It was an amazing day both for beautiful photographs yet also a fun time.

From The Bride…Every bride says the same thing: best day ever! And I’m not trying to say they’re liars, but I’m calling them out because September 6, 2014 was in fact THE BEST DAY EVER!! Let’s backtrack a bit. In late July of 2013 Eric and I took the train out to Long Beach for what was supposed to be like any other summer Sunday. Unbeknownst to me Eric had other plans. After his surprise proposal in the sand and the obligatory phone calls to our family we started discussing and planning how we envisioned our ideal day. We knew we wanted something in the city, outdoors, and most importantly there had to delicious food! The hunt was on but it didn’t last long; we took a trip up to Fort Tryon Park to see the New Leaf Cafe. It had everything we wanted, a beautiful setting, and an awesome staff to boot!

We knew we wanted to use our amazing and talented neighborhood florist (http://saffron-brooklyn.com/) and when we told her that good news she was so happy for us that she was actually moved to tears! All I had to do was send her my Pinterest board and she did the rest.

We knew we didn’t have room (as in space and also budget) for a band so we started researching djs. After an afternoon of good music and food in the guanus, Eric said “wouldn’t it be great if we could get Mr. Sunday?”. So I sent them a Facebook message and we set up a phone interview, booked them, filled out a survey listing our wants and then met with Justin the week before the wedding. He is a professional in every sense of the word and provided us with a soundtrack that totally represented who we are and what we wanted.

Next on the list was our photographer. After countless hours scrolling through reviews and profiles of borrowing stuffy options i came across a photographer (Cynthia Chung) who’s images really gave an insight into the bride and groom she was shooting and also gave a sense of comfort. She also happened to have some really cool “stop motion” photography which I totally fell in love with. I sent her an email and Eric and I went to meet and we knew we loved her the second we met. (Not only was she a source of calm throughout the planning process and the big day, but I had asked her for advice on scheduling the day and she provided a detailed outline… Lifesaver!!!!)

When it came time to go dress shopping we took a trip to the wedding dress mecca known as Kleinfelds where I found a beautiful sheath and lace gown by David Fielden. I loved everything about this dress, it was just what I wanted (even if I needed to do some convincing…it wasn’t what my mom and sister imagined for me but once they saw the dress on me they agreed that it was just perfect.

Eric had his suit made by a tailor he had done business with in the past and met on a trip to Hong Kong. It was a perfect blueish gray that really popped. His brother, the best man, wore a grey suit, and my two brother, Jeff and Jamie wore navy blue brooks brothers suits. All the boys wore pink ties to match my sisters, the maid-of-honor, pink dress from J.Crew. We didn’t even plan it but the grooms side of the family all wore gray and the brides side all wore either navy or pink. It looked super sharp in the photos.

For favors we looked to Etsy and found these awesome hot sauce bottles from “Nonna’s Kitchen” with the labels “keeping it spicy.” We are both huge foodies and adding a touch of foodie-ness was percent for our wedding favors.

Our invitations were absolutely amazing! They looked beautiful and had this super slick city skyline for the envelope liner. I worked with a wonderful team of professionals at Cheree Berry Paper and they rocked!!

Photography: Cynthia Chung Photography | Floral Design: Saffron | Wedding Dress: David Fielden | Invitations: Cheree Berry Paper | Ceremony: Grand Ferry Park | Reception: New Leaf Restaurant | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Wedding Favors: Nonna's Kitchen | Music: Mister Saturday Sound

Garden Chic Brooklyn Winery Spring Wedding

This neighborhood fête from the lens of Rima Brindamour is celebration of local loveliness. For when these reconnected childhood sweethearts married on their 7 year anniversary (!!) the Brooklyn Winery proved to be the perfect place. Striking a balance of spring florals and industrial beauty, every detail is downright delicious (including their menu options) and you can see it all in the gallery.

