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From the Bride… I finally went on a date with Zaahir five years after my college friends (one grew up with him and the other went to grad school with him) first tried to set us up. How did I turn down such a handsome face in the first place? I consider myself a non-traditional Muslim woman, and my stubbornness prevented me from even fathoming I could ever meet a Muslim guy who matched my disposition. But appearances can be deceiving as we all know, and things were never the same after our first brunch date at Char No. 4 in Brooklyn.

When we got engaged and started thinking about our wedding, we knew a few things off the bat: (1) we did not want a traditional three-day South Asian wedding but did want to honor our families, and (2) we wanted to get married in Brooklyn where we lived and fell in love, and (3) we wanted it to feel like a mashup of all the forces that made us who we are and led us to one another.

Our design inspiration was vintage New York City meets vintage India and Pakistan with a modern edge. When we visited Skylight One Hanson, we knew it was where we wanted to get married. Skylight One Hanson is the site of the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank, built in 1929 in a modernized Byzantine-Romanesque style. The architectural details of the space – breathtaking vaulted ceilings, marble floors, ornate silhouettes, and glimmering mosaics – reminded us of Islamic architecture in the Middle East and South Asia. The architectural connection between this old bank in Brooklyn and the mosques of our mother lands is what inspired the rest of our wedding design.

We started with color. Because we knew that we didn’t want to wear traditional South Asian wedding attire, opting instead for a Reem Acra dress and Armani tux, we took our color inspiration for the rest of the wedding from South Asia. I selected colors that were natural to the subcontinent – indigo, marigold, poppy, gold, and silver. We went with Juliet and Sierra from Poppies & Posies because their work is organic but composed and they know how to use color. With a little help from Pinterest, they got our vision instantly. They made the color story come to life through flora and fauna.

The inspiration for our paper suite came from Islamic geometric patterns found on the walls of mosques. Fun fact: our invitation design is lifted from the pages of a 14th century Egyptian Mamluk Quran. I cannot give enough props to our Etsy find Lauren Hummel of Alive and Kicking Design. She silk-screened our entire paper suite and welcome totes by hand using patterns from a book on Islamic geometric patterns I found. She even helped us custom design our photobooth backdrop! It was truly the best kind of collaboration.

We took our unique vision and personalities into consideration when selecting every single vendor. Sarah Glowacki from Daughter of Design made us feel comfortable, took great pains to understand the rituals of Muslim weddings, and was totally the secret strings behind our wedding. For the traditional groom’s procession, she helped us secure an NYC pedicab. She and the Daughter of Design team are the most talented and professional group in the biz! And our caterer… Mary from Cleaver Co. One of our requirements was that we had to source halal meat for dinner since some of our guests had religious dietary restrictions. Many caterers that we interviewed told us it would be difficult to do, but not Mary. When she told us she already had a halal source in Queens, we were in love, and that was before we tasted her food. Mary managed to sneak in flavors from South India, Pakistan, and Burma (where our parents were born) into our locally sourced new American family-style feast.

Here’s the funny part. After putting so much care and thought into the design of our wedding, I can’t really say I paid too much attention to it on our wedding day. What I remember about the day is feeling all my nervousness melt away when I saw Zaahir at our first look, being able to look into the eyes of our nearest and dearest as I walked down the aisle, jumping up and down after we were pronounced husband and wife, and spending the entire night boogying with my beloved. Luckily, thanks to Dennis Kwan and Leslie and Andy from Kiss the Bride Films, we get to relive all the pretty stuff, too.

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Reem Acra

Spring 2015

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Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

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C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

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C20 Mothers Spring 2013

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Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

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Willowby Spring 2015

Watters Maids Spring 2015

Wtoo Maids Spring 2015

Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

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Whimsical Brooklyn Wedding at the Wythe Hotel

I love the cozy feel of this Wythe Hotel wedding. Intimate, yet casual where conversations probably flowed all evening. It’s the best sort of soiree if you ask me, particularly when the lovelies at DM Events Planning And Design are at the design helm. Daphne And Michelle were behind the lens so we didn’t have to miss a moment, and you can see the rest of the evening here.

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Romantic Prospect Park Boathouse Wedding

From DM Events Planning And Design…We are huge fans of the Wythe Hotel and are constantly inspired by the variety of designs we can create in its beautiful spaces. We are also total fans of Annie + David, and their laid-back, loving approach to their wedding. It was a pleasure to work with someone who adored and respected beautiful blooms the way we do! Annie put tons of trust in us – she asked for a soft, whimsical look and then let us run with it. We are so thrilled with how the design and florals all turned out, and thought it created the perfect scene for these lovebirds to say I-do.

Photography: Daphne And Michelle | Floral Design: DM Events & Design | Reception Venue: Wythe Hotel | Calligraphy: Paperfinger

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time at SMP, it’s that Brooklyn weddings are awesome. More specifically, Prospect Park Boathouse weddings planned to perfection by Exquisite Affairs Productions and captured in amazing images by Di Bezi Photography. That’s a combo, my friends, that’s almost too perfect to believe. Feast your eyes on every beautiful moment right here.

And a sweet film from Rob Cleary? Yes, please.

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From the Bride… Riley and I met in Guatemala when we were both volunteers at a not-for-profit education center in Quetzaltenango, or Xela as it is better known. After spending a summer there together, we bought a handmade hammock and moved back to my home state of Texas. It was a complete surprise when, three years later, he asked me to marry him.

Looking for a location for our wedding, we wanted something with a romantic and classical feeling. On a hot summer day, we rode our bicycles to Prospect Park to see the Boathouse. Right away, we knew we had found the place. We thought about how we could come back and sit on the lawn and reminisce.

We wanted a wedding that reflected our personal values and found that often meant departing from popular traditions. We did away with the aisle, which would have separated the families that we were joining. No Pachelbel or Wagner: I made my entrance to the accompaniment of a contemporary Latin guitar trio. “Groom’s pie” was offered alongside the more familiar wedding cake. We took each other’s last names: I am Martinez-Lynch and so is he.

The ceremony itself was inspired by the Quaker traditions of self-uniting marriage and unprogrammed service. It began with a moment of quiet reflection. With no officiant presiding, we exchanged praise and promises that we had written for each other. Standing to either side was our modest wedding party: My best woman, Michele, and my best man, Phillip. Riley had his brother, Garth, as his best man and our toy poodle, Pocket.

