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Nichole and David held a beautiful brunch wedding at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The weather forecast was not on their side, but the atrium was a wonderful alternative to the outdoors. Natural light beamed throughout the leaf-shaped room and the couple was surrounded by so much love.

David’s son had two very important jobs–he was the ring bearer and best man!

Nichole and David chose the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for their wedding because it’s one of their favorite places. Nichole shares, “It is truly a quiet refuge from the insanity that can be New York City. The garden served as a beautiful backdrop to a unique untraditional brunch reception despite the weather not cooperating as anticipated. We were fortunate with an amazing team and family that pulled everything together and made it especially memorable despite the rain. Our ceremony was accompanied by live music from the terrific string quartet, Sterling Strings, whom David and I felt added the perfect ambiance! A close family friend performed the ceremony that was intimately crafted and paid warm tribute to my grandparents. The “I do’s!” were immediately followed by a reception hosted by Patina Events. Guests enjoyed a ‘New York bagel bar,’ handcrafted cocktails and a delicious seated meal. The ambiance was further carried out by the soothing Jazz duo of Sydney & Jake leading people to the dance floor. As a unique touch, guests were also waiting in line to get their wedding faces immortalized by the very talented caricature artist, Kaheim Archer. We could feel all the love in the room and we are forever grateful to all our friends and loved ones, and those who worked to make our very special day a wonderful success!”

The atrium was quickly transformed into a dining room with special personal touches that were perfect for a botanical wedding.

Congratulations Nichole and David!

Special thanks to the team:
Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Officiant: Marci Harris
Caterer: Patina Events
Musicians (for the ceremony): Sterling Strings
Musicians (for the reception): Sydney & Jake
Invitations: Minted
Makeup: Joril Westlund
Rings: Doyle & Doyle and Tiffany & Co.
Bride’s Dress: Eve of Milady
Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.
Groom’s Suit Designer/Shop: My.Suit
Photographer: Jessica Schmitt Photography

Lara and Ryan were married on a lovely September day at Our Lady of the Rosary with a reception at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe.

The ceremony was held at Our Lady of the Rosary in downtown Manhattan.

After the ceremony, we crossed the street to the beautiful area around Battery Park and we walked by the amazing new SeaGlass Carousel.

Family and friends rode together to some favorite spots in lower Manhattan including Rockefeller Park and the Highline.

Lara shares, “One of our favorite parts of the day was when we were at the Highline taking wedding pictures. It started raining when we got there, which actually worked out in our favor since it helped clear out the crowds. We had planned on taking a group picture at one of the stadium seating areas on the Highline that overlooks 10th Avenue. We ended up having this great New York moment because all the tourists cleared out from the seating area when they saw us dressed up and we were able to take our group shot alone while passersby watched from above.

To have all of our family and closest friends there to celebrate over the weekend was truly amazing. All the planning was worth it–some things didn’t work out as planned, but at the end of the day it all worked out! All we remember is that we got to dance with our best friends and family, had an amazing afternoon with our closest friends riding a party bus along the west side of NYC to our photo locations, and just laughed and created so many amazing memories that day. It really was the best day of our lives and we couldn’t be happier.”

Lara shares, “We chose Housing Works Bookstore as our reception venue because we wanted to celebrate in a space that was non-traditional, unique, and really expressed our personalities. The traditional side of the day was saved for our wedding ceremony where we got married in a Catholic church earlier in the day.”

The Opera Collective performed three songs during cocktail hour. They were amazing!

Ryan shares. “One of our favorite projects that we worked on together was our guestbook. Jessica actually helped us put this together as part of our engagement photo session. We put together “Then and Now” re-creation photos of us when we were younger with our grandparents, parents, and siblings. The guestbook showed side-by-side picture comparisons and was a tribute to our family that showed the impact they had on our lives and how their guidance, love, and friendship helped make us the people we are today. It’s a keepsake that we will treasure forever!

For our first dance, we did something different. We sampled three songs and mashed them together to create something new and different. As simple as our pad-performed, mash-up song was, it took about four weeks to put together. It was really fun bouncing ideas off one another in creating it and getting a chance to feel cool performing it together. We feel grateful for everyone’s response to the performance and for all the lovely kazooing our family and friends contributed. Apologies to Kendrick Lamar, Sisyphus, and Bleachers if they’d like their song snippets back. They are ours now.”

After mixing the songs, they danced together for the last few notes. Everyone loved it!

Congratulations Lara and Ryan!

Church: Our Lady of the Rosary
Reception Venue: Housing Works Bookstore
Coordinator: Modern Rebel, Gina Jurlando
Caterer: Comparti
Cake: The Good Batch
DJ/Band: Scratch Weddings
Entertainment: The Opera Collective
Florist: Wyld
Invitations: DIY
Makeup: Amy Klewitz
Hair: Micky Nkabori
Photographer: Jessica Schmitt Photography

Sarah and Mark’s wedding was full of sunflowers, traditions, lots of love and a special surprise song at the reception that ended up being one of their favorite parts of the wedding day.

