New York Weddings

It’s no secret that we are a tad bit obsessed (read: a lot obsessed) with Brooklyn weddings here on SMP.  So, when the uber-talented Maggie Harkov sent this drop-dead gorgeous Brooklyn Botanic Garden affair our way, well.  Let’s just say we did a happy dance like you have never seen.  Because, not only is this a wedding that is chock-full of all caps PRETTY, it’s moment after moment of sweeter than sweet details (I’m looking at you, lavender) and sooo much love, you’ll spend your entire day smiling.  Care to join me for a swoon-fest in the gallery?  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

And a sweet film from Well Spun Weddings to brighten your day even more.  Enjoy!

From the Bride… Arle and I knew almost immediately that the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens was the perfect setting for our wedding. We both envisioned an outdoor ceremony that was somewhat traditional but also relaxed.  A large weeping willow tree was the perfect backdrop for our ceremony, and in case of rain, a nearby greenhouse would have provided an excellent backup location. Nothing could be more beautiful than having cocktails near the lily ponds at sunset and then watching dusk turn to evening through the stunning glass dome of the Palm House.

Our wedding was really about culture and family.  My mother is Greek and my father is Jewish; Arle is Dominican and Cuban. Family traveled to Brooklyn from as far away as Greece and the Dominican Republic to be with us. We wanted to incorporate traditions from both of our cultures into our day. During the ceremony, we did the “Stephana” or crowning ceremony and included Spanish translations in our program. The first dance at the reception was a traditional Greek dance with throwing of money (to represent wealth for the new couple), followed by being lifted on chairs during the hora (in the Jewish tradition), followed by a salsa/merengue. My mother and her sisters baked traditional Greek pastries that were given out for dessert, and gave out koufeta (jordan almonds) in traditional pouches of five to represent happiness, health, wealth, children and long life for the new couple. Our favor was a DIY bottle of Greek olive oil with a label reading “Thank you” in Greek, Spanish and English.

A few weeks before the wedding, we hosted a “Greek night” at my parents’ house, where we taught our non-Greek friends and family how to do the traditional dances. One of my favorite parts of the wedding was seeing everyone — Greeks and non-Greeks — holding hands, dancing the traditional dances together. Also, seeing my in-laws go up in the chairs during the hora was a moment I will never forget. Maggie Harkov’s photos captured every guest laughing and smiling during these wonderful moments. Arle and I joked that the theme of our wedding was “look good/feel good,” knowing that this was the best way to ensure a fun party. The bridesmaids and groomsman were “instructed” to wear whatever they wanted — no color, length, or style required. We had some guests in tuxedos and some in jeans. It was more important to us that everyone feel comfortable and have fun than to enforce a specific dress code.

Like everyone will tell you, the day goes by incredibly quickly. Don’t forget to be present in the moment, look around and have some fun! Your wedding day is the day you join your life with your partner’s, so if the flowers wilt or your dress gets dirty, try to keep your sense of humor about it and remember why you are really there in the first place — to celebrate your love and your marriage!

Wedding Photography: Maggie Harkov Photography / Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Joe’s Florist of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn / Wedding Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Catering: CharlesSallyCharles Catering at The Palm House / Wedding Stationery: Monique Lhuillier / Band + DJ: Alpha / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Jewelry: Borrowed / Bride’s Veil: Tia Mazza, Custom-Made from a Family Friend / Hair: Jill Hammelman  / Makeup: Sharon Becker of SB Beauty / Men’s Suits + Ties: Custom via Alton Lane / Groom’s Socks: Calvin Klein / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice

Oh, Brooklyn.  How I adore you.  Not only are you totally hip and chock-full of some serious style, you also happen to host some of the coolest weddings around.  And this magical soiree captured by CLY Creation?  Well, it’s has that take-your-breath away vibe that Brooklyn weddings are known for with a plethora of fab modern details, a seriously amazing reBar setting and personality shining through and through.  Oh, and the oh-so-stunning Mr. and Mrs.?  Adorable.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Larry and I first met in a college math class in February 2001. Through our matchmaking friends, we got set up and have been together since. A couple of months after our 10-year anniversary, Larry proposed to me during our long-overdue first couple’s trip to Moab, Utah. On our final day there, we went on a sunset bus tour at the Arches National Park. Our tour guide brought us to a spot called “The Garden of Eden” where she had me climb up and perch myself on top of a rock overlooking the sunset. The scenery was amazing! Later, she situated herself on a rock down below and to my surprise, whipped out her flute and started to play a melody. At that very moment, I heard Larry’s voice and saw him kneeling on the rock beside me, about to propose. It was definitely a memorable trip.

We’re not the type of couple who are into planning events. For that reason, planning our wedding was one of the hardest things for us to do. Our vision was for a non-traditional, fun atmosphere with close family and friends while incorporating our love of biking. We chose our vendors in hopes they would help make our vision a reality. We settled on a color story of gray, yellow and teal. Gray is my absolute favorite color. Being that I’m an ovarian cancer survivor, yellow was for LIVESTRONG, and teal was for ovarian cancer awareness. The three colors worked perfectly for our spring wedding. When searching for our venue, we wanted an environment to be fun, down-to-earth and have an urban vibe. reBar in Brooklyn, New York was just the place. It’s a large gastropub with its own movie theater called reRun. It also has several rooms that gave us the freedom to be creative. The main space transitioned from our wedding ceremony to a dance floor. In reRun, we easily used the movie theater atmosphere to set up a candy buffet and played our wedding slideshow. In a room called Lowrider, we had a fun photo booth with our DIY superhero-themed props. We wanted our guests to explore and experience a wedding in true Nida and Larry fashion, which reBar helped us execute perfectly. To capture our day, we had our talented photographers from CLY Creation. They took pictures for my sister’s wedding a couple of years back, so I knew their quality of work. As expected, they were great to work with and took so many beautiful pictures of our wedding. They certainly have an eye for creativity.

