Wedding | Alex & Mike

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met at our friend’s bar Ramona in 2017 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, through some mutual friends. Although it wasn’t a setup, we ended up hitting it off and fell in love very quickly. It was one of those nights where we both almost didn’t go—only to realize we lived on the same block and had both been to this bar many times, yet somehow had never crossed paths. It all felt very meant to be.

We moved in together in 2019 and then survived the pandemic in a railroad apartment with our two cats, Tito and Valentina. We always agreed that getting married wasn’t a top priority for us as a couple. It wasn’t until 2024 that we started talking about it more seriously. As the bride, I had always told Sweeney that I wanted to propose to him. He loved the idea and just asked to let him know if I ever changed my mind. In the beginning of 2025, after more than seven years together, I popped the question and he said yes!

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

We both knew we didn’t want a big wedding. We both come from small families so we had no obligation to throw a party for anyone but ourselves. After some research and figuring out a budget we decided an NYC City Hall elopement was just for us. We have both been in NYC for a long time and it is where we met so it felt perfect.

We decided we wanted that day to be just about us getting married and nothing else. No fussy plans and no hard timelines. It seemed like we did everything backwards, since we’d already had two parties that felt like receptions prior to our city hall wedding – but we wouldn’t change a thing.

How many guests did you have?

14 of us total at city hall and dinner and then 14 more friends met us for a karaoke after party at one of our favorite neighborhood bars, Goldies.

What was your budget?

We spent about $12K in total, prioritizing the things that mattered most to us: outfits we truly loved, a memorable meal, and a talented photographer who could capture the experience.

Tell us about your outfits.

Alex- As a hairstylist, I’ve helped many clients get ready for their own NYC elopements, which is how I discovered Eva Lopez of Cha Cha Linda Vintage in Greenpoint. My little blue dress was actually the very first one I tried on at our appointment. Our inspiration was a bit of a Las Vegas elopement with a New York twist. Comfortable but chic shoes were the second most important thing to me, and once those were decided, the accessories all fell into place. I found my sunglasses at a local vintage shop, my veil on Etsy, and my earrings were made by a friend. My sister, Danielle Hartnett, a makeup artist, suggested a blue eyeshadow to match the dress—a choice that became one of my favorite elements of the entire look.

Michael- Our close friend Eric Torneros, who also did both of our hair, went suit shopping with me. We tried a range of styles before landing on a tan Hugo Boss suit. On the morning of the wedding, I still had several options for my tie and pocket square. My now brother-in-law and I laid everything out and made the final call together—it felt fun to be a little spontaneous, knowing any choice would work.

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

We knew we just wanted to stay true to ourselves and do everything exactly the way we wanted. Although we did not have a big wedding there was still lots of preparation and planning involved. We were intentional about not letting it take over our lives, giving ourselves nights off to simply enjoy being engaged.

Our photographer, Sylvie Rosokoff, was recommended to me by Cha Cha Linda Vintage, and I had already admired her work online. Beyond the stunning photos, what really stood out was her specialization in elopements. Because of that, she became much more than our photographer—she guided us through the entire City Hall experience and truly acted as a planner for us.

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

Because the ceremony itself was so brief, we didn’t have the opportunity to exchange vows. Instead, after the wedding, we went upstate for a few days to unwind and decided it was the perfect moment to share our vows privately in a more intimate setting. We did include speeches at the dinner and a cake-cutting with friends at the after-party, which helped the celebration feel like more than just an elopement.

Any tips for couples getting married?

As cliché as it may sound, our biggest advice is to stay true to yourselves. Take a moment to pause and ask what really matters to you. For us, that meant keeping everything relaxed, easy, and most importantly fun. We chose a small, intimate group and stayed close to home, which made the entire experience feel grounded and meaningful.

It’s also important to let others help when they offer—because we learned they truly want to. Seeing our community come together throughout our engagement and on our wedding day was incredibly special, including those who were supporting us from far away.

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

Flower Frens - The flowers were made by a shop near San Diego co-owned by Arielle Kincaid, Alex’s best friend since sixth grade. She had the idea to overnight both the bouquet and boutonniere, and despite the risk, everything arrived beautifully. Carrying something she made by hand made the day feel even more meaningful, particularly knowing she couldn’t be there in person.

Sylvie Rosokoff - We could not be happier with our photographer Sylvie. As two people who were nervous to have our photos taken she made us feel so at ease. We felt like we had known her for years. The photos turned out exactly the way our wedding vibe was which was natural and fun.

Eric James Torneros & Danielle Hartnett - Our dream glam team that helped with more than just hair and makeup. They made sure we looked good and that the day flowed beautifully and offered much support through the entire planning process.

Freeman’s Restaurant - The food and service were 10/10. The vibes felt very us and the prices for their private rooms were great. It was fun to have our dinner at a New York venue with so much history.

Photographer: Sylvie Rosokoff @sylviethecamera | Flora: Flower Frens @flowerfrens | Ceremony Location:

City Hall NYC | Reception Location: Freemans Restaurant @freemansrestuarnt | Makeup Artist: Danielle Hartnett @danielleallenemua | Hair Stylist: Eric Torneros @ericjamestorneros from Coz Salon @cozsalon | Dress: Cha Cha Linda Vintage @chachalindavtg | Suit: Hugo Boss @hugo_official | Veil: Bella Bridal Veils | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Goldpoint Jewelers @goldpointbk | Bride’s Bag: Puppets and Puppets

@puppettsandpuppets