New York Weddings

If I were to marry tomorrow, this would totally be my wedding.  A modern meets industrial love fest with just a dash of traditional thrown in for good measure.  Think the epitome of a romantic NYC affair with the fab stylings of Erganic Design, some crazy cool Jimmy Choos and the beyond gorgeous captures of Sara Wight Photography.  See every last amazing moment in the full gallery. 

From the Bride… We both enjoy dining out and good food, so we wanted our wedding to feel like a dinner party with the people who matter most. That still ended up being 125 guests, but it felt perfectly intimate, yet big enough to make an unforgettable celebration. We didn’t want to do anything just for the sake of it, so we broke convention and skipped a few traditional wedding details and elements and approached the day in a way that felt authentic to us.

We met on a Sunday and got engaged on a Sunday, so it was only fitting we were married on a Sunday. We were married in our church, where we have a personal relationship with the pastor. Our wedding party consisted of our siblings, with the flower girl being my niece. We asked our two closest friends to be the greeters at the church, as we wanted our guests to be met with who we felt best represented us. We didn’t choose wedding colors. We just went with what looked fantastic, if we do say so ourselves. When it comes to design, we both respond to “less is more” and understated elegance.

The reception location was chosen kind of serendipitously. We were having brunch at Colicchio & Sons one day, and casually noticed a couple coming to look at the space for their wedding. We noted then that it was indeed an awesome space, but left it at that, as we weren’t even engaged at the time. Of course, it came back up, once we were. The restaurant itself was such a compelling space with industrial modern design that we didn’t feel we needed to do much. We kept table decor simple with anemones, dusty miller and brilliant balls in modern vintage metallic vases, succulents for a pop of color and manzanita branches I discovered on the street in the floral district of Manhattan for unexpected texture and some candlelight. Then we filled the tables with awesome food and wine. The cake was simple with a salute to fall, but some of the best cake you’ve ever had thanks to Stephen Collucchi, the pastry chef. Our favors were incredible pumpkin muffins that Colicchio normally hands each guest after their meal. It was the perfect favor with purpose — breakfast the next morning, our favorite meal!

Photography: Sara Wight Photography | Event Design: Erganic Design | Event Planning: Erganic Design | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Lion in the Sun | Ceremony Venue: The Parish Of Calvary St Georges | Reception Venue: Craft | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Makeup: Lauren Napier | Hair: Antekqua Jones | DJ: Scratch Weddings

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years at SMP, it’s that couples as sweet as these two always, always throw amazing weddings.  Weddings that start with an awesome love story (read: the bride’s description below) and end with a rustic meets glam affair filled with fall hued blooms from Catskills Flowers and moment after moment of pure joy captured by McKay Imaging Photography.  See them here.

From McKay Imaging Photography… Gary and Sarah both got ready in a log house down the road from the farm. They had an emotional first look outside the barn and the four of us drove around the property in a golf cart for some amazing bride and groom moments. We later met the bridal party and family for some fun shots, followed by the groom’s tisch ceremony and the Ketubah signing. The weather had been iffy all day and the threat of rain was hanging over us all afternoon, yet miraculously it held off until even after the reception in the barn started. The ceremony was so personal and beautiful that not just the guests cried, but even we had tears in our eyes as we were trying to capture this beautiful couple with the magnificent view of the Catskills all around.  After a lovely cocktail hour in and around a tent, we headed down for a most fun and adventurous party. The bride and groom with their wedding planner did an excellent job with the decorations and even set up a little area for a “photo booth” with hay bales and some old antiques.

From the Bride… Gary and I met while studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. We were both juniors at Syracuse University, but it took a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain for our paths to cross (although he claims he couldn’t take his eyes off of me in a psych class we allegedly took together). I met Gary in the lobby of a hotel that our touring groups were staying in together. He was wearing ripped denim shorts, tube socks, and a shredded, Billy Madison-style sweater. I will never be able to articulate how or why I was drawn to him right away (considering his wardrobe choice alone), but I was. We very quickly realized that our connection was beyond our control and I imagine that is exactly what meeting your soul mate should feel like. We didn’t hesitate to jump right into our relationship and we were so lucky to have the luxury of taking weekend trips all over Europe together. The most memorable of all would be the trip the two of us took to Paris after knowing each other for only a month! Throughout the rest of our college experience together we divulged in our shared appreciation for chinese food, Hall & Oates, spending time with friends and all of the other incredible things that we have in common! After college, we moved in together in New York City (where we’re both from) and continued to grow our lives together. Gary and I knew we would be getting married from day one, but I was definitely surprised when he asked me to marry him at a Hall and Oates concert at the end of 2011, during my favorite song “Sara Smile.”

Even before we got engaged, we knew we wanted a low-key, yet classy barn wedding and Stone Tavern Farm in Roxbury, NY served as the perfect venue for this. One month after we got engaged, after only seeing one potential wedding venue, we booked our venue and set the date: September 21, 2013. We gave ourselves over 18 months to plan the wedding. Gary, being a project manager by day, was very excited to dive into all of the details that go into the planning process and get started with the hiring of vendors. We hired a partial wedding planner, Lydia Castiglia, to help us get in touch with our food vendors and to help with the “day of” organizing and coordinating. We also ended up hiring Lydia to be our florist, as it seemed as if she understood my wants and desires for flowers and an overall look for the wedding from the beginning. We also booked our Photographers, McKay Imaging, very early on as we knew they would be perfect to shoot our special day because we saw their work at Gary’s sister’s wedding earlier in the year and we were blown away.

