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Real Wedding | Amanda & Michael



Tell us a little about yourselves!


Both being East Coast natives, we ironically met in Los Angeles. I was invited by his roommate to a St. Patrick’s Day party in Little Tokyo and when I joined in on the fun, I found myself in a hole in the wall karaoke joint inside of a mall. Michael was passionately singing a cover of a punk rock song that I love and it was truly love at first sight for me! 


After a few exchanges we learned we shared so many of the same interests - our love for New York City, punk bands, and musical theater. We also learned we lived walking distance from each other… and that our last names were almost identical. 


We have now been together for six years and live in our home in Los Feliz, with our cat, Malcolm. We love to spend our time going to concerts, plays, and Broadway shows, traveling to new and familiar places and spending time with our friends who have given us the best community. 


Michael proposed in Prospect Park, at a specific corner of the lake that was really special to us both.


Why did you decide to get married where you did?


We separately grew up loving NYC for different reasons before we met. I had a fascination with it since I was little and went many years for my birthday up until adulthood, while Michael moved there after college to become a teacher. When we met in LA where we both live now, we shared our sentiments of the city and it became a go-to location to visit anytime we could.  


It’s also where we got engaged. The day we got engaged we spent the afternoon in Prospect Park, celebrated shortly after at one of our favorite bars (shoutout to Franklin Park in Crown Heights!) and ended the night with tickets to see a Broadway show, Into the Woods. It was our perfect New York City day. 


We just have so many memories and friends in NYC so it was a no-brainer to officialize our union there.


How many guests did you have?


85 - we had invited 100 but can honestly say that 85 was a perfect number for us and what we had envisioned for the evening.


Tell us about your outfits.


Considering my entire career has been within the fashion industry, the task of searching for the outfits for the wedding was my favorite part! I am a big online window shopper and predominantly did all of my research for styles online. 


I had seen a dress online that I ordered to just test out as a first option. I drew inspiration from Molly Goddard and Simone Rocha, who both have tea length textured dresses within their collections. I stumbled upon a Needle &Thread dress, ordered it and the rest is history! It felt almost too good to be true so I did  entertain the idea of trying on dresses in person but nothing compared to it and so  after a few sessions I gave into the serendipitous idea of the first dress. 


I also knew I wanted a pop of color (and something blue) so my Martiniano Party Heels in Blue were the perfect addition. Also quite serendipitous as they were on sale (in my size only) at one of my favorite stores, Recital Store in Denver.  


I also was very passionate about an after party look and chose a mini Norma Kamali sequin dress which honestly was insanely comfortable. When it came to dancing I knew I wanted something funky but secretly comfy. And boots! I wear knee high boots every other day and knew it wouldn’t be me without a pair involved. While this was the hardest search, I finally found a pair of knee high silver boots and was instantly sold. The reception headpiece was from a close friend’s mother, who wore it on her wedding day. 


All of my jewelry was from Catbird NYC, excluding my earrings that belonged to my grandmother. My engagement ring has an emerald and her earrings did too, so it was a perfect incorporation with sentimental value.  


Mike’s tuxedo was rented from a mom and pop shop, New Era in the East Village, owned by the sweetest family.


What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?


To stay true to ourselves which meant having a celebration of love that didn’t feel stiff or performative. We knew we wanted it to be as intimate as possible, so we were intentional about picking a space that felt cozy, romantic but still very relaxed. We are also passionate about food and music, so it was important to us that these elements were exactly what we want them to be wedding or not, which is Italian food and all of our top favorite songs to follow.  

 

The wedding industry can be extremely overwhelming and you can easily get lost in what you “should” be doing rather than what you actually want. Our main goal was to honor our love and union with our most favorite people in our favorite place with delicious food and a playlist that filled the room with so much joy, and it was exactly that. 