The reception was decorated with our passions. A seating chart was set on an old map and our tables were named after cities we have visited together, including Gstaad, Guanajuato, Istanbul and of course, Xela. As wedding favors, we gave away copies of our favorite books, with stacks marked “Riley’s” and “Jen’s”. A colorful family tree print testified to Riley’s love of genealogy and provided our ancestors with a figurative seat at the table. The last song of the night was Willie Nelson singing “Twilight Time,” a nod to my Texan roots.

A month has passed and we are still soaring from all the love and joy of bringing our families and friends together for what truly felt like “our” day.

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Anne Barge

Spring 2012

Fall 2012

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

Fall 2014 Couture

Fall 2014 Black Label

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Brooklyn Wedding Inspiration Built for Two

There is something so very romantic about a small, intimate wedding. And this photo shoot captured by Amy Anaiz Photography is proof. Infused with Brooklyn charm and gorgeous floral details by Makini Regal Designs plus enough metallic moments by Elle’s Couture Events to satisfy even the most hardcore of gold lovers; this gem will have you dreaming of an affair built for two.

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From the Photographer… This is a down to earth Brooklyn couple who have decided to elope. They have only invited their best friends to share the day with them. Their theme is “Spreading love the Brooklyn Way” They are a classy couple who appreciate the finer things in life but also know how to relax, soak in the moment, live life. Even though they have decided to elope they have spared no details for their special day. They are a trendy couple who know how to incorporate high end style with twist of Brooklyn hipster character.

Spring Bridesmaid Luncheon + Cider Crisp Cocktail

Now that warmer weather has finally found its way to the East Coast, we couldn’t be happier to gaze upon bright, Spring-ified soirees like this bridesmaid luncheon from the lens of Martina Micko. It’s what happens when Color Pop Events, Gilded Lily Events and Makr join creative forces, and the result is a gallery chock-a-block full of colorful inspiration with a “Desert in the Spring” twist. Enjoy!

And now for the cocktail recipe that’ll rock your world – guaranteed.

Cider Crisp Cocktail

prep time
5 Minute/s

cook time

total time
5 Minute/s

Ingredients

2 oz apple cider
1 oz pomegranate juice
3 oz sparkling wine
Splash of rosemary and ginger syrup

Instructions

Combine ingredients and garnish with sliced apple and rosemary. Enjoy!

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Spring Weddings

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Modern Fall Brooklyn Wedding

From Color Pop Events and Gilded Lily Events… After one of the coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory, we were looking for some warmer inspiration for this styled bridesmaid’s luncheon, so we landed on a “Desert in the Spring” concept. The shoot was organized as part of The Not Wedding’s April New York City event, so all of the vendors (except the venue) were also Not Wedding participants.

The Dogwood restaurant in Brooklyn hosted the “luncheon” and provided an array of yummy treats as well as a signature cocktail, The Cider Crisp. With the “Desert in the Spring” concept, we wanted the tablescape and decor to feel fun and fresh with beautiful pastel pinks, oranges, and greens, with pops of hot pink and gold. We used flowers such as ranunculus, parrot tulips, lilies, and garden roses to create the centerpieces. As a thank-you gift, each bridesmaid was given a wedding “emergency kit” from the bride in a dip-dyed muslin bag with tags designed and printed by Makr.

We used a woven runner for the table and an array of teal, peach and gold votives to compliment the flowers. Our favorite element was the antlers in the cloche jar – it showed a new, unique way to use antlers in your decor! Our table also featured vintage plates and frosted glassware from Gilded Lily Events’ personal collection. The shoot definitely provided a brief respite for us on a chilly March day and signaled the inevitable transition into spring.

Photography: Martina Micko Photo | Event Planner: Color Pop Events | Event Design And Florals:: Gilded Lily Events | Invitations + Paper Accents:: Makr | Venue, Desserts And Drinks: The Dogwood

Modern weddings are sort of my jam. They’re the perfect intersection of elegance and ease, and today we’re diving into a Brooklyn affair that I’m pretty darn certain will steal your heart. With gorgeous blooms by Violet & Verde and a knockout gallery from Chung & Bo Of CLY CREATION this one, my dears, is too good to miss.

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Fall Weddings

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Industrial Religious Institution

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From the Bride… Dan and I first met two and a half years ago at a bar in NYC. It was a pretty typical encounter, but with a small twist. I was the one who approached him at the bar, bought him a drink, and then later asked for his number. Having grown up in New Jersey and lived in NYC for the past 13 years, you could say that I’m more blunt and aggressive than Dan, who’s from Texas and much more of a gentleman. Although we met as strangers in a bar, we quickly formed the best kind of relationship, where your significant other is truly your best friend.

Once we started planning our wedding, we both agreed that we wanted to do something low key that reflected our personalities. I work as an Art Director, and photography is a passion of Dan’s, so we wanted to bring some creativity into the day as well. We decided early on that a ball room type of venue wasn’t really us, so we started our search for more urban spaces. reBar was the first place we visited, and we loved the exposed brick and all the lighting fixtures. Luckily, we were able to find a really beautiful church nearby for the ceremony as well. More than the aesthetic value, we loved that we were able to start our marriage inside a church because of our shared faith.

Having our family and friends there to celebrate with us meant so much to us as well, especially those who participated in the wedding. Our friends Peter and Fred performed the ceremony music beautifully, and a long time friend of mine officiated the wedding. We were so happy when we found CLY Creations, they really captured the day beautifully, and we loved reliving everything through these pictures!

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Organic Brooklyn Wedding

Truth be told, I sort of want to be besties with this Brooklyn bride. She’s a rule-breaker in the most stylish of ways – hosting an ALL-white wedding Labor Day weekend – and you know what? The results were crazy kinds of fabulous. Christina Szczupak tagged along for a day of organic-driven design and you can see every lovely shot from her lens right here.

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Eclectic Brooklyn Wedding Inspiration

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From the Bride… My husband, Adam, and I met in law school. While we knew each other our first year, we weren’t particularly friendly and as our second year was getting underway, we were both seemingly on separate paths. Then, over winter break, while most people were still gone, the two of us found ourselves in the law library working on individual projects; Adam on moot court and myself – I honestly can’t remember.

