New York Weddings

This one checks all the boxes. The prettiest shades of pink in every corner. Blooms to stop you dead in your tracks from Rountree Flowers. Beautiful light captured brilliantly by Jen Huang Photography. And a design that pulls it all together in the prettiest of ways from Ang Weddings & Events. Pure perfection, and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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From the planner… Amy and Mike were married in a beautiful manicured garden, with majestic conifers and a fountain as their ceremony backdrop. We had been worried about rain the week leading up to the wedding, but that morning the clouds cleared and it could not have been more perfect for their summer wedding.

The flower girls and ring bearer were so adorable. The ring bearer held a chalkboard sign “Cousin Mike Here Comes Your Girl.” Amy walked down the aisle to “Just Breathe” by Eddie Vedder, their first dance was to “Number 41” by Dave Matthews, and cake cutting to “Sweet Disposition” by Temper Trap. Their love of music and similar artists was one of the reasons that brought them so close together. For their save the dates, we did concert tickets for their wedding date.

Amy loved pink, and incorporated that in her elegant calla lily bouquet, the bridesmaid dresses, and pale pink mokara orchids in the centerpieces. We had a mix of tall and low arrangements with phalaenopsis, dendrobium and mokara orchids on mirrored bases which reflected the candlelight so romantically. I especially loved the escort arrangement on a big wooden table covered with pillar candles, rose petals, and rows of square mirrors, on which we placed the escort cards.

For their after party, we setup white lounge furniture out on the terrace and transitioned from the Jeff Lubin Band to a DJ, with lots of tasty late night treats like mini sliders, french fries and mini ice cream cones. It was a fun end to a wonderful celebration for a very sweet couple, so madly in love.

Photography: Jen Huang Photography | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Planning: Ang Weddings and Events | Floral Design: Rountree Flowers | Gown: Marisa Bridals | Invitations: Lee's Art Shop | Ceremony Venue: The Carltun | Reception Venue: The Carltun | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair and Makeup: JAC Beauty | Lighting: Richie Hart Events | Band: Hank Lane Music | Officiant: Rabbi Michael Weisser | Save the Date: Papercake Designs

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Jen Huang Photography

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What’s better than a stunning Victorian-inspired wedding?  A stunning Victorian-inspired wedding all crafted by one very beautiful (+ talented) bride.  A wedding that is sooo full of DIY details and heartwarming moments, every.last.second is rich in love… and pretty.  Cozy on up and check out the full gallery of images captured by Gina Esposito.  It’s amazing.

From the Bride… The wedding theme was Victorian inspired; the colors were blush, ivory and gold. I always loved the 1800’s era with Queen Victoria, lace, pearls and the lovely tea parties. Queen Victoria was the first women to actually wear the “white dress” at her own wedding. Prior to Victoria, women’s wedding dresses were made in the fashionable colors of their day. I purchased my wedding dress from Kleinfield bridal a year before my wedding; it was a Jim Hljem Ivory lace trumpet dress. The Groom’s suit was custom made from a store in Huntington village called Marshs. Alain wanted something he could where after the wedding as well.

My wedding ceremony and reception was held at the Westbury Manor. I choose Westbury Manor because I love the Victorian era setting, it had uniqueness, character, peacocks roamed the outside grounds, and old age ambiance rolled into one. Flowers were also a very important aspect, my florist Black Dahlia was a breath of fresh air. She was very attentive and paid close attention to all the little details I added. I am a very specific bride; I handpicked each flower to show a garden Victorian appearance still within the wedding colors. I love for flowers to have great texture, a vintage look and greens, which are the reasons why I chose dusty millers, stock, and garden roses for the center pieces and bouquets.

Since Alain and I were on a budget, we agreed DIY projects were the way to cut costs. We wanted our wedding to be dreamy and Victorian, but we didn’t have the money to pay for a “platinum wedding” so I became a DIY bride completely. I was never crafty until I began my wedding planning process. Everything from the save the dates, invitations, seating charts, centerpieces, petal cones, dinner menus, table numbers, dessert table décor, ceremony décor, wedding theme and design, small knick knacks i.e. soy candle teacups was completed by me.

The wedding began promptly at 8 o’clock during twilight; it was an outside ceremony with 130 guests. The ceremony took place in the grassy Knoll area of Westbury Manor. I was escorted down the aisle by my father, the song I choose was “Look after you” by The Fray. My mom passed away when I was a little girl so I choose to “save a seat for her”. The outside décor was simple and clean. Lanterns were placed down the aisle; every other chair had a moss cone filled with garden flowers. The moss cones were one of many DIY projects I completed. My florist Black Dahlia filled the moss cones with flowers. Peacocks roamed the garden, as the ceremony began. On each chair at the ceremony, petal cones were hung, so that Alain and I can be showered with petals as we walked down the aisle. The petal cones were a DIY project made from vintage music paper which I purchased from etsy. On the Welcome table vintage gloves, pearls, and teacups adorned the area, cry packs were made for my guest’s tears of joy. My love for tea parties was another reason why I loved the Victorian era.

For reception I made a portion of my centerpieces. I wrapped cylinder vases of two different sizes in ivory lace. I also used glass votives, wrapped them in lace and placed a Victorian cameo on the votives. Six out of ten tables had medium gold candelabras which were purchased from Opulent treasures. Four out of ten tables had low floral centerpieces. The laced glass cylinders, and tall blush tapered candles on each table helped to complete the Victorian inspired tablescape.

My love for all things Victorian lead me to love the Victorian cameo’s, which I wear on a daily basis, I also placed one on my cake. I also love vintage skeleton keys. I used vintage skeleton keys as a object for the escort cards.

To embrace my Nigerian background Alain and I changed into my Nigerian attire in the middle of the reception.

My wedding day was perfect; it surpassed my expectations. It was great to see every little detail that I handpicked come to life to make such an eventful day. My most memorable moment was when Alain and I, surprised our guest with the Harlem shake after our first dance. 

Photography: Gina Esposito | Cinematography: Biliski Productions | Florist: Black Dahlia | Bakery: Leonetti Bakery | Reception Venue: Westbury Manor | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | DJ: Music Mixed Intelligently | Groom's Suit: Marshs | Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal | Bridesmaid Jewlery: Etsy | Day Of Coordinator: Cynthia Ross Affairs | Day of Jewlery: Macy's | Hair & Makeup Stylist: Nadia Makeup Artist | Linens: The Finishing Touch | Wedding Decor: Opulent Treasures® Inc

These two sweeties?  They’re amazing.  The kind of amazing that rushes off to Puerto Rico to tie the knot, elopement-style, then returns home to celebrate a year later with their awesome friends and family.  And not just any celebration: a totally gorgeous, totally breathtaking ballroom affair complete with vibrant blooms and a gallery of pretty captured by B Hull Photography.  See it all here.