Throughout the wedding planning, we focused on staying true to who we were as individuals and as a couple. Most importantly, we tried to have fun with the whole experience. Many thanks to our family, friends and vendors who helped us fit the pieces to our wedding like a beautiful puzzle.

Wedding Photography: Matthew Lee + Orlando Emmanuelli of CLY Creation / Wedding Venue + Catering: reBar in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Lucy Wu Floral Design / Wedding Cake: Brooklyn Cake / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride / Entertainment: Scratch Weddings / Lighting: reBar / Wedding Dress: Ivy & Aster / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade + TOMS / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Beauty by Loretta / Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Shoes: Custom via Nike ID / Groom’s Ring: Triton

Okay two things I’m certain of right at this very moment: 1. This wedding is beyond beautiful, we’re talking super gorg and 2. That French bulldog is the handsomest furry friend I ever did see. I know you’ll agree with me on both accounts once you feast your eyes on this pretty images by Monika Broz. The couple chose MyMoon in Brooklyn because of it’s eclectic vibe and I must admit, it’s pretty amazing, like possibly my new all time fave. Check out even more here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We initially wanted a destination wedding, but we realized many of our friends and family would not be able join us if we did, so we decided to try to find a location at home in New York City. We didn’t want our wedding to feel like everyone else’s but finding a location in NYC that was unique and affordable was a harder challenge than we first expected. Through research online and searching through countless blogs we discovered a few locations in Williamsburg that might fit the bill. Upon visiting My Moon, we knew immediately this was where we wanted to get married. It was a former boiler room of a factory and has such chic industrial look like nothing we had ever seen before. Instead of fighting with the theme, we embraced it and created our wedding vision to be the exotics with a Moroccan/Spanish influence. I had visited the Alhambra in Spain and fell in love with its design and felt My Moon could serve as our destination wedding in our own backyard. In addition to giving a nod to my Spanish heritage. We could have all of our loved ones join us and still feel like they were going some where exotic.

Since our inspiration was set, our colors were born out of that: ivory, teal, fuchsia, saffron and gold. We wanted our wedding to feel romantic but have an edge of sexiness to it, so incorporating bold exotic colors helped to dial that up. Since our inspiration was pretty specific, we had a hard time finding invitations that conveyed the look/feel we were going for without feeling too “themed.” So I reached out to a friend from high school who had started her own invitation company. She knew immediately what we were looking for and introduced us to the Moroccan quatrefoil design, which we wound up using throughout our wedding. We knew we did not want traditional flowers, but we were also on a budget and needed to find someone who would be willing to work with us on creating and making our vision come to life. We found Tashi and Bobo, and it was the best decision we made. They allowed us to do a lot of it ourselves and then they pulled together all the pieces to create the cohesive theme. My mother and I searched through Home Goods, Marshall’s, Pier One and Ebay collecting unique vases, glassware,  and lanterns to help establish the Moroccan theme further. For our flowers, we selected bright colors and interesting textures for colorful centerpieces and lots of mini arrangements. Tashi and Bobo custom made gold toned silk table runners which really made the arrangements pop off of the rustic dark wood farm tables. The clash of dark rustic wood, vibrant colors and textures was just beautiful.

For the ceremony we wanted to get married under something, and our florist had the idea of making a structure and decorating it with metallic circles and hanging blooms so when the wind blew the gold metallic circles would flutter/glitter. We also hung jars and unique vessels and filled them with unique flowers like giant thistles to make an impact and aid in the exotic feeling around the perimeter of the ceremony space. For our card table, our florist used a bed of carnations in our rich colors for us to place our cards upon. We printed our own menus on flat bracket paper from Paper Presentation and printed the quatrefoil design on them. My father did the calligraphy for place cards, and again, we printed the quatrefoil design on them. For the ceremony, it was important to us to have a live musician, and what better way than to have a Spanish guitar playing? He played more traditional music at the ceremony, and then at the cocktail hour he played the Spanish guitar. We had black and white photos from all the generations before us on their wedding days set up in Moroccan frames to honor our families and the tradition of marriage. Instead of a traditional guest book, we created a book with My Publisher featuring a timeline of our relationship from our first date through our engagement shoot and all of the adventures we have been on. We now have a very cool coffee table book where our guest gave lots of advice and shared all of their love with us.

Wedding Photography: Monika Broz + Nadine Rovner / Wedding Venue: MyMoon in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design + Wedding Cake: Tashi & Bobo / Ice Cream Sandwiches: Milk & Cookies Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Catherine Kiff-Vozza / Spanish Guitar: David Galvez / DJ: DJ C-RIUS / Ceremony Fans: Luna Bazaar / Getting Ready Venue: King & Grove Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York / Wedding Dress: Enzoani “Dakota” via Monica’s Bridal / Bride’s Belt: Kittychen Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Via Spiga / Hair + Makeup: Magdas Designs Inc. / Wedding Dress Hanger: Burlap Babe / Engagement Ring + Wedding Bands: Kadella Diamonds

Inspired by all things Brooklyn, this couple looked no further than their local surroundings to hand-craft a sweet day of nuptials. It’s an affair so stylish (hello gorgeous lace dress) and filled with meaningful details (hello sea of papel picado) that make for a wedding so personalized and uniquely them.  Captured by Jenelle Kappe Photography, see more of these two lovey love birds + their pup and their day of merriment in the full gallery.