What I do remember though was how funny he was; how charming and patient he was; and how diligent and dedicated he was to his work while most everyone else was still enjoying winter break. As our second semester got underway, we found ourselves hanging out in the library frequently for study breaks. Then we found ourselves sharing a late night post-study beer and maybe some dinner. I think there was a tiramisu in the mix at some point as well. Once it became clear that our current relationships were over, our dating became an inevitable end. Being in law school, we chose to keep our relationship quiet for the first few months. When a good friend of mine speculated who I was dating, she immediately said “if its Adam, they are totally getting married.”

After graduation, dating became studying for the bar together, then moving in together, then dealing with a poor economy together and then a charming engagement in Saugerties, New York. That friend of mine who “called it” was with us on our wedding day! Adam and I have had such adventures together and we’re so excited for the adventures to come!

When Adam and I decided to be married on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, I immediately wanted to throw a white party to rival P.Diddy’s. I knew that white was a taboo wedding color, but many of the magazines and blogs had shown white wedding parties and I figured why not spread the love! I would also get pumped when I thought about how incredible everyone would look in white. Despite some hesitation from my fiancee and mom, I eventually convinced them of the ingenuity of a white wedding and they agreed with some compromise.

We encouraged guests to wear white or whatever they felt best in, which they did and everyone was pleased with the outcome. We wanted the wedding to have a sophisticated and ethereal feel without being stuffy so we focused on making it feel like a garden party with feminine touches in a rustic and industrial space. We also live in Brooklyn and had the wedding in Brooklyn, so it naturally turned into a kind of secondary theme as well. In the end, I could not have imagined a more stunning affair. Our wedding planner and all of our vendors did an incredible job – the flowers, the food, the DJ, the venue – everything was perfect! I only wish we could do it again!

When I first thought about the gown in which I would be married, I imagined I’d wear something understated, feminine and wispy. I had my eye on a Rosa Clara dress that I thought was perfect; it had sheer draped fabric and piece that wrapped around the shoulders in a modest but sophisticated way. My friend’s salon carried the dress and I had planned on trying it on when my mom and mother-in-law-to-be could both be in NYC with me.

Before that would happen though, I was dying to go to the bridal salon in Birmingham, Michigan that I had passed almost every day growing up. No one finds a dress at the first store they go to though, so I thought I’d try on some beautiful dresses that weren’t quite right and call it a day. On a grey day in July, my mom, my middle sister and I walked into the Michigan salon. We picked out some dresses to try and the day got started. We soon realized, as each dress was more incredible than the last, that we may be in over our heads. We liked this about one and that about another, but as I suspected, none were just right. Based on what we’d liked and disliked I tried on one last Lazaro dress. It was truly spectacular, but my mother-in-law-to-be wasn’t with us, this was the first place we had gone and it was the COMPLETE opposite of the ethereal understated dress I had in mind.

Despite my concerns, my mom and sister urged me to agree with them that this was the dress and the next thing I knew, we walked out with the receipt to my brand new statement piece wedding dress – sans mother-in-law-to-be approval or knowledge. I’ll admit I was a little disappointed and worried that I’d made a mistake. I’ll also admit that in the months leading up to the wedding, my sister felt so guilty, believing she and my mom had pressured me into buying a dress that wasn’t “me.” I never tried on the Rosa Clara dress and notwithstanding all these original doubts – as soon as I started my fittings and when the details of the wedding started coming together, I knew that my sister and mom had been right and that this dress was absolutely the dress! The night of our wedding, while everything was beautiful, there was little that stood out more than my dress. It was unique and stunning and I truly cannot imagine being married in any other dress!

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Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Two things I know for certain about this beautiful photo shoot: it’s drop-dead gorgeous AND it will make you seriously hungry. Because when talents like NYC Faces, Kerry Quade and Betty Brooklyn Catering get together for a day of inspiration, that’s what happens. A magical day of stunning details and yummy treats. See it all captured by Josh Strauss Weddings in the full gallery.

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Whimsical Brooklyn Wedding

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Romantic

From Betty Brooklyn Catering… As a caterer, one of my favorite challenges is making sure that the food I create for clients not only tastes good, but also complements their overall wedding style. It’s really about making something that is pleasing to both the stomach and the eye. This inspiration wedding photo shoot was a fun chance to collaborate closely with local vendors that I’ve become friends with over the years, including Kerry Quade, a talented event and floral designer with over 25 years of industry experience and Josh Strauss Weddings, whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with several times since I started my business in 2009. We often work with brides who are looking for a sophisticated vibe, but with a bit of surprise and edge sneaked in. In that vein, Kerry and I were inspired by the Green Buildings speakeasy, a hidden side room just right for a couple to sneak off for a private toast post-ceremony. It was our jumping off point; this idea of romantic irreverence carried through the shoots overall Gatsby-esque design. We opted to incorporate a rich silky lapis blue with a tablescape void of traditional flowers. The shoots inspiration freed Kerry to consider whimsical decor that did not depend on large, blooming flower bouquets. Instead, she let the designs textures and colors provide the styles vibrant energy. She incorporated terrariums and sea urchin shells to create visual surprise; together they really bolster the shoots playful and worldly vibe. In addition, so many talented vendors lent their skills and products in helping us create this overall vision. We absolutely fell in love with a royal lounger from Patina Rentals; it is a statement piece that creates an organic space for guests to lounge and mingle. Hand letterpressed invitations from Lion in the Sun, a local Park Slope-based paperie, incorporated the shoots shade of blue and echoed its spirit. Our friends at BroadwayParty rentals raised the style quotient and referenced the Art Deco era with their addition of silver rimmed china and beaded silver chargers. Our model bride, with hair and makeup styling by the talented of Anni Bruno of NYC Faces modeled several gorgeous dresses designed by The White Gown, with streamlined, timeless silhouettes. From a caterers standpoint, I was so excited to work with this color palette. While white or cream linen is always a popular choice, I am in love with the shoots blue shade and how it complemented our vibrant menu. I really wanted my food to reflect the playfulness of our color choice. Keeping in touch with the fresh, tongue-in-cheek vibe, I deconstructed the elements of our caraway and carrot soup to rest on its surface to give a maximum visual effect. For summer, I also offered grilled mackerel, shrimp ceviche, and a coconut mango rice salad to round out a deliciously wholesome menu brimming with color and flavor. It was wonderful to end the day with a nightcap of Breuckelen Distillings whiskey, sipped from white teacups prohibition-style.

