New York Weddings

This adorable couple, along with their unbelievably cute fur babies, Goose and Joey, hit up Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn for their super casual and utterly intimate e-session. They brought along brklyn view photography who captured these cuties oh-so-perfectly in what can only be described as a perfect summer evening. See even more right here!

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From brklyn view photography… I knew Pam and Doug were awesome from the very first moment I met them at Local 61 in Brooklyn. Pam found me through my blog and was interested in having me photograph their wedding at Frankies 457 in December. We hit it off right away and hung out for over two hours talking about life, love and everything in between. Since our first meeting, Pam and Doug have not only become my clients, they have also become my friends. For their engagement session, Pam and Doug wanted it to feel natural and reflect who they are as a couple. So we decided that I’d join them one summer evening while they took their adorable dogs, Goose and Joey, for a walk in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. Seriously, how cute is their family? I cannot wait for Pam and Doug’s wedding in December!

Photography: brklyn view photography / Location: Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, New York / Bride’s Dress: J.Crew

If I could make every meal look exactly like this shower spread, I would maybe give up my first born which I don’t have yet but that’s beside the point. The point is this porch-side wine party is perfection; an intimate gathering with the Bride-to-Be’s nearest and dearest and a surprise to boot. Alyse French Photography captured the cutest first look from the soon to Mrs. as well as the full delicious spread of wine, cheese and gorgeous florals by Hannah Elissa Floral Design & Event Styling. See so much more right here.

From Alyse French Photography… As a wedding photographer on first-time maid of honor duty, I suddenly found myself planning my sister Lorae’s bachelorette shower! We (me, my sister and five of my sister’s closest friends) would be gifting all sorts of pretty lingerie while drinking a variety of wines from all over the world and eating more cheese than we ever thought possible. :) First, we secured the location — my aunt allowed us to use her beautiful wrap-around porch at her home in upstate New York. I worked very closely with Hannah Elissa Floral Design & Event Styling to execute a shower that we felt fancy, rustic and glamorous! We used my aunt’s dining room chairs, antique side table, and whatever pieces of china/silver we could find. Thank goodness for family! Working with Leslie of Felicity Paper Custom Stationery Studio for invitations was a dream. The mint green chevron and beautiful calligraphy added a modern yet whimsical touch. Alongside these invites, you’ll see Hannah’s real masterpieces — mini floral arrangements of zinnias and amnesia roses. Hannah also had the vision of cocktail tables establishing the space as a sweet hang-out. And all our linens were rented from Cooperstown Event Rentals! The antique side table mentioned above provided the perfect surface to display our reds, our white, and our Prosecco for toasting (all from Empire Wine in Albany)! We borrowed my father’s carafes to show off the libations in the prettiest way. And we used melted tapers in antique hurricane globes to add a little ambient light.

I knew that family-style was the way to go for the food! It would dress up our table AND be efficient for eating all sorts of yumminess. We had a great array of wine pair-able foods — table water crackers, melba toasts, grapes, prosciutto, Brie, goat cheese, Havarti, Ghiradelli and Lindt chocolates, perfectly red cherries, oven-roasted almonds, an olive medley, a French baguette and mustard and horseradish spreads. Hannah and I wanted the table florals to look wild. We wanted our centerpiece to add drama with plums and greens that compliment the colors of our wines. We also wanted to create a sense of movement. Hannah did just that with dahlias, roses, zinnias, lisianthus, godetia, scabiosa and astilbe arranged in an antique vessel. She also used angel vine to make our claret colored napkins even prettier. Every part of this shower was a surprise to Lorae. And I think it’s safe to say she enjoyed herself. Mission accomplished!

Photography: Alyse French Photography / Party Venue: The Home of the Bride’s Aunt in Upstate New York / Floral Design: Hannah Elissa Floral Design & Event Styling / Stationery: Leslie of Felicity Paper Custom Stationery Studio / Linens + Napkins: Cooperstown Event Rentals / Wine: Empire Wine

This lovely bride literally fell head over heels for her sweet, sweet groom and the love story that followed was one that could produce a wedding so chic and beautiful it will never be forgotten. The two teamed up with Jubilee Events to create the romantic soiree and made the second most important decision of their wedding (first being the “She said yes!” moment) when they hired the talent that is Robert & Kathleen Photographers to capture their big day. Who just so happened to fill a gallery with hundreds of pretty moments – so enjoy!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

If you’re dying for a little more of this sweet, sweet soiree, grab the tissues and take a peek at Vintage Cinema’s view.

Our story began in Civil Procedure class during our first semester of law school when I literally fell head over heels for my future husband.  But, instead of sitting behind me laughing at the colossal klutz I had just proved myself to be, Ben quickly jumped out of his chair and picked me up.  And, well, he’s been picking me up and carrying me ever since. 

We always joke that we did things just a little backwards.  We started dating in 2008, moved in together in 2009, and by 2010 we were geographically separated and engaged.  Now, we are married and currently living across the world from one another due to my commitment with the Air Force.  So, in those moments when I turn over in my bed and wish he was here, I can relive this incredible wedding day where I made a promise for a lifetime thanks to these genius photos from Robert & Kathleen and video from Jim Altieri.  

Being a geographically separated couple, it was virtually impossible for us to plan a wedding without help.  Enter the amazing talents of Diana from Jubilee Events.  She quickly signed up for the difficult job of being our eyes and ears and developed a plan to reflect us—a New York couple who met by way of Arizona via Colorado and Virginia now living on two separate continents.  She introduced us to some seriously incredible vendors, including the gorgeously skilled Nichole of Coral Pheasant, who created our wedding paper.  We had the idea of naming our tables after places in the world that meant something to both of us and telling our story on each table card, so our friends and family could get to know us better.  Nichole did an incredible job of bringing these stories to life.

One vendor we knew we had to incorporate was the chocolatiers of Lilly’s Homemade Chocolate in Tremont, OH, who we met while we lived in Cleveland.  Ben and I spent many weekends in this underrated city sipping our favorite drinks, mine a French 77 and Ben’s an Old Fashioned, while devouring Lilly’s mouthwatering chocolate confections.   So, we elicited the help of Lilly’s to create epically delicious treats inspired by both signature drinks for all of our guests to enjoy. 

Probably one of the most important touches of our wedding involved the handiwork of Ben’s step-father, who handcrafted the base for our cake and our escort card holder out of reclaimed wood from a 200 year old barn on his parents’ property.  It was a gorgeous, rustic touch all the way from upstate New York, where Ben was born and raised.  Also, Ben’s mom provided my something old and borrowed—an incredible vintage necklace from the 1800s given as a wedding gift to Ben’s great-grandmother, and she handmade all of the fascinators my bridesmaids and I wore.