From the beautiful Bride… Alex and I met on vacation with our families in Bermuda when I was 9 and he was 12. We didn’t see each other for nearly 12 years when we reconnected at a family function in 2008. We immediately hit it off, dated long distance for a year until he moved to New York, and then moved in together a few months after I graduated from college. In September 2013, Alex proposed during a trip to Europe, in front of the Eiffel Tower where we enjoyed a surprise picnic with our friends. Upon our return from Europe, we started planning the wedding, hoping to be married the following September in Westchester.

When our original venue fell through in January 2014, we were sent back to the drawing boards. Our thoughts immediately fell on the Brooklyn Winery, which we’ve lived next to for the past 4 years. It’s been a part of our story, as we shared a glass of wine there when we signed our lease on our current apartment, we frequent the wine bar on a regular basis, and we always admire the beauty and uniqueness of their weddings every time we walk by. We set up a meeting as soon as we could and booked the venue for May 30, 2015, which also happens to be our 7 year anniversary. We could not wait to bring our friends and family from near and far to experience our corner of the world for a weekend to celebrate our nuptials. It also didn’t hurt living half a block away from the venue, on top of having a year and a half to plan the wedding.

We wanted to strike a certain balance between a spring, floral themed wedding with the industrial beauty of the venue, and I think we did a wonderful job. We tried to maintain a springy, natural palette of peachy pinks and neutrals with bright floral greens. Since we weren’t having an outdoor wedding like we originally wanted, we tried to bring the outdoors inside by having lots of flowers and succulents to give a romantic, rustic, “garden-party” feeling to the venue. By sprinkling votives and hurricanes throughout the venue, we perfectly achieved that look, especially in the atrium, where the glass roof makes it feel like you’re underneath the stars. The venue itself is so beautiful that we didn’t need to go overboard with the decor, but it provides a great canvas to make it what you want it to be.

It was really important for us to choose vendors who were either friends/family or locally based, as we really wanted the wedding to be a celebration of us, our neighborhood, and our favorite things. One of our favorite vendors was our stationer, Swiss Cottage Designs, located in Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn. I cannot sing enough praise for these ladies! Courtney and her team perfectly captured the look we were going for and created some of the most unique and beautiful invitations we’ve ever seen!

Choosing our photographer was also a very important task for us. We looked through blog posts of Brooklyn Winery weddings and found a few photographers who had shot multiple weddings at the Winery. After meeting Rima Brindamour, we immediately felt a connection with her and knew that she would be the perfect fit for the style we were looking for. She impressed us with her knowledge of the Winery (ie. lighting, angles, etc), as well as the options she offered for albums, photo booth, etc. We had so much fun during our engagement shoot, and when the wedding day finally rolled around she was so organized and professional, giving direction when she needed but also remaining invisible enough that we didn’t notice her perfectly capturing the beautiful candid shots that are her specialty. We are beyond happy with how everything turned out and are in love with the album she so beautifully put together for us. I would recommend Rima to any couple getting married in the Tri-State area, especially those whose venue is the Brooklyn Winery!

Some vendors we knew personally were our DJ, JusB, a friend and former co-worker of Alex’s; my uncle, David Clason at Betteridge in Vail, Colorado, who designed and made my engagement ring and our wedding bands; our florist, Maureen Lanning at Bedford Village Florist in Westchester, a long time friend and colleague of my aunt, who did an absolutely amazing job and is a true artist in her craft; and Alex’s client, Anna Kim, who served as our Day of Coordinator. We also found our officiant by posting on Facebook that we were looking for someone who could legally marry us in NYC. Our friend, Kristen Mooney, happened to be getting her NYC officiant license and offered to help us. It was so nice working with someone we knew to come up with the perfect ceremony (including a symbolic wine ceremony, which was a nod to where we first reconnected at Alex’s family’s vineyard in New Jersey, and our venue). To keep it local, we ordered our cake from Momofuku Milk Bar in Williamsburg, and crafted our place card holders out of succulents purchased from Sprout Home, also in Williamsburg. Our welcome bags that we gave to guests staying at Le Jolie and the Wythe include local treats such as McClure’s pickle flavored potato chips and cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar.