From the Bride… We meet in 2008 at an art event. I was involved with someone at the time so I did not pay too much attention to him. We connected added each other on Facebook, saw each other at another event two weeks later, and that was it. Fast forward to Valentine’s Day weekend 2010 — we were both single. He posted something regarding music, and I responded. With that, we began corresponding via tweets, emails and text. A few weeks later we had our first date. It was supposed to be a concert, but the act canceled, so we met up for happy hour and ended up nearly closing the bar. From that day on, we just kept going. Six months later (this being NYC with its crazy-high rents), his roommate moved out and I moved in. We have a “his” and “hers” version on our wedding website.

From the start, we knew we wanted to share our daily lives with our family and friends. Getting married outside was a no brainer, and Johann sweetly said he would prefer a morning ceremony. Clearly he had no clue what went into making a wedding, but he stated that he wanted to be married all day long, that and he didn’t want to sweat too much. The inspiration was Brooklyn! Local! This was a casual Brooklyn day, Lali and Jojo style. The venue was our local bar, and because it has an eclectic vibe, I was able to mix in my own cake stands, candy dishes, tin cans, pictures of my great-grandparents and these fabulous pillows a friend gave us as a wedding present. My great-aunt gifted me fabric place mats and croceted dollies, which were used at the cake table. My cousins sent us handmade mini baskets from Mexico, which were made by the indigionus people of my family’s home state of Chihuahua. They held traditional Mexican wedding cookies that were made in Mexico by family there. The teddy bear who stays in our bed even was front and center for both the ceremony and reception. All these were little things that my family and friends could recgnize as us. my great aunts began to cry when they saw pictures of their parents (my great-grandparents) framed and displayed. I wanted them to know that regardless of how far we are, I will always know where we started.

My sister made my bouquet from bodega bought flowers and ribbons I had. I asked her to place my late Abuelita’s (paternal) road runner pins on her bouquet and mine. I did not want our budget to be eaten up by flowers, so we bought small glasses and shot glasses from IKEA, and I ordered white carnations. I know carnations are not a fancy flower, but they remind me of the large bouquets my dad would get me as a pre-teen to celebrate my birthday. They made me feel fancy. To make it more us, we bought white papel picado from La Sirena in the Lower East Side. My favorite moment was our vows. We are bilingual, but being able to both say our vows in Spanish really hit home for me. We didn’t tell each other we would be doing that. I also loved having my great-aunts and grandma sing to us during our first dance. The song was chosen by my grandfather, who was unable to attend due to health. Of course, seeing our families let loose and dance together was great! And having my sister stand up next to me — she is little but, boy, her support was mighty that day!

Wedding Photography: Jenelle Kappe Photography / Ceremony: Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, New York / Reception: Rustik Tavern in Brooklyn, New York / Flowers: DIY by the Bride’s Sister / Carnations: Global Rose / Event Design + Planning: DIY / Officiant: Rodney Ladino / Road Runner Pin: From the Bride’s Grandmother / Papel Picado Banners: La Sirena / “We Do” Dish: Pink Olive / Guest Book: Stephanie Somers / Wedding Dress: Diane von Furstenberg / Bride’s Shoes: Seychelles / Bride’s Earrings: Michael Kors / Bride’s Bracelet: Kate Spade / Bride’s Purse: Zara / Hair: Laureen of Styles on B / Makeup: Anita Negron (Bride’s Best Friend) / Groom’s Shoes: UNIQLO + Puma / Groom’s Bow Tie: Macy’s / Groom’s Socks: UNIQLO

I’m giving The Green Building a new nickname.  And that new nickname is “The Greatest Venue of All Time.” I happen to think that’s pretty fitting for a chic urban paradise in the center of one of the hippest places around, i.e. Brooklyn.  And when the GVAT (sounds good, no?) hosts a fab soiree like this one captured by Love Me Do Photography?  Guaranteed amazing.  It’s pretty, pretty blooms by Ariel Dearie Flowers meets gorgeous DIY decor meets a crazy cool (+ stunning) bride and groom – and it’s all making for one seriously beautiful Tuesday morning.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Love Me Do Photography… Sinae and Eli live in Brooklyn and wanted to keep their wedding local. The Green Building’s raw feeling was perfect for their multi-cultural wedding. Sinae’s family is Korean and Eli’s is Jewish, so featured traditions from both cultures with modern twists, including the Tish and Bedeken on the Jewish side and the Korean tea ceremony called Paebeck. The whole wedding took place at The Green Building except for the first look on the street near Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. The decor was handmade by the bride — elegant with a big emphasis on the huge Korean buffet.

Wedding Photography: Love Me Do Photography / Wedding Venue: The Green Building in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Ariel Dearie Flowers / Catering + Wedding Cake: San Soo Kap San (718-445-4850) / Cupcakes: Billy’s Bakery / DJ: Beat Train Productions / Decor, Name + Place Cards: DIY / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Vince Camuto / Hair + Makeup: Sachiko Yanase (917-282-2081) / Groom’s Attire: Bindle & Keep

Your Monday morning is about to get a whole lot prettier and waaay more fun thanks to this super playful and oh-so-beautiful e-session by Kaye English Photography. This fab duo had so much fun prancing along the Brooklyn bridge with a big ol’ bunch of balloons and taking trips on the merry-go-round…and if that isn’t the best way to celebrate your engagement, I don’t know what is! Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Kaye English Photography… This NYC engagement shoot features the Brooklyn Bridge, balloons, outfits changes and a merry-go-round. :)

Photography: Kaye English Photography / Location: New York, New York

Falling hard for a dress long after you’ve walked down the aisle definitely comes with the territory of this job. But how could you not fall madly in love with every single scallop on this BHLDN dress? It’s a 60’s inspired gem donned for an intimate ceremony at The Boathouse followed by a champagne toast and feasting at Frankies 457. Now that is how you do a wedding in New York. And coupled with the photography of Lauren Gabrielle, it’s a sight to be hold. See that sight right here.