Additionally, some of our photos were taken in places I fondly remember from my childhood.  My family is an avid supporter of the local fire department.  My father, uncle, and brother are all members, totaling over 75 years of service, so my family knew it would be the best place to welcome Ben to our family, and he spent his morning before the wedding with his groomsmen and parents at the local department, while my bridesmaids and I spent our time just down the road in my childhood home.     

In the end, Ben and I wanted to make sure we never lost sight of the purpose of this day.  So five months before our wedding, on Christmas Day, instead of exchanging presents, we exchanged our wedding vows.  We were preparing a traditional Catholic ceremony, including traditional vows, but we wanted to make sure to also personalize our messages to each other.  Also being a traditional couple, we decided not to see each other before the ceremony.  So we wanted to make our personal promises to each other in private, and before we embarked on this incredible journey together.  We decided on Christmas, and in the quiet of our little home, we read our vows out loud to each other.  We displayed them at our reception, as a reminder of the promises we made to each other months before.  And, I’ve carried those same vows across the world, even if I couldn’t carry him with me.

Photographer: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Videography: Vintage Cinema / Wedding Gown: Kenneth Pool / Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal /Bridesmaid’s Dresses: JLM Occasions / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Diane Cuomo / Hair Pieces: Handmade by the Groom’s mother / Make-up: Andrea Gamble from Lola Loves Makeup / Event Planning & Design: Diana Chouinard from Jubilee Events / Flowers: Rountree Flowers / Paper: Coral Pheasant / Ceremony Location: St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Syosset, New York / Reception Location: Fox Hollow / Linens: La Tavola / Band: The Elements

I hope you all are ready for some off-the-charts adorableness because this wedding has maybe one of the cutest little ring bearers I’ve ever seen. And don’t use up all of your awws and oh-my-goodnesses, because you’ll need them as you’re looking through every one of Elaine Palladino Photography’s images of this gorgeous wedding at FEAST at Round Hill Commence the swooning now in our gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Elaine Palladino Photography… Elise and Alberto’s wedding was a celebration focused on family and friends. Round Hill was the perfect backdrop for such an intimate wedding filled with tears, laughter and an abundance of joy. Elise and Alberto chose timeless details, from Elise’s flawless silk wedding gown to her classic, red rose bouquet. It was such a pleasure to photograph the couple and their fun-loving guests, not to mention the beauty of the grounds and the manor itself. Though rain threatened to spoil the fun, it held off long enough for their outdoor ceremony.

From the Bride… I didn’t want anything lavish for our wedding. We wanted it to be very intimate and classic. Alberto and I just simply wanted our close family and friends to be there to witness our marriage. We did basically every traditional detail you could think of: from the first dances to the garter removal. We also made a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in honor of Alberto’s mother. It was such a memorable night. I made the table numbers. I printed out the table numbers on a plain sheet of paper, then bought cute frames and framed them. Our first dance was the best. I had butterflies in my stomach for the entire dance. And I absolutely loved my bouquet. It was exactly what I wanted.

Wedding Photography: Elaine Palladino Photography / Wedding Venue: FEAST at Round Hill in Washingtonville, New York / Floral Design: A Green Thumb Florist / Wedding Cake + Linens: Round Hill / Wedding Invitations: David’s Bridal / DJ: Louis Annunziata of Spin Music Group / Party Favors: A Donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation / Wedding Dress: Sincerity Bridal via RK Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Glint / Bride’s Veil: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Bridesmaids Shoes: Their Choice in Tan / Men’s Tuxedos + Shoes Men’s Wearhouse

I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get any prettier than this Chelsea Piers wedding. Let me just start by saying that we totally love the super chic statement by all the bridesmaids who wore their own white dresses…an old tradition that we so hope is making a comeback! Christina Szczupak was on hand to capture all the pretty and the fun. Spin on the carousel, anyone? Don’t miss a beat, see it all right here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Christina Szczupak… Manhattan, sailboats, and a carousel — what more could you ask for? This beautiful New York wedding at Chelsea Piers has some serious nautical flair. After a simple ceremony, the couple wandered the piers of Manhattan and went for a quick spin on a carousel. The bridesmaids all wore their own white dresses and styled up their look by wearing matching flowers in their hair. The bride wore a beautiful Monique Lhuillier gown that she looked just stunning in!

Wedding Photography: Christina Szczupak / Wedding Venue: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York, New York / Floral Design: Superior Florist / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Earrings: Elizabeth Cole “Bacall” via Rent the Runway / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren Black Label via Bloomingdale’s

I’m sitting in my seat, giddy as ever, because this right here is one of those special weddings that just puts a grin from ear to ear across my face because of all of the prettiness that I get to share with you lovelies. Every image of this stunner from Martha Swann Photography is rife with the true magic of The Fontainbleau Inn. Simple yet gloriously detailed, relaxed yet oozing with the utmost elegance, this wedding’s gallery has stolen me from reality for a good bit of my morning and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Get lost in the gorgeous gallery right here.

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From Martha Swann Photography… Amanda and David are two of the kindest, sweetest people you could ever hope to meet, and I was lucky enough to have them as clients this summer. The first time I met them in person was for their engagement shoot, but we had long before become friends over email and through phone conversations. It was this way that I came to know more about their plans for their wedding day, and from the very first conversation I knew I wanted to be a part of their story. Amanda wanted the day to be an elegant but relaxed affair — not two words that you’d normally use together, but between the two of them they orchestrated it so perfectly that that’s exactly how it came together! For their location, they picked the beautiful Fontainebleau Inn — a sweet, lakeside estate nestled on a hill in Amanda’s hometown. Simplicity was important to the two of them, so they challenged themselves to keep the day as simple as possible, while at the same time incorporating little touches to ensure that the wedding reflected their personalities as a couple!

The most important thing they focused on was their ceremony. Together, they worked to create a thoughtful program that would be both meaningful and touching for the two of them. Though they read each other traditional vows, they personalized them a bit to reflect the commitment they made to each other. Their reception was planned so that guests could enjoy a fun, laid-back celebration with the bride and groom. For Amanda and David, having a small gathering (just over 60 close family and friends!) made it that much more special because it meant they could share and really relish each moment with the people they loved!

Tying this sweet wedding together were simple embellishments placed throughout the inn — wildflowers were everywhere, and Amanda ensured that everything smelled as beautiful as it looked with some of her favorite candles placed around the patio and inside the inn as well. The table numbers were a copy from a page of their favorite book with the numbers stenciled onto them. Placed in ornate gold frames, the juxtaposition between elegance and laid-back was an Amanda touch that brought everything together!