It was also top of mind for us that our guests were going to be able to enjoy themselves. As this was  considered a destination wedding for most, we wanted to encapsulate a perfectly quintessential New York moment for them as well. Between the exposed brick, twinkled lights, Frank Sinatra over dinner and midnight pizza we were so pleased with the outcome.


Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?


Subtle winks to things we love together. Mike and I wrote a handwritten personal note as a wedding favor to each guest. It was important that everyone knew how impactful their support and love was and still is to us.  


I also designed a bookmark with a quote from our favorite movie, When Harry Met Sally, which was the  perfect nod to our love for books, as well as the perfectly autumnal Nora Ephron classic (which felt right for a wedding in NYC in October.) 


Music was also extremely important to us. We curated a playlist for the entire evening that included many songs that were so special to us. Whether it was The Smiths playing during cocktail hour, The Carpenters playing during dinner, or My Chemical Romance playing during the party, we included songs linked to many memories within our relationship. I also walked down the aisle to “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and it was one of my most cherished moments. 


It was also very important to include photos of Mike’s mother, Doreen, who passed away 5 years ago.  Family plays a huge role in both of our lives and the celebration of our union would have felt incomplete without having her there with us in some way.


Any tips for couples getting married?


Don’t lose sight of the objective, which is a celebration of love. There are no rules even though it may seem like there is. You can interpret this moment however you want so do it exactly how you want to. 

Also take breaks from planning and the pressure! Remember that while it is a  beautifully significant day in your timeline, you’ve had a plethora of beautiful days together leading up to it. Balance your planning time with time together where you’re not planning - the nights where you take a break and go get dinner or watch a movie together makes you step back and remember what it’s all for.


Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?


I couldn’t have loved our vendors more! A fantastic group of women, each incredibly skilled in their craft.  


Parkers Pictures, our photographer, captured the day beyond what we had envisioned. We wanted a relaxed and natural approach that still felt colorful and full of life and once we found her we knew we had to work with her. One of our most favorite parts of the day was when Mike and I were strolling around the city as she captured our moments together before getting married. It was beautifully natural and honestly took so much ease off of our minds, spending it together prior to the ceremony. 


Our floral designer, Zoie from Efflorescent Studio, is a sculptural artist meets florist. I wish floral museums existed because her work is truly so special. She will take the idea that you have and add the perfect touch of uniqueness that made the setting of our evening  romantically whimsical. 


Our cake designer Rachel, from Bakes With Rach, is a small business owner in Brooklyn that I stumbled across on social media and I am so happy I did. I told her I wanted a “a fun,  weird” cake, funfetti if possible, and she said that was music to her ears! If you’re looking for a chic but playful statement, she’s your girl.  


Dj Xenia was our dream DJ! She had no restrictions on requests and was extremely thorough in learning what we wanted to play. Music was very essential for us and she brought the perfect energy - all of our guests loved her. 


And finally our venue! We loved Aurora Brooklyn for providing a perfectly cozy, romantic wedding space with some of the best food we’ve ever had, along with the most helpful staff.







































Photographer: Parkers Pictures @parker.pictures | Planning & Styling: By Amanda | Flora: Efflorescent Studio @efflorescent. studio | Ceremony & Reception Location: Aurora Brooklyn @aurorabrooklyn | Celebrant: A close friend, Stephan Stansfield | HMUA: Emily Morris  @emilykatemane | Catering + Beverages: Aurora Brooklyn @aurorabrooklyn | Cake: Bakes With Rach @bakeswithrach_ | Stationery: By Amanda | Entertainment:  DJ Xenia, Non Traditional Wedding DJ’s @dj_xenia_ | Day Of   Coordinator: Kate Bailey @katerosebailey | Ceremony Dress: Needle & Thread @needleandthreadlondon  | Reception Dress: Norma Kamali @normakamali | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Catbird NYC @catbirdnyc | Ceremony Shoes: Martiniano @martinianoshoes from Recital Store @shoprecital | Earrings: Vintage, from Amanda’s Grandmother | Necklace: CatbirdNYC @catbirdnyc






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