For 18 months we did our thing, built our website, sent save the dates, ensured guests had rooms booked at least a year in advance (since the area we got married in is becoming increasingly popular for weddings, with limited accommodations), booked our vendors and wrote our vows. Early on, we had asked our collective best friend, Josh, to officiate the wedding. Josh, Gary and I had all become friends while abroad in Madrid and we were inseparable as friends, it only seemed logical to ask him to oversee our betrothal. Finally, 9/21/13 came and it was amazing. Everything looked gorgeous and was perfectly planned, Josh did an incredible job at the ceremony, our DJ’s killed it at the party, and everyone had the time of their lives. The 18 months of planning and 7.5 years of loving Gary all came to fruition with our incredible wedding day and there is nothing I would have changed, including Gary’s wardrobe choices.

Photography: McKay Imaging Photography | Event Design: Catskill Flower Shop | Flowers: Catskill Flower Shop | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Wedding Cake: Bread Alone Bakery | Invitations: Mirror, NYC | DJ: Soul Imperial | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Stone Tavern Farm | Cocktail Hour Entertainment: No Biggity Trio | Groom's Wear: Yaly, Vietnam | Invitation Design: Lena Imamura | Make-up And Hair: Ashley Orzol

If I could, I would fill my entire home with one breathtaking image after another from Trent Bailey Photography.  I seriously would.  Because the moments of pure love and awesomeness they capture are, well… amazing.  An amazing that starts with an adorable duo saying “I do” and ends with some of the most beautiful details you will ever see.  See the perfect example right here in the full gallery.

From Trent Bailey Photography… Emily and David were married in Cooperstown at the Farmers’ Museum and had a beautiful reception at The Barn at Hog’s Hollow. It was a beautiful day.

Photography: Trent Bailey Studio | Floral Design: Tin Can Studios | Ceremony Venue: The Farmers Museum | Reception Venue: The Barn At Hog's Hollow | Catering: LM Townsend Catering | DJ: Love Of Music, Chris Johnson | Groom's Suit: Massimo Dutti | Hotel: The Inn At Cooperstown | Bride's Dress: Sarah Seven | Bride's Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Day Of Coordination: SL Events

A Judy Pak engagement session is sort of like the best present you’ll receive all week.  Because, really, anything Judy touches it seriously epic, and this sweet West Village + Highline e-session is no different. Two cuties, a charming love story and one fabulous moment after another captured in seriously beautiful images… insert happy sigh here.  Click here for more.

From Judy Pak Photography… While Alex was in New York and Tim in Boston, they were connected by friends, meeting a number of times throughout their college years. When Tim finally moved to NYC, he immediately asked Alex on their first date. They spent an entire gorgeous fall day on the Highline, never running out of things to talk about, and both knew immediately that this was it! Their wedding is taking place in Sun Valley, Idaho, so they wanted to capture their lives in New York in the engagement session. We had a wonderful time shooting around their neighborhood in West Village and the Highline where they had their first date!

Photography: Judy Pak Studio

Simple and sweet, this darling day is everything you want in a wedding.  Think a breathtaking location, mouth-waterting food and an entire group of awesome friends and family hiking through the gorgeous hills to help you celebrate “I do.”  It’s what we call absolute perfection, with an adorable bride and groom take center stage in all of the prettiness.  See it all captured by Di Bezi Photography right here.

From the Groom… Sonja and I went away on a weekend trip to Hudson, NY, when we first started dating, and stumbled on an open house at a cheese maker on a farm in Ghent, NY. Several years later, after getting engaged during another weekend in Hudson, we arranged to rent the farm and its old barn; it’s called Twin Maple Farm, and the cheese produced there is called Hudson Red (among others). We both envisioned a rustic barn reception with food that draws from the farms and purveyors in the area. Sonja works as marketing and communications director for Alain Ducasse Enterprises, and I’m editor of foodrepublic.com, so food was an important part. We had noted chef Zakary Pellacio (now of the new Fish and Game in Hudson) roast a pig for the rehearsal dinner and he and his team cooked corn, vegetables and more from the late-summer bounty in the Hudson Valley. At the barn reception after the ceremony, which was held high on a hill atop the pasture, we enjoyed locally sourced grass-fed beef, vegetables, salads and more, with wines chosen by a sommelier friend who then worked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. For desserts, we eschewed cake and went with pies that also featured fruits and berries from the region.

From Di Bezi Photography… I just want to add to the above description by the groom. The weather on the wedding day was a little quirky with gray skies and spots of sunshine so it was difficult to determine whether rain would come or not. The location was breathtaking with vast rolling green hills and cattle grazing. The location was a special one for the couple and getting married outside among the beauty is why they chose the spot. Leading up a long path to the top of a hill were chairs and a table set up for ceremony along with the band, Baby Soda, playing street jazz music. Off to the side at the bottom of the hill was a stark white tent ready for ceremony in case of rain. The caterer, groom and I discussed whether to risk having the ceremony outside or in the tent, seemed such a shame not to be outdoors and from the looks of forecast, rain wasn’t set to arrive until later that evening, so with a little nudge the groom settled for outdoor, and so glad he did. The ceremony and location was breathtaking. The sky dramatic with spots of thick dark clouds dotted with sunshine. The cocktail hour and candid portraits were held outside with rain arriving well into reception. Turned out to be a perfect day for Sonja and Richard.