Wedding Photography: Martha Swann Photography / Wedding Venue: The Fontainebleau Inn in Alpine, New York / Floral Design: Michaleen’s + Plenty of Posies / Catering: Word of Mouth / Wedding Cake: Kristi’s Kakes / DJ: Bill of Black Tie Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Franco Sarto / Makeup: Riki of Syracuse Makeup Artistry

Ever fall head over heels in love with a wedding with just one glimpse? We do every day around these parts and this Long Island beauty is no exception. Picture perfect with the prettiest colors and subtle hints of blues, pinks and greens, this wedding will charm your socks off! Each and every last gorgeous detail was captured to perfection by Tory Williams Photography and you can see even more right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Sean and I met while attending the University of Maryland. What started out as shy looks across the classroom turned into a budding romance complete with Terps football, date nights in Georgetown and lots of traveling while Sean and I pursued our careers and graduate degrees. Fast-forward nine years, three states and two pet bunnies later, Sean popped the question and we started planning our perfect wedding. We began by looking for a New York wedding venue that blended our love of the outdoors and classic style. When we found Bailey Arboretum on Long Island, we knew we had a perfect match for our casual elegance theme. The combination of beautiful gardens and a historic house provided an amazing backdrop to work with. After selecting the venue, the dress was the most important item for me! I really wanted something that had straps and a vintage yet timeless feel. I went to the Wedding Salon of Manhasset with my mom and bridal party and selected the first dress I tried on. Amazingly, it was a unanimous decision, and I couldn’t wait for my wedding day to come, just so I could wear that dress. From there, the rest of the planning just fell into place!

We wanted the wedding to be as personal as possible, so we kept the wedding under 100 guests. This really helped us talk with all of our guests and make them feel included. We both wanted an outdoor ceremony and decided to hold it in a secluded grove of trees at the Bailey Arboretum, which created a beautiful and intimate setting. We asked my godfather to marry us and worked with him on writing a ceremony that truly expressed our love for one another. One of the most touching moments was when my father sang an original song, which had everyone, including my photographer, a little teary-eyed. From the ceremony, guests went to a cocktail hour inside Bailey House, where they enjoyed our signature Cucumber Collins cocktails and delicious appetizers while being entertained by a jazz duo. After, the reception took place on the lawn under a large tent. One of my favorite moments of the reception was our first dance. We took two months of dance lessons to prepare and really amazed our guests (and ourselves) with our foxtrot to Frank Sinatra’s “More.”

What really helped make our day a success was hiring a fantastic group of vendors, from the makeup artist to the DJ. Each vendor carefully listened to what we wanted for the day and ended up exceeding our expectations. When you’re not working with a catering hall or a wedding planner, it means you have to do a lot of legwork yourself. Luckily, Mark of Excellence Catering really helped us plan the whole day, in addition to serving amazing food (including mini sorbet cones on the dance floor). To bring my garden party to life, we worked with Denise Fasanello, whose floral arrangements really complemented everything, from the aqua bridesmaid dresses to the burlap tablecloths. I wanted to sprinkle personal and unique accents throughout the day, and although it was time consuming, I was able to find a lot of great products on Etsy, including my hair flower, bunny cake toppers and our groomsmen’s ties. Last, we both agreed that the photography was very important to us to help preserve our memories, and we couldn’t have been happier than working with Tory. She is amazing at capturing every moment without interfering with the day, and I know I will cherish my photographs for a long time.

Wedding Photography: Tory Williams Photography / Wedding Venue: Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown, New York / Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Catering: Mark of Excellence / Cake Toppers: Heart Shaped Creations / Musicians: L & S Entertainment / DJ: Sugartown Industries / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Hair Flower: Silver Pencils / Hair + Makeup: CLM Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan / Groomsmen’s Ties: the belle and the beau

It really doesn’t get any better than a pretty farm wedding. Maybe I say that because I just got back from a weekend in farm country, but really, the fresh open air, rolling hills, and lots of cute little animals bring out the nature lover in us all. And when we tie that together with a wedding? Well, magic things happen. Like this casually chic and oh-so-pretty wedding by Justine Bursoni Photography. It’ll turn any city girl into a country one just like that. See each and every last detail right here in the full gallery!

Don’t miss this beyond adorable film by Paperweight Films!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I’ve pretty much been wedding obsessed for as long as I can remember. When I knew that the engagement was coming I was obsessed with stalking wedding blogs. I really loved the new trend of farm weddings because there is SO much you could do to make it your own. I love how casual, yet chic, it could be at the same time. I also wanted a wedding where we knew each and every one of our guests. I’m not a fan of inviting people just to invite them; the purpose of a wedding is to get married to the person you love and celebrate that with the people you love, and I think we achieved that. I also knew the perfect farm would be the Queens County Farm because not only is it close and affordable, but also because I grew up in Queens and have been going to this farm ever since I was a little girl.

My sister-in-law, Karrie, and my sister, Lindsey, really helped me throughout the entire process, even though they both were out of state for the majority of the planning. Karrie lives in Missouri, and Lindsey goes to school in Virginia. The Thursday before the wedding, they both came over and we took a trip to Costco to load up on flowers — we got such an amazing deal! Those were for the centerpieces and the bouquets, which were made that Thursday as well. All of the salad dishes that the tables were set with were dishes Chris and I collected at thrift stores and flea markets, and the same goes for every single item we used for our centerpieces. I’m obsessed with jars. Our cake cutter/server was also from the thrift store — $5 for the set.

I bought a huge roll of burlap and made the table squares, as well as a ton of vintage-inspired fabric on Etsy for the napkins. Chris and I sat for months cutting out 100+ napkins with pinking shears. It was definitely tedious work, but they turned out awesome. I also used the fabric scraps to make the cupcake flags. The cards box was DIY also; we bought the actual box from Home Goods and the letters from Michael’s. We painted the letters white, and Chris attached it all with pieces of wood and cut a slot for the cards. Chris also made the escort card display. For the escort cards, I bought the parcel tags and stamped each guests’ name and tables number on them, and we used old clothespins found in our basement from the original owners’ clothesline to hang them. We found the side tables that were used to hold the bathroom baskets and the water at the ceremony at the thrift store and free on Craigslist. I also made the cake stand that held our small cake.  

The whole process was definitely stressful at times. DIY can be tough, but in the end it turned out exactly the way I wanted it. I am so thankful I had a groom who was super-involved and there to calm me down when I freaked out over the little things. I love that our wedding was not your typical wedding. All of our guests said they had an awesome time and thought everything turned out great. That’s all I wanted — for my guests to enjoy themselves.