From B Hull Photography… Anna & Jake had attended the same college and had several mutual friends in common, but it wasn’t until that summer class of 2006 when he stole her heart. They have been inseparable ever since, they eloped to Puerto Rico in 2012, but didn’t let the magic end there. They planned a beautiful ceremony and reception to celebrate with friends and family in the States as well a year after.

Photography: B Hull Photography | Bride's Shoes: Rene Caovilla | Bridesmaid Dresses: JLM Couture, Inc | Venue: Ritz Carlton Westchester | Bride's Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Groom's Tux: Vera Wang | Make Up Artist: Cecile Of Ritz Carlton Spa | Second Shooter: Ayenia Nour

First of all, I will never get over this Kathryn Conover Couture custom gown. But even beyond that dream, this wedding shocked me when I realized it was DIY. It’s so stinking beautiful, and obviously so, captured by Divine Light Photography, that I’ve been sitting here quite honestly in awe for far longer than I’d like to admit.

From the stunning bride… Our Hudson Valley outdoor DIY wedding was simply perfect. It rained two hours before the ceremony and poured as soon as we started dancing the night away in the barn, but the dramatic clouds made for the perfect backdrop to our ceremony, which was lead by the brides cousin. We planned our wedding completely on our own, created all the paper products (save the dates, invitations, name cards, ceremony cards). Family members all chipped in to make the day perfect. The brides mother foraged for local flowers and made crowns for the flower girls, bouquets for the maids and bride and boutonnières and wrist corsages for the groomsmen and grandmothers. The rock climbers in the family (including the groom and best man) teamed up to scale the massive vaulted rafters of the barn to hang the swooping sheer white fabric and three chandeliers, to get the ambiance of the rustic formal wedding just right. And the DIY list goes on and on…

Photographer: Divine Light Photography | Wedding Planner: Ashley Bond | Bracelet: Lionette By Noa Sade | Engagement Ring: DVVS Fine Jewelry | Bridesmaid's Dresses: The Celebrity Dresses | Catering: Another Fork In The Road | Band: Tacuma Bradley, Charles Sirbirsky, Dan Shuman | Wedding Favors: Hand Collected Sea Salt From Salt Island, BVI | Suit: Suitsupply | Barn And Farmhouse: Rufflands Farm | Bridal Shoes: Zara | Bridal Statement Necklace: Bayila | Cape Veil: Kathryn Conover | Ceremony Bridal Necklace: Vintage | Custom Dress: Kathryn Conover | Decor: Rustic Touch | Floral: Hand Picked Locally By Mother Of The Bride | Flower Girl Dresses: Zara | Groom's Shoes: Gucci | Groomsmen Custom Ties: Tie Obsessed | Invitation Paper: JAM | Mother Of The Bride Top: Zara | Purse: Zara | Rentals: Rhinebeck Rentals | Save The Date Stamp: TheYellowNote | Wedding Band: Bianca Monros Gomez

True story: my fantasy New York wedding  – everyone has one – would look exactly like this. A little bit classic and a little bit modern, with pops of black and white stripes all over. Maggie Harkov captured this NYC love affair in gorgeous, light-filled fashion and I’m 1000% certain you’ll heart it too.

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From the Bride… September 28th, 2013 was a dream. I know I’m biased, but months later as I write this, that’s still how it feels! Tim and I’s relationship began almost a decade ago while we were in college at Fairfield University. While we had known each other for over a year, our story started our sophomore year when we were at an upperclassman party at the beach. The party was overly crowded, and I had a pair of sunglasses on top of my head holding my hair back.

Out of nowhere, someone from the crowd lifted my sunglasses from atop my head and ran off. Tim was across the room and saw this, and tried to make his way across the party in time to help. Of course, by the time he got there the thief was long gone, but that was ok, it got my future husband and I talking. It was the catalyst that started our story (totally worth losing the pair of sunglasses for). A story that I wouldn’t trade for any other, beautiful in both its perfections and its imperfections, it’s ours, it’s still unfolding after all these amazing years, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

When planning our wedding, the location wasn’t even a question- New York City. Besides it being our favorite city in the world, it holds special significance to our relationship. It’s the place that reunited us after Tim completed a long two and half year Peace Corps service in Africa. It’s the place Tim moved to in order to be with me. It’s the place where I would (and continue to) fall in love with Tim over, and over, and over again. It’s the place where we moved into our first home together (and still call home). It’s the place where Tim proposed, and it’s without a doubt the place where we wanted our future and lives together as Mr. & Mrs. to begin.

Being an event planner and marketer by nature (and by profession), I know that the importance of details. When planning our wedding, every single element was hand chosen and selected to bring our vision to a reality and to make our wedding uniquely ours. My personal style (whether it be fashion, décor, etc) has always been timeless, classic, and with a modern twist. This is exactly what we envisioned for our wedding, along with special touches to make the day inimitable.

Our ceremony took place at the most beautiful, intimate, and charming church on the Upper East Side, The Church of Saint Thomas More. It’s an idyllic setting and a natural choice as my parents were married there, and it meant the world to me to have my father walk me down the same aisle 41 years later.

For our reception, well, I have to admit, I’ve always had my eye on The Foundry. What’s not to love? It has beautiful architectural, industrial, and historical elements coupled with softer details like exposed brick, ivy covered walls, and a garden atmosphere. It was our first choice. I love a good wedding tent, and in New York City, that can be quite hard to find! The Foundry courtyard allowed us to have a whimsical, intimate dinner under a tent I designed, with our closest friends and family, and then transition into the warm and inviting indoor space to party the night away! No detail was left unturned.

From the custom black and white stripe napkins, table numbers that indicated special places, elements, and times in our relationship, his and hers beer buckets filled with our favorite beer, a groom’s cake in the shape of Tim’s football jersey, a custom-tailored musical set list (played by an amazing band), two golden stags perched on the top of our wedding cake (representing our college mascot), all the way to the DIY black and white stripe pillows that adorned the interior space, tying the outdoor and interior décor together. These are just a few of the many details and personal elements that surrounded us, the most important of all being our family and friends.

The day, and the space, was truly ours. Like I said before, it was a dream. I sometimes still can’t believe it all happened. We are so loved, and so darn lucky.

DIY items or family heirlooms: Grandmother’s cameo and lace from mother’s wedding dress placed on bride’s bouquet, DIY black and white stripe pillows, custom black and white stripe napkins, Groom’s cufflinks belonged to his late Uncle.