From the Bride… Eron and I went to the same college and had known of one another for years. Although we were living in separate cities, after many summer vacations with a mutual group of friends, he invited me to New York to celebrate New Year’s Eve and my 30th birthday. I traveled to New York, extended my trip … and the rest is “happily ever after” history.

We live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and we knew we wanted our wedding ceremony and reception to be very “Brooklyn.” We wanted everything to be easy, both for us and our guests, but we also wanted it to be totally unique and absolutely special. During the planning process the venues came to us immediately — Eron is an architect and his favorite building in all of Brooklyn is the Boathouse in Prospect Park. The viewing platform across from the Boathouse was the perfect location for our ceremony, as it provided an intimate space for our guests and a gorgeous backdrop. The ceremony was exactly what we’d hoped. We were married by our best friend in our favorite place, surrounded by those we love.

We love dining at Frankies 457, and it was really our first and only option as the venue to host our reception. The food is amazing and we thought the rustic stable in the garden, long tables and family-style service fit perfectly with the kind of celebration we wanted. We had an idea of how the room would be styled — the white linens, burlap runners, the vintage jars and flowers — but our florist really created something wonderful, elegant and romantic. We walked into Frankies on the evening of our reception and were blown away — we absolutely loved how everything came together. A friend of a friend has a local bluegrass band that we’ve always enjoyed, and they played during the cocktail reception. The three musicians sounded just right in the corner of the garden. Along with a menu at each place setting detailing dinner, each couple received a Frankies 457 cookbook inscribed with a message from Eron and me — a little way for us to tell them how much it meant to us they were celebrating with us.

Wedding Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography / Ceremony: The Boathouse in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York / Reception: Frankies 457 in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Amy Febinger of Bourgeon / Save-the-Dates + Weddings Invitations: Cloud 9 Weddings & Papers / Music: Red Rooster / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Makeup: Laura Nadeau of Lo & Co. / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Wedding Rings: Page Sargisson

This drop dead gorgeous couple flew to NYC, along with 37 of their closest friends and family, all the way from Australia to have their dream, destination wedding. Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc handled all the details perfectly and there wasn’t a dry eye in the whole building when these Aussies said their I Do’s. This is a perfect example of a quintessential NYC wedding and it the images by Photo Pink really don’t get any prettier than this! Click here for even more!

Don’t miss this fab film by Well Spun Weddings:

From Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc.… Hailing from Australia, this couple planned their perfectly sweet wedding in New York, and I have to say, we did a great job! Sera, an amazingly talented singer and writer, wed her handsome hubby, Derrick, on April 12, 2012. Their entire guest list (37 in total) all jet-set their way to the states and into my heart. The weather could not have been more perfect! The ladies sneaked up to the most amazing view of NYC at the Hudson Hotel and then headed to Central Park for a few quick shots, before heading to Brooklyn! There wasn’t a dry-eye in the house during their touching ceremony, everyone was smiling from ear to ear during their speeches (the toastmaster was a guest — an Aussie tradition), and to this day, everyone is still talking about the wonderful affair. The guests were greeted at The River Cafe with escort t-shirts donning the proud “I LOVE NY” and as the reception hit a peak, the sun set, the guests threw on their t-shirts and sang/danced with the most gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline.

Wedding Photography: Photo Pink / Ceremony: First Unitarian Congregational Society Brooklyn in Brooklyn, New York / Reception: The River Cafe in Brooklyn, New York / Wedding Planning: Christine Viola of Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc. / Floral Design: Flowers by Emil / Wedding Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Officiant: Rev. Hope / DJ: Colleen Crumbcake of PopShop! DJs / Guest Transportation: NY Trolley Co. / Vintage Taxi: Film Cars / Accommodations: Hudson Hotel / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Wedding Shoes: Cinderella Bella (Dyed Light Blue) / Bride’s Second Dress: Couture by Francesca / Bride’s Second Shoes: Badgley Mischka (Dyed Blue) Hair: Stacy Pitt of Styles on B / Makeup: Sally Duvall

Let’s face it, Brooklyn is the new happening place to keep a pulse on all things fresh, just like this wedding by Aaron & Samantha Photography. Not only does the couple’s venue, Bubby’s, scream “cool,” but every element of this day was made with love from the handwritten vows to pretty paper products. Hit up the full gallery for more.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/45415552?title=0&byline=0&color=ff0179 600 338]

From the Bride… Jon and I met on a rooftop in Brooklyn. One year later, he proposed on that same rooftop. It seemed only appropriate that we get married in the city that had been the backdrop to our love story. We wanted our wedding to feel like “us,” so we did almost everything ourselves. We had a close friend officiate the ceremony, and we wrote our own vows. I designed and printed our paper products by hand — invitations, programs, menus and place cards. We saved glass jars all throughout the year and wrapped lace around them to create our candle centerpieces. We also managed to not spend a dime on flowers! Instead of bouquets, the bridesmaids carried clutch bags, and instead of boutonnieres, the men wore custom lapel pins. I handmade my bouquet using fabric and lace flowers (all pinned to a wire whisk!). As much fun as we had planning, the best part of the whole wedding weekend was being surrounded by so many friends and family who love us! 

Wedding Photography: Aaron & Samantha Photography / Wedding Venue: Bubby’s in Brooklyn, New York / Wedding Cinematography: K Hodge Films / Wedding Pie: Bubby’s / Mini Cupcakes: Crumbs Bake Shop / Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride / DJ: Rob Hitt / Trolley: NY Trolley Co. / Photo Booth: We Love Photobooths / Accommodations: Nu Hotel / Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Dye via Lovely Bridal Shop / Bride’s Veil: Lovely Bridal Shop / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka “Lacie” in Seafoam / Bride’s Earrings + Headband: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Joseph Abboud

I’m a lover of all things vintage (aka, completely and totally obsessed), so when AmaraFix Photography sent along this stunning Brooklyn soiree, I almost fell right out of my chair.  An insanely gorgeous ode to Old Hollywood, this lovely little number is boasting rich, dark hues, a sophisticated candlelit reception and an Alberto Makali gown that will knock.your.socks.off.  Plus, when you get a look at those gorgeous bouquets by Sprout Home, you won’t know what to do with yourselves.  Ready for a day of pure, unadulterated lovely?  Join me in the gallery for more.

