Wedding | Petra & Eli

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met in 2016 as tour guides at The New School’s Welcome Center, spending countless hours leading campus tours, answering phones, and hosting events. Since we both are musicians, music has always been a shared thread between us; one of the many things that brought us closer. Over time, our friendship grew deeper, and before long, it became something more.

After graduating in 2017, we both found ourselves living in Ridgewood, Queens, where our connection only deepened. We eventually moved in together, joined by our two beloved cats, Audrey Hepburn and Duke Ellington.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

In 2023, after attending a family wedding, we started thinking seriously about marriage. A few months later, while strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, we made it official with a proposal in front of the Medici Fountain.

Because our story began in New York City, it only felt natural to celebrate our wedding here. We spent months searching for the perfect venue that captured the same vintage, whimsical, and romantic energy we found in Paris. Knowing how much effort it takes for guests to come to NYC, we wanted to create a day that felt immersive and unforgettable — almost like our own little festival. So we designed the day in three acts: Act I – Ceremony & Brunch, Act II – Cocktail Hour & Reception, and Act III – The Afterparty. With each act, we wanted the through line of our moody romantic wedding to be found but with distinctive and beloved venues across the city. 

We dreamed of having a hidden garden in the middle of the city, and thanks to Eli’s mom, we discovered Milk & Roses. Its secret garden in the back was everything we envisioned; intimate, lush, and a perfect dreamscape for our ceremony.

As food lovers with Palestinian and Lebanese roots, we also wanted to share a traditional Middle Eastern family-style meal with our guests. Glasserie, a beloved neighborhood spot, was the perfect choice for that. The restaurant opened an event space right in front of Transmitter Park which was a beautiful setting for guests to see the NYC skyline from the Brooklyn side of East River. 

And to end the night, we wanted to give everyone a true taste of New York - an afterparty that captured the energy and excitement of the city’s nightlife, and a celebration that lasted well into the night. Madeline’s, less than a five minute walk from our reception venue, was home to the nightclub celebration of our dreams.

How many guests did you have?

We ended up having 111 guests - just the right number to make it feel like a big party, but still small enough for us to personally connect with everyone.

Tell us about your outfits.

Petra: I never had a clear vision of my wedding dress, but I did know one thing: I did not want to wear pure white or ivory. I was looking for something romantic, a little maximalist, but also versatile. After trying on about 30 dresses in both New York City and Omaha, nothing felt quite right. As a long time Say Yes to the Dress fan, I booked an appointment at Kleinfeld’s, partly for fun. The night before, I came across a Nicole and Felicia gown that instantly caught my eye. It was the only dress I saved on my phone, and somehow I just knew. The moment I tried it on, that was it. No other dress came close. It had to be mine. 

For accessories, I sourced a mix of vintage pieces, including a Moschino purse and pearl earrings as part of my curated set. For shoes, I knew I didn’t want high heels and found the perfect pair of Badgley Mischka kitten heels. My college best friend gifted me a pair of Gucci sunglasses from the Forever Hollywood collection, which became the perfect afterparty accessory. I also had a custom set of press-on nails made, with accents that matched the beading on my dress by my friend Katy at Frisky Mariska nails.

Eli: I tried on several suits and tuxes, but everything felt a little too squarely traditional for what I had envisioned. Through a friend at Zegna, I was lucky enough to create a fully custom look from start to finish. I was able to choose every detail.  From the fabric and fit to the stitching and lining. We landed on a subtle burgundy gingham pattern that tied perfectly into the wedding’s color palette, paired with a soft lilac shirt for a modern, romantic touch. I finished the look with black leather shoes, sleek but timeless. Petra surprised me with one final detail: a pair of socks embroidered with our faces. It was such a fun, personal touch and the perfect way to round out the look and have our cats with us on our special day.

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

Before we began any wedding planning, we sat down and wrote down the following. Our individual top 3 priorities, what’s important to us, and what’s not important to us: Petra's top 3 priorities were people, photos, decor and florals. Eli's were people, good food, decor and florals. What's important to Petra was positive vibes, feeling good about my bridal look, seamless day and music. Eli's list consisted of photos, a nice tux, good cake and music. Things not important to us consisted of not worrying about what others think and things that were out of their control, such as the weather and traditions.