Photographer: Maggie Harkov | Videographer: Well Spun Wedding Films | Wedding Planner: Meg Savage | Flowers: Melarosa Inc. | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Front Street Bakery | Stationery: Cheree Berry Paper | Church: Church Of St. Thomas More | Reception: The Foundry | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Jewelry: Custom | Bridesmaids Dresses: Hand Selected For Each Bridesmaid | Catering: Great Performances | Make-up: Lindsey Jones Makeup Artistry | Hair: Styles On B | Calligraphy: Papertopias | Band: Elan Artists | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Hotel: The Surrey Hotel | Furniture Rental: Patina | Groom's Tie: Ralph Lauren

It’s been a week of absurdly pretty features, but can I let you in on a little secret? We might have saved one of the very best for last. Judy Pak, Loli Events and Matthew Ree are just a few of the big names behind this springtime swoonfest, and you can visit the full gallery for much, much more. Happy Friday, my dears! xoxo

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Lauren of Loli Events… Although brief, Springtime in New York is always rejuvenating and exciting. Everything feels brighter, happier and just full of life. This shoot captured exactly that with a perfect dose of glamour and whimsy. The beautiful grounds of the Old Westbury Gardens was a no- brainer as a backdrop. Everything there is lush, thoughtful and simply stunning. Our goal as luxury wedding vendors was to capture some serious beauty while having fun and enjoy the moment. It is so easy to get caught up and forget to pause and take in your surroundings. This shoot is dedicated to creating a bit of wanderlust and a need to just take a slow deep breath.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Photography: MATTHEW REE PHOTOGRAPHY | Floral Design: Tashi & Bobo | Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: Ana Parzych Custom Cakes | Makeup: Seunghyn Seo Of KAKABOKA | Hair Stylist: Seonghee Park | Wedding Venue: Old Westbury Gardens | Bridal Boutique: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Dress Rental: Union Station | Hair Pieces: Emily Riggs | Props/Tabletop: Poppies & Posies | Styling/Table Set Design: Loli Events

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS

Last Chance to enter Modcloth’s Wedding Styles Contest
Honeymoon Funds from Traveler’s Joy
Williams-Sonoma’s Annual Dream Registry Sweepstakes
A Pave Diamond Disc Necklace from The Clay Pot
TWO sets of loungewear to TWO lucky SMPers from Duffield Lane
A set of flashcards from Learn to Speak Wedding

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Don’t miss this week’s DISCOUNTS…

Postable
Squarespace
Abbey Malcolm Letterpress + Design
Zola

For our Australia brides… Don’t forget to enter to win an engagement session at South Curl Curl beach from Poli Weddings

For our California brides… Discounts from Jonathan Young Weddings and Dr. Diaz.

For our Canada Brides…Discounts from Blush & Gray, Renata De Thomasis and Christine Arnold Photography

For our Midwest brides… Discounts from reStyled Vintage Rentals and La Belle Fleur Events

For our New England Brides… A discount from Aster B. Flowers

For our Southwest Brides…Make sure to RSVP to Chateau Cocomar’s Royal Occasion Bridal Open House (This weekend!)

For our Tri-State brides…Don’t forget to enter to win Photography + Videography Collection from NST Pictures and discounts from New Museum, Femina Photo + Design, NY Smile Specialists and HowAboutWe for Couples PLUS don’t miss Gabriella New York’s Winter Sample Sale!

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And of course, this week’s lucky winner…

Lindsay Madden Photography is about to rock your socks right off your feet with this stunner, so you might want to sit down. It’s ridiculously pretty, so much so that it almost doesn’t feel real. But the twinkle in the groom’s eye and the love all over the bride’s beautiful face are testimony to the fact that this wedding did indeed happen, and it truly was this beautiful.

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From the photographer… Jill and Alex were married on a lovely October day at Martha Clara Vineyards on the North Fork of Long Island. Their closest family and friends gathered in the vineyard to watch Jill and Alex’s intimate outdoor ceremony. After their heartfelt ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails, food and lawn games during their laid back yet elegant tented cocktail hour. As the sun went down, guests picked up their succulent escort cards and made their way into the beautifully decorated barn for Jill and Alex’s reception. The barn was complete with twinkle lights {a favorite of mine!} and personal touches to tie in their families. Jill looked radiant in her classic Suzanne Neville wedding dress and I absolutely loved how Jill opted for a chic updo for her reception. Jill’s bridesmaids looked perfect in their Amsale dresses while her Man of Honor looked sophisticated in a Vera Wang tuxedo. Moments in Time Floral Design provided the romantic flowers for the entire day. Peach and cream colored flowers filled Jill’s bouquet as well as the centerpieces and Jill’s bridesmaids carried bouquets of baby’s breath. When it came time for Jill and Alex to cut their ‘cake’ they opted to cut into a delicious apple pie instead. I absolutely adored this idea! Jill and Alex’s wedding day had a relaxed yet elegant feel and I was so honored to be apart of their October vineyard wedding in the way that I was!

Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography | Flowers: Moments in Time Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Suzanne Neville | Stationery: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Martha Clara Vineyard | Reception Venue: Martha Clara Vineyard | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Grooms Attire: Vera Wang | Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang | Bride's Prep: Shinn Estate Vineyards And Farmhouse | Video: Six Minute Stories | Wedding Pie: Briermere Farms

Ahh, the elopement. Quite possibly my favorite kind of wedding ever, and elevated to the next wedding when it all goes down in NYC. Invite Brilliant Event Planning to do the job, Face Time Beauty Concierge for the prep, surprise your family minutes before the ceremony, and make sure Brklyn View Photography is on hand to capture it all, and you’ve got the recipe for goosebumps, mile-wide smiles, and tears galore.

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Fromthe photographer… Have you ever kept a big secret? No, I mean a super big secret for more than six months? Well, that’s exactly what Jess & Adi did! When Adi asked Jess to marry him earlier this year, he had no idea that their wedding would be taking place six months before their actual wedding in December. A few months into their engagement, Jess decided that she couldn’t wait any longer and wanted to elope in July. The couple had Brilliant Event Planning help them pull off their plan. They invited their parents to join them at the Surrey Hotel for a wine tasting but when they walked in the door, they let them in on the secret! There was not a dry eye was in the room. On the rooftop terrace, Jess and Adi read aloud their very touching and tearful vows before exchanging their rings and becoming husband and wife. It was a simple, intimate ceremony and absolutely perfect. Afterwards, we walked through Central Park to take a few photos of the beaming newlyweds. Jess’s gorgeous BHLDN Aiguille gown from Anthropologie looked like it was made for her! She even helped to design her own bouquet and boutonniere for Adi. Love in Central Park is simply amazing. I am so honored to have been there to photograph & witness their amazing elopement. Congratulations to Jess & Adi!!

