Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We wanted to have a super intimate wedding with the grand New York feel. The views at The William Vale’s Vale Garden Residence are unmatched and to also have a spacious but intimate space was the perfect venue for our day.
How many guests did you have?
We had 17 people, including us and our two amazing photographers from Emily Li Photography!
What was your budget?
Honestly, we didn’t go in with a budget since our plan was for it to be small and intimate. We were really focused on a full week of quality time and fun with our closest friends and family in New York, so ended up spending a bit (a lot) more than we intended. All in, for the entire week, including the wedding, we probably spent around $60K. Way more than a typical intimate wedding, but we were fortunate enough to not sacrifice anything that truly mattered to us. Looking back, it was worth every penny.
Tell us about your outfits.
We both decided to do two looks each! My first dress was an elegant, timeless Mikaella by Paloma Blanca gown, to which I decided to add buttons. I had the option of wearing sleeves or pinning them back, but ended up having them back the entire time (not on purpose!).
To balance out the simplicity, I decided to match the skyline and change into the most stunning, full sparkly dress from Retrofete . I had the best seamstress who snatched the waist to complement my figure. I paired it with pearled, sparkly heels from Betsey Johnson but ended up going barefoot since I’m so tall.
Both of Bryce’s outfits were from State + Liberty. He was so excited to find a spot that had suits and tuxedos made for athletic builds. The material was lightweight, soft, and stretchy, but looked no different than a standard suit! His first outfit was a classic, elegant black tuxedo that he paired with shiny black dress shoes from Magnanni. He sported my new initials on his cuff, along with custom cufflinks I bought him early on in our relationship. His second suit was a green custom suit with a lion pattern on the inside and gold buttons throughout.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
First, keeping it intimate, personal, and very “us.” We wanted to have the grand wedding feel with only our closest friends and family. It also had to be very New York-esque. We wanted all of our friends and family to feel like they were in our Rom-Com movie, getting to experience everything New York City has to offer. We also incorporated a ton of alone time, which brides and grooms don’t often get at weddings. We went around the city taking photos together before heading to our ceremony. Second, hair, makeup, and photography were our biggest focuses. We wanted to feel our best, look our best, and have the most talented people capture our day so that we could cherish these memories forever. Finally, our other biggest focus was having top-notch food and cake. As a vegan bride, I wanted to ensure I had plenty to enjoy while also prioritizing the full experience for our friends and family.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
We wanted to make everything very personal. We decided to make our own menus and incorporate every guest’s dog instead of name cards. We got each guest’s dog digitally designed by Roni Short on Etsy and told everyone to “Find their dog, find their seat.” It was the sweetest touch to not only incorporate our own pup who couldn’t be there but also bring a little piece of home to everyone who traveled to be there with us. The best part was sending the digital designs to everyone when we got back home so they could keep it forever.
We also decided to have a live illustrator join us to create digital fashion drawings of all of our guests. It was the best take-home and unique experience we could have added.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Focus on what is going to make you happy. Whether it’s worrying about someone feeling left out by you having a small and intimate wedding or forgoing something to spend a little more on a vendor/detail that means more, don’t let anyone else’s opinion deter you and your spouse’s decision! Along the same lines, accept that things will go wrong and let it roll off your shoulders — no matter what it is. Something is bound to go awry, but quickly shifting your mindset back to you and your spouse keeps it about what matters most: your marriage!
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
We cannot speak highly enough about Emily Li Photography. Emily and Tyra from Emily Li Photography are the absolute sweetest. They paid attention to the smallest details, were the best hype women, and truly brought our vision to life. We went into our wedding day fully trusting Emily’s style and vision and were blown away by the results.
Then there’s Kate Blake Artistry and Cassie from Ivy and Lace. Not only are they two of the most talented stylists, but they are also the best people. They were my confidants, cheerleaders, coordinators, planners, and even DJs on top of being a killer makeup and hair team.
Having such an intimate wedding, we couldn’t have asked for a better team. They were more than just our wedding vendors, they truly felt like an extension of our family and friends.
Photographer : Emily Li Photography @emilyliphotography | Ceremony + Reception Location : The William Vale, @thewilliamvale | Celebrant : Rev Monica Castro + Groom's Twin Brother Armon @thearmonbattle | Flora : Rachel Cho Floral Design @rachelchofloral | MUA : Kate Blake Artistry @kateblakeartistry | Hair Stylists : Cassie from Ivy and Lace @ivyandlacefl | Catering + Beverages : The William Vale, @thewilliamvale | Cake : Lael Cakes @laelcakes | Stationery : DIY | Barber : Cathedra NYC @cathedranyc | Live Illustrator : Live Art by Katie @liveartbykatie | Ceremony Dress : Mikaella by Paloma Blanca @mikaellabridal from The White Magnolia Bridal, Palm Beach @whitemagnoliabridal | Reception Dress : Retrofete @retrofete | Suits : State + Liberty @stateandliberty | Engagement + Wedding Ring (Bride) : Forever Diamonds NY @foreverdiamondsny | Groom's Wedding Ring : David Yurman | Bride's Shoes : Bella Belle flats @bellabelleshoes + Betsey Johnson @betseyjohnson heels | Groom's Shoes : Magnanni @magnanni | Veil: Toni Federici @tonifedericiveils | MOH Dress : Revelry @shoprevelry