Photography: Di Bezi Photography | Band: Baby Soda | Venue: Twin Maple Farm | Chef: Zakary Pellacio

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh color palette to completely transform the look and feel of an event. For this bridal shower inspiration, that color palette is a pop of red, blush and a hint of mint . It’s paired with a perfectly modern, perfectly girly affair crafted by Lindsey Brunk + Color Pop Events along with florals by Lindsay Rae Design and images by Brklyn View Photography. Click here for even more.

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From Color Pop Events and Lindsey Brunk… From our very first design meeting, we knew we wanted this bridal shower shoot to be crisp and clean – a refreshing taste of spring after what seemed like an endless winter – and the red, blush, and mint color palette was the ideal way to achieve that. That vision led us to modern, preppy design elements and a citrusy and fruity selection of food and drinks for this bubbly bridal shower that was captured perfectly by brklyn view photography.

Lindsay Rae Design provided the vibrant red centerpieces and white vessels, choosing a selection of red and white anemones, red tulips, blush and white ranunculus, and playful greenery. One of our favorite components of the tablescape was the red seersucker napkins, which provided the perfect complement for the subtly striped mint green runner and the perfect juxtaposition for the Kate Spade polka dot plates.

The entire concept was tied together nicely by the invitations, favor tags, and food and drink tent cards created by Fourteen‐Forty. The design studio also contributed another favorite element: the custom “cheers to an effervescent love” print for the cocktail table. It provided a cheeky backdrop for the signature cocktail.

91 Horatio’s in‐house catering company, The Upper Crust, created a beautiful dessert selection of macaroons, lemon bars, fruit skewers, hollowed out grapefruits and limes with sorbet, and Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. The Upper Crust also concocted the signature cocktail for the brunch, a grapefruit mimosa with champagne.

Photography: Jainé Kershner Photography | Event Design: Lindsey Brunk | Event Planning: Color Pop Events | Floral Design: Lindsay Rae Design | Invitations: Fourteen-Forty | Jewelry: Kate Spade | Catering: 91 Horatio | Bridal Shower Venue: 91 Horatio | Glasses & Flatware: Fishy's Eddy | Grapefruit Campari Sorbet: Il Laboratorio del Gelato

When a talented team of vendors join forces with a stunning bride and groom and the exciting backdrop that is the NYC, this is exactly what happens.  A day that is sooo filled with gorgeous moments, you can barely contain your excitement.  Think Judy Pak, 74 Events and QuatreCoeur (just to name a few) teaming up to create a romantic Manhattan paradise at the Pratt Mansions.  See it all here.

From the Bride… Morgan and I took care to plan a wedding celebration that truly represented who we are and honored our backgrounds, and where our guests would have a blast. We had a Persian wedding ceremony rich with poetry and symbolism that was officiated by a wonderful family friend of mine, during which our bridesmaids grinded sugar over us to ensure a sweet life together. Morgan’s dear family friend John Patrick Shanley wrote a beautiful piece for us that he read during the ceremony. We tasted honey from each other’s fingertips right before our first kiss, making it that much sweeter and unforgettable. To honor Morgan’s Jewish heritage, we broke a glass to represent the fragility of marriage and the special care it needs, and we signed a ketubah that we will treasure forever. Our bagpiper was a surprise gift from Morgan’s mom and stepdad, who is Irish. Brian Meagher, the pipe major for NYU (our alma mater), piped everyone into the mansion with beautiful tunes, and then back downstairs from the ceremony. We are both huge Francophiles, so French food and music at dinner was a must, followed by a show-stopping croquembouche from Ceci-Cela.

We wanted the decor to be classic and chic, which was nearly effortless at the Pratt Mansions. All of our vendors were so wonderful at bringing our wedding visions to life. Ruth from Quatre Coeur created the most gorgeous, lush flower arrangements I have ever seen. Mark and Jason from our catering company, Jason Rogers Hale, worked with us every step of the way to make sure every detail was perfection (which means a lot coming from a perfectionist bride and a food snob groom). Rob Kelley from 74 Events was a seriously amazing DJ and crucial to keeping the energy of the party alive. More than anything, we loved our photographer, Judy Pak. Looking at her magical photos brings us right back to that incredible day and all its fleeting moments. Our wedding day was truly the best day ever. We will never forget that surreal feeling of seeing all our favorite people together in one place, celebrating our love with us.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Florist: Quatre Coeur | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Coren Moore Inc. | Caterer: Jason Rogers Hale | Makeup: Toby Klinger | Hair Stylist: Noriyasu Shimano | DJ: 74 Events | Officiant: Nafiseh Sedaghat | Venue: PRATT MANSIONS FIFTH AVENUE | Bride's Dress: Amsale | Cake Designer: Croquembouche From Ceci Cela | Getting Ready Location: Carlyle Hotel | Groom's Shoes: Ryan Seacrest Distinction | Groom's Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren | Second Photographer: Studio R Photography

Now this is a bride and groom who know a thing or two about throwing a stylish wedding.  The kind of stylish wedding that is held at the always amazing Gramercy Park Hotel, is filled with stunning details (planned by the bride!) and ends with a dance party orchestrated by the crazy cool Beat Train.  In other words, this wedding is everything.  See it all captured beautifully by Charlotte Jenks Lewis right here.  