Photography: Jainé Kershner Photography | Wedding Planner: Brilliant Event Planning | Hair: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Venue: The Surrey Hotel | Brides Dress: BHLDN

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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From Julie of Strawberry Milk Events… I was inspired by the Prospect Park Boathouse venue to create a classic, vintage Americana, “Summer on the Lake” vibe. Red is a strong and iconic all-American color, especially when paired with crisp white. Blush softens the red, while also making it more feminine. It’s all about the details – the shade of blush and way the event is styled can make all the difference between feeling holiday-ish versus summery. For our July shoot (on a hundred degree day, no less!) We went for a bright poppy red versus a crimson, and a pale, warm peachy-blush instead of a candy pink accented by crisp white, fresh greenery and berries.

The goal was to evoke a fresh, natural vibe that felt organic yet elegant – like an intimate dinner party effortlessly thrown together at your family’s summer estate with your best china, crystal candlesticks and monogrammed hemstitch napkins. After the ceremony, guests would cocktail on the back lawn enjoying mini lobster rolls, strawberry and goat cheese bruschetta and chilled soup summer soup shots. Couples could curl up by the lake to one of several picnic vignettes for two (a bottle of bubbly and a giant basket filled with fruit, cheese, baguettes and local honey), after which guests would be invited inside for a formal dinner. The dinner table was set with a giant antique silver punch bowl overflowing with lush blooms with a “just picked from the garden” look, a belgian linen striped runner and, ornate silverware and stemware. Red heart-shaped place cards with white calligraphy doubled as favor boxes – after dinner mints, anyone? The cherry on top of a fabulous meal was a simple ivory buttercream cake which features a mix of fresh and sugar flowers cascading down the front on a vintage rose colored glass cake stand.

Since I’m always a fan of contrasting styles and unexpected elements, a blush sequin base linen kicks the organic yet traditional dinner table up a notch to give it just a little bit of sparkle and added texture. Likewise, gorgeous gowns were selected for their feeling of airiness and beautiful movement, while the tulle and chiffon contrasted with the groom’s preppy tweed blazer. The invitation suite was inspired by a classic botanical design but with whimsical calligraphy and a fun color palette it achieves our mixed moods.

Photography: KT Merry Photography | Floral Design: Cristina Lozito Florals | Wedding Dresses: Samuelle | Catering: Movable Feast Catering | Makeup: Stacie Ford Weddings | Hair: Jennifer Brent | Groom's Attire: Louis Purple | Bride's Accessories: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Bride's Accessories: BHLDN | Custom Napkins: Embroidery by Linda | Designer: Strawberry Milk Events | Groom's Glasses: Warby Parker | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Location: Prospect Park Boathouse | Paper Goods: Smitten on Paper | Rentals: Perfect Settings | Rentals: Luxe Event Rentals | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

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KT Merry Photography

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SMPers, meet Joseph Lin, a talented photographer that is about to render you speechless with his amazing captures and beyond breathtaking abilities. Think one stunning moment after another snapped up in beautiful images that are basically your everything. In other words, this is a portfolio (and photographer) you need to get to know.

From Joseph Lin Photography… Having attended the prestigious International Center of Photography in midtown Manhattan, Joseph Lin is technically trained in making his photos vibrant and beautiful but it is his quirky demeanor that brings about the reactionary joy & personality in his subjects. Born and raised in Manhattan, his facetious character is an asset to any lively environment, making him a popular choice for many event planners in the region. Never dragging along with his camera and always full of optimistic energy that can only be seen for individuals who truly love what they do. And once the event comes to a close, expect him to spend endless nights gargling in java to ensure that every photo presented to his clients are bodies of art.Joseph’s work can regularly be seen in the Daily News and New York Magazine. He has also been awarded “Best of Weddings” from The Knot for 2011, 2012 & 2013.

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Photography: Joseph Lin Photography | Dress: Francesca Miranda | Flowers:Creative Concepts New York | Cake: Made In Heaven Cakes | Reception: Angel Orensanz (Lower East Side) | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Make Up: Laura Nadeau | Band: Alive N’ Kickin’ | Church: St. Anthony’s Of Padua | Hotel:SOHO Grand

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Welcome to the SMP Family, Joseph Lin! We are so happy to have you! xoxo

These two met online before it was the cool thing to do. In a chat room, 15 years ago they found love (trendsetters, I say) and to celebrate their upcoming nuptials, they grabbed Alexandra Meseke Photography and galavanted around the beautiful town of Rochester, NY. To say it’s beautiful is quite the understatement.

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From the photography… Katie and Dan are the kind of people that make you fell better about the world. They have a love for life, that I find is so rare these days. They truly to their cores are humble, caring, kind, and giving people. From our very first email exchange I knew that Michael and I were really going to love photographing Katie and Dan’s wedding, and they hadn’t even booked us yet. I just had a feeling. We didn’t meet in person until the day of their engagement shoot this past July, and they certainly did not disappoint. They were fun-loving, out-going, super sweet, and completely HILARIOUS. The four of us were laughing it up the entire time. But even better, it’s not just that they were great in front of the camera(which they of course claimed they wouldn’t be), it was more that Dan had a wonderful way of showing his love and adoration of Katie even with the cameras there. The way he held her and looked at her, and nuzzled up to her had me squealing like a silly girl the whole shoot.

Neither Katie or Dan live in Rochester, but they knew that Michael and I are dividing our time between there and NYC, and they wanted to put the shoot into my hands, and trusted me to choose the locations that I thought best for their shoot. What a dream!! When a client gives you all the creative freedom you could want for their shoot, and send you an email full of inspirational shots from your own website, you know you’re a perfect match for each other. They gave me a few guidelines, but basically we got to wander around my favorite City of Rochester neighborhoods for an evening, and have a blast doing it. I was even able to find some spots I didn’t know existed. It was a GREAT shoot, and their wedding this fall at the Mansion on Delaware in Buffalo is sure to be a stunner.

From the Groom to be… When we tell people we met online, they invariably say something like, “Oh my sister met someone on eHarmony!” But you have to take it much further back, before Match.com, before Facebook, even before MySpace. For two kids who met arguing about music in an online chatroom in the days of dial-up internet, more than a thousand miles apart in different countries, we’ve come a long way. The odds against a Georgia boy ending up on one knee atop a snowcapped mountain popping the question to a Canadian girl must be astronomical, but when a thing is right you have no choice but to move heaven and earth to make it work. Fifteen years after that first chance encounter, we’ve traveled so many new places together that it only made sense to explore a new town for our engagement shoot. Alexandra Meseke showed us a side of Rochester we never could have seen without someone who was born and raised in the area. Her ability to help us relax and create genuine moments while maintaining attention to all the little details (not to mention her amazing husband Michael scouting locations and turning on a dime when we spotted a beautiful spot!) turned the shoot into a day to remember.

Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography | Shoot Location: Highland Park | Shoot Location: The Little Theatre | Shoot Location: Rochester Museum & Science Center

For as long as I can remember, libraries have been my happy place.  So celebrating your nuptials amongst those incredible love stories and breathtaking history is, in my humble opinion, the best way ever to say “I do.”  Case in point?  This gorgeous gem of a day captured by Paul Francis Photography.  It’s library chic, seriously romantic and all kinds of beautiful.  See it all here.

From the Bride… From the second we got engaged, we knew that we would get married in NYC – it’s where we met, where we fell in love, and where we started our life together as a couple. As such, our venue was definitely on the top of our priority list; we wanted something that was quintessentially New York, yet not stuffy or pretentious. And, above all, no banquet halls! The New York Academy of Medicine fit all our criteria. We loved the building’s classic New York feel, the proximity to Central Park, and the stunning library, which became the backdrop for our reception. With my job as a magazine editor and Adam’s as a high school English teacher, the setting was a perfect fit. While we didn’t want to have a “themed” wedding, the book/library element became an overarching concept that we used in subtle things like save the dates and table numbers to lend cohesiveness to the whole day.

As we worked our way through the planning process, one “theme” did emerge: Avoid clichés! We wanted every element of the day to truly reflect us, and not just do things because it’s “what you do at a wedding.” We swapped a cake and cake cutting for a make your own Shake Shack custard station (one of our favorite things about NYC, and a big hit with our guests!), avoided unnecessary pomp and circumstance at all costs, and most importantly, put together the entire wedding ceremony ourselves, including a definition of marriage that we wrote as a couple. Having my younger brother officiate let us customize the ceremony completely and made the whole thing feel so much more personal. Incorporating my Ukrainian heritage into the wedding also put a unique and different spin on things. We wove traditional elements into the ceremony, had a “korovai” (Ukrainian wedding bread), and of course, made sure our guests got out on the dance floor for some traditional Ukrainian music.

As much as I want to be, I am NOT crafty. Despite all the adorable ideas I found on wedding blogs and websites, there was no way that I could be one of those DIY brides who handmade all the decor. Where I can DIY is in the kitchen, so I chose the put my personal touch on the wedding via food. I made homemade Chex Mix to put in our welcome bags, and (with some serious help from my dad and maid of honor) made individual jars of mixed berry jam for each guest as a wedding favor… which Adam then diligently packaged with custom labels that read “Love Preserved.”

At the end of the day, all of our efforts paid off. Our wedding turned out exactly as we had always intended it to be – an incredible party that reflected us, our love, and the incredible love of our family and friends.

Photography: Paul Francis Photography | Videography: Cord 3 Films | Florals: Urban Design Studio | Reception: New York Academy of Medicine Library | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Sterling Affair | Makeup Artist: Allie Smith | Lighting: CitiView | DJ: DJ Shakey | Bridal Gown: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Ceremony Musician: Ben Pila | Dessert Station: Shake Shack | Hair Stylists: Michael Gierl | Portrait Location: Central Park | Wedding Coordinators: Luxe Events

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Jenny Yoo

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A classic wedding with just a touch of nautical pretty… this, loves, is how you really kick off a Wednesday morning.  It’s lush, pink blooms from Hamptons Weddings & Events meets yummy snacks from Dreesen’s Doughnuts meets one magical image after another captured by Alison Conklin Photography, and it’s all set against the stunning Gurney’s Resort & Spa.  How awesome is that?  Click here for more.

From the Bride… I still fight back tears and thoughts of my wedding day, even through my honeymoon. I know it’s close enough that it’s still a conversation piece, but the longing felt by friends and family for even the chance to hear the ocean roar one more time is a conversation I hear every day.

I am thankful to have pictures of me in my mom’s stomach when she and my father were building our house on the land in Hither Hills Montauk that they bought in 1985, at a humble 30 years old. I am even more thankful to look at Alison Conklin’s photos of my husband and I now, me a glowing bride, gushing over how beautiful a celebration July 20, 2013 truly was — and at how handsome of a husband I have! Growing up I spent summer after summer in Montauk taking art and sailing lessons, training to be a junior lifeguard at Indian Hills Beach, and taking second to last place in the Hampton Classic. An only girl between my three brothers, I honestly never dreamt of my wedding gown or flowers because this type of talk wasn’t present in my parents’ home. I did, however, dream of a celebration of love over a weekend in Montauk because I knew it was a special place as so many young adults are finding it to be in more recent years — to my family’s dismay. You see we are not locals out there, but we’d like to think we are –locals would call us “seasonals” — despite my brother’s opinion. Montauk used to be a place people would ask me to repeat “did you say ‘Monnn-talk’?” because they never fathomed fighting the traffic to discover such place otherwise known as ‘The End.” Montauk is the ultimate destination, and our wedding was a celebration Carl Fisher would have tipped his hat too on 7/20, overlooking the ocean on the decks of Gurney’s Inn.

Our celebration weekend started with a cocktail infused BBQ at my parents’ home on Holly Street. That Friday the 19th, our rehearsal night, we toasted the night away with a cool breeze off the boats docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. My parents’ home sits only a half a mile away from Ralph Lauren’s palatial estate which happens to kiss the edge of Gurney’s Inn on it’s port side. I frequented Gurney’s Inn growing up because it is a place that welcomes you in. I can’t say that it’s welcoming existence will last forever considering the owners have just been bought out by a NJ developer rumored to have visions of cabanas and bottle service similar to the happenings of Surf Lodge and Ruschmeyer’s. What made our day unlike any other is that through our DIY attempts, it represents the plunge towards posh that Gurney’s hesitantly is about to take.