This helped us figure out the direction for the day. We knew our guests were a priority and wanted them to fully enjoy the environment we had curated. Photography was another key element, making

sure every moment was captured through our photographer’s lens. Since we are both visually creative, we also wanted the styling and overall aesthetic to reflect exactly what we had envisioned.

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

As musicians, music was a central part of our wedding day. We wanted to highlight everything we love about it and didn’t want to limit ourselves to one style. For the ceremony, we paid homage to the jazz roots that brought Eli to New York City. During the cocktail hour and reception, we brought in the romantic classical influences from Petra’s upbringing with a twist. Our musicians performed Bridgeton-style pop all night, from Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance to Charli XCX’s 360. And since we both love to dance, a DJ kept the party going later into the night.

We also surprised our guests with a performance of our wedding song instead of dancing to it. Petra learned La Vie En Rose in French just 30 days before the wedding, and only three people knew, including our vendors to ensure everything was set up. Keeping it a secret from everyone else, even our families, was challenging but so worth it. Seeing the reactions in the crowd made it a moment we’ll never forget.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Have the day you both truly want. It’s easy to get pulled into hundreds of directions, whether its opinions from others, meeting expectations that do not align with yours, or sticking to traditions. But the day is about you as a couple. Focus on the elements that reflect who you are, the experiences you want to share with your guests, and the memories you want to create. When you stay true to yourselves, everything else falls into place.

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

Raquel Chavez (Just Say Yes): Hiring Just Say Yes was hands down the best decision we made. Raquel and her team flawlessly managed every moving part of our wedding, from multiple locations and live music to outfit changes and a detailed timeline, all while keeping us calm and present. Every detail felt intentional, perfectly aligned with who we are, and truly magical. We could not have imagined a smoother, more joyful day.

Molly Adams (Molly Meets Magic): Molly’s work completely blew us away. Every photo captured the emotion, beauty, and artistry of the day, bringing us right back to each special moment. She did not just take pictures, she told our story in a way that was thoughtful, masterful, and unforgettable.

Kendra Norman (Firecracker Floral): Kendra is an extraordinary florist, creative, daring, and detail-driven. She took our vision and elevated it beyond what we imagined, even incorporating branches from the garden where we got engaged. Her artistry and willingness to take risks made our wedding flowers a true highlight of the day.

Photographer: Molly Meets Magic @mollymeetsmagic | Second Shooter: B.Legend @_b.legend | Day of Coordinator: Just Say Yes @justsayyes_ny | Styling & Stationery: by Petra | Flora: Firecracker Florals @firecrackerfloral | Videographers: Makism Akelin @maksimakelinweddings & Dan Shein @dan_shein | Ceremony Location: Milk & Roses @milkandrosesbistro | Reception Location: Neptune Room @ Radio Star, Greenpoint @glasserienycevents | Afterparty Location: Madeline’s, Greenpoint @madelinesnyc | Celebrant: Mike Nemer (Groom’s Uncle) | Rentals: Tropical Spice Event Rentals @tseventrental & Big Dawg Party Rentals @bigdawgpartyrentals | HMUA: AK Beauty  @akbeautybridal | Catering & Beverages:

Glasserie Events @glasserienycevents | Cake: Luckybird Cakes @luckybirdcakes | Jazz Trio: Jackson Hillmer & Trio @beetincognito | String Quartet: Divina Strings @divinastrings | DJ: KC Cazz @kcxcazz | Sound Engineer: Anastasia Goldberg @anastasia__goldberg | Nails: Frisky Mariska @friskymariska | Dress: Nicole & Felicia (at Kleinfelds)  @nicolefeliciacouture | Suit: Zegna @zegna | Veil: Custom  | Bridal Accessories: Moschino @moschino & Gucci @gucci | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Goldsmith Silversmith @goldsmithsilversmith | Shoes: Badgley Mischka @badgleymischka | Earrings: by Petra | Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo @jennyyoonyc