I’m pretty sure this bride is my new best friend. She is so insanely chic, one look and I instantly feel a little frumpy. From her aaaah-dorable cocktail dress to her perfect birdcage veil and insane Jimmy Choos, every little bit of this bride is gorgeous. Plus, she managed to design and craft a New York City wedding without straining their wallet…a feat that is FAR from easy. So I love her that much more. The dreamy groom, the intimate details and the charming style doesn’t hurt either. Click here to see even more.
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We were engaged in March 2010 and immediately decided to have a destination wedding in our favorite place, Bali. Unfortunately, we realized that many family and friends would not be able to make it. We decided to plan a small ceremony in New York (where we live).
We ended up having an amazing wedding with just a little over 60 family and friends at the Rooftop Garden of the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York. It was the complete opposite of our ‘island Bali’ wedding but amazingly special. Because we were not financially planning a second wedding we opted to just do (almost everything) ourselves and simplify with just a ceremony, cocktail hour (with a signature summer cocktail) and a luncheon.
Our family and friends participated — making the our wedding special and unique. My uncle Rev. Michael Livingston officiated and our parents gave a blessing. We “JUMPED THE BROOM” an African American and celtic tradition. It signifies ‘sweeping away of the old’ and starting a new life together as you jump. Everyone participated, saying 1, 2, 3! Instead of a traditional wedding party we had our 3 nieces and 1 nephew in the wedding. Gil being a 3rd grade teacher and our love for family and children truly felt special for us.
My wedding planner, friends and family were amazing in helping us DIY…My best friend made the programs, we had an arts and crafts party with the kids and they helped us do the seed favors. My wedding planner and I did all the flowers. I collected some vintage rhinestone brooches for the corsages for our Moms, Aunts and my bouquet. I also ordered most of the hand made details on etsy.com. This includes our cake topper, the beautiful black love birds, sugar anemone flowers, flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow and even the broom! I heart etsy.com! My husband made the wishing tree as well as the small vases…he is a ceramics sculptor. This was a HUGE it — as guests took home the bud vases as a very special memento from our wedding.
Last, but certainly not least — we were ecstatic to have our french bull dog, Zoe be a part of the wedding. She is such a big part of our family it would not have been the same without her. Seriously, how cute is she?
Thanks for allowing me to share our simple, urban, chic wedding. Proof that it IS possible to have an inexpensive wedding in New York…with a little extra work and a lot of love, anything is possible!
Photography: Brooke Fitts / Event Planning: Rachel Tombes / Ceremony + Reception Location: Gramercy Park Hotel / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: David Meister / Cake: Cupcakes from Sweet Sugar Sunshine (love birds and sugar flowers hand made and purchased from Etsy.com) / Escort card Design: Peacock Invitations / Wishing Tree: Made with love from the Groom / Hair: Latoya owner of Capelli NYC / Makeup: Lucinda from Nars at Barneys New York / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein / Brides Veil and Peacock Feather Fascinator: Jadore Dolce Couture / Broom: Broomchick