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From the Bride… David and I had been together for six years when we got engaged on a magical trip to South Africa. The proposal was epic — so romantic and completely unexpected, and it was quite a challenge to plan a wedding to top it! We explored a million ideas — from an elopement at City Hall to a destination weekend — but in the end decided on what felt most like us: an intimate, New York City evening to celebrate our lives together with the people we love most. Even though I planned it all myself, I still can’t believe it was our wedding! It could not have been a more perfect day. I am still obsessed with every single detail and most importantly, we are thrilled to be married!

Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography | Florist: Carly Cylinder/Flour LA | Dress: Saks Fifth Avenue | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Caterer: Gramercy Park Hotel | DJ: Beat Train Productions | Groom's Suit: John Varvatos | Hotel: Gramercy Park Hotel | Chuppah: Your Chuppah NY | Groom's Tie: John Varvatos | Ketubah: Ketubah Graphia

I sort of think The Green Building is like the coolest place ever.  And by sort of, I mean I totally do.  So give me an elegant, candle-filled wedding during one of my favorite seasons and add in the aforementioned Brooklyn paradise as its stunning backdrop and I’ll give you one happy, wedding obsessed lady.  Take in every gorgeous moment captured by the amazing Cody Raisig Photography right here.

From the Bride… Joe and I met in high school and have been dating ever since! We live in Brooklyn and absolutely love our neighborhood – from the day we got engaged we knew we wanted to have our wedding close by. The Green Building is just a short walk from our apartment and the urban rustic theme is exactly the look we were going for. Although we weren’t originally planning on a winter wedding, I fell in love with the soft colors of the season. Our florist, Michelle Ferrara, brought our vision to life with lots of mercury glass, pine branches and winter foliage. Her beautiful work, combined with the chandeliers and whitewashed brick of The Green Building, helped create a cozy and intimate vibe.

We tried to infuse as many personal touches into our wedding as possible. We were honored to have Joe’s uncle serve as the officiant for our mass. We designed and printed all of our day of paper and spent hours gluing place cards to pine cone stands. I ordered an antique map of Brooklyn on eBay, which served as our guest book. We also gathered an assembly line of friends and family to help make our favors, which were mason jars filled with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows. Joe jokes that he never wants to see baker’s twine again after having dedicated a good chunk of his time to tying bows for invitations, programs and favors.

Our first dance was to “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The band invited all of our guests out to the dance floor for the second verse and asked everyone to sing along to the chorus “Home is Wherever I’m with You.”  It was one of our favorite moments! We had the most amazing time celebrating with all of our close friends and family. The food was delicious, the band was awesome and the dance floor was packed – our big day was everything we could have hoped for and more!

Photography: Cody Raisig Photography | Floral Design: Michelle Ferrara Handmade | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza Legends | Cake: Baked NYC | Invitations: Lion in the Sun | Ceremony Venue: Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church | Reception Venue: The Green Building | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Real Food Catering | Band: Arcadia | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Table Runners: Lola & Bea

You should know by now that Judy Pak weddings are our everything.  So starting off the week with a stunning traditional affair captured by the master herself?  Pretty amazing, if you ask me.  Especially when it’s a day that is one part lovely, one part romantic and all parts fabulous with gorgeous blooms from Barbara Flowers and the prettiest bridesmaids frock from Jenny Yoo.  See it all here.

From The Bride… Sam and I had a year and half to plan our wedding which really made it stress free and actually enjoyable. The hardest part for us was finding our venue, but after scoping out 10 other places, when we visted Tappan Hill Mansion, we immediately fell in love with the beautiful scenery of the Hudson Valley. We were both used to the crowded hustle and bustle of city life, but when we saw the plush greens overlooking the Hudson River, nature won us over. Our wedding was really a joint effort; I chose the colors, he chose the flowers. He chose the band, I picked the song list. We were looking for muted elegance so that every aspect and decor (including our guests!) could paint the perfect picture for us which it did beyond our imagination and we have the pictures to prove it!

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Wedding Coordinator: Caitlin Russotti | Florist: Barbara Flowers | Shoes: Bergdorf Goodman | Caterer: Abigail Kirsch | Hair & Makeup: JAC Beauty | Venue: Abigail Kirsch | Bride's Dress: Bergdorf Goodman | Bridemaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | DJ/Band: Hank Lane Music | Second Photographer: Studio R Photography

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When I spot a rustic wedding drenched in elegance, my heart takes cue and speeds up the pace in an instant. And that statement couldn’t be truer than it is with this Highlands Country Club fete from Divine Light Photography. Sprigs of astilbe accompanied by roses and orchids, a dress that twirls with perfection and a happy tear-filled first look… see it all here.

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From Divine Light Photography… Deanna & Craig had a super sweet, super classy wedding set in the rolling hills of the Hudson Valley just outside of historic Cold Spring. The bridesmaids all wore different, complimenting dresses with a rustic, shabby-chic vibe. The two were probably the most emotional couple we’ve ever shot and both were in tears during their entire first look.

Photography: Divine Light Photography | Ceremony & Reception: Highlands Country Club

After a friendship that started in high school and extended well into college (and beyond), these two cuties went on their very first date.  The result?  A love that was meant.to.be, and a proposal that was all kinds of sweet.  To celebrate, they frolicked around one of the world’s most amazing cities with Captured Photography By Jenny snapping up every love-filled moment, cute pup included.  See it all here.