We didn’t go overboard with the DIYing, but we loved how everything we did turned out. I work at an advertising agency and one of our producers had a bistro chalkboard left over from a shoot, much like the one that Brooklyn Winery places outside during their weddings with the couple’s names written in chalk on it. I knew it would fit in perfectly with the rustic chalkboard theme of the venue, so I took it home and used it to list our seating arrangements. Also, with the help of one of our amazing groomsmen, we spent the day before the wedding potting miniature succulents in adorable silver buckets to serve as our place cards, decor for the table, and favors.

One of my favorite parts of the wedding was the dress! I had my eye on the Reem Acra beauty since before we got engaged. My aunt and I went to Bergdorf’s one afternoon to see if we could score a same-day appointment. The woman at the front desk kindly told us we would have to come back another day, but when I spotted my dream dress hanging out front, she was so nice and fit us in for a super quick appointment. We were in and out of there in 45 minutes – I think I set some world records! Somehow I knew that the cap sleeves and twisted bodice would suit my body type perfectly, and as soon as I tried it on, I knew I had found my dress. Joan at Bergdorf’s couldn’t have been nicer, and I would highly recommend any of their saleswomen to assist with finding your dream dress!

I felt very strongly about my bridesmaids choosing dresses that made them feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. We tried on some great dresses but realized that they just wouldn’t work for everyone’s body types, and I wanted to avoid having one or two girls feel uncomfortable in the dress we chose. I ended up giving them a color scheme, a very loose theme and a Pinterest page to give them some guidance. In the end, I was so pleasantly surprised by how beautiful everyone looked both individually and as a group. Even though the dresses did not perfectly match, the hair, makeup and accessories brought everything together perfectly to create a cohesive look. I still can’t get over how gorgeous and glowing they were!

We held our rehearsal dinner at the Wythe Hotel, where we also stayed in the North 8th loft (we live on North 8th Street, so found it quite fitting). The loft has a beautiful private terrace, where we had a quick rehearsal with our family and bridal party before heading down to the private dining room in the cellar of the hotel. Reynard, the hotel’s restaurant, created an absolutely spectacular family style meal that set the tone for the weekend. Following the dinner, we headed over to Nita Nita, just a few blocks from the Wythe, where we enjoyed after dinner cocktails with family, our bridal party, and out of town guests. The following morning, the bridal party showed up bright and early to the Wythe where we relaxed and were pampered by our amazingly talented hair and makeup team, consisting of our hairstylist, Henry de la Paz (also a friend), and our makeup artist, Shai, who has become a friend in the process and just launched her own makeup line, Josephine Cosmetics! Alex and his groomsmen got ready at our apartment, enjoying Best Pizza (if you live in Williamsburg, you know it’s the best) and local Brooklyn Brewery beers.

Following our first look photos, taken in the courtyard of the Wythe, the bridal party ordered Uber SUV’s (because who needs rented limos anymore when you have them at the click of a button?) that took us over to the Brooklyn Winery. Prior to the ceremony, in between taking photos with the bridal party and family, we relaxed in the bride and groom’s suites as the guests trickled in. The Winery really has perfected the flow of their weddings – some of the compliments we heard the most from guests were that they were never without a drink (they offered glasses of sparkling wine as they entered the ceremony) and they never stood around wondering what was going to happen next. Immediately following the ceremony, we were swooped up to the parlor where the staff brought us sparkling wine and a sampling of all of our hors d’oeuvres. We then mingled with the guests for cocktail hour, and they brought us into the atrium to see the dinner set up before any of the guests. This was really a special moment for us as it looked so much better than we could have ever dreamt!