From AmaraFix Photography… Michael got ready in their home in Brooklyn with his groomsmen and their dog Rudy, while Rianna got ready at the Wythe Hotel. They were married at The Counting Room, a bar in Williamsburg. The dark, moody bar, Rianna’s glamorous, sequin dress, and the choice of red for the wedding color evoked an atmosphere of old Hollywood. One of the bride and groom’s concerns for the wedding photographs was documenting every single guest. We suggested a mock photo booth as a fun way of getting everyone’s photograph during the reception. Keeping with the old Hollywood theme, we chose black velvet for the backdrop. Michael and Rianna provided the props: a sombrero, a luchador mask and a mullet-styled black wig. Over 700 photo booth photographs later, it’s safe to say people could not get enough of it.

Wedding Photography: AmaraFix Photography / Wedding Venue: The Counting Room in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Sprout Home / Catering: Sips & Bites / Wedding Dress: Alberto Makali via Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes: Ivanka Trump / Bridal Preparations Location: Wythe Hotel / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew “Ludlow”

When it comes time to start crafting your big day, it helps to take a cue from your environment like this Big City number photographed by Katie Osgood Photography. It’s a garden wedding with a decidedly urban flair that embodies everything cool about its New York surroundings. From a slew of gourmet truck food to a local restaurant venue just right for cocktailing and dancing the night away, this is the perfect example of a wedding wholeheartedly infused with personality and some mighty good looking details. Details like crazy gorgeous florals and decor by Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design and planned by Exquisite Affairs Planning. If you’re anything like me (a city girl through and through) you’ll want to head on over to the gallery for so much more from this Brooklyn beauty.

From Katie Osgood Photography… Debra and Jeff’s wedding was the epitome of all a Brooklyn wedding could be. Their wedding was packed full of their own personal touches from beginning to end. I’m talkin’ food trucks, talented kids, gorgeous flowers, cool people, a fabulous venue, ice cream sandwiches and whoopie pies, all topped off with some serious school spirit. It was absolutely one of a kind!

From the Bride… We searched and searched, changing our wedding venue and date many times to get just the right feel for our wedding. We wanted a wedding that really incorporated who we are as a couple and the things and people we love — including, of course, lots of love for the University of Michigan, where we met almost 14 years ago as college freshmen. Go Blue! We decided this included food trucks, specialized desserts, custom-made Nikes for the groomsmen (and a pair for the bride!) and great music. We were so lucky to have found MyMoon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where I worked for years and feel very connected to. The venue was perfect — with outdoor space for cocktails, food trucks and the ceremony. The staff at MyMoon could not have been more accommodating and made planning just a joy. I fell in love with our band, Rhythm Collective from Elan Artists, who, at their showcase played both some Empire State of Mind and Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit — so I knew they were the right choice for us. Our 8-year-old niece performed an impromptu song with the band and our 10-year-old nephew surprised us by playing Green Day’s Time of Your Life on his guitar. We felt a lot of love and warmth at our wedding, which is what we were hoping for. From our gorgeous flowers and decor to an amazing planner and photographer — everything fell in to place. Friends from Milk & Cookies Bakery in the West Village made us amazing ice cream sandwiches, whoopie pies and macaroons for dessert to end the night. After almost a year of planning, we really felt like the night was a real reflection of the two of us and it was really magical and unique — just the way we had hoped.  

From Exquisite Affairs Planning… Maybe it’s because we hung out with them at Jeff’s sister’s wedding in March, or maybe it’s just because they are so cool, but either way we thoroughly and truly enjoyed being a part of Debbie and Jeff’s special day. They are the epitome of fun. The groom and his groomsmen wore sneakers, donning the colors of the alma mater of the couple: University of Michigan. Or rather, all of them except one — Matt, the new brother-in-law of Jeff, is a Syracuse grad and an ever-so-proud one at that, so his sneakers were blue and orange. Deb’s shoes were uber-chic with a touch of Michigan on the sole. Everything from their florals and venue to their choice of cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres screamed ultra-hip and fun. Debbie and Jeff surround themselves with caring loving friends and family. They had an emotional ceremony and Ketubah signing, and you could tell that everyone watching was taken by their love for each other. Afterward, an amazing dance party filled with laughter ensued and continued late into the night.

Wedding Photography: Katie Osgood Photography / Second Photographer: Konrad Brattke Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: MyMoon in Brooklyn, New York / Event Planning: Christine Viola of Exquisite Affairs Planning / Floral Design: Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Well Spun Weddings / Food Trucks: Kimchi Taco Truck + Milk Truck / Desserts: Milk & Cookies Bakery / Music: Elan Artists / Wedding Dress: Rivini via Kleinfeld Bridal / Makeup: Sally Duvall / Groom’s Suit: Custom via Michael Andrews Bespoke / Groomsmen Shoes: Custom via Nike / Wedding Rings: Sackowitz Jewelers

The simple sophistication of this Brooklyn beauty makes my heart sing. I just can’t get enough. Honestly, I could sit here all day and stare at all the prettiness snapped up by Brklyn View Photography, and thanks to the gallery, I might do just that. It’s understated elegance at it’s finest with a big punch of personality and that might be (ok, it totally is) my favorite combination of all time! See it all here!