As crazy cool as this wedding is (and it’s awesome), it’s the couple at the center of it all that really grabs your attention. A duo that is crafty enough to place Super 8 cameras around their venue and ask their amazingly talented friends to capture every moment. The result? A beautiful film unlike any other, and the perfect compliment to their gorgeous day captured by Feather & Twine Photography. See it all here.

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Fall Weddings

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Rustic Vintage

From the Bride… Sitting down to write about our day brings up such happy memories. The best part was that James was very involved in the planning with me. It meant so much to me to be able to put this together with him.

All we wanted was for our guests to enjoy a comfortable atmosphere, delicious food, and good music. And the most important thing – beautiful photographs to last forever.

It was held at The Green Building in Brooklyn – a big open space with chandeliers, exposed brick and french doors leading to a beautiful outdoor area. It was perfect. The idea that we could decorate this empty space was so exciting! Despite a big guest list, we still wanted it to feel casual and for our guests to make friends, enjoy themselves and feel right at home. We had a blast working with Molly from Glitter + Rye to make the space feel cozy and intimate.

Our vendors were all exceptional and went beyond our expectations. We worked with Shannon from Naturally Delicious to cater the evening. She made us feel like anything was possible and helped us plan the wedding of our dreams – a never-ending cocktail party, with an abundance of passed hors d’ oeuvres and comfort food stations.

Our all vinyl DJ, Michael Antonia – The Human Jukebox, kept the dance party going all night. He mixed old throwbacks with new music, and people still tell me what a great time they had on the dance floor. He also played some very old music which I’d requested, specifically for my grandfather to enjoy. I remember a moment during the night when I heard one of my grandpa’s favorite songs start playing. I ran over to him, and even though he couldn’t dance with me, we stood together and I held him tight. And now, only three months since the wedding, my sweet grandpa is no longer with us. But he was happy and healthy on my wedding day, and I just have to hold on to that. I’ll always be able to look back and cherish the precious moment he and I shared in the midst of the reception because our amazing photographers were right there to capture it.

Our floral arrangements were done by Sarah Bedford of Bedford & Co. Sarah was lovely to work with and her subtle, but striking flower design looked effortless. Sarah also created my beautiful flower crown.

My make-up artist, Mandy Bisesti, made me feel natural and beautiful, like myself but flawless. My hair stylist Seventy Jane Arniotis, gave me loose waves with a braided crown. Woven into my braid was a gold chain my grandmother had left to me.

And now, my dress. It was a blush Sarah Seven gown, purchased at New York’s Lovely Bride. I adored it and our entire wedding color scheme was based on the color of this dress. I intended to make it lighter, but the designer wasn’t available to work with me. I had it altered by layering sheer, ivory fabrics overtop with the help of Rebecca Schoneveld. She was a dream. I sent her my ideas via Pinterest, drew up sketches for her and she helped me bring everything together.

My bridesmaids were all mismatched, dolled up in Jenny Yoo’s Bridesmaid and Social Collections. Each of the girls chose a dress that suited her, with a few guidelines – it had to be neutral, short and the more sparkles the better. To compliment and contrast, my maid of honor wore a gorgeous, candy green Ceremony gown by Joanna August. James was in charge of the guys, who were also free to mismatch.

To capture video footage, we bought four Super8 cameras and placed them around The Green Building, with a balloon attached so they could be spotted easily and a note with instructions, just in case the camera was new to any of the guests. We encouraged people to pick them up, take some footage and pass it along. After the wedding, we digitized the film and edited together a fun party video for ourselves.

We are so lucky to have been surrounded by so much love and support. My mother’s poem she wrote for us brought tears to my eyes. And my sister gave such an endearing speech, telling sweet stories about me and my James. All of the toasts were very special. I’ll always remember their thoughtful words.

That was our wonderful day. And I’m excited for the rest of our days. James is more than my best friend, he is my heart. He treats our love as something special and important. He lifts me up and lights up my life with laughter. His happiness is precious to me and I’ll always try to make him smile and laugh for the rest of our lives.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Jenny Yoo

Spring 2014 Maternity

2016 Bridesmaid Collection

2016 Bridal Collection

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Spring 2017 "Jenny by Jenny Yoo" Collection

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Sarah Seven

Signature Bridal

Gold Label

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Joanna August

Babes of the Nile

Ceremony

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Rebecca Schoneveld

2017 Collection

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Organic DIY Wedding in Brooklyn

I remember when I first heard the term DIT. Not DIY. But DI-T. Doing it together. And I thought that it was so much more appropriate for the weddings we feature because rarely are the projects involved a solo act. Weddings just like this one – held in a loft in Brooklyn – where every element was made by the hands of friends. Click here for more from photographer Loreto Caceres.

From the bride…Ken and I got married on a perfect, sunny day on September 14th in Dumbo, Brooklyn, surrounded by our family and closest friends. The wedding itself was relaxed and fun and, looking back on it, I truly feel like one of the reasons it was so wonderful is that so many of our friends pitched-in in different ways – to help make it happen.

One of our closest friends, Lindsey, officiated our wedding and she put together a service that was personal, honest, funny and romantic. As I look through the photos, I’m struck by how much laughter there was during our ceremony. We wrote our own vows – and I was sure to include in mine the promise never to call Han Solo “Hans Solo” mistakenly again; because Ken is a huge Star Wars fan and has been HORRIFIED to hear me mess up that name on more than one occasion.

When we were dating, we spent a lot of time exploring Brooklyn on our bikes – and getting married in Dumbo, and taking our pictures in the park we’ve ridden to and under the bridge we’ve ridden over so many times made the whole day feel familiar and closely-tied to some of our very fond memories.

As I said – our friends really pitched in a lot to make this wedding happen! And there were a lot of DIY elements that brought this day together. Dumbo Loft is a raw space, so we were able to bring in whatever we wanted to make it really feel like our own. We had a traditional wedding, but we did little things differently, in ways that were important to us, so that it felt unique and true to us. Instead of walking down the aisle with my parents, Ken came out and got me and we walked down together – so that instead of him waiting for me to come to him, we were entering into this day jointly. And instead of using a traditional processional song, we chose Yr Face by Oberhofer – which is romantic and uplifting, simple and sweet.