From the Bride… Lee and I became friendly in high school. We had mutual best friends; my two best friends from camp (Beth and Skye) were his best friends from home. We also grew up in the towns next door to one another. Senior year of high school we went to the Bahamas together for spring break and that’s where our friendship really began. Throughout college, Lee came to visit Beth and me at Indiana, at least once every year. He also came to Australia to visit us while we were abroad. Although we always had a slight “thing” for one another, we didn’t start dating until post college. It was Martin Luther King weekend and I was at brunch with Lee and Skye. Out of nowhere, Lee asked us if we wanted to fly to Florida for the remainder of the weekend. It is important to mention that Lee works in the private jet industry. He explained to us that he had an empty flight flying down to Florida, but that it was leaving in two hours. Although Lee is very sporadic and a last minute trip to Florida was in no way stressful for him, I started to panic. I wanted to go but was nervous about the timing, booking flights home, work, etc. Next thing I knew, we were in Florida. I guess that is the weekend that everything started. The week after we got back from our trip, Lee and I went on our first official “date” and have been together ever since.

Lee proposed at 5am on December 22, 2012. We had an 8am flight to Florida for December vacation. Lee got up at 4:30 and told me that he couldn’t sleep and was gonna go walk the dog. I thought it was odd that he was waking up so early to walk him, but was so tired that I went back to sleep and didn’t think about it. About 20 minutes later, they were back in the apartment and Romeo was jumping on me and licking my face. I started to pet him to calm him down, and realized that he was wearing a sweater. I asked Lee what he was wearing and he told me that he had bought him a new shirt a couple of days ago and told me to look at it. When I told him that I was tired and would look at it later, he began persistently telling me to look at the shirt and then he proceeded to turn the lamp on. I put my glasses on and realized that Lee was beginning to tear… I read the shirt that said “Will you marry my daddy.”  It was the perfect proposal.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny

No doubt about it: the wedding world is a better place with this breathtaking day in it.  The epitome of classic romance meets glamorous stylings, it’s everything you imagine a NYC wedding to be, with a healthy dose of golden hues thrown in for good measure.  From the stunning Oscar De La Renta gown to the amazingness that is The Yale Club NYC, the gallery captured by Lilian Haidar is a MUST see.

And a gorgeous film from Joseph Edwards Films? Yes, please. 

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From the Bride… WE met on a blind date in New York City in August of 2010. I was living in New York City at the time and Phil was in town for work. We met on a Thursday night, in a very public place (the Four Seasons bar) for one drink, as per my wishes (what if I didn’t like him and needed a quick getaway?). Scheduled to return to his home in Chicago on Friday morning, Phil decided to spend the day so we could go to Central Park since he had never seen it on any of his previous NYC visits. One rowboat ride later, he decided to extend his hotel reservation for the weekend.

After two years of dating long distance, and making it work (it can be done, for all of you naysayers), I decided to move to Chicago to be with Phil and attend graduate school at Northwestern University. Unbeknownst to me, Phil was going to propose during my last weekend in New York. On his way in from the airport, I called him to tell him our evening plans had changed because my childhood best friend had just gotten engaged and we were going to celebrate with them! Poor Phil was in the cab with the ring in his pocket! He decided not to propose that weekend because he didn’t want to encroach upon my friend’s happy time (he really is the most thoughtful person) and decided to wait until I moved to Chicago.

A few weeks later, on the rooftop terrace at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago, we were engaged, and 11 months later, we had the wedding of our dreams! The rest is history…

Photography: Lilian Haidar Photography | Videography: Joseph Edwards Films | Floral Designer: Jonathan Couture | Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta | Church: St. Ignatius Loyola | Reception: The Yale Club Of New York City | Make Up: David Maderich | Lighting: Eventique | Transportation: Legend Limousines | Bridal Dresser: Edna Parker | Bridal Hair: Adagio Salon | Bridal Purse: David Maderich | Bridal Shoes: Gucci | Cocktail Hour Pianist: Mat Eisenstein | Groom’s Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren | Invitations And Other Paper Goods: Bella Figura | Photo Stylist: Alenka Kraigher | Photo/Video Kiosk: Ish Photobooth | Reception Music: Hank Lane Music | Retro Candy Bar: Dewey’s Candy Brooklyn

Meet Nicole and Sal, a duo as cute as you could ever imagine, with a love story that is straight-from-the-movies fabulous.  I’m talking a chance meeting at a birthday party, a cute pup nine months post-first date and an amazing proposal in the East Village.  Oh, and then there’s this crazy cool e-session captured by Robert And Kathleen Photographers, which is incredible.  Join me here for more.

From Robert And Kathleen Photographers… Nicole and Sal are getting married in Connecticut, but wanted to have their engagement pictures in the city they currently call home. They wanted a mix of urban and green space – visiting the Meatpacking District and the Highline.

From the Bride & Groom… We met in the August of 2009 at a mutual friend’s birthday party at a bar in the East Village. A couple of weeks later we went on a great first date and knew from that point on that we had found something special. Within nine months, we had brought home our puppy Ella and moved in together.