Wedding Photography: Justine Bursoni Photography / Second Shooter: Falcon Griffith / Wedding Venue: Queens County Farm Museum in Glen Oaks, Queens, New York / Flowers: Costco + Arranged by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Coordination: Jennifer Cassidy of Aisle Ahead Events / Officiant: William Tarrant / Wedding Cinematography: Paperweight Films / Catering: Big Daddy’s Restaurant / Cupcakes + Macarons: Front Street Bakery / Cake Topper: Cherrytime / DJ: 4 Star Entertainment / Plates: Collected by the Bride & Groom / Napkins: DIY with Fabric from The Busy Bee Quilting /  Sno-Cone Maker Rental: AAA Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Dennis Basso for Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / Bride’s Earrings: Macy’s / Bride’s “Betty” Bracelet: Her Grandmother’s / Pearls: Her Grandmother’s, Borrowed from Her Mother / Bride’s Engagement Ring + Wedding Band: E & M Jewelers in Sayville, New York / Groom’s Wedding Band: Good Old Gold / Hair: Jenn of The Hair Genie / Makeup: Megan Cox of Makeup by Megan / Groom’s Suit: Alfani via Macy’s / Groom’s Shoes: Dockers

You know what always, ALWAYS equals fabulous?  A breathtaking Montauk soiree from Joshua Zuckerman Photography and jill gordon celebrate.  When these two oh-so-wonderful vendors team up, serious magic happens.  Fireworks, actually.  So, when we first laid our eyes on this uber-gorgeous seaside affair, well… we knew we were in for one serious day of pretty – including the world’s cutest duo and intimate nuptials that will literally make your heart sing.  Care to join us in the gallery for an entire day of swooning?  Click here for sooo much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From jill gordon celebrate… Donna and Ed wanted to celebrate their wedding weekend in the most intimate way, with just 15 of their closest friends and family. We had four short weeks to plan the wedding, and though it was small, there were many segments of the day to plan. The word we kept coming back to was “energy.” Donna wanted to be sure that guests were kept moving throughout the wedding day and that the vibe was fun. Donna hunted down the perfect beach-front house for the wedding weekend. We decided that this would be the place for the intimate ceremony, which was performed by the couple’s personal friend. Guests were welcomed to the ceremony with champagne and fresh gruyere cheese straws. Simple planters of blue hydrangea flanked the altar, and guests were seated on white painted benches in the sand. The bride carried a sweet small bouquet of white peonies and blue tweedia. Following a champagne toast on the beach, the group was bused to East Hampton Point Marina, where they boarded the “Real Escape,” a 56-foot Hatteras motor yacht, for a cruise around Three Mile Harbor. We had sourced a fabric selection to enhance the surroundings of both the boat and the reception site and spruced up the boat’s decor with pillows and wooden boxes of colorful spring blooms. The next stop was The Living Room at c/o The Maidstone for the wedding dinner. Donna and Ed were drawn to the idea of dining in a bustling restaurant with lots of energy. We set one long table and worked off of the room’s colorful and eclectic decor. Silver bud vases and mercury glass vessels filled with riotously colorful flowers dressed the table along with silver candlesticks. Each guest’s calligraphed name was sewn to fabric-backed menu cards. Guests were treated to a leisurely meal, and Mali B provided a two-tier red velvet wedding cake adorned with ruffled blue and yellow sugar blooms. Cookies and gorgeous cheese platters were served as the final course. To wind down the evening, the party enjoyed a bonfire (and more snacks) back at the beach house.

From Joshua Zuckerman Photography… This was a casual multi-faceted beach affair. The mixture of close friends and British humor made this wedding all the more fun. Despite being very pregnant, the bride glided effortlessly through the day. Due the intimate nature of the wedding, I took the opportunity to do individual portraits of all the guests. The series of events and different locations throughout the day also made for a great variety of photos.

Wedding Photography: Joshua Zuckerman Photography / Ceremony: A Beach House in Montauk, New York / Reception: The Living Room at c/o The Maidstone / Wedding Planning: jill gordon celebrate / Floral Design: Sag Harbor Florist / Officiant: A Friend / Catering: Peter Ambrose Catering / Wedding Cake: Mali B Sweets / Wedding Stationery + Pillows: Mira Aster / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd / Ceremony Walkway: The New York Tent Company / Yacht: Charter Motor Yacht

Long before I fell in love with weddings, I fell in love with New York. I was a little girl that had always been told that I could do anything, and to me – New York was everything. So as I grew up, and my wedding obsession started to grow right along with me, I suppose it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that I absolutely fawn over any fête in the city that never sleeps. Particularly when Judy Pak is behind the lens working her wedding photography magic, and the wedding she is capturing just happens to be as gorgeous as they come. And full of love. SO full of love. It all ultimately leads to a full gallery you just want to wrap your arms around for a while, and I definitely recommend doing so. See it all here.

From the Bride… Our relationship is very “New York” — we met here, we fell in love here, we discovered the city together. So many of our friends and family are a part of “Our New York.” We couldn’t imagine having our wedding anywhere else, but it was important to us to find a venue that was unique, green and elegant. We also wanted the ability to have our ceremony, cocktails and reception comfortably transition from one moment to the next. The Morningside Castle was the perfect urban oasis of serenity. I did a 5K “Run for Your Wife” around the Central Park Reservoir with my girlfriends the morning of the wedding; Mike went to Randalls Island to drive golf balls with the groomsmen. It was important to us to start the day with things we loved to do!

A friend was our florist, a friend married us, and the venue, as luck would have it, had a stage that we jumped up on to dance to our favorite songs. I am a NYC public school teacher and Mike isn’t a Wall Street shark, yet we were able to have an amazing, beautiful wedding thanks to dedicated searching for vendors who were kind enough to work within our budget. We didn’t have to hire a wedding planner to execute our “simple” NYC wedding. Our wedding day was one of the happiest days of my life. We were surrounded by friends we had grown up with and family who knew us so well, people who had seen our relationship blossom from its inception.

Wedding Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Second Photographer: Studio R / Photo Assistant: Orange Blossom Photography / Wedding Venue: Morningside Castle in New York, New York / Floral Design: Erin Mailath / Officiant: A Friend /  Wedding Coordination: Leigh Hall Wilhelm / Catering: Pasha Events / DJ: DJ Sean Elwood / Wedding Dress + Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

Wow, I could literally stare at this beyond adorable wedding all.day.long. It has a super fun, whimsical feel with bright florals, the best hand made signs, and don’t you even dare get me started on those amazing menus and colorful stripped napkins. I’m officially in love with each and every detail so much so that I want to throw a party and have it look just like this. Frost Photography seriously rocked it and the proof is right here.

