There’s something about New York City that grabs my heart and won’t let go. No matter how many times I visit that place, the excitement and energy never quite wears off, and it only made sense these two New Yorkers set their Big Day in the magical city they call home. Dave DiRentis came on board to photograph from beginning to end, and I’m convinced this balcony moment is bridal portrait perfection. See even more inside The Vault!
From the Bride… Steve and I met during our second week of college and were together for more than ten years before getting married. Well before we walked down the aisle, we felt like family. And for both of us, family always comes first. When it came to planning our wedding, we were so honored and grateful that the most important people in our lives would be with us to celebrate. From relatives flying in from Costa Rica and Korea, to friends and family joining us from all across the country, we wanted a memorable celebration for everyone.
As New Yorkers — Steve originally from Boston, we had heard about the iconic New York Botanical Garden for years. It felt like an oasis. From the moment we first walked onto the pristine grounds, we could immediately picture it filled with our loved ones. It was the quintessential New York City venue far removed from all of the hustle and bustle. The setting was perfect for us.
While I wasn’t someone who had planned my wedding since childhood, I had always pictured getting married in a church. Finding the perfect church was as important to me as finding the perfect venue. After visiting countless all around Manhattan, my parents came upon The Church of Saint Monica on the Upper East Side. It was beautiful and large enough to hold all of our guests, but as my father said, it felt cozy and intimate from the moment you stepped inside. He of course joked that they had found the church named after me.
I fell in love with my wedding dress the moment I put it on. It was unlike any dress my mother or I had ever seen before, and it was exactly what we were looking for. It was classic and unique, perfect for a summer wedding at the Botanical Garden. One of my favorite details of the day was the handmade cathedral length veil that I borrowed from my sister-in-law (and matron of honor) Olivia. She lent it to both me and our sister-in-law Stephanie, so we all wore the same veil on our wedding days. Having grown up with two older brothers, you can imagine how special that was!
I vividly remember the moment when Steve and I first walked through the doors into our reception. We were both completely blown away. The room was glowing with candles and the energy was palpable. Westchester Floral designed the gorgeous centerpieces that were lush with vendela and sahara roses, snapdragons, hydrangea, and tall orchid lined willow branches draped with hanging votives. Hank Lane’s Dane Wright Band was simply exceptional — the best wedding band we have ever heard (just look at the photos)! The band had our guests out on the dance floor within the first minutes of our reception, and they played non-stop into the night. Our wonderful photographer Dave DiRentis, who also shot my bother’s wedding earlier in the summer, perfectly captured every moment of the day.
Last but certainly not least was the food! Renowned restaurateur Stephen Starr catered the entire event. Cocktail hour was complete with two exquisite asian and Mexican stations (a la Starr’s NYC restaurants, Buddakan and El Vez) and passed hors d’oeuvres including korean pork belly sliders, lobster mac and cheese bites, and petite filet mignon with caramelized onions. The four course meal, including a pomegranate grapefruit sorbet intermezzo, was topped off with dulce de leche and salty caramel and chocolate wedding cake. Dessert tapas including mini vintage milk bottles with cookies, chocolate truffles spiced with coconut rum, and graham cracker s’mores were passed around the dance floor. To cap it off — after a night full of dancing — guests took mini bags of freshly popped popcorn for the road.
As with everything else in our lives, our family and friends are what made our wedding day so special. From every detail both large and small— our 18 person wedding party, plus 9 flower girls (!!), the beautiful programs designed by my cousin Nicole, and the place cards that were impeccably calligraphed by my Tia Igen — nothing would have been the same without them. It truly felt like a dream. If only we could do it all over again!
Photography: Dave DiRentis Photography | Videography: Lexoria | Floral Design : Westchester Floral | Cake: Lulu Cake Boutique | Invitations: Write On Larchmont | Ceremony Venue: Church Of Saint Monica | Reception Venue: New York Botanical Garden | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Stephen Starr | Hair: Vu Hair New York | Band: Dane Wright Band | Programs: Nicole Rim
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