We are lucky to include Cliff Mautner Photography as a talented photographer in our fabulous Little Black Book. His work is just so beautiful. It always evokes such a scale of lovely emotions. Any bride would be lucky to have him behind the camera on her big day. This bride included. Cliff captured the family, the celebration, and the love like no one else could have. See what I mean in the full gallery!
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Michael’s impromptu proposal was very creative. I came home from my late night of work expecting to have dinner together. I walked in the apartment and he wasn’t there. I then get a phone call that his car broke down a few blocks away in Washington Square, and that I should meet him there. I took a stroll with the dog and there is his brand new truck with the flashers on and hood open. He told me AAA was going to be an hour and he was going to fix it with my help. He looked in the hood started said he found the problem. Next thing I knew, he went under the front of the car and said, “Mer, I think I got it! There is something stuck under here.” As he got up from under the car he said “There was a rock stuck in my car! “and he got down on his knee and opened the box and asked me to marry him!
There was an opening Gala at the National Museum of American Jewish History right around the time we were looking for venues. As the night went on Michael looked at me and said “This is where we should get married.” The religious and historic aspect of the museum evoked the feeling of Jewish pride and personal humility. The room was on the fifth floor of the museum with balconies overlooking Independence Mall. It was all white and very simple, which allowed us to create the feeling we wanted for the wedding. We were excited to be one of the first couples to have a wedding at such a special place.
We wanted the room to feel cozy,elegant and chic. Not too contemporary, not too traditional, but with styles and features that appealed to us. My mother-in-law had a huge role in this; I relied on her to take all of the colors, thoughts, and ideas I wanted and put them together. She took it to a whole other level of amazing working in conjunction with Brian and Saint James from Evantine. It was truly spectacular. I loved how they used a love seat and mirrored piece of furniture (one of my favorite pieces) as the bride and groom table at the front of the dance floor. The flow of the room, the choice and flowers and centerpieces were put together so tastefully. Its an image I cant get out of my head.
We went up to the room prior to the wedding started and just walked around as the band was practicing and we just soaked it up. We were standing together hand in hand anticipating the rest the night to be phenominal. Once the night started, we did take that moment and sat at our table and just looked around the room at all the people who were there to celebrate us, and how much fun everyone was having. We danced the night away, the whole night was our favorite moment, it was awesome.
Photography: Cliff Mautner Photography / Cinematography: DNK Productions / Floral Designer: Evantine Design / Invitation Designer: Pen & Paper / Cake/Desserts: Ann’s Cake Pan, Peach Tree & Ward Catering, + Couture Candy Buffets / Wedding Gown Designer: Elizabeth Fillmore, Amelia Gown / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier / Pave Quatrefoil Earrings: David Yurman / Venue: National Museum of American Jewish History