My college roommate, Lana, along with her mother, offered to design and arrange the bouquets and centerpieces for our wedding. For vases, they coffered coffee tins with birch bark they found in the woods in upstate NY – and the resulting effect was so stunning, you’d never have known that they were handmade and basically cost nothing. After asking me about a color scheme (green and white) and the kinds of flowers I like and don’t like, Lana came up with a concept that was rustic, romantic and quirky all at once using primarily dahlias, antique hydrangeas, foxtail, hydrangea, kale flowers, white snowberries, queen anne’s lace, peppergrass and other local greens. Among the photos we have of the wedding, the ones of our flowers are some of my favorite – not only because they were even more beautiful than I’d imagined, but because the represent the love and hard work of a very good friend — who I gave very little direction and put together something that was exactly what I wanted and absolutely perfect.

For the altar area, another old friend – Jothan, who Ken knows from college – offered to make us a structure as his wedding gift to us. Based on what we liked and didn’t like, he found birch beams to purchase (to tie together with the birch bark vases of our flower arrangements) and built an awning-like structure that he then draped with white fabric to create an airy, light and romantic mood.

We flew the caterer – also a friend of Ken’s – in from Wisconsin to make the delicious farm-to-table food that we’d had twice at his pop-up-restaurants in New York (those were great dates!) OUR FOOD WAS DELICIOUS. For appetizers we served three Underground meats salamis served with pickles, mustard and crackers, three cheeses served with crackers and jam, cut vegetables served with a white bean puree, and romesco. For the main meal, smoked pork, two types of sausages and roasted pork loin, tomato and herb salad with sweet corn and grey sea salt, green bean salad, with oven dried tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and shaved gruyere, braised kale with fall onions and bacon and wheat berry, with grilled onions, carrots and parsnips. And for dessert – instead of cake – we had pie from Four and Twenty Blackbirds, lemon chess, birch beer float and fig & plum crumble.

Our engagement photos (not pictured here) were taken by our friend Dave Bunting. Our DJ, James Mulry, is an old friend of Ken’s and he hit every note perfectly – and had people dancing that I’ve never seen dance before! Ken designed our save the dates – using pictures from a photo shoot we set up ourselves in our basement. And he designed our wedding programs (written by me!) Our place cards were handwritten by one of our out-of-town guests, two nights before our wedding, using sparkly stickers she bought for dollars at a stationery store.

I love air plants. So we decided to give assorted air plants as wedding favors. I didn’t realize that some of them were going to flower – and it was such a nice surprise when, a few weeks after our wedding, guests started sending us photos of their newly-flowering air plants.

My dress. I love my dress! After scouring the internet for dress ideas, I found this Rebecca Taylor gown (it’s not traditionally a wedding dress… and it also comes in dark blue) and decided that I had to have it. I went to the Rebecca Taylor boutique in Tribeca with a few friends, tried it on and loved it. Two days later, I went back with my Mom, saw her get tears in her eyes when I put it on, and bought it on the spot. I tried on one and only one wedding dress and never looked back.

The bridesmaids dresses were much harder to figure out. Initially, I wanted navy blue dresses with little cap sleeves. Somehow, we wound up with stone gray and apricot wrap dresses from BHLDN and I love them!

Anyway – clearly I could go on and on! It was a perfect day. I felt so much love and so much in love. Make sure to check out the awesome photo our photographer captured of a woman with a screaming baby walking in front our group shot of the wedding. That was a priceless, hilarious moment. Loreto Caceres did a great job of capturing lovely, candid moments and all the tiny details that I want to remember forever. I’m so happy to share all of these pictures… the wedding was truly a collaboration between many of the people who are big, important parts of our lives and dear friends.

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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

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Colorful Brooklyn Wedding at The Liberty Warehouse

Industrial spaces are some of my favorite places ever to say “I do.” I mean, besides the fact that they make one crazy cool backdrop, there’s just something about mixing romantic details with exposed brick walls and wooden beams that simply screams “amazing.” Add in lush blooms by Michelle Edgemont and an entire gallery of beautiful images from Sara Wight and it’s serious perfection, lovelies. See it here.

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Modern Wedding in New York City

From the Bride… After finding out that the venue we were interested in was no longer holding weddings, we found The Liberty Warehouse through a few quick Google searches. We walked from our home in Carroll Gardens to Red Hook to visit The Liberty Warehouse on one of the first days of spring. After walking down the long stretch of warehouses, we were shocked at the beautiful views offered at the venue. We fell in love with the wooden beams and exposed brick, the overall feeling of industrial yet cozy.

Our wedding day was at the tail end of a brutal NYC heat wave, yet our close proximity to the water helped to cool everyone off. Michelle Edgemont decorated the space beautifully with bright, summery flowers. We said our vows under a gorgeous early evening sky with Kim Worley officiating a truly personal and meaningful ceremony. The rest of the night was spent eating delicious food and dancing on the constantly packed dance floor. Our photographer, Sara Wight, captured the energy and excitement of the night perfectly. At the end of the night we had ice cream sundaes from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory carts. As a take-home treat there were key lime pies from Steve’s and pickles from Brooklyn Brine. We made a conscious effort to seek out vendors that were local, Brooklyn-based. Everything about the night felt like a true reflection of us as a couple and we had so much fun celebrating.

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Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

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SPRING 2016

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A Brooklyn Engagement

An engagement in New York City usually consists of drop dead gorgeous images that look like stills from a movie and this engagement is no exception. There’s just something about the combination of the city, the love, the talent of Ron Antonelli of Brian Dorsey Studios that really makes these images (especially this one!) shine bright. Click here for the full gallery.

From the very beginning, we knew that we wanted to have our engagement photos taken in Dumbo, Brooklyn. We live in Williamsburg and have been living in Brooklyn together for the past five years and love the aesthetics of “old New York” that can be found around Brooklyn. We specifically love Dumbo, since the location had everything we wanted in closer proximity to each other. Dumbo has so many different sceneries for one place, which really made it the ideal spot to capture us as a couple. We love spending time in Brooklyn and our photographer captured it perfectly – from the Brooklyn bridge, Tobacco warehouse, cobble stone streets to the carousal, graffiti on buildings and promenade. The idea was to capture the contrast between the historical aspects of the area and us having fun there. We spent about two hours one sunny and hot afternoon in August 2012 and though we were exhausted afterwards, it was well worth it. We ended the engagement shoot with some refreshing sorbet from Jacques Torres.