Don’t miss this fabulous film by McKenzie Miller Films:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Brendan and I wanted the wedding to feel like us — a little bit traditional, a little bit informal and filled with a lot of love. I always envisioned a tented wedding with twinkling lights, cheerful colors, delicious food and dancing under the stars: relaxed and romantic with a homemade feel. The Aurora Inn perfectly combined that backyard, summer party atmosphere with a beautiful lakeside setting that felt at once charming and luxurious. While it was important to us that the details captured who we are as a couple, we also wanted them to reflect who we are as individuals and where we came from. In addition to using my grandparent’s 54-year-old cake topper, old photographs from our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents’ weddings were displayed on large wooden frames. We also made signs that list the cities and mileage of where we’ve lived and where all of our guests would be traveling from to celebrate with us that day. It was Brendan’s idea to make them to look like ski resort signs, and they were a huge hit with our guests. Because Brendan is an avid snowboarder, we painted over one of his old snowboards for our guests to sign instead of using a traditional guestbook. It was a fun, sentimental way to combine things that we both love.

Because the invitations are the first detail the guests see, I really wanted them to reflect the details that were going to be a part of the wedding day. The design was very basic; we printed the invitations on brown Kraft paper with simple, fresh lettering in black ink. Using over 100-year-old twine that I found at Tinsel Trading here in NYC, we tied the invitation together with the RSVP postcard, a hand-drawn map and a tag with an Audrey Hepburn quote that I’ve always loved. While creating the invitations was probably one of my favorite things to do, it took a lot of trial and error to get them just right. I realized the hard way that in order to have that handmade feel and still look professional, I was going to have to teach myself how to use Photoshop, which was a combination of frustrating, exciting and addicting! In the beginning of the process, Brendan couldn’t believe I was investing so much time into something as seemingly simple as invitations, but in the end (even after all the tying, stuffing, and stamping he was subjected to), he was very proud of the results. Spending the time on the invitations and learning to use Photoshop inspired me to make even more projects. The menu cards, the wedding programs, the canvas welcome bags (which I screen-printed by hand), the itinerary card on the back of the vintage Finger Lakes postcard, and all the paper signage throughout the wedding were all a combination of my own hand-drawn elements and graphic design. I loved it so much that I decided to open my own Etsy shop for other brides that want personalized and handmade details for their big day.

Even after all the planning and details, on the day of the wedding, I was so caught up in the joy of being with friends, family and, of course, Brendan, that I didn’t even worry about a single detail or decoration. This is of course thanks to the amazing event coordinator at the Aurora Inn, Heather, who became my best friend in the months leading up to the wedding. I would bounce ideas off her and she would tell me from a practical, professional and organized perspective how we could pull it off. I felt like she was genuinely dedicated to making “our day” exactly the day we wanted.We did a lot of research to find the perfect people and were lucky that my talented photographer Caroline Frost Shea and amazing cinematographer McKenzie Miller were willing to travel from NYC to the Finger Lakes to capture everything about our day that we wanted to remember. All Brendan and I had to do was just soak it all in and enjoy the day. And it was the best day of my life.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Frost Shea of Frost Photography / Photography Assistant: Mary Beth Mahaney / Wedding Venue + Catering: Aurora Inn in Aurora, New York / Event Coordination: Heather of Aurora Inn / Floral Design: WildFlowers / Wedding Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films /  Wedding Invitations, Menus + Other Decor: Hoopla Love (Owned by the Bride) / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Nina via Macy’s / Hair: Riki Lebeid of Syracuse Makeup Artistry / Makeup: Tina Mercurio of Blow Dry on the Fly / Groom’s Suit: Bar III via Macy’s / Rings: Pico Jewelry

Oh Wednesdays. We love them here at SMP, because that’s when our pretty production goes into overdrive and we get to sit and watch all the beauty unfold. It’s when we get to see snippets of seven soirees that couldn’t be lovelier dance across our screens, with galleries for each of them that are overflowing with goodness. Basically it’s a good day, beyond good, and it’s about to start right…now.

And why not kick off this pretty fest with a Tribeca Rooftop stunner captured by Glen Allsop of Christian Oth Studio? I think that sounds like a swell idea, because it’s the perfect combination of chic and charming, topped off with a some serious style – and that just makes us all do a happy dance at SMP HQ. But don’t put your dancing shoes away just yet, there is so much more waiting for you right here!

From the Bride… Alex and I met in 2008 while in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. I was finishing my last semester of law school and Alex was in his second semester at Wharton. We had a joint law school/ business school class together and ended up being selected for the same group for a semester-long project. Our interest in one another soon became apparent, and we started spending more time together and began dating shortly thereafter. After a short year of long-distance between Philadelphia and New York, we were soon both permanently in New York and moved in together. Alex proposed to me on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend in 2011 and we were married the same weekend a year later on May 27, 2012. 

Our inspiration for the wedding came from the things that constantly energize us — our family, friends, music and food, and we couldn’t think of a better place to showcase this than New York City. We decided to get married on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend to give guests time to travel and to ensure some solid quality time with all of our friends and family throughout the weekend. We wanted our guests to have the time of their lives, but also walk away feeling a part of something really special. To us, a good time means great food, fun music, good and plentiful drinks and the company of friends and family. Our vendors nailed it. In terms of aesthetic, the only element that I had my mind set on before we started planning was yellow flowers. I have always loved the color yellow and thought flowers would be a great way to bring it into our wedding day. Paul from Spina did a fantastic job with the colors and making everything come together in a classy, but modern way.

We wrote our entire wedding ceremony, including our vows, which made each second of it that much more special. We loved being able to focus the ceremony on what we wanted to say to each other, along with some brief readings from our closest friends. Following the ceremony, guests were ushered upstairs to the rooftop of Tribeca Rooftop for a cocktail hour overlooking the Hudson. After a rainy week, we ended up with a beautiful Sunday and made it inside for dinner as a couple of stray raindrops began to fall. Following an impeccable dinner service, Alex and I danced the first dance to “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton. I think we were both relieved that we had taken a couple of dance lessons! Following several hours of dancing to Dexter Lake’s awesome renditions of all our favorite classic rock and ’80s songs, the night carried on next door at Tribeca Skyline Studios with DJ Phresh and more delicious food provided by Tribeca Rooftop. We were leaving for our honeymoon relatively early on Monday so instead of hosting a farewell brunch we gave our guests muffins and banana bread from Billy’s Bakery on the way out so they wouldn’t be empty-handed in the morning!

As we were waiting to board the plane on Monday morning for the 16-hour flight that awaited us, we finally had time to reflect on the weekend behind us. We agreed that there was not one thing we would have changed about our wedding weekend — it was simply perfect. And notwithstanding the food, drinks and festivities, our guests seem to above all be extremely moved by our vows, which, as it’s always nice to remember, was why we were all there in the first place. 