One of the reasons we chose Brooklyn Winery was for the delicious food. I can’t sing enough praises for their food! We tried to play with the stereotypical chicken and steak often served at weddings and chose buttermilk fried chicken and leg of lamb. Our guests were floored by how delicious everything was. Following dinner, we gave a quick toast, cut the cake, and headed to the dance floor for our first dance, “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green (we saw him live at BB King’s a few years back, so this song has always been special to us). We danced our booties off (so much so that the cap sleeve of my gown ripped and I ran to my apartment to change into my after party dress early!) Following the reception, we walked down the block to Roebling Sporting Club, where we had an open bar and munchies like sliders and fries for our guests. We ended up heading to a friend’s rooftop a few blocks away for a surprise after-after-party, where they had a full DJ setup that kept us dancing until the wee hours of the morning! The following day, we checked out of the Wythe, had brunch at Rye with our siblings and best man, and headed to the airport to jet off to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

You probably can’t tell from the pictures, but I was sick with bronchitis throughout the entire weekend! With a little help from our friend who is a doctor, and so much love from all of our friends and families, we were able to overlook this slight inconvenience and have the absolute best weekend of our lives! The best part about getting married in our neighborhood is that every time we walk around Williamsburg and past our venues, it brings back all of the best memories and puts a huge smile on our faces.

Photography: Brindamour Photography | Floral Design: Bedford Village Florist | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Invitations: Swiss Cottage Designs | Bride's Shoes: Something Bleu | Makeup: Sholayide Otugalu | Hair: Henry De La Paz | DJ: JusB | Grooms Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Hotel: Wythe Hotel | Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Winery | After Party: Roebling Sporting Club | After Party Dress: Alice And Olivia | Bride's Bracelet: Ben-Amun | Bride's Clutch: Whiting & Davis Bags | Cake Topper: Alexis Mattox | Day Of Stationary: Minted | Engagement Ring, Wedding Bands, Bride's Earrings: A E Betteridge Jewelers | Photobooth: Brindamour Booth | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Wythe Hotel | Succulents: Sprout Home | Welcome Drinks: Nita Nita

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Classically Elegant Summer Wedding at New York Botanical Garden

“To infinity and beyond”… while yes, this phrase may tap into my love for childhood movies but besides that, it’s also one pretty fabulous motto, wouldn’t you say so yourself? This cute couple used it throughout their special day, bringing an air of whimsy and fun to their elegant affair, captured by Bia Sampaio Photographs and The Candi Project. See every pretty pic (from the ladies in their gorgeous Twobird Bridesmaid dresses to one adorable flower girl) right this way!

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From the Bride… My overall vision was to create a day that felt romantic but with a wink, and didn’t take itself too seriously, even though getting married itself was obviously a serious decision. I wanted to create something that felt timeless, classic and beautiful, but also infused the silly sides of our personalities (ie: cornhole at cocktail hour, photo scavenger game during dinner, booth with crazy props during reception, etc).

It was very important to me that everything about my wedding aesthetic felt timeless and classic, even down to the colors. I didn’t want to look back at pictures 10 or 20 years down the line and wonder what I was thinking! My friends teased me when I said my wedding style was romantic with a wink, but my point was, that I wanted everything to be pretty, but not to take us too seriously! In general I love grey and white with an accent color, but wanted it to feel more special for the wedding. So I thought a silvery grey and ivory combination, would balance feminine pops of pink!

When John and I first started dating, we spent a lot of time in the West Village. And over time, frequently ran into a Japanese artist, Katsu, who painted beautiful watercolor scenes of the neighborhood, several of which we purchased. We had always talked about purchasing an original painting, but couldn’t justify the expense. When we started talking about wedding invitations, I suggested that we have Katsu paint us into a scene on one of our favorite tree-lined streets, and the painting would be a wedding gift to each other, and also serve as a design element within our wedding invitation. The original hangs over our bed now, and serves as a beautiful piece of art, and a nice nod to our wedding, and we had the invitation designers include it within the wedding invitation suite. It wasn’t obviously that it was John and I in the painting, but I appreciated the subtlety.