We both wore what resembled our everyday selves at our best. The shift dress I wore is from Theyskens’ Theory with tiny gold specks all over the dress paired with my favorite Louis Vuitton Mary Jane pumps. I love the platform that gives me height and the seriousness of the structured shoe is softened with the tiny patent strap with a small bow on the side. Marcos is wearing his typical Brooks Brother’s shirt and pants with his favorite skinny tie, from Ralph Lauren. We truly believe the images captured the joy and fun we had not only on that day, but everyday we spend together and hope that you enjoy the photos as much as we do.

Photographer: Brian Dorsey Studios

Where does the couple who met while traveling the globe decide to tie the knot? New York City, of course. Where cultures and travels and textures can beautifully mesh into a wedding that represents exactly who the couple is at heart. And this wedding – photographed by Huge Forte and designed by Bespoke Only – is the very definition of modern loveliness. Just make sure to check out all of the other details right here!

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Spring Weddings

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Coney Island Engagement Session

After both attending NYU (albeit at different times), later in their lives Mercedes and Paul joined foreign service separately and their paths fatefully crossed each other during their travelings around the world. In spring 2013, when the couple started planning their wedding as being stationed in Algiers, it was clear that there’s no better place to host the event other than New York, the city where all the loose threads traced back to. In the midst of the hostage and bombing crisis happening in Algeria, with our help the couple managed to plan this very New York affair in Dumbo with the unparallelled skyline as the ultimate backdrop.

With the vibrant creative energy and diversity, Dumbo was the perfect display of the current and buzzing New York to guests around the globe. Taking place in a lofty art gallery with tons of industrial architecture details, the wedding was all about the classic urban elements that represent classic NYC but remained fresh and contemporary. Special homage was paid to the couple’s artistic upbringing – black & white family photographs, works of the bride’s deceased photographer/bio engineer mother were incorporated as a gallery wall at the entrance, which was equally visually stunning and emotionally moving. The groom’s musician family performed harmoniously at the ceremony on the pebble beach under Manhattan Bridge – the graceful tune could not be veiled by any passing train noise. Iconic mid-century furniture pieces set up a modern lounge area. Nestled in a variety of matte black vessels, organically formed floral were done sparsely to keep up with the overall cool and relaxed atmosphere. Dogwood branches with hanging votive candles accentuated the height of ceiling and softened the rawness of the space.

Due to the nature of their jobs with constant traveling & moving involved, the goal was simple yet hard to achieve in their daily life – a dinner party to house all their dear ones in one place with exquisite food, wine, and the good times to be remembered and cherished in the many more years to come. With guests coming from all over the world, at the end of the night when the ice cream sandwich truck pulled over on the cobble stone street, it went without saying that everybody was having the best time as enjoying what New York city has to offer.

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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

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E-sessions like this make me happy. And not just because these two are seriously adorable (they sooo are) or because their vintage chic theme is beyond awesome (it sooo is). No, this shoot is more than that. It’s two people so in love that even Hurricane Sandy couldn’t stand in their way. And how amazing is that?!? See it all captured by Everest Road Photography right here.

From Everest Road Photography… Lyndsey and Derek are two people who love and live deeply. When deciding on engagement photos, they wanted to do a vintage-style shoot at Coney Island where they got engaged. Then Hurricane Sandy hit the coastline and I assumed the plans would be reconsidered, but they weren’t. A month after the storm, on a beach still wearing signs of its devastation, and in weather much too cold for frolicking in the sand, we did the shoot at Coney Island and somehow it was wonderful. It was beautiful to see their resolve and how they refused to let circumstances dictate their dreams, a sentiment echoed around the city in the weeks following the storm. It was uplifting to see the genuineness of their smiles, and to watch them find joy in each moment, especially the ones they spent together.

Photography: Everest Road Photography | Hair: Lizzy Weinberg at Pimps and Pinups | Groom's Attire: Urban Outfitters | Bride's Attire: Asos | Sunglasses: Tory Burch

DIY Wedding at Giando by the Water

I would say this wedding from Alicia Swedenborg is my dream wedding re-do, but I don’t think that’s quite enough. I think the wedding, complete with the cool, neutral color palette, beautiful NYC skyline views, and gaggle of adorable kids is what I want my life to be like. I would absolutely pack up and move right into this wedding, because it’s just SO beautiful!

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Spring Weddings

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Behind the Scenes of A Lovely Universe

From the stunning bride… Our story began in California nine years ago, when Randall moved from New York to attend Graduate school at UCSF/ UC Berkeley. We met a year into his program, but it wasn’t until four years later that our friendship grew and love blossomed. Fast forward a few years… Randall graduated and began working in NYC while Fatima stayed West. Thus began our long distance relationship and endless days and nights shared on Google Video. For our three year anniversary we spent a glorious few days in Napa Valley Wine Country. After a tour and tasting (a.k.a. liquid courage) at the beautiful Castello di Amorosa Winery, Randall led Fatima to the Royal Dining Hall to “take more pictures.” It was here that he surprised her with the anniversary gift he was preparing for months – his proposal. After more than a year of living nearly 3000 miles apart, Fatima moved to the East Coast to join Randall and say “I do.”

We felt the wedding was an opportunity to celebrate our love and, as one of our first major endeavors as we entered into marriage (as a team we needed to plan, negotiate, budget), it was also a chance to also strengthen our relationship. With that said what we most wanted was for our family and friends to be able to have fun and share in our love for each other so we focused on creating a meaningful ceremony. Our wedding procession marched in to a rewritten version of “Hey Ho” by the Lumineers and we wrote heartfelt vows to each other.

We also had two amazingly talented vendors: Alicia Swedenborg as our photographer and Love Note Cinema for our Film Maker. The exceptional artistry of their work is only exceeded by their kind, generous, and fun personalities. We love what they created for us and, most of all, that they were able to capture all the emotion of our wedding day.