Wedding Photography: Glen Allsop of Christian Oth Studio / Wedding Venue + Catering: Tribeca Rooftop in New York, New York / Floral Design: Paul Tsang-Diaz of Spina de Fiori / Wedding Day Coordination: Vanessa Chinga-Haven of Spina de Fiori / Wedding Cinematography: Drew Koze / Wedding Invitations: Regas / Band: The Dexter Lake Club Band / Blueberry Muffin + Banana Bread Favors: Billy’s Bakery / After-Party: Tribeca Skyline Studios / After-Party Music: DJ Phresh / Wedding Dress: Rivini / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair + Makeup: Liam Dunn / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Tuxedo: Canali + Tailoring at Wilfred’s Tailoring

Each and every time we see Robert & Kathleen Photographers in our in-boxes, we know we’re in for some amazing eye candy. They have the most perfect way of capturing a wedding and all its gorgeous details, from the bride’s jewelry to the last dance, they don’t miss a beat. And we’re so glad they don’t because that means we get fabulous weddings full of details like this pretty waterfront Brooklyn fete. It’s traditional with a twist and the gallery is overflowing with pretty. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Robert & Kathleen Photographers… Anne and Adam were set up by mutual friends, and during that first date, they discovered even if they hadn’t been set up, they probably would have crossed paths anyway. Not only did they have a remarkable number of other things in common, but before they both moved to NYC they had each lived in San Francisco in the very same building — just a few years apart. When they became a couple, they found that they were excellent planners. This came especially in handy when they were planning their wedding. They knew they wanted to have a city venue that would have a great view and atmosphere for their guests.  After searching, the found the perfect spot: The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook Brooklyn.  They provided unique transportation for their guests, providing water taxis from Manhattan over to Brooklyn and even had yellow carnations awaiting the male guests — one more thoughtful touch to make their guests feel at home. For her “something old,” Anne wore the same pair of shoes she had worn on her first date with Adam.

Wedding Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Wedding Venue: Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Elan Flowers / Wedding Day Coordination: La Vie en Rose Events / Band: The Dexter Lake Club Band / Transportation: New York Water Taxi / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West / Hair: Laureen of Styles on B / Makeup: Jenna Hanley / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Aria

I love Jen Huang. Like, love, love, love. Like I should get “I love Jen Huang” t-shirts printed kind of love. Because I’ve never not teared up at one of the weddings she photographs, any one of them of which I could hang on the walls of my home. Despite not knowing the bride or groom. Jen’s photographs simply speak to me. They are soft, and etheral. Soulful and rich. Simply put, they are beauty. And this NYC celebration that she sent our way, is the epitome of Jen’s loveliness. Click here to see even more.

From Jen Huang Photography… When I first asked Kara how she would describe her wedding style, she said, “understated elegance with deep southern Italian cultural undertones.” I thought she described her beautiful wedding perfectly. I loved Kara’s unique Pronovias cover-up with the gorgeous off the shoulder neckline. It was a sunny day with amazing light on the edge of the East River at Giando on the Water. The views from Giando were unbelievable, and I couldn’t stop shooting as the sun set over the southern tip of Manhattan. What a perfect city venue that celebrates the New York skyline by offering guests an unobscured view from their private pier.

Wedding Photography: Jen Huang Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Giando on the Water in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Fleurs / Wedding Cake: Chambers Walk / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Band: The Elements via Elan Artists / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Makeup: Kerry Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Ricky Horne of Avalon Salon & Spa / Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse

In the mood for a little something special to pretty up your Monday morning?  Well, then, lovelies – look no further than this drop-dead gorgeous Montauk affair captured by Joshua Zuckerman Photography. A breathtaking love-fest planned to absolute perfection by jill gordon celebrate, this fun-filled affair is boasting beyond stunning ocean views, a to-die-for color palette and bundles of gorgeous florals by Pennington Flowers.  A seaside celebration with a big ol’ dose of lovely?  Yes, please.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Joshua Zuckerman Photography… After more than a decade of dating, Linda and James married and officially fused their two families together in what was one of the most romantic ceremonies I’ve witnessed. Surrounded by their children, family and friends, the photos capture all their joy and celebration. It was a pleasure to be part of their day as they launch into another exciting phase of their lives together.

From jill gordon celebrate… When Linda first called me, she had booked Gurneys as a location for their weekend celebration and was looking for help creating an environment and menu that reflected her vision.    The goal was to create a beach wedding and outdoor reception that felt festive and elegant, yet casual.   She loved an organic look but also wanted to incorporate punches of color, specifically orange, pinks, yellow and greens. 

Linda and James had been together for 11 years and wanted to create a sacred ceremony celebrating their relationship and including their grown children (including Linda’s niece and nephew).  The ceremony was an important moment to welcome their guests, 120 close family and friends.  Because the day was hot and guests were invited to a mid-day beach ceremony, guests were welcomed with chilled water bottles (via Hamptons Water Company) and flip flops, as well as bags for their street shoes.  When guests arrived at the ceremony benches, they found hand fans and parasols in beachy earth tones, greens and lavenders to match the tulle fabric ribbons strung from the driftwood altar structure.  Hand sewn ceremony programs featuring the couple’s insignia Sneha symbol were anchored by a river stone at each seat. As part of their ceremony, the couple and their children performed a sand ceremony, each helping fill a keepsake bottle with sand they had collected from the Montauk beach.  The bride looked stunning her blush-colored Vera Wang “Farrah” dress.

For cocktails, Gurneys passed hors d’oeuvre and created abundant food stations featuring raw bar items, sushi, antipasto, cheese, crudite and fruit as well as a colorful punch station to augment the bar.  We designed the decks with seating vignettes of outdoor furniture and airport tables utilizing big punches of bright orange and celery-green.  Lots of market umbrellas were placed around the decks to keep guests cool and comfortable.

As guests entered the dinner tent, they were seated at long tables covered in ivory cotton with a taupe runner.  The centerpieces were custom-made wood boxes running the entire length of the table filled with wheat grass and local summer zinnias in punchy bright colors.  Square rattan chargers and square white plates were found at each place setting along with either a lime faille or lavender linen napkin and menu card featuring each guest’s name.  Gurneys chef was ultra-accommodating and  created the exact custom menu we requested:  Chilled Montauk Lobsters with Lemon Tarragon Aioli; Sliced Grilled Sirloin Steak with Chimichurri Sauce;  Farro Salad with Fresh Corn. Tomato, Cucumber, Feta and Parsley; Grilled Asparagus dressed with Olive Oil and Lemon.  The bride supplied a recipe for a Pink Champagne wedding cake filled with Raspberry Mousse and Fresh Raspberries, which was delicious!  Age-old friends toasted the couple with beautiful, heartfelt memories and wishes for their future.  As the heat of the day dissolved into thunderous rain, guests danced and partied until the bitter end, most leaving with heaping boxes of gummy candies, M&M’s and assorted goodies from the candy display.