From Brklyn View Photography… Lots of laughter, tears of joy and salsa dancing were on display at Lina and Andy’s beautiful Prospect Park Boat House wedding in Brooklyn. The forecast was for rain, but the sun came out to shine anyway, so we took full advantage of the breathtaking light. During Andy’s vows, Lina laughed out loud while he recounted the many reasons why he loves her, and there was not a dry eye in the crowd. The bride’s dress was made in her native Colombia, and she was absolutely stunning. After Lina and Andy said their vows, they were wrapped in thyme and sage wreath to bring them a lifetime of love and happiness.

Photography: Brklyn View Photography / Wedding Venue: The Prospect Park Audobon Center at the Boat House in Brooklyn, New York / Catering: The Moveable Feast Catering / Band: 3D Ritmo de Vida / Wedding Dress: Handmade in Colombia / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss

How do you define a wedding like this? It’s a smidge modern and a wee bit minimalist. It’s beauty that doesn’t need a lot of pomp and fluff but is just that: beautiful. And Zac Wolf Photography  captured the essence of New York and the core of what captures our heart about this wedding. It’s a dance in wedding attire in the middle of a New York street or smiles so big they practically light up the reception space. And then it’s MORE dancing because that is what people do when they’re happy and oh so in love and celebrating. And we’re completely on board with the whole kit and caboodle. See it from beginning to end right here.

From the Bride… We met on the steps of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and we love cycling, hiking and taking long walks to nowhere in Brooklyn. Ben proposed in Central Park, on a horse drawn carriage — all classic except before he asked for my hand, he handed a camera to Ariel and said, “Take this camera; I’m about to propose to this woman.” Ariel had seen this hundreds of times, so he was prepared. He took his own photos and lit candles. It was beautiful. We wandered down Fifth Avenue, which was full of Christmas decorations and had dinner in LIC.

My favorite wedding memory was dancing salsa to Oscar De Leon surrounded by the people we love.

Wedding Photography: Zac Wolf Photography / Wedding Venue: iCi Restaurant / Floral Design: Rose Red & Lavender / Wedding Cake: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Invitations: Etsy / Thank You Notes: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Favors, Place Cards, Labels + Numbers: DIY / Wedding Dress: Custom, Based on a Marchesa Design / Bride’s Veil + Headpiece: Sara Gabriel via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Bride’s Earrings + Ring on Bracelet: Her Grandmother / Bracelet Chain: Erica Weiner / Bride’s Shoes: Alexander McQueen / Hair + Makeup: Antonia Troiano / Maid of Honor’s Dress: J.Crew / Maid of Honor’s Shoes: Rachel Roy / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shoes: John Varvatos

Good morning, SMPers and a very happy Saturday to you!  Before you head out for a day of fun in the sun, we just had to take a moment to introduce you to one of our brand new and oh-so-wonderful advertisers, The White Gown.  We all know that choosing your wedding dress is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when it comes to your Big Day – and The White Gown has you totally covered with their top-notch customer service, stop-you-in-your-tracks accessories and amazing, first-rate experience.  Oh, and the gowns?  Absolute perfection.  So, join us in giving them one big ol’ SMP welcome… and then check out their fabulous giveaway below!

From The White Gown… The White Gown was founded in 2006 by a young Brooklyn woman who had recently been a bride herself.  She was looking for something unique and special not only in her future bridal gown but in a bridal boutique.  She set out to create an experience that was truly focused on every step of the process, from the 1st appointment to the day a bride picks up her dress after alterations. The experience starts with laid back consultants who have a love of not only bridal, but fashion in general and ALL things weddings, and ends with amazing in house seamstresses who are completely devoted to The White Gown brides.  The White Gown offers bridal gowns ranging from $800-$5,000 with the bulk of the collection ranging from $1200-$3500.  The White Gown takes special care to curate designers from all over the world, showcasing a range of styles, silhouettes and budgets.  Veils, hair pieces, shoes and jewelry are equally important as a bride can really show off her personality by her choice of accessories.  Accessories range from approximately $50-$1000.

Make sure to keep your eye out on The White Gown’s website for monthly Trunk Shows and Promotions! July brings gorgeous Silk Gowns from the Alyne Bridal 2013 Collection: Trunk Show July 20-22nd.

“Brides want each and every moment of their wedding day to be special and one of the most important factors is their gown.  We don’t take this responsibility lightly and yet we want the experience to be laid back, fun and exciting!  It does not have to be stressful or pressured, expensive or intimidating.  We LOVE working with brides who are creating unique weddings that are specific to their personalities and are looking for a bridal salon who can help them stay true to who they are as an individual”

Tell us which dress on The White Gown’s website would be the perfect fit for you!  Leave your comment by July 26th and you will be entered to win 10% off of your dream wedding dress!  

So very, very gorgeous.  Welcome to the family The White Gown!  We are so happy to have you! xoxo

Can I just tell you that Judy Pak knocks my wedding-loving socks off with each submission of hers that hit our inboxes? Because it’s so so true. The couples that book her are a smart and stylish bunch, because when Judy Pak gets behind a camera…gorgeousness ensues. Case and point – this engagement session of a dashing duo and their fabulously styled Brooklyn home. It looks like it belongs one of the many coffee table books I hold near and dear, and it sure makes for one fine looking full gallery!

From Judy Pak Photography… This is Jennifer and Brian, and they are one stylish couple! Jennifer is a culinary genius, jaw-droppingly beautiful and also happens to be very thoughtful and sweet. Brian is smart and driven, works in finance and has impeccable taste in home and design. He did an amazing job with their place. It was such a fun time strolling around Brooklyn with these two. The weather was perfect, the sunlight was yummy, and they are an absolute delight to be around. I loved seeing the way Brian adores Jennifer and how Jennifer laughs and lights up around Brian. Their love is so real, honest and playful … it was a pleasure to capture them during this sweet time of their lives.

Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Photography Assistant: Rowa Lee / Location: Brooklyn, New York

One thing is for certain and that’s that this adorable couple sure knows how to throw one amazing party filled with plenty of personal touches. Music played an important role in their big day since the groom is a DJ and the bride comes from a musical family. So they surprised all their guests with a gospel choir that sang Oh happy Day after their I Do’s…and if that’s not the coolest thing ever, I don’t know what is. Clean Plate Pictures captured all the fun and there’s a whole lot more right here in the full gallery!

From the Bride… Music is one of the foundations of our relationship — we actually met while recording a hip-hop track in Thailand (yes, true story!). Stefan is a producer and DJ, and I come from a very musical family. So when we started planning our wedding, we knew music would be an important component in making it feel like “us,” which was our biggest focus when planning the big day. We surprised our guests with a gospel choir singing “Oh Happy Day,” my parents sang us the song they performed at my baptism, and the entire family and bridal party shocked us with a flash-mob style rendition of Common’s “The Light,” which they rewrote to tell the story of our relationship. We also added a personal element by paying homage to our backgrounds — Irish whisky shots and a bagpiper for my side and a cord, veil and coin ceremony for Stefan’s Filipino heritage. We had a very hands-on approach to our wedding — my mom made the flower girl dresses and much of the décor, we baked all of our own desserts and the cake that we shot for our place cards (which was also our save-the-date!), and I made my fascinator and the favors (batches of my late grandmother’s cracker candy). We’re a family of entertainers and we wanted to welcome our family and friends to the city we love with these personal touches.

Favorite moments? Wow. Having my mom zip up my dress and just looking at her and squealing with excitement, sharing a kiss at the end of our ceremony and knowing about the secret choir waiting in the wings — then seeing everyone clapping, smiling and practically dancing their way out of the church. The no-holds-barred, crazy dance party that went on into the wee hours thanks to our killer DJ, Sureshot. And seeing the most important people in our life come together to write and perform “The Light.” We have never felt more surrounded by love in our entire lives life … and the party just went wild from there … it was electric.

Wedding Photography: Clean Plate Pictures / Ceremony: St. Saviour Church in Brooklyn, New York / Reception: The Green Building in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Posies / Event Design: The Bride, Groom + Family / Event Planning: The Bride & Groom / Wedding Day Coordination: Brilliant Event Planning / Catering: Crave Catering and Events / Wedding Invitations: JVF Design (The Groom’s Brother-in-Law) / Favors: DIY by the Bride / DJ: DJ Sureshot of 74 Events / Wedding Dress: Allure Couture via John’s Bridal by Suzanne / Bride’s Bracelet: Custom by Brooklyn Market Using Necklaces of Family Members / Bride’s Fascinator: DIY by the Bride / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Flower Girls’ Dresses: DIY by the Bride’s Mother / Groom’s Hat: Custom by J.J. Hat Center

This next wedding might be a little awkward for me. Because the level of girl crush I have right now is absurd and rather than obsess over the wedding as a whole, I’m basically just obsessing over the bride. Because I love her. A lot. Don’t get me wrong, the boy is darling too (like seriously dreamy) but the bride. She’s like Hepburn good. And the photography by Clean Plate Pictures was like a match made in wedding heaven. It’s almost too pretty to be true. Just don’t forget to check out the full gallery so you can see all of her equally lovely friends and the crazy amount of joy that came out of this wedding.

From the Bride… Derek and I met years ago at a bar during my college years.  He was a DJ, I was a waitress, and the rest is history. After 6 1/2 years of dating, he finally worked up the courage up to ask for my hand. One Sunday he dragged me through the streets of Williamsburg for hours in the scorching heat. Apparently, was looking for a secluded spot to pop the question. ;) The day we got engaged, we happened to walk by the Brooklyn Winery on our walk back home. There was a party going on, and the outdoor space looked just gorgeous. I remember looking over at my new fiance and whispering, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we got married here?” Six months later, we did!

Having little time and resources, we decided to keep all of our arrangements as simple as possible. The beauty of the Brooklyn Winery and the reason why they were such a great fit for us is their ambiance. We knew we wouldn’t need to add much to the space to make it feel perfectly “us.” Flowers were the only decoration we brought in that was not part of the winery setup. Sarah Bedford, our flower artist, is such a genius. We just asked her to improvise, and the flowers came out incredibly beautiful. I’m glad I didn’t give her much direction because I could not have come up with what we got! The ceramic vases that lined the tables were hand-made by two of my best friends! We were so lucky to have such amazing creative people on our side, helping to pull all the pieces in place. Last but not least, my stylist Nackie and makeup artist Danielle really worked their magic to make me look and feel like a superstar. Everyone at The Parlour (where Derek and I both get our hair done) was so amazing with suggestions and ideas. The manager, Jessica, basically planned out the entire event for us. We were both so clueless and eager to take suggestions. Good thing the ladies at The Parlour really know their stuff! In fact, the veil designer, the florist and even some of our desserts were all friends recommended by The Parlour. Yay for keeping everything local AND beautiful!

Dessert was definitely the thing I was looking most forward to. My mom made our wedding cake, which was a version of my favorite Russian cherry cake I’d been obsessed with since childhood. We rounded out the dessert bar with cookies and bars from different Brooklyn vendors and even brought in our own ice cream scooper! The ice cream sandwiches from Ample Hills Creamery were to die for! There were a few elements Derek and I decided to make ourselves. We wanted to keep things simple, but personal at the same time. The first thing we did was create our invitations. I designed the wording, and ordered stamps. Then I hand-painted all the cards, and Derek stamped the info. It was a fun project, but it ended up taking up more time and energy than either of us thought possible. Derek had sore hands from all that stamping for days! My favorite part of the preparation was when Derek and I worked on the favors we gave out at the party. Derek made mixed CDs with our favorite music, which we individualized for each guest, and the CDs doubled as table number assignments. Going through all the music was really fun, and I got to enjoy many live mixing sessions as I was prepping all the labels. Our photographer, Erica was SUCH a joy to work with. We are usually very awkward on camera, and having her by our side really put us at ease. She knew exactly how to make us comfortable, and the best part? We never felt like we had to “pose.” The entire day was just magical, all thanks to the people we had by our side. We are immensely grateful for all the amazing people — vendors, friends, and family — who helped make our day as wonderful as it was! Being able to share our special day with all the people we love most in this world was an amazing experience, one we will never forget.