The weddings at Gurney’s before ours were smothered in seashells and starfish, lighthouses and lobster pots because I think that is what most brides want from a seaside wedding. I explained to Ginny, John, and Phyllis in the Banquet Department at Gurney’s that if I happened to see one ounce of sand or model seagull on my escort table or cake, I may turn as red as a lobster. With the extreme patience of our vendors – Hampton’s Weddings and Events — Alejandra (florist), Party Rental Ltd’s Pat (chairs and cloth napkins), La Tavola (ivory sequin table linens), RSVP-to-Me’s Kelly Samm Adams (Invitations), Diva Gone Domestic (escort cards/table numbers) I spent the entire year second guessing my own decisions! Without their help, and the help of my family and Andrew, I probably never would have made one decision! I was inspired by vintage romance and honestly the Little Mermaid. I have reddish hair similar to Arial which is the look I was going for when I picked out my gown and accessories. The image cover on Well Wed – Hamptons — No. 7 Spring and Summer 2007 magazine was my first inspiration. I obviously used Pinterest and nautical inspiration from Style Me Pretty to DIY the wedding myself. I think what is so inspiring about our wedding is the unique, romantic, nautical details and the almost Gatsby naivety about us in pictures. My dad’s vintage 1955 Volkswagen Beetle was a hit and made for a special moment for him and I before the ceremony and obviously looked adorable in pictures! My one color inspiration was the Dusty Miller plant. I use it to describe green tones all the time and people always look at me like I’m nuts. I built the rest of my color palette (navy, blush, champagne) around Dusty Miller because I love it’s soft furry delicate influence! Another favorite of mine was the ivory sequin table linens all the way from La Tavola in Napa, CA (NYC location coming this fall I believe — a little too late for me). Once I tested them out with my mom in the reception hall of Gurney’s I initially thought, “Too sweet 16?” but once I saw them with the mercury glass and our color palette I felt an almost underwater coral feel when the light hit them at the right angle. I knew I had to have them!

I think what I was most proud of was the positive reaction of my vendors, family and friends when they saw how much detail and thought Andrew and I put into the wedding without the help of a planner, which my vendors might be used to in the Hamptons. A couple of the Sicilian guests (who we were beyond thankful were in attendance) shared these compliments with us, ” you have shown me that there is still hope and inspiration among our younger generations — your love is a reminder to all that life can not be taken for granted. I am forever inspired.” Andrew and I were married through our own vows which you don’t often see anymore because I think brides often lose sight of their relationship and the celebration of love that is expected to be everlasting. You can feel it through our photos, that Alison Conklin so candidly documented, that Andrew and I have an old-fashion love and appreciation for one another that was so intimately celebrated on 7/20. I can’t thank our families, friends, and vendors enough. Throughout the process we had the support of the most talented and down to earth vendors because we took the time to get to know them and find out what a perfect match they were for us! We can’t thank the Banquet and Spa Departments at Gurney’s as well as Alejandra at Hampton’s Weddings and Events enough for their confidence, support, and relentless smiling! We are most thankful to Alison and Geoff Conklin for their grounded and calm influence throughout the entire weekend. We can’t believe how great you both made us look! You are both truly gifted.

Photography: Alison Conklin Photography | Floral Design: Hamptons Weddings & Events | Cake: Gurneys Resort Spa | Invitations: RSVP to me | Bride's Shoes: Via Spiga | Bridesmaids: Amsale | Hair & Makeup: Gurneys Resort Spa | Wedding Favors: Dreesen's Doughnuts | Men's Attire: Tates Menswear | Venue: Gurneys Resort Spa | Band & DJ: East End Entertainment | Bride's Clutch: Kate Spade | Bride's Dress: Watters | Cards & Table Numbers: Diva Gone Domestic | Groom's Bow Tie: Ralph Lauren | Menus: Crane & Co. | Napkins & Chairs: Party Rental LTD. | Table Linens: BBJ La Tavola

From this moment on, whenever I hear the phrase “seriously awesome wedding,” I will forever think of this gorgeous day captured by Cynthia Chung.  Because this is a day that is the epitome of the word “awesome” with fab DIY details, a darling (+ very talented) duo and locally sourced goodness at every turn.  Click here for so much more.

From Cynthia Chung… This wedding was a blast, a rocking couple from New York City, traveling upstate to get hitched. The bride (a painter) and the groom (a bass player in a band) managed to throw a wedding that completely integrated their style and personalities. It also included beer brewed straight from the groom himself and yes, RECYCLED metal for wedding rings! Oh, and their parents even wrote and sang a song for the couple!

From the Bride… Josh and I started taking trips up north together about four years ago. We both love upstate New York, and deciding on Hudson as our wedding location was easy. In planning, we only considered the elements of a wedding that meant something to us, and it made for a very personal, very intimate day. We rented a beautiful house in town for a week and welcomed eighty of our family and friends from all over the country. We sourced everything we could from local vendors, including food, and we wound up making a lot of what we served, gifted or used by hand, even our wedding invitations! When we couldn’t personally make it, we had it made for us. As an artist, it was important for me to have that kind of human involvement, and it was super important for us to support local businesses and artists alike.

A dear friend officiated our flash mob ceremony, which took place late morning in a town park across the street from our brunch venue. Musician friends followed us up from New York City and performed a piece written by Josh for the occasion titled “Us”. Our friends also played for our jazz brunch set inside a great bar and restaurant called the Red Dot immediately following the ceremony. It was the perfect venue for us: artsy, off-centered, and free from drama. We decorated the space with a few chalkboard signs that we made at home, a couple vases of dried lavender from a local farm (that also doubled as the flowers in the ceremony, including my bouquet), and we let the natural ambiance of the Red Dot do the rest. The boys’ boutonnieres complimented the dried lavender nicely, as they were made from dried flowers as well. Remaining simple and practical, we asked our wedding party to wear something black from their closet, as it was important for us to see our guys and gals comfortable and looking like themselves. (We did, however, buy our two guys very cool skinny ties… we couldn’t resist.)

The key to our visual aesthetic was that nothing matched. We didn’t have “colors,” we had style. And included in that style was homebrew, naturally. Josh brewed all of the beer for our reception, and he also made a magnetic chalkboard to hold the bottle cap magnets he presented as favors. In addition to the magnets, we made donations on behalf of our guests to two NYC organizations that are important to us: KittyKind and Just Food. Even the idea of a wedding cake felt excessive to us, so we ordered homemade cupcakes from a local artisan starting her business in Hudson, and they were delicious. Our rings were also locally made, crafted in recycled palladium by an artist just north of the city. Rounding out our circle of local, unique and talented service providers was Cynthia Chung, our photographer. From the beginning, we wanted someone to capture our wedding, documenting natural, candid moments. We wanted someone who saw color and shapes, not just a bride and groom. We wanted an artist AND a photographer, and in Cynthia we found what we were looking for.

Photography: Cynthia Chung Photography | Floral Design: North Winds Lavender Farm | Cupcakes: Ashlee's Sweet Treats | Rings: Artifactum Design | Favors: KittyKind | Favors: Just Food | Venue: The Red Dot

Elegance and simplicity will always reign supreme in my book. But a dash of big city chicness? Well, that doesn’t hurt one bit either. Mix it all together and you’ll get one heck of a gorgeous day, as evidenced by this Brooklyn love-fest straight from the lens of Smitten Photography. With no shortage of sequins and stunning city views, let’s just say the full gallery is what wedding dreams are made of!