Wedding Photography: Joshua Zuckerman Photography / Wedding Planning: jill gordon celebrate / Rentals: Party Rental LTD / Furniture Rental: Taylor Creative / Ceremony Musicians: Anthology Strings / Music: DJ Erock / Floral Design: Pennington Flowers / Location: Gurney’s / Wedding Invitations: Mira Aster / Gift Bags: Sara’s Gracious Goodies / Water: Hamptons Water Company / Lanters, Fans & Parasols: Cultural Intrigue / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang

Pretty paper goods just happen to be our wedding kryptonite at SMP. One look at a piece of stylish stationery and we are donzo. Goners. We have no chance. Seeing the dance of typography, design and deliciously thick paper as they come together in a suite makes us swoon, so it should be pretty obvious that we are Mr. Boddington’s number one fans. When we heard rumblings that they up and moved to another stylish studio, we begged and pleaded for a peek – and being the gentleman that he is, Mr. Boddington obliged. Well, after seeing the new space, and dyyyyinnng over the new wedding line…it’s safe to say there are a few SMPers around these parts (me) that want to move in…tomorrow. See even more goodness here!

From Mr. Boddington’s Studio…Mr. Boddington’s new studio space is perched above the (very) old-world fur shops on the west side of Manhattan. It is a peculiar walk to go from the spectacular ferns and purple prairie clovers on the High Line through the rows and rows of dusty trapper hats to eventually find Mr. Boddington’s. Mr. Boddington himself thought his creative team had gone bananas when he walked through the door during a prospective visit… The space was a cluttered pond of cubicles, mini medusa heads of electric cords and stacks of vinyl binders stuffed with ancient dot-matrix printouts. But those things could be tossed in Thursday’s trash bin. What really stunned the gentleman was the tenant’s questionable choice of paint color: maroon. Oh, the horror. Refusing to remove his hand off his dropped jaw, he turned on his heel and took the next plane to Cairo. Ignoring Mr. Boddington’s grimace, the team gutted the penthouse floor, scrubbed the windows with lemon and vinegar, hired a talented carpenter to reinvent the space and slowly carried in one antique after another (the handsome blue couch was sawed in half to make its journey up the nine flights of stairs, and it took 105 tubes of super glue and an upholsterer flown in from Croatia to repair it). Well-rested from a summer on the Aegean Sea, Mr. Boddington once again applauded his talented team. The studio was now open for business.

From this address, hand-drawn designs, hand-tailored correspondence and lots of new paper goods are sold. And true to his heritage, Mr. Boddington still creates custom invitations for discerning brides looking to astonish their guests.

Mr. Boddington’s NEW Wedding Line…The clock tends to click faster as one’s wedding date approaches. Knowing brides don’t always have the time (or pennies) to order custom pieces, Mr. Boddington created a curated collection of ready-to-use goods. The pieces are classics (escort cards, place cards, thank-you sets, wedding certificates, guest posters, etc.) and can easily be integrated into any swan’s wedding story. Some bits are letterpressed, others printed in flat matte. Some feature hand-drawn illustrations, while others have hand-tailored elements such as envelope linings. Years of chatting with brides from the upper east side to Shanghai made creating this collection effortless. We simply selected their favorites.

Gorgeous, no? Mr. Boddington sure knows his way into the hearts of stylish SMPers all over the land. We hope you enjoyed this little look behind the curtain as much as we did, and if you are anything like us – you’ll be swooning over ever bit of the gallery goodness for the majority of the afternoon. It’s good for the wedding-loving soul.

Paper Goods: Mr. Boddington’s Studio

No doubt about it – you are going to love this wedding.  You’ll love the breathtaking Tarrytown setting, the glorious blooms crafted by Monica Chimes Floral and the intimate outdoor ceremony.  You’ll love the completely beautiful, seriously to-die-for Nicole Miller gown… and the bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning.  And most of all, you’ll love the sweet, sweet emotion literally bursting from each and every moment captured by Carmen Santorelli Photography.  Because, well.  It’s just that amazing. Click here for sooo much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Everything started with a very random event. A friend of ours, who we never thought would set us up with anyone special, decided to play matchmaker. Two years later we found ourselves at The Castle on the Hudson surrounded by the people we love most, committing uncompromisingly to each other. In front of us was our officiant, someone we cared about and trusted, the person who started it all — our matchmaker. Behind us were our closest family and friends, who made us feel at ease as we started our new life together.

From the moment we were engaged, we both knew that we wanted a very intimate wedding that represented the two of us. We had toyed with the idea of a destination wedding, but in the end, we realized that the best destination would be in New York, where we first met. It was very important to us to find a location with lots of natural light, an outdoor space for the ceremony and a setting that evoked a feeling of intimacy. After quite a bit of searching, we finally found the perfect space at The Castle of the Hudson. We wanted a to create a balance of simplicity and understated elegance with a fun, laid-back, comfortable atmosphere for our family and friends. Luckily, all the vendors we chose helped us to create this vision. It was because of them that everything came together so well. We chose not to plan every last detail but instead allowed the night to happen naturally. We had not planned for speeches or dancing, but they spontaneously happened, making the night all the more perfect. Due to the rain during the day, we thought that our ceremony would have to be moved inside, but even the weather cooperated that day, and by the time our ceremony started, it was a beautiful and sunny. We felt truly lucky that everything ended up working out perfectly. Everything ended up so much better than we had envisioned it.

Due to the small size of our party, we were really able to fully enjoy the day, eat the wonderful food and celebrate with our family and friends. We had so much fun celebrating our wedding! We thank everyone involved, from our guests to our vendors, for making our wedding day so special.

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography / Wedding Venue: Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, New York / Floral Design: Monica Chimes Floral / Wedding Cake: Castle on the Hudson / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Suit: Burberry / Rings: Kwiat / Hair: Aurora / Makeup: Morgan Gates

This wedding was a beast to put together. Not for lack of detail or sentiment. In fact, it was the exact opposite. I found myself struggling between showcasing the many beautiful elements woven into the day or scrapping it all and going with the take-your-breath-away moments that Elisabeth Millay captured. So I settled for a bit of both. Wild, gorgeous florals by Saipua next to the butterfly-in-your-stomach seconds before the Bride walked down the aisle; vintage key escort cards and a million other thoughtful details crafted by the Bride and executed by Green Apple Weddings intermingling with that crazy good first kiss. It’s love like this that makes me fall head over heels for my job time and again. A palpable kind of love that shines through in each and every image in the gallery and right on through to the sweet film by Tree of Life Films.