Sal has always loved to surprise me and our proposal was the ultimate surprise. We live in New York, but Sal had been attending business school at MIT in Boston for the past two years, so on Monday night, June 3rd, he was scheduled to travel back up to Boston for his graduation rehearsal. On Tuesday, I had dinner scheduled with my girlfriends at my favorite restaurant, Aroma, in the East Village. I thought it was a little strange that my girlfriends had suggested this restaurant, since we’ve only gone for special occasions in the past, but gladly agreed to meet them there. For the first time in my life that day, I arrived early. The restaurant told me that I was the first to arrive and sat me at the bar, with my back facing the door. As I was sitting there with a glass of wine, for close to 15 minutes, I was receiving texts from my girlfriends, saying they were in traffic or stuck at work. I repeatedly was turning around in my chair to see if their cabs were pulling up, when Sal rounded the corner. As he was walking over to me, he said, “I have a question,” and then immediately dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. I found out later that he had planned to play our song and say a little bit more, but for the first time in his life, he was late, having gotten stuck in traffic driving from his parents’ house in New Jersey where he had been hiding out all day, and had to get out of his parents’ car and run the last five blocks when my girlfriends called and texted, telling him that I was already there. The next couple of minutes are still a bit of a blur and I think all I kept saying was, “Oh my Gosh!” Sal then told me that he had rented out the wine cellar downstairs and that my parents and sister were waiting down there for us. His parents and brother then walked in a few minutes later and we all had a delicious meal in the wine cellar, with lots of champagne. Finally, when I didn’t think that he could have thought of anything else, as our parents were leaving, Sal told me that our closest friends were waiting to celebrate with us at the bar next door to the restaurant. So, the celebration continued into the night. He truly thought of everything and I honestly could not have dreamed of anything better.

Since our wedding will be in Connecticut, where I grew up, we wanted our engagement pictures to be taken in the city. We have both lived in New York for many years, and this is where we met and fell in love, so it was important for us to have the city represented in our pictures. We initially suggested the Highline to Rob and Kathleen, because we’ve spent several fun weekends walking along it and imagined that it would be a great backdrop for pictures. They agreed and then also suggested walking around Meatpacking in order to really capture the city in our pictures.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers

This wedding right here?  It’s everything you know and love about elegant Manhattan weddings with an extra dose of awesome that will leave you pinning for days.  Think sophisticated candlelight meets the amazingness that is PUBLIC meets some of the coolest details you will ever see.  All captured brilliantly by Lilian Haidar Photography, I’m telling you, loves… this gallery is amazing.

From The Bride…We met and fell in love in New York, so when it came time to pick a venue for our fall wedding, we knew it had to be in the city. We live in NoLiTa and because our neighborhood so perfectly reflects everything we love about the city, we decided to choose local venues and vendors. On a perfect October day, we were married in the beautiful Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral on Mott Street, a nod to the groom’s Italian-American heritage. Proclaiming our vows in front of all of our friends and family in the beautiful Basilica was the most memorable part of our wedding day.

Our reception was held at Public Restaurant, one of our favorite spots in the neighborhood and an absolutely perfect fit for our downtown, black-tie theme. The entire team at Public, and particularly the events coordinator Kimberly, were incredibly accommodating and made our wedding reception a night to remember for all of our guests! We love food and wanted a creative menu that Public certainly provided – our guests enjoyed oysters, foie gras, mushroom ceviche and venison, just to name a few of our favorite items! Adore Floral set the stage with beautiful monochromatic floral arrangements featuring white roses, ranunculus and hydrangeas.

We got ready at the penthouse of The Thompson LES Hotel with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. Sharon Becker and Maysoon Faraj did an amazing job with hair and makeup, keeping the atmosphere fun and relaxed.

Our masterful photographer, Lilian Haidar, captured it all and was a pleasure to work with on our wedding day. We worked with Lilian for our engagement shoot (which we also shot in NoLiTa and SoHo) and we wanted to maintain the same downtown feel for our wedding photos. Many of our portraits were shot in the Elizabeth Street Garden, which is a truly magical oasis in the middle of NoLiTa.

We could not have imagined a more perfect wedding day and are so grateful for all of our friends and family who traveled from around the world to celebrate with us!

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Photography: Lilian Haidar Photography | Floral Design: Adore Floral | Cake: PUBLIC | Invitations:William Arthur | Reception Venue: PUBLIC | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Rent The Runway | Makeup: Sharon Becker | Hair: Maysoon Faraj | DJ: Tomas Delos Reyes | Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridal Veil: Monique Lhuillier | Bride & Groom Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Groom’s Shirt And Bowtie: Turnbull And Asser | Groom’s Shoes : Salvatore Ferragamo | Groom’s Tuxedo: Michael Andrews | Hotel: The Thompson LES | Monogrammed Robes: J.Crew | Second Photographer: Image Playground Inc.

I can’t describe it any better than this: elopements make my heart sing.  And when I see a duo as stylish and cute as these two lovebirds tying the knot in one of the greatest cities on earth, it’s literally the happiest day I’ll have all week.  From the beautiful bouquet arranged by the groom to the sweet ceremony and beyond, these two are awesome.  See it all captured by Amy Rizzuto right here.

From Amy Rizzuto… You know those perfect days where you just wish time could stand still? Those days where you literally stop and try to soak in every incredible moment? Charlie and James had a wedding day like that. Halfway through planning a 300 person wedding in Texas, Charlie and James decided to forgo a larger event for an intimate wedding in one of the most romantic cities in the world, New York City. Imagining a day that was truly just about their love for each other, they hopped on a plane with four of their best friends by their side.