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From the Bride… Our vision was to have an elegant and welcoming day where every detail was chosen with the intention for personalizing our wedding and making the guests feel comfortable. Our good friend gave a beautiful sermon at our ceremony.

Since we live in Jackson Hole WY (but the bride is from Brooklyn), we did a romantic and rustic look for the garden and transitioned to a woody elegance for the reception. The groomsmen wore Wyoming sagebrush and hops on their boutonnieres. The sequined textures from the bridesmaids’ dresses were incorporated into the flowers for the reception for a woody and elegant look.

Photographer: Smitten Photography By Sharon Clark | Flowers: Seaport Flowers | Wedding Dress: Sarah Janks | Invitations: Dempsey & Carroll | Ceremony Venue: Beecher Garden Plymouth Church | Reception Venue: New-York Historical Society | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bridesmaids choice of sequin, knee-length cocktail dress | Catering: STARR Catering Group | Grooms suit: Vera Wang | Cocktail hour location: Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory | Even Design & Planning: STARR Catering Group | Music: Band of New York | Stylist: Piet Sinthuchai

Rooftop weddings are always some of my favorites, and when you add in a bundle of gorgeous vintage-inspired details, plus some crazy cool silver studded heels, well… there really are no words.  Because this is a wedding that combines everything from sweet paper bouquets to sophisticated gray hues to all kinds of magical moments captured by Lilian Haidar Photography.  See them all here.

And a sweet little treat we know you’ll all enjoy…

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Steff and Steve’s wedding was a unique, vintage-inspired, whimsical affair. It began with preparations at The Carlton Hotel on Madison Ave, where Steve donned a Scottish kilt bearing his clan tartan, and Steff dressed in an flowing tulle Alita Graham gown. The wedding parties then enjoyed a photo session around the hotel, in the streets of NYC’s flatiron district, and in lovely Madison Square Park, where the summer sun was filtering playfully through green leaves.

The wedding ceremony was held in the early evening on the rooftop terrace of Midtown Loft and Terrace on 5th Ave. Musical selections performed by the bride and groom’s friends punctuated the ceremony and the vows were sealed with a traditional Celtic handfasting. During the cocktail hour the bride and groom stole away for a photo session in the park and the groom made a quick outfit change from his kilt to a suit.

The reception was held in the venue’s chic loft, which was decorated with the bride’s handmade details. Steff created the stationary for the wedding, and made the paper flowers, photo displays and signs that decorated the space. The decor was completed with glass bottles, vintage props, and hundreds of candles. Delicious food was passed throughout the night during a cocktail-style reception, while the amazing DJ kept the party rocking for hours. A highlight of the evening was a surprise flashmob musical performance by the bride (and many guests) to surprise her new husband!

Photographer: Lilian Haidar Photography | Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Here Comes The Bridesmaid | Catering: Naturally Delicious | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Suits: Men's Wearhouse | Officiant: Celia Milton | Hotel: Carlton Hotel | Brooch Bouquet: Noaki Jewelry | Cake & Cupcakes: Bread and Spoon | Ceremony/Reception: Midtown Loft And Terrace | Chuppah: Chuppah Studio | Day-of Coordination: Karen Brown New York | Hair & Make Up: Ayari's Brides | Photo Shoot: Madison Square Park | Second Photographer: Carlos David Photography | Veil: Flortini Designs | Vintage Props: Patina

Glamorous, elegant and crazy gorgeous… this, lovelies, is the epitome of a Manhattan wedding.  It’s romantic cherry blossom centerpieces from Designs By Ahn meets a candlelit reception overlooking the breathtaking city skyline meets all kinds of magical moments captured by Cynthia Chung… and it’s all waiting right here in the full gallery.  Enjoy.

From the Photographer… I have never been to SUCH an international wedding. The bride (half Chinese, half Korean) and groom (Middle Eastern) come from such different cultural backgrounds- it was really amazing to see how they were able to connect and come together to create such a beautiful event full of different people sharing love, drinks and happiness together. It was such a beautiful sight.

From the Bride… I envisioned our Manhattan wedding to be a classy, intimate, early-springtime affair. We wanted to find a small and cozy space, but something with a spectacular view to charm our guests and provide that “New York” moment. We found Astra, a private event space located on the fourteenth floor of the Manhattan Design & Decoration Building, complete with a long terrace that overlooked the Upper East Side and the Queensboro Bridge. It was perfect.

I was inspired by my Asian heritage where cherry tree blossoms are cherished for their beauty and their symbolic meaning of love, hope, and happiness — and the coming of spring! It only seemed ideal to go out all out with cherry blossom branches to decorate the entrance, the ceremony, and the reception. The soft pink florals and branches added the perfect amount of color and texture to the modern, neutral space of Astra. Several vintage gold hanging and standing tea light candles were used throughout to create that romantic and enchanting feel.

For the dress, I wanted something that would combine clean modern lines and vintage romance. I found a simple and fitted ivory satin gown by Vineyard with a lovely train, and customized it by adding a Swarovski crystal beaded belt, a sheer illusion neckline, and buttons all the way down the back of the dress. To accompany the dress, the florist created a soft feminine mix of ivory and cream garden roses, peonies, and ranunculus – hand-tied with an ivory satin ribbon. The groom wore a modern black tuxedo by Tommy Hilfiger, with a boutonniere to match my bridal bouquet. My bridesmaids each wore their own choice of dress in a pinkish color to tie in with the cherry blossom decor. For their bouquets, I decided to use the same flowers as my own, but instead in pink, peach and blush hues.

Food is something that we really connected on in the beginning of our relationship. We knew we had to serve amazing food to our guests, which is another reason why we chose Astra, owned by world-famous chef, Carlie Palmer. We were able offer guests salmon tartare, balsamic tenderloin skewers, crispy scallops, heirloom tomato salad, filet mignon with lobster mashed potatoes, and wild halibut with peas and morels. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we opted to serve cupcakes from one of our favorite cupcake bakeries, “Baked”, and included some of our favorite flavors such as honey pistachio, tart passion fruit, and chocolate peanut butter with sea salt.

For music, we wanted to play all sorts of genres to please our varied guests and ourselves. Throughout the night we had a mix of 80’s, new wave, pop, electronic, oldies, top 40, and Middle Eastern pop music — which made the groom’s guests very happy! Guests were encouraged to take home Baked cupcakes, and a silver fortune cookie, which topped each place setting and included a humorous insert about love or marriage. After all, love is meant to put a smile on your face!