We also wanted to be able to reuse as much as we could after the wedding so we purchased candles, frames, and décor from home stores that we could use to later furnish our apartment. Randall picked out a pale grey suit from Zara that he could wear again for formal events and as well as separately for casual occasions. We wanted the kids in our wedding party to be comfortable (we happened to have our wedding on one of the hottest weekends of the year), so we chose white cotton dresses for the girls and gave the boys different shorts and button-up shirt options to choose from.

The wedding also allowed Fatima to fully embrace her inner DIY! A few of her favorite DIYs included: sewing lace detailing and creating rose-shaped buttons for her portrait-backed wedding dress; hand crafting invitations with linen and the logo Randall designed; and arranging flowers with Randall from the NYC flower market. Working together as partners on nearly every aspect of the wedding challenged us in this labor of love and helped to make our wedding day truly a fruitful and unforgettable experience. We hope you enjoy seeing a bit of it here!

If there were any reason for me to move to Brooklyn, it’d be to share the same area code as A Lovely Universe. And lovely sums it up perfectly as there isn’t a single thing that doesn’t make me buckle at the knees. As if it can get any better, the sweet shop owner has agreed to answer some of our burning questions about business ownership, and all things style. Captured by Rima Brindamour, there’s more right here.

SMP: Tell us a little about A Lovely Universe!
A Lovely Universe is a lifestyle shop in the heart of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn located right off of busy Atlantic Avenue on cozy Bond Street. Inside the shop, you can find little treasures such as vintage inspired women’s clothing, accessories, little handpicked gifts and paper goods. I opened the doors this past September after dreaming of owning a shop since I was a little girl. When I quit my fashion job at the beginning of 2013, I made a promise to myself that I would follow my passion and open up a shop by the time I turned 25 which is exactly what I did!

SMP: What’s it like to run your own shop?
Running the store is hectic, magical and inspiring. Even seven months in, A Lovely Universe has evolved and has totally taken on it’s own little sweet life. Every day is different and anyone in retail will tell you that there are certainly ups and downs. But truly, each day I wake up and feel excited to get to the store to see what the day has in store. I never know who I will meet, what the neighborhood will be up to or what new designer I will come across that I just need to carry in the store. It’s safe to say I wear every single hat possible and make it my mission to see that everything runs smoothly on a daily basis.

SMP: Any tips for someone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Understand marketing and PR very well. Be fluent in social media, have a subtle interest in psychology (seriously!) and have a passion for meeting new people. Work in retail and ask a ton of questions to those who own small businesses. Go to trade shows, understand trends and learn the industry language so you know what will be in store for you. Even if you aren’t necessarily ready to open your own brick & mortar location, start small and do what you can to make your goal a success. Be focused on what it is your brand will be and understand who your customer is. Be patient but pro-active, learn to multi-task like crazy and go for it

SMP: What’s your secret to success?
I’m not sure I have any secrets to success but a good rule to follow is to realize that there is no such thing as luck! Nine times out of ten, you have to go after whatever it is you want yourself. Don’t wait around for something perfect to just fall into your lap without any true work or planning. If you have an idea, research it and pursue it honestly and wholeheartedly… the success will eventually follow in one way or another. Also – embrace the mistakes. Just never make them twice!

SMP: One thing you’d tell someone who’s about to start their own business?
Do your homework and make sure that it’s something that you love and can handle thinking about/working on 24/7. Just like in any career, you have to be sure that your personality is a good fit for it. Not everyone can be everything! Starting your own business takes a lot of guts, patience and hard work. Make sure your ducks are all in a row (especially financially) and that you’re focused. But other than that – life is too short to worry too hard. If it’s in your heart, then pursue it!

SMP: What do you look for when sourcing items for your shop?
As I’ve grown to get to know my customer, I definitely buy according to what I feel they would fall in love with. Everything that comes into this store needs to not only make sense aesthetically and be consistent with A Lovely Universe’s overall feel, but it has to just make sense in general!

When shoppers come into my store, I hope that they feel it’s a nice little pretty escape from busy city life. Everything in the shop is not overwhelmingly trendy, can be worn from season to season, day to night and nothing is priced higher than $100. I love the idea that someone can stop in & pick up a pretty dress for a date night, a hand made birthday card for their best friend, a candle for their bedroom and a beautiful statement necklace, all without feeling guilty for spending too much on something they won’t use. I make sure that everything I source, especially clothing, can easily flow into someone’s sense of style, making them feel like an even better version of who they already are.

SMP: 5 things every style savvy woman should own
1. A classic brown leather bag, either in tote form or cross body
2. A great collection of comfortable & pretty dresses and blouses that can take you from day to night.
3. The perfect pair of jeans
4. Comfortable and classic leather booties
5. A red lip!

Photography: Brindamour Photography | Shop: A Lovely Universe

Jacquelyn Clark

Modern Marie Antoinette Wedding Inspiration

Truth be told, I’m a sucker for rich, romantic hues and ultra-luxe styling. And when it’s in the context of a modern day Marie Antoinette shoot? You better believe I’ll be swooning from beginning to end. Held at Brooklyn’s 501 Union and captured by Katie Osgood, the gorgeous full gallery is the best place to get the pinning party started.

Inspired by the rich hues and decadent scenes of Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette, we decided to produce our own modern day version of the Queen celebrating with her ladies in waiting. The luxe finishes housed at 501 Union in Brooklyn, New York proved to be the perfect Versailles backdrop for our December 11th winter shoot. Gabriella Bridal in Manhattan provided beautiful gowns for the shoot.

Sugared fruit, purchased from Chelsea Market, Nova Perfume and lots of trinkets from our Brooklyn homes made for a luxe stylized setting. Since we love to craft at Starling on Bond we decided to make sparkless sparklers on set by using tinsel, chop sticks and floral wire, which proved to be a festive yet easy to assemble prop. With the modeling assistance of a few close friends, the day of dress up ended with laughter and champagne toasts.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden Wedding at the Palm House

New favorite trend alert: the floral necklace. I am obsessed and the prettiness doesn’t even stop there. Sprout Home hit the ball out of the floral park with this botanical beauty and it was all captured to perfection by Sara of Ava Weddings Fine Art Photography. This gallery is simply inspiration overload in the best possible way, and there is so much more waiting for you right here.