On a warm September day, Charlie woke up in the Plaza Hotel and began getting ready. She and her two best friends jumped on the bed, sipped on champagne, and laughed continuously as Charlie got ready to marry the man she loved. A quick taxi ride took them to Central Park where the two love birds would tie the knot in the middle of the iconic Bow Bridge. With the old wooden planks as her aisle, Charlie didn’t even try to fight back tears as she ran to meet her handsome groom waiting for her among the sea of people passing by. They promised to love one another, fully, wholly, and forever as the sun set behind the row boats and beautiful buildings on the west side. After a few pretty portraits in Central Park and a first dance in Times Square, James carried Charlie over the threshold and back into the Plaza Hotel.

The thing that stood out to me most about this very special wedding was the love Charlie and James so obviously felt for one another. They didn’t have to have hundreds of people around them to commit to spend forever together. All they needed was each other, and the most romantic city in the world.

Photography: Amy Rizzuto Photography | Flowers: Whole Foods Market Preston | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Ceremony Venue: Central Park | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Hair And Make-up: Steve | Location: The Plaza Hotel | Photography - Assistance: Caroline Frost Photography | Reception Dinner: Eleven Madison Park | Second Shooter: Amy Rizzuto Photography

It goes without saying that I love love stories. I simply can’t get enough. So when I see a love story like this couples’ turn into a wedding that makes me swoon, I feel like two of my favorite things in the world collided. And the result is beautiful. Captured by Leo Timoshuk Photography and overflowing with blooms by Splendid Stems so pretty I could cry – this gallery is couldn’t be more lovely if it tried. 

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From the Bride…Jason and I met through mutual friends, Jess and Josh. Jess was excited for a casual day time first date with Josh at a local favorite bar, Floyd, in Brooklyn. Josh decided he would bring a friend who had just recently moved to NYC, and so to save Jess from having to fend of two boys all on her own, I agreed to join them. Jason turned out to be the friend. Jason and Josh had agreed to a friendly bocce ball tournament (Floyd has a bocce court right inside), and so Jason, ever the competitor, came dressed in something resembling a costume. It was at first hard to see past the funny looking sneakers, wristtbands and size XXXL jersey – but I’m glad I did. Jess and Josh – now happily married – were flirting up a storm, and Jason and I started to do some flirting of our own. What was supposed to be a short daytime game of bocce turned into dinner down the street, a second double date the following week, and no turning back from there (for both couples!).

The week of hurricane Sandy, while I was weathering the storm, displaced from our apartment in Brooklyn which is only one block from the water in Dumbo. Lucky for him, Jason was in sunny California for the week for work, sending me text messages of palm trees and rooftop cocktails. I’d lost power and had to head up the hill to camp out at the apartment of our very generous friends. I was relieved when Jason made it home a few days after the storm, but I was particularly confused – and maybe even a little frustrated – when he insisted that the next day he make his way into Manhattan for work. This made no sense at all. It was a huge challenge to even get into Manhattan. First, because of the gas shortages, you had to find enough people for a carpool, or the police wouldn’t allow you onto the island. And even if you made it, Manhattan was a ghost town. Almost none of the buildings had power, cabs were non-existent, and none of the subways were running. But undeterred, Jason found a few adventurous friends to carpool with and made his way into Manhattan. The next day was Saturday and Jason suggested we go to Ted and Honey, a little cafe near my old apartment where used to go every weekend for brunch. We walked into my old neighborhood and had a lazy brunch together, just like old times. Ted and Honey sits right next to Cobble Hill Park, where we used to hang out regularly. Now, following Sandy, it was dessimated. Trees and branches down, the entire park was blocked off with police tape. Jason, usually a law abiding citizen, grabbed my hand and led me into the park. Unlike every other weekend, when it’s filled with birthday partying kids, dogs playing, and just generally a ton of activity, because of Sandy, we were all alone. We went to the bench where we had our first kiss, and to my surprise, Jason proposed in the most romantic way. Of course, I said yes.

After the proposal, we celebrated with our friends who I’d been crashing with, and then walked down to Dumbo to our apartment. No power meant no TV and no computers, and with near silence and no distractions, we lit the apartment with candles, opened a bottle of wine, and sat and enjoyed our first hours of our engagement together. We decided to have dinner together that night at one of our favorite spots. While there, Jason suggested we call Jess and Josh to see if they would meet us for a post-dinner drink at Floyd, where we all first met. I thought it was the perfect way to celebrate our engagement. But when I walked in to Floyd, it got even better. I was shocked to find a ton of our NYC area friends there for a surprise engagement party that Jason, known across the land to be lacking in the planning skills, had somehow organized and pulled off perfectly despite Sandy’s attempts to interfere.

It turns out that I was wrong to think Jason had escaped Sandy all together. Because he had planned the engagement party for that night, the date of the proposal wasn’t exactly flexible. But because of the storm, Jason wasn’t even sure he’d make it into NYC in time. Almost all of the flights back into NYC were getting delayed for days, but thankfully Jason’s flight into NYC was unchanged and was one of the first few flights to make it back into the city. And Jason’s insistence on heading into Manhattan for work the day before, was all for good reason. He needed to pick up the ring. That too was quite the challenge. With Sandy, trucks weren’t allowed into Manhattan, so for days the jeweler couldn’t get the materials he needed to complete the ring and told Jason he just didn’t think it would happen. At the last minute, though, our jeweler got his materials and Jason ended up actually watching him complete the engagement ring the day before we got engaged. And that was it how it all started. Despite all the challenges, the stars were aligned for our engagement to happen that Saturday, almost just as Jason had planned it.