I love the traditions rooted within the saying, “something old, something borrowed, something blue, and something new.” I took my something borrowed and something old very seriously – and so from my Mom, I borrowed my Nanny’s wedding band, as well as her 10th wedding anniversary band, and wore those stacked with a 25th anniversary band of my Grandma’s, who had recently passed away and left me the ring. To know how many years of love I wore on my right hand, and whose lives those rings had been a part of, and that I got to share them all at once, meant the world to me.

Personalizing the wedding down to the last detail was something we took very seriously, even creating our own logo and working with art designers to design the entire wedding suite. As a marketer, having a logo seemed instinctual, but I wanted to “stamp” the occasion with something memorable but that was rooted in our every day lives. I often say to John, “I love you to infinity & beyond,” which was the inspiration for the logo (a version of an infinity symbol + our initials) that we threaded throughout the event, from invitations, to wedding day decor. I even worked with our photo booth operators to custom select a backdrop that worked with our color scheme, and designed the printouts to match our wedding suite – logo and all. Our guests were assigned to tables, not by number, but by neighborhoods in Manhattan that had special meanings in our lives. Signage at the table included a note about why that neighborhood was special to us. A friend of ours built us a corn hole set that John painted and branded with our logo, and ordered bean bags with each of our Alma Matters, UNC for me, and UB for John!

One of our favorite things to do as a couple is to cook and to eat, so food had to be an unspoken guest at the wedding! For our wedding favors, John, my parents and I spent many weekends in our assembly line around the kitchen table – stuffing spice jars with pink Himalayan sea salt, tying silver bows and tags with the words, Live.Love.Eat, and filling little pouches with an odd number of sugared almonds, an Italian tradition, and coiling a special poem around each one. John and I each designed custom drinks to suit our tastes – and had signage made for the bar, calling each drink by a nickname.

I loved walking on to the dance floor and seeing our bridal party lined up and making a bridge for us to enter through. That was the signal for me that the fun was about to start.

I felt like Cinderella going to the ball when I put on my Reem Acra dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. I loved the fitted beaded bodice, and delicate layers that were reminiscent of flower petals.

John wore a black tux, groom mustache socks, a pink and white striped bow-tie, and boat-propeller cufflinks that I had given him as a wedding gift. Groomsmen also wore black tuxes, and John gave each of them matching groomsmen mustache socks, and pink and white striped ties.

Our ring bearers wore black tuxes and classic Converse, and our flower girls wore white JCrew dresses and silver sparkly Toms. I wanted the kids to have items that they could wear again, and I love the juxtaposition of fancy attire with casual footwear!

I needed to find a dress that would be flattering on my bridal party whose bodies are all so different, so I went with a TwoBirds dress, that could be tied numerous ways, and looked good on everyone!

John and I frequent Momofuku Milk Bar in the East Village, so it was no question that when we got married, that we would have a Momofuku wedding cake. It is literally like eating funfetti from your childhood, but the grown up, decadent version of it.

Murphy’s law… believe in it. You can be the best planner in the world, but all the planning can not account for Murphy’s Law. Just know that despite that, it will all be ok, because you’ll have your life partner in crime, by your side, getting through it with you. And don’t sweat the small stuff (even if the small stuff happens to be your wedding bands falling down an air conditioning vent before the ceremony!)

Photography: Sampaio/Walz Photography | Cinematography: The Candi Project | Floral Design: Bowman Dahl | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Ceremony Venue: Orchardleigh House | Reception Venue: The New York Botanical Garden | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid | Makeup: JKo Beauty | Hair: Daniele Searing | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Flower Girl's Dresses: J.Crew | Flower Girl's Shoes: Toms | Getting Ready Location: Gramercy Park Hotel | Ring Bearer's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Ring Bearer's Shoes: Converse

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