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Brooklyn Waterfront Wedding at Liberty Warehouse

From Sara Harper-Hudson Of Ava Weddings Fine Art Photography…I’m pleased to bring you this gorgeous, spring/summer wedding featuring fresh and brilliant hues of coral, pink, and green amidst a bounty of botanic beauty and floral accents. The bride Cody and her groom, Joe, took their vows under a romantic willow tree in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She wore a stunning and completely unique floral necklace made of real flowers. Her bouquet, complete with real figs and raspberries, was also quite gorgeous & unique! Following their first kiss, the couple led a charming New Orleans style recessional back to the reception location, a gorgeous greenhouse turned venue called the Palm House.; as they walked their band followed on foot, still playing jazz music while their guests followed shortly behind.

According to the bride, Cody, “Like most couples, the vision for our big day really started coming together once we settled on our venue, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. We wanted the day to be both elegant and relaxed, so we chose details that would give the whole event the look and feel of a beautiful garden party. With that in mind, we wanted flowers to be used throughout, but in fun and unexpected ways, including my bold, colorful flower necklace (that I absolutely loved wearing!), seed packets used as seating cards, and edible flowers in our signature cocktails!”

If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that Brooklyn weddings are awesome. From classic affairs to modern soirees to everything in between, it’s one borough that really knows how to party. And this sweet Liberty Warehouse affair? It’s romantic meets urban meets one glorious moment after another captured by Casey Fatchett Photography. See every last one in the full gallery.

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Romantic Red Wedding Inspiration

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Eatery Industrial

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Romantic

From Casey Fatchett Photography… In my 13 years photographing weddings, it is rare to come across a couple with such a vast amount of details and a clear style for their wedding without help from the a designer or planner. Not only did they manage to coordinate all of this but also created a number of DIY elements – wooden stained candlesticks, heat embossing ombre escort cards and dinner plate cards (before the calligraphy was added), table number signs, and cocktail signs. On top of that, they created personal gifts for their friends and family (custom ring dishes for the bridesmaids, custom cufflinks – including “father of the bride/groom” cufflinks for the dads – Emily also had a handkerchief embroidered for her dad). The amount of personal attention and love involved in all of aspects of the wedding was extremely apparent to anyone there.

From Rosehip Floral… I loved working with Emily and John because they both had such lovely ideas about the décor and flowers. It was quite fun to blend their two styles and make flower arrangements that would guarantee an impact and stand on their own, in the large warehouse space.

Working with a client who wants to source some of their own décor helps me further understand their aesthetic and who they are as a couple. It is also enjoyable to see what they come up with and how to integrate their personal touches. Emily and her family did a spectacular job collecting most of the unique vases used at the wedding, and I was thrilled to be able to make some gorgeous arrangements to fill them.

From the Bride… John and I wanted to get married in New York because it is the city that brought us together. We met through a chance encounter on a street corner, and three years to the day, John proposed while on the very same spot where we met.

We chose to get married at the Liberty Warehouse so the ceremony would overlook the Statue of Liberty and New York harbor at sunset. With an August wedding date, we expected a hot, muggy day – and we would have been OK with that. Instead, we had perfect weather – not too hot or cold – and a postcard-worthy sunset, painted with spectacular bright and vivid shades of pink, orange, blue and yellow.

A very special moment happened during the ceremony, when out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a little baby duck playing in the water just steps away from our chuppah. It looked so happy and content. I remember thinking of how happy and I content I was, too, to be marrying John.

Our vision for the wedding was to create an enchanting, magical night in celebration of love, while also creating a very personal experience for our friends and loved ones by reflecting our life together in New York.

I lovingly drowned myself in the creative details. Drawing inspiration from the venue’s rustic wooden columns, we decorated the tables and windowsills with hundreds of wooden candlesticks (which my dad and I stained together in my parents’ backyard), along with custom-painted signage, and small dark wood blocks which we used to hold the escort cards.

As our wedding took place on the water, I used an ombre concept of blue and greens – our wedding colors – to evoke an ocean feel throughout the wedding. These colors were incorporated in the flower vases and vessels, custom-made table runners, and unique place cards. The handwritten calligraphy by Marcardin Calligraphy, in a beautiful white Peoni font, coupled with the heat-embossed bride and groom symbols I added to the cards, added a whimsical touch.

Pola at Rosehip Floral designed flower arrangements that exceeded my dreams and expectations. We had discussed creating “an explosion of flowers” at every turn of the wedding, which is exactly what Rosehip Floral achieved, with over 200 unique arrangements in shades of pastel pink, peach, ivory and accents of blue flowers. The flowers were placed atop pale mint green runners and into vases of various shades of blue, green and grey stone. Pola and I collaborated on the tablescape design, and I was able to collect dozens of the vases and containers, which proved to be especially fun for my mom and I.

The resulting floral concept was intended to strike a balance between my playful, whimsical style and John’s classic and elegant taste. The incredible globe lighting strung up atop the long banquet tables, which were dripping in candles, made us feel as though we had stepped right into a lovely secret garden hidden in a Brooklyn factory warehouse.

John and I enjoyed designing the cake together. We both wanted a memorable and unique cake. We chose pistachio for the inside because we couldn’t stop thinking about it after the tasting at Cake Ambiance. For the cake topper, we worked with a papercut silhouette artist in the Ukraine who was so excited to make their first cake topper.

I will never forget walking through the room during dinner, with John by my side, and looking over lush tables, the glowing room, and seeing all the smiling and loving faces.

Everything about our wedding came together like a dream, and we are so grateful. We will treasure the photos and video because they capture the happiness that surrounded us at the wedding – our beaming parents, dedicated bridal party, elated family and friends, and love for each other.

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

Amsale Bridesmaids Spring 2014

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Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

Amsale Bridal Spring 2015

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Amsale Bridal Blue Label

Amsale Bridal Spring 2016

Amsale Bridal Fall 2016

Amsale Bridal Spring 2018

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Dessy

Bridesmaid 2014

Women's Tuxedo

Tuxedo

Fall 2014

Spring 2015

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To be totally honest, I wasn’t always the biggest fan of bright red wedding palettes. That was until I laid eyes on this insanely gorgeous shoot from KT Merry, Strawberry Milk Events, Stacie Ford and so many more. They showed me just how perfect cherry red can be, and you can go find one inspirational moment after another in the full gallery right here.

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