Photography: Leo Timoshuk | Event Coordinator: B&B Ranch | Florist: Splendid Stems | Wedding Dress: Birnbaum and Bullock | Caterer: B&B Ranch | B&B Ranch: B&B Ranch | Band/DJ: Skooby Laposky | Escort cards: PulpArt | Grey burlap table runners: Pamela Eberhardt of Bebebundlestudio | Wedding Signage: Cheryl Westerkamp

Inspired by the tale of Sleeping Beauty and the new Disney movie Malificent, out today in theaters, this group of industry experts set out to craft a wedding that gives a whole new meaning to the term Happily Ever After. It’s a gorgeous display of classic fairytale-esque details crafted by Availendar + lush florals by Black Dahlia and imagery by Allan Zepeda that showcase a moody meets whimsical affair. See it here.

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From Availendar… Once upon a time we were inspired by the new Disney film Malificent, and collaborated with an incredible team of vendors to create this Sleeping Beauty styled shoot full of dripping wax, moody florals and whimsical details. We truly feel summer weddings can have a dark and mysterious side as well. This inspiration shoot reminds us that a sultry and, dare-we-say enchanting, evening can also be romantic and beautiful. We promise that no one will be falling asleep at a wedding like this!

The Green Building in Brooklyn gave us the perfect canvas for our vision with their stunning chandeliers and raw, open space while the incredible Allan Zepeda captured the beauty of each and every detail. To top it off, the talented Rajiv Surendra of Letters in Ink created a wonderful chalkboard backdrop inspired by gothic architecture. We added in an antique spinning wheel and vintage wood spool candlesticks to complete the look. The entire concept was tied together with storybook-inspired invitations and wooden spool place cards from Loon & CO.

The brilliant ladies of Black Dahlia Design created the perfect centerpieces with a combination of florals in rich jewel tones with accents of dusty rose and peach, as well as touches of fresh blackberries and figs. Our delicious desserts from Emily of Lael Cakes also included these fruits. Emily created a three-tiered chocolate cake with espresso and blackberry filling along with several fruit tarts that would wake up any Sleeping Beauty.

For our very own Princess Aurora, we chose an enchanting gown by Paolo Sebastian from Nearly Newlywed, BHLDN jewelry and shoes, as well as an intricate golden rose hairpiece by Hushed Commotion. Our dashing Prince Phillip was dressed in a custom Anchor Gray suit from Sene.

We toasted the end of the day with a custom Black Magnolia cocktail from Liquid Lab… And they lived Happily Ever After.

Photography: Allan Zepeda Photography | Styling: Lindsey Brunk | Florals: Black Dahlia | Wedding Dress: Nearly Newlywed | Cake: Lael Cakes | Invitations: Loon & Co | Hair & Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Venue: The Green Building | Bunny: Willabee - Kimberly Hock | Chalkboard Backdrop: Letters In Ink | Custom Cocktails: Liquid Lab Nyc | Custom Suit: Sene | Hair Accessories: Hushed Commotion | Jewelry & Shoes: BHLDN | Model: Anelisa Durham | Styling & Concept: Availendar | Tabletop Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals

It’s hard not to fall in love with the hustle and bustle of New York City.  Especially when presented as the prettiest of backdrops in a stylish engagement session like this one captured by Megan Tsang Studio.  With trips to The Wythe Hotel, The Highline and 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar, it’s the sort of fabulous shoot that just screams “NYC chic.”  See it all in the full gallery.

From Megan Tsang Studio… Naomi and Nate are both architects based out of southern California. Naomi was working in New York when Nate moved in with her friend while he attended Columbia University for his Masters of Architecture. Although they both went to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for architecture, they didn’t meet until he moved to New York.

Because they spent so many years building their relationship and making memories in New York, they wanted to go back to where it all started for their engagement session. We explored Brooklyn, the Highline and the East Side, and I captured them at some of their favorite spots.

Naomi and Nate will return to the San Luis Obispo area for the outdoor wedding in May 2014.

Photography: Megan Tsang Studio | Location: 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar | Location: The High Line | Location: Wythe Hotel

Ever wonder what happens when “vintage New York City meets vintage India and Pakistan with a modern edge?”  Well, lovelies… I can tell you one thing.  It’s downright magical.  Think vibrant blooms from Poppies & Posies, gorgeous stylings coordinated by Sarah Glowacki of Daughter of Design and a stunning bride and groom who know a thing or two about throwing a perfect party.  See it all captured by Dennis Kwan right here.

And some more magic from Kiss the Bride Films… enjoy, lovelies.

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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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Photography: Dennis Kwan Wedding Photography | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Flowers:Poppies & Posies | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Jewelry: Zameer Kassam | Bridesmaid Dresses: Mirage Collection | Catering: The Cleaver Co. | Makeup: Sharon Becker of SB Beauty | Hair: Maysoon For Face Time Beauty | Lighting: L&M Sound and Light | DJ: DJ Vida of Scratch Weddings | Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | String Quartet: Tribute String Quartet of Lucy Music | Bride’s Dress: Reem Acra via Gabriella New York | Ceremony and Reception: Skylight One Hanson | Coordination: Sarah Glowacki of Daughter of Design | Flower Girl Dresses: Watters | Getting Ready Location: W Downtown Manhattan | Groom’s Tux and Bow-Tie: Armani via Barneys New York | Henna: Zara Henna | Paper Suite: Alive and Kicking Design | Photobooth: We Love Photobooths | Transportation: Silver Star Limousine