Photographer: Cynthia Chung Photography | Event Coordination: Gavin Murphy Of Astra | Florist: DESIGNS BY AHN | Wedding Dress: Vineyard | Hair & Makeup: Sachiko Yanase | Officiant: Reverend Lynn Bourbeau | Groom's Tuxedo: Tommy Hilfiger | Music: DJ Enrique Colon | Restaurant: Astra (Manhattan D&D Building) | Wedding Dress Customizations: The Bridal Garden

This is the kind of classic NYC wedding that is all about the awesome.  The sort of wedding where gorgeous traditional details and one fun-filled moment after another join forces for an amazing night of love, laughter and pretty.  See every beautiful moment (there are a lot of them) captured by Angela Newton Roy for Felix Studios in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Tripp and I met on a Friday night in New York, we were both out with friends in Gramercy and a chance meeting brought us together. We actually found out on that night that we have the same birthday! After countless dinner dates, summers in Sag Harbor and two years of long distance while Tripp was attending business school, he popped the question! When planning our wedding we couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate with our family and friends than the place where we met, New York. We choose The Yale Club of New York City as we had spent countless number of nights there with friends and wanted a place that we would revisit throughout our lives. The planning began and before we knew it the day was here.

We were married at The Church of Ascension one block away from our apartment, so that we could get photographs at our favorite neighborhood spots and include our dog, Birdie. It was essential that we include everything that represented us throughout our six years of courtship. For the reception, we really wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the room we choose, so we kept the flowers and lighting minimal. For the flowers, we choose a hybrid hydrangea in fuschia that was absolutely gorgeous to decorate the tables with and white hydrangeas laying over the mantels of the two adorning fireplaces. For my bouquet I opted for something light and choose lilies of the valley – many thanks are owed to Marian Kelly of Marian Kelly Fine Flowers. I choose a soft shade to up-light the ten windows that enclosed the reception area and it added a golden hue to the room, which accentuated the intricate detail of the ceiling.

For my dress and shoes, I chose Reem Acra and Salvatore Ferragamo with the bridesmaids wearing Amsale dresses of their choosing in french blue. For the guys, we opted to let everyone wear their own tuxedo, as we felt the mix and match would go perfectly with the bridesmaids different dresses. Later, the band ‘Bleecker Street’ kept everyone dancing to the very end of the night. At the end of the reception we boxed up all the wedding cake that was left and sent everyone home with a late night snack. Our wedding came out exactly as we had hoped and we were able to share what we love about living in New York – we couldn’t have hosted a better night for our family and friends.

Photographer: Angela Newton Roy Photography | Photography: Sasha Felix | Dress: Saks Fifth Avenue | Stationery: Atelier Isabey | Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo | Makeup: MakeupNV | Hair: Mika At Sei Tomoko | Venue: The Yale Club Of New York City | Music: Hank Lane Music

Bow ties and adorable puppies: two things I absolutely never grow tired of.  And this darling NYC engagement session from Cynthia Chung?  Well, it happens to feature BOTH of the aforementioned, along with a bride and groom-to-be who seriously couldn’t be cuter if they tried.  It’s the world’s most fabulous city meets all kinds of love-filled moments and you can see them all in the full gallery.

From Cynthia Chung Weddings… It was really perfect how well their outfits translated to the nautical, 1920’s vintage-esque feel of the South Street Seaport area. Henny’s (the bride-to-be) elegant and soft dress matched so well with Justin’s blazer and bow tie. It was delightful to photograph such a well dressed and cute couple!

From the Bride… Justin and I wanted our shoot at South Street Seaport to exude a sense of casual elegance, while our shoot at Kissena Park was meant to convey a more relaxed casualness. We tried to pick outfits that would translate well at those locations while maintaining a cohesive theme for each shoot.

Our photographer, Cynthia, did a great job capturing the way the wind caught my dress, and she timed our shoot at Kissena Park perfectly so that it would take place as the sun set. She captured all these small details that added a bit of romance to every shot.

I was a bit skeptical when Cynthia recommended Kissena Park as one of our locations because both Justin and I grew up near that park, and we would have never thought of it as an engagement shoot location. However, we love how the photos came out and the fact that we got to shoot at a place so close to home made it all that more special.

Photographer: Cynthia Chung Photography | Dress + Necklace (Seaport): Topshop | Shirt (Park): H&M | Shoes (Park): Aldo | Shoes (Seaport): Nine West | Skirt (Park): Urban Outfitters

I have yet to meet a Tory Williams wedding I don’t absolutely love. And this elegant New York farm affair is certainly no exception. Bursting with textured bloomage from Sarah Bedford and quirky details (hello, Lego figurine place cards!) you best skedaddle to the full gallery for soooo much more.

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From the Bride… Paolo and I are complete opposites — except for our mutual respect for art and design. Having met, albeit briefly, while attending the Rhode Island School of Design, we were re-introduced a few years after college at a mutual friend’s gallery opening in Chelsea. That was 6 years ago.

One of the things we bonded over was our love for Hergé and his comic book series The Adventures of Tintin, which became the central theme of our wedding. Paolo illustrated our very own Tintin-styled save-the-date postcard with the wedding venue, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, as the background. As for the wedding invitation, he drew us as Raphael and April O’Neil from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with all our favorite characters in attendance. Our wedding was, like us, full of contrasts — elegant vs. nerdy, formal vs. casual, planned vs. spontaneous.

We wanted to leave personal touches at every stage of the event: we marched out of the ceremony to a quartet’s rendition of The Imperial March from Star Wars, prepared individual Lego figurines as seat assignments for our guests, Paolo sculpted and painted the cake topper depicting him as Wolverine and me as Psylocke, and had a photo booth with props made (and brought) by our talented friends (Star Wars light sabers and a Darth Vader mask were part of the collection). My bridesmaids also surprised us with a reenactment of So Long, Farewell from The Sound of Music, complete with personalized lyrics and dance moves. It was an incredibly fun night shared with our family and friends at an absolutely gorgeous venue. Not to mention the food was probably the best meal we ever had.

Photography: Tory Williams Photography | Floral Design: Sarah Bedford | Wedding Dress: Morgane Le Fay | Wedding Dress: Morgane Le Fay | Cake: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Bride's Shoes: Anne Klein | Makeup: Sissi Chan | Venue: Blue Hill At Stone Barns | Cake Topper: Paolo Rivera | Getting Ready Venue: Tarrytown House Estate | Invitation + Save The Date: Illustrated By Paolo Rivera, Designed By April Kuo | Jazz Band: Norman Paul Edwards Jr. & Co. | Quartet: Kathleen Lai & Co. | Wedding Rings: Satomi Kawakita