Wedding Photography: Erica of Clean Plate Pictures / Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Winery in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design: Sarah Bedford of Bedford & Co. / DJ: Ryan of Party for a Lifetime / Wedding Invitations + CDs: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Ceramic Vases: Made by Friends of the Bride / Wedding Cake: DIY by the Bride’s Mother / Ice Cream Sandwiches: Ample Hills Creamery / Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven via Lovely Bride / Bride’s Veil: Faeth Millinery / Hair + Makeup: Nackie + Danielle of The Parlour Brooklyn / Groom’s Suit: My.Suit / Rings: The Clay Pot

If you drifted off in a bed of wildflowers and dreamt about the most romantic wedding, you would most definitely be transported directly to this soiree. It’s set at The Palm House at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, so it’s s given that the flowers were destined to be perfect. And judging by Gulnara Studio‘s take on the day, everything from the bridesmaid dresses to the sweet almost Alice in Wonderland feel to the beautiful couple are picture perfect as well. Click here to see more!

Click here to see the rest of this sweet dream!

From Gulnara Studio … Meg and Dave got married at one of the most incredible locations in Brooklyn, the world famous Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

The  ceremony was originally planned to be outside but it began to rain so the couple had to decide very fast if it should be outside or indoors. It was not a very hard desition as the Palm House is surrounded by beautiful lights coming from the glass ceiling.  The ceremony was so emotional and surrounded by friends and family under the huppah. I loved that they had the rings passed and blessed by ALL the bridal party and guests. What a unique ceremony!

Despite the rain we did have a chance to get the FABULOUS portraits in the sculptural installation by Patrick Dougherty.  All the table numbers, papers, ring pillow were made by the bride. I really enjoyed the wedding and it was so much fun to spend the day with both families.

Photography: Gulnara Studio / Ceremony & Reception: The Palm House at Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Florist: Poppies & Posies / Catering & Wedding Cake: CharlesSallyCharles at Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Dress: Allure Couture / Groom’s Cusom Tux: Alton Lane / Linens: New York Party & Linen Rentals, LLC / Wedding Rings: Marisa Perry / Bridesmaids’ Dress: Alvina Valenta / Invitations & Cards: Wedding Paper Divas / Shoes: Alfani / Groomsmen Tuxedo: Dante Zeller / Favors: The Knot Shop / Ketubah: J. Levine Judaica / Table numbers, menus, programs, ring bearer pillows: DIY by the Bride / Entertainment: Paul Rodriguez

New York City is a hot spot for engagement photos. With all those amazing cityscapes and lush green parkscapes, it’s a city that will forever be a draw to newly engaged love and the capturing there of. And today’s image capturer, Anne Robert Photography, knows her stuff. From breathtaking photos of a Brooklyn Bridge kiss to a couple and their fur baby strolling through Central Park, this is engagement session gold. And in the spirit of Memorial Day (because this was totally planned) the two are fully decked out in red, white and blue. It’s pretty images, an adorable couple and their Americana Nouveau style and you can see it all here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Anne Robert Photography… Before heading off to Fiji for their wedding, Leah and Daryl knew they wanted a part of them captured in the states. What better place than their fav city: NYC? They went to all of their favorite spots in Central Park and then headed over to the Brooklyn Bridge to hang out and capture one the most romantic places in the city. To top it all off what a romantic way for these two to express their love, but to get matching tattoos. Perfectly chic ones at that!

Photography: Anne Robert Photography / Location: New York, New York

We’re totally loving this gorgeous photo shoot by MLKL Photography and its use of local artisans and goods. Where else but Brooklyn could you find so many talented people? We’re loving each and every inch from the pretty pink heels to the flirty, couture dress. The colors are oh-so-gorgeous, a perfect way to welcome in Spring in our book and you can see even more right here in the full gallery!

 Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Melissa of MLKL Photography… This styled shoot combines my passions for fashion and wedding photography. As a photographer, I don’t just shoot weddings, I help my brides source original, local pieces that will set their wedding and photos apart – all while telling the story of the places they love. It’s all about personalization. And in this shoot – it’s all about Brooklyn, the bride’s hometown. The bride gives a gentle nod to her home by exclusively featuring local designers in the most important elements of her day. And while her style may be simple, its a far cry from modest! Sparing no detail, the bride is embellished with shoes lending a pop of color — specially customized for this occasion with the addition of braided blush ribbon and strands of black gemstones. Her DIY bouquet was a kaleidoscope of flowers assembled from local Brooklyn markets. Her ring is a unique design from local artisans at Fitzgerald Jewelry. And best of all, she is adorned with a gown customized by a local master of exquisite wedding couture, Samuelle Couture. Everything was shot in Brooklyn’s beautiful Prospect Park this spring.

Photography: Melissa Lahring of MLKL Photography / Venue: Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York / Floral Design, Wardrobe + Prop Styling: Angelina Vivace / Wedding Dress: Samuelle Couture / Wedding Rings: Fitzgerald Jewelry / Other Jewelry: Lina Lex Designs / Shoes: Charles David (Customized by Angelina Vivace) / Robe: Natori / Hair: Renee Locher / Makeup: Brandalyn Fulton / Models: Sam Mae of 3Mmodels + Deric Mickens of Soul Artist Management