There’s no denying Ariel Foxman, Editor-in-Chief of InStyle and his love Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, New York City public school principal know how to throw a good party. But when we’re talking about their wedding designed in the hands of Fête, it’s a party taken to a whole new level. The grooms opted for a dark, moody palette with unexpected details, including a wall of peel-off escort cards and a bagel and schmear send-off for guests. Brian Dorsey captured all the images and we’re only just getting started.
From The Grooms… The inspiration was a winter wedding that would feel lush and “undone” and have deep botanicals. Also, the we used ideas from the Dries Van Noten show, which referenced Dutch masters with gold, black, red and purples.
Jung Lee’s design is stand out because she and her team at FETE manage to epitomize your personal taste—the idiosyncratic things you’ve always imagined for your big day, the little flourishes that only you and your partner find amusing and delightful—while at the same time incorporating and elevating it to a standard of elegance and luxury like no other. And even as the final product is the height of sophistication, the appeal is contemporary, approachable and fun!
Our favorite part of the day—besides exchanging our vows to one another—was seeing how each and every detail came to life. Whether it was the peel-off escort card wall or the personalized chargers at everyone’s seat or the bagel and schmear send off with our charitable donation sticker affixed to each bag. Seeing the attention to every element and knowing that our guests experienced our day in exact balance that we had imagined, was simply amazing.
From the designers, Fête…
Seating Concept
As guests entered cocktails, they saw a wall application stating “Find Your Name” – it was scored into small rectangular pieces that served as guests’ escort card. Fete team helped guests peel their rectangular “escort card” off the wall. As guests peeled the card off, it became apparent that there was some image or painting underneath the application. By the end of cocktails, guests could finally make out the painting, which was an enlarged print of a watercolor painting an artist friend made for Ariel and Brandon.
During the planning process, Jung came up with the idea when the couple shared the painting with Jung – she knew it needed to be featured at the wedding, especially given the venue.
Curved Carpeted Aisle
The curved shape of the ceremony space inspired the idea for a curved, carpeted aisle. It increased the drama and beauty of the ceremony as a friend and recording artist sang her love ballad “With You”. Listen to it and it will become one of your favorite processional songs ever.
Photography: Brian Dorsey Studios | Cinematography: Craig William Films | Floral Design: Fete | Cake: Sylvia Weinstock | Catering: Restaurant Associates | Venue: Brooklyn Museum