Wedding | Cece & George

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met at a work conference in San Francisco — Cece was living in NYC and George in London at the time. One of those serendipitous meetings that changes everything. Everything happened fast. We fell in love quickly, moved between continents, and exactly one year to the day we met, we were married. Though love is patient, we aren’t — and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We wanted our wedding to reflect that spirit.

We wanted the day to feel intentional but unpolished — like the best dinner party we've ever thrown, with vows. Tradition wasn't the goal; authenticity was. We loved the idea of blending the sacred and the spontaneous — starting with a beautiful Catholic ceremony, then giving ourselves (and our guests) the freedom to pause, relax, and rejoin the celebration on our own terms.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We envisioned something intimate, vintage, and effortlessly classic — a day that reflected our true personalities, with an air of nostalgia and sentimentality. We wanted our wedding to feel like a seamless blend of British and American traditions: elegant, timeless, and deeply personal.

New York felt like the perfect middle ground — both logistically and emotionally. It’s where we fell in love, and it offered the right mix of timeless elegance, lived-in charm, and chaos. We wanted venues that captured our personalities — a sacred, traditional ceremony space balanced with a moody, romantic dinner setting.

Our day started with a Catholic ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Church, followed by a siesta (a must!) and then a cozy, candlelit dinner party-style celebration at Cave à Vin in Hotel Chelsea, with its historic charm and subtle ode to old-world glamour, gave us just the right mix of English charm and Manhattan edge.

How many guests did you have?

Around 40. We kept it intentionally small so we could spend meaningful time with each guest and not feel like we were hosting a production.

What was your budget? 

We aimed to keep things around $50k. Our priority was creating an intentional experience over anything extravagant — no fluff, just focus on what felt meaningful and real.

Tell us about your outfits.

Cece wore a structured yet romantic dress — classic with a slightly vintage silhouette, paired with a long veil and minimal jewelry. George wore a tailored navy suit and black tie that nodded to British formality but kept things relaxed as the tie quickly came off after the ceremony.

We got ready separately, keeping it traditional (for once) — the first look was that walk down the aisle, and we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

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

That it felt like us. We didn’t want a day full of moments that looked good on paper but felt impersonal in real life. Everything from the music to the flow of the night was designed to feel natural, personal, and true to our story.

There was no bridal party, no rigid itinerary, and no expectations outside of our own.

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

We wanted to honor both our cultures — George’s English background and Cece’s American roots — in a way that felt effortless. That meant a Catholic ceremony, British humor in the speeches, a NYC dinner party vibe, and classic songs from both sides of the Atlantic on the playlist. We also built in downtime between the ceremony and reception (ode to Cece’s extroverted- introvert tendencies), which gave everyone the chance to rest, reset, and come back ready to party. 

Any tips for couples getting married?

Don’t try to make everyone happy. Make yourselves happy, and the right people will feel that joy. Also: build in breathing room. Whether it’s 30 minutes alone, a slow morning together. For us it was a post-ceremony pre-dinner party siesta for our guests while we drank champagne alone in our fancy hotel room, protect the parts of the day where you can just be — not host, not pose, not perform.

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

Chellise Michael was a dream. We were searching for someone who could capture emotion and movement over perfection, and she gave us exactly that. Her work is raw, nostalgic, and alive — it felt like she understood our story before we even told it. Every photo brings us back to a feeling, not just a moment.

Liza Ray, Cece’s makeup and hair artist, for being such a calming, creative, and thoughtful presence on our wedding day. She made me, my mom, and my sister not only feel so beautiful — but also so ourselves. You understood exactly the look I was going for: timeless, elegant, and effortless — and you brought it to life better than I could have imagined. 

And we could never forget - The entire team at Hotel Chelsea, Dom especially, who made our day one to remember, Thank you.

Photographer: Chellise Michael @chellisemichaelphotography | Florals: Chelsea flower market, arranged by Cece’s mother and grandmother @chelseaflowermarket | Ceremony Location: St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church NYC | Reception Location: Hotel Chelsea, Cave-a-Vin Wine Room @hotelchelsea | HMUA: Liza Ray, Beauty Icon NYC Agency @liza_ray | Catering & Beverages: Hotel Chelsea @hotelchelsea | Cake: Billy’s Bakery @billysbakerynyc | Stationery: Minted @minted | Dress: Liz Martinez @lizmartinezbridal from Spina Bride @spinabride | Suit: SuitSupply @suitsupply | Veil: Spina Bride @spinabride | Cece's Engagement & Wedding Rings: Cece’s great-great grandmothers ring from 1910 | George's Wedding Ring: Cartier @cartier | Cece's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik @manoloblahnik