From the Bride… Adam and I are by so much love and so many mutual friends, and over the course of a slow courtship, a friendship was built on solid foundation. We are so grateful to the people along our journey that served as examples of love, support, patience and open-mindedness, and we hoped the thought put into our wedding could be a gift back to them and a show of gratitude for all we have been given. The Metropolitan Building was the first venue we saw, and we knew instantly it was perfect. As a designer and art director, the regal, yet undone setting inspired me, and I knew there would be opportunity to create many beautiful projects to suit the space and surround our guests with details that reflect us.

A part of the wedding experience that I had not realized would be such a gift were the relationships we made with such a talented and professional vendor team. We quickly booked DJ Gaza who was reviewed extensively and who delivered exactly what we asked for: to have all ages on the floor, all night. Adam and I both liked the dreamy, soft, documentary style of Elisabeth Millay’s photography and were so comfortable with her presence and with her work. We had spent a lot of time in Long Island City, which is why we were happy to have been led to this perfect venue right in the neighborhood and we had also enjoyed a few intimate lunches at Sage General Store and were so happy to hear they catered weddings. Leslie at Sage was wonderful to work with and very flexible with our budget and our ideas. And their food was absolutely delicious!

Although we love being outside and near water, we decided to have our ceremony at the venue to make it easier for our guests. Plus, we loved the Metropolitan Building so much we wanted to extend the time we would be there! Our florist Saipua sourced gorgeous gold chenille curtains with a bit of tooth to them for our backdrop, which were flanked by two rustic wood pillars that held loose arrangements of flowering spirea. Adam and I were so grateful to have made Jeddah Vailakis our interfaith minister. There was an overabundance of joyful tears shed by us and by our friends and family and the love in the room could not be measured. The tables were dressed in pale gray linens with an assortment of mercury glass vases of varying sizes, tapers and votive candle holders. Our florist, Saipua, used lush blooms in pale pink, coral, aubergine, cream, and dusty greens for the arrangements that were placed in silver, footed bowls. The table numbers were hand-drawn by Antiquaria and placed in pressed paper frames I had purchased from BHLDN. I designed the menus and printed them on silver, foil-stamped card stock and hand set small pearls to separate menu items. These were tucked into hemstitched napkins.

The day was beyond what we had hoped for and our guests are still talking about the wedding to this day saying it was the best they had been to from food, music, ceremony, to all of the loving details. We are so grateful to our incredibly talented vendor team and for all of the love our friends and family surrounded us with that day. We could not be happier.

Wedding Photography: Elisabeth Millay Photography / Assistant Photographer: Kelly Kollar / Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York / Wedding Planning: Kate O’Donnell Diaz of Green Apple Weddings / Floral Design: Saipua / Officiant: Jeddah Vailakis / Wedding Cinematography: Tree of Life Films / Catering: Bartleby & Sage (Formerly Sage Events) / Wedding Cake: Collette Foley / Cannoli: Caputo’s Pastry Shoppe / Wedding Stationery + Guest Book: Nicole Caputo (The Bride) / Album: Velvet Raptor / Calligraphy: Antiquaria / Music: DJ Gaza of 74 Events / Thumbprint Tree: Bleu de Toi / Wedding Dress: Le Spose di Gio / Bride’s Cathedral Veil: Peter Langner / Bride’s Birdcage Veil: Tia Mazza / Hair + Makeup: Tiffany Bednash

It’s no secret that we’re total suckers for backyard weddings around these parts, but when said backyard is a sweet, urban oasis, we go into swooning overdrive! This super casual, intimate affair reminds us that your big day doesn’t have to be big at all. It can be a simple ceremony with just a handful of your closest friends. Oh, and great food and al fresco dining doesn’t hurt! Léon Images captured this sweet day to perfection. See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Léon Images… Michelle and Darren, both west coast transplants living in Brooklyn, wanted a wedding that reflected their laid-back, casual lifestyle. Darren’s brother, Daniel Korb, hosted the intimate ceremony and reception in the backyard of his charming brownstone in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The single table for eight guests was draped with a blue and white seersucker tablecloth and burlap place mats. Sprigs of rosemary and lavender wrapped the linens. Flowers were purchased from the farmer’s market in pretty greens and indigos, arranged by the groom’s brother and placed in vintage mason jars.

After a small ceremony, the guests were treated to a special 12-course tasting menu catered by one of their favorite New York City chefs, Jehangir Mehta. The incredible dinner was served al fresco under a sky illuminated by stars and festoon lights. Dessert included cupcakes from Billy’s Bakery and artisanal root beer floats with homemade ice cream hand-made by the groom. No event would be complete without the presence of Michelle and Darren’s beloved French bulldog, Higgins, who wore a Tommy Hilfiger bow tie especially for the occasion. Michelle added, “Our wedding was everything I could have hoped for – unique and unforgettable. Because of the small guest list, we were really able to enjoy everyone’s company and share a lovely meal.” We couldn’t agree more.

Wedding Photography: Ricardo Gotla of Léon Images / Wedding Venue: The Home of the Groom’s Brother, Daniel Korb, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: DIY by the Groom’s Brother / Bride’s Bouquet: kat flower / Catering: Mehtaphor / Cupcakes: Billy’s Bakery / Music: Pandora / Wedding Dress: Trina Turk / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bride’s Necklace: A Family Heirloom / Makeup: DIY by the Bride / Groom’s Suit: Kenneth Cole / Groom’s Shoes: Bass / Groom’s Bow Tie: Bloomingdale’s / Dog’s Bow Tie: Tommy Hilfiger

Get ready to feast your eyes on possibly the cutest e-session EVER by the super-talented Kateryn Silva Photography. This couple works at a flying trapeze school in NYC as a side gig to their buttoned-up day jobs and their too-cute-for-words proposal happened right on the trapeze bar! They choose Coney Island as the location for their love shoot and the result is one crazy-fun and crazy-gorgeous image after the next! Fly on over to the full gallery for so much more.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride-to-Be… While we both work pretty straight-laced jobs in advertising and finance, on the side, Henry and I work at a flying trapeze school here in NYC where Henry is a catcher, snagging students off the trapeze bar, and I work on the platform coaxing the brave and terrified alike into the air. Henry proposed at the school by catching me from the trapeze, and asking me to marry him mid-air. (He’s a softie!)

From Kateryn Silva Photography… How cute is that? That pretty much sums up this amazing couple. They wanted to do a circus-themed shoot to honor their love of trapeze, as well as Henry’s proposal. They put together their own outfits and got in character. Photographing them was so much fun — their personalities really came through, and they totally fit the part of a beautiful circus couple. We really wanted to squeeze out the best of the old school part of Coney Island while leaving out the crazy crowds, the lines and the sometimes overdone carnival ride shots. So we made it mostly about the couple, their interaction, and just used the color and location as a backdrop for the setting to keep it fresh.

Photography: Kateryn Silva Photography / Location: Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York