Tell us a little about yourselves!
The invisible string theory is very much a thing in our story. We met about 8 years ago at work in the city, but it wasn’t until after we each parted ways at the job that we started dating. We would run into each other randomly on the city sidewalks and coffee shops regularly. Years later after we started dating, we realized that we worked at the same event before we even knew each other! The love we share is hanging out with our friends and families (also our two pups!), trying out new restaurants, enjoying the outdoors and indulging on a late-night pizza.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We were going back and forth on where/how to celebrate. We bought a 1920’s farmhouse about an hour north of the city the year prior that we’ve been doing renovations on and so ultimately, we decided it was best to keep the wedding cost low and do an elopement in the place that will forever have our hearts, New York City. We opted for an old New York night stay the day before the celebration and stayed at The Carlyle Hotel, woke up, had breakfast together and then got ready for the day.
For the ceremony, our photographer, Studio Thao, recommended a location in Central Park that was perfect for the vibe we we’re going for. What we love about this idea is that this location in Central Park will always be there, shared with many visitors, and a special place that we can call ours. The ceremony was intimate, we had a close friend as our officiant and we even got some luck of rain.
How many guests did you have?
15 for the ceremony and 40 for the wedding dinner.
What was your budget?
We didn’t have a specific number in mind but with opting for an elopement, most of the costs of a traditional wedding we didn’t have. We were willing to splurge on certain aspects like the hotel, selection for the dinner menu and an open bar for the guests to enjoy.
Tell us about your outfits.
I saw a dress online from The New Arrivals that I fell in love with, so I ordered it as an option. I love the idea of a traditional silhouette but in novelty fabric like Chantilly lace, paired with simple accessories and hair/make-up. I did try a few others on, but the first one ended up being the one!
Nick had an open mind when choosing his outfit and opted for a traditional tuxedo from Gucci.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We’re big foodies and so are our families so choosing a restaurant with good food was a must. The service was also important because we didn’t have a wedding planner so having an attentive manager and waitstaff was a huge help to ensuring the guests were enjoying themselves.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
It was important for us to give gratitude to the people celebrating with us who have been a part of so many chapters of our lives. Nick gave a round robin speech to each of the guests and while it wasn’t the standard “8 minute” wedding speech (it was much longer!), reminiscing on funny memories and acknowledging our gratitude to all of our family and friends who were all in the same room is something we felt was important to do.
Any tips for couples getting married?
There are so many ways to celebrate love, there’s no right or wrong way. It can be whatever you want it to be!
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
We can’t thank our vendors enough for making the night so memorable and special for us. They went above and beyond even given the short notice on planning for the event.
Our photographer, Studio Thao, was amazing from start to finish. She captured such beautiful and heart felt candid moments of us and our family and friends that we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives.
Photographer: Studio Thao @studiothao | Flora: Design by Anthony Ortiz @designbyanthonyortiz | Ceremony Location: Central Park | Reception Location: Felice’s @felice.restaurants | Celebrant: Armando
Grano | HMUA: Glamsquad @glamsquad | Cake: Les Gateaux De Marie @les_gateaux_de_marie_ny | Dress: The New Arrivals @Newarrivals.co | Suit: Gucci @gucci | Engagement Ring: Josh Levkoff @joshlevkoffjewelry | Wedding Rings: Cartier @cartier (Bride) & (Groom) Satomi Kawakita @satomi_kawakita_jewelry | Shoes: Revolve @revolve