Tell us a little about yourselves!
Hi, it’s Sam and Billy. We got married on June 8th, 2024 after nine years of dating. Sam moved to the city on a Tuesday, met Billy at a friend’s work happy hour that Thursday, and we’ve spoken every single day since then. We are the same in so many ways that it sometimes feels like we share a brain — except for the part of Billy’s brain that likes football and excel spreadsheets, and the part of Sam’s that is passionate about typography.
By the time we decided to get married we had already lived together in Brooklyn for 5 years, adopted our sweet dog Winnie, and were lucky enough to buy a house upstate together. Getting married was a no brainer, but we put a lot of thought into our wedding celebration.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We just got that feeling! The Foundry has a beautiful mix of industrial character and lush greenery that we felt perfectly encapsulated our two homes in NYC and the Catskills.
From the courtyard you get a unique view of the Queensboro Bridge, which was the connection between our apartments when we first started dating.
How many guests did you have?
140.
What was your budget?
$150,000.
Tell us about your outfits.
It was always going to be Vivienne Westwood for me. The corset was flattering but also so comfortable, and I knew the silk draping would photograph so well. I didn’t plan on having a second look, but once I realized my arms were too restricted for dancing I decided to really go for it with a super fun, purple ostrich feather dress from XU ZHI that I called my “Sexy Muppet Look”. Shout out to Tatianna for tailoring both of my dresses to perfection. She incorporated my mother’s pearl brooch into the first look, and took up the hem significantly on my second dress so it would really feel like a party dress.
Billy wore a custom tuxedo from Suitsupply. He went with all of the classic details (black, peak lapel), and had them embroider our wedding date on the inside of the jacket collar. The pants were tailored a smidge high to show off a classically Billy amount of ankle. Accessories included: cufflinks gifted from his parents, his favorite watch (a 1991 Rolex Datejust), and of course his wedding band — an heirloom of his late grandfathers.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Not doing anything that “you’re supposed to” just for the sake of it. Every element we incorporated into our wedding was an intentional choice.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
We knew we wanted to incorporate some special touches that honor Sam’s Filipino heritage. During the ceremony we had cord and candle sponsors, which was a way for us to honor some important people in our lives. And we also had our band play “Todo, Todo, Todo” which is a classic Filipino line dance song that my family plays at every wedding. That was so much fun.
Sam’s Aunt also did an amazing job with structuring our ceremony to feel unique to us. She had spoken with both of our parents beforehand, and opened the ceremony by sharing their kind words about both of us as individuals. Instead of exchanging vows, we each wrote a few words about when and how we knew each other was ‘the one’ and gave them to her to read aloud. It was really special to hear each other’s perspective, and it honestly felt like she was narrating the movie version of our love story.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Wedding planning can be overwhelming, so really think about what type of wedding you want to have before getting into it. We thought through all options — eloping, renting a villa in Europe for a small group of friends and family, or hosting a smaller dinner party. But ultimately what felt most exciting to us was throwing a big party for everybody that we love. Walking into a room filled with so many of our favorite people from all over the globe was an indescribable feeling. It made any planning stress worth it.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Sam is a designer and creative director, so she designed all of the stationery herself. She also made an extensive creative brief for all of our vendors, so shoutout to all of them for not thinking that was crazy!
We also have to thank our photographer, Nicole Plett. She was a referral from our original photographer who found out she was expecting her first child and had to back out last minute. What could have been an extremely stressful situation was a blessing in disguise! Photography was a super important element for us, and Nicole is someone who totally “gets it”. She nailed our vision perfectly; capturing so many candid and intimate moments with an editorial edge.
Photographer: Nicole Plett @nicole__plett | Wedding Co-Ordinator: Cherish Events @cherish.events | Flora: Carmen & Co @carmenand.co | Ceremony & Reception Location: The Foundry @thefoundrylic | Celebrant: Sam’s Aunt | Hire: Broadway Party Rentals @broadwaypartyrentals | HMUA: Willow House Beauty @willowhouse.beauty | Catering + Beverages:
Comparti @comparticatering | Stationery: designed by Sam | Entertainment: Time Machine Entertainment | Getting Ready Location: The Penny @thepennyhotel | Lighting: Universal Light & Sound @ulsnyc | Ceremony Dress: Vivienne Westwood @viviennewestwood | Party Dress: XU ZHI @xu_zhi_ | Tailor: Tatiana Kova @tatikovastudio | Suit: Suitsupply @suitsupply | Veil: Revolve | Pearl Brooch: from Sam’s mother | Sam's Engagement & Wedding Ring: Shahla Karimi @shahlakarimi_jewelry | Billy’s Wedding Ring: from his grandfather | Earrings: Pagmayá Pearls
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