The couple shared a first look outside of the synagogue.

The bride and groom each had their own Tish and then Mark danced his way to see Sarah for the Bedeken.

They signed the Ketubah, their parents blessed them and then Mark put the veil over Sarah just before they began the Chuppah marriage ceremony.

Married!

During cocktail hour the couple went to Riverside Park for some portraits.

The ceremony space was transformed into a beautiful reception with stunning florals and a large dance floor.

Sarah was the last child to be married among her siblings which means her parents were honored with a special, joyous dance called the Mizinke. Brooms are used to portray the children being swept out the door.

The dancing is so energetic that the couple needs a break! Sarah and Mark sat in chairs while their friends and family performed a shtick with skits and silly costumes to make the couple laugh.

They shared their first dance to “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen.

Sarah shares,  “We had a traditional Jewish wedding but we tried to make it unique to us as a couple in certain ways, to reflect our fun and silly natures. At a friend’s wedding a few years ago, she performed a song on guitar for her new bride, and I was inspired to do something similar, so I prepared a musical number, “5,000 Candles in the Wind” from the TV show Parks & Recreation, to play on the piano and sing to Mark. At the end of the toasts, I made a speech saying that I had a song for him to express the way I felt about him (if you’ve never seen Parks & Rec, the song is an elegy for a miniature horse named Li’l Sebastian, by the way), while my niece and nephews handed out glow sticks to the guests to wave during the performance. I had been practicing for months and, although I was nervous, it was so much fun to see the surprise on Mark’s face, and to have everyone wave their glow sticks and sing along. At the end, Mark and I ran to the middle of the dance floor to hug each other and everyone threw their glow sticks; even though I got beaned on the head a few times, it was a beautiful moment.”

Mark shares,  “I LOVED the Li’l Sebastian surprise. I had noticed Maddie, Sarah’s niece, handing out some glow sticks during the toasts and I wasn’t sure what that was all about. When I looked around the room later, as Sarah sang the song and everyone was swaying back and forth with the glow sticks, I felt so lucky to have someone like Sarah in my life. I thought to myself, “I am so excited for a lifetime of surprises like this one.”

My other favorite moment was our first dance. From the very beginning, Sarah has always said that I’m a great dancer and that she is not. I wanted our first dance to not only be fun, but to show her that she can do an awesome job of ripping it up on the dance floor if she works at it. We practiced our routine quite a bit (even once in the rain in Riverside Park because why not) and when the moment arrived, we not only did a great job, but had a fantastic time!”

Congratulations Sarah and Mark!

Check out their engagement photos here.

Special thanks to the team:
Venue: B’nai Jeshurun
Coordinator: Carly Levine
Officiant: Rabbi Anne Ebersman
Caterer: Simply Divine
Band: Ken Gross Orchestras
Florist: FLO NY Events
Invitations: Blacker and Kooby
Hair and Makeup: Pin It Up and Pout
Bride’s gown: Leanne Marshall
Groom’s Attire: Victor Talbots
Videography: NST Films
Photography: Jessica Schmitt Photography with Eric Swartz

I met Katie and Mike at Gantry State Park in Long Island City for their engagement session. We had beautiful weather and breath-taking views!

Katie shares, “Mike and I grew up only a few blocks apart on Long Island, but we didn’t truly meet until 2011 at one of the classiest bars in New York City, Turtle Bay. When Mike and I first met we were more opposite than you could imagine. He was a Long Island sports-loving, schedule-driven law student, and me a grungy, free-spirited art school student. No matter how different we seemed, we always knew how to make each other laugh. It’s safe to say we eventually met in the middle and our differences are what make our relationship so strong.

Today we live together in Astoria. We consider New York City our playground whether it’s checking out a new park, museum, or undiscovered town in one of the boroughs. We love Gantry State Park for its gorgeous views and convenient proximity from home. To see the trees splashed among a rigid and vast skyline is something that will never get old! We are so excited to continue life’s adventure when we get married in one of our favorite parks in September.”

Katie and Mike are getting married in Manhattan this September. Happy engagement, you two!

Allison and Josiah were married in Central Park on a beautiful summer day. Allison got ready for the day with her family and friends at the Marriot along Central Park South.

The ceremony took place at the Ladies Pavilion and was officiated by two of the couple’s good friends.

Allison shares, “When Joe and I decided to move in together, we knew we wanted to live on the Upper West Side because of the neighborhood and Central Park! Once we got there, the lake and pavilion area truly became our place where we would grab a bagel and juice and take Lola for a walk, sit out on the rocks and enjoy the scenery. Seemed only fitting to get married there! Tavern on the Green was also special to us because we had our first Christmas together there.”

Joe proposed on a bike ride over the Williamsburg Bridge where they had their first kiss.

Allison and Josiah both found ways to honor very special loved ones.

Congratulations Allison and Josiah!

Special credits include:
Venue: Ladies Pavillion in Central Park
Cocktail Hour: Tavern on the Green
Macarons: LaDurée
Bride’s shoes: Manolo Blahnik