Rachel & Adam: Enchanted Splendor at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Rachel and Adam met in Washington, D.C., where they lived a block apart. Rachel was attending Georgetown Law School and they started dating four months prior to the beginning of COVID. Rachel remembers, “We were lucky to be together during the pandemic and found a lot of activities to keep us busy.” Now deemed ‘Camp Adam’ by the couple, this time was spent doing everything from playing tennis, hiking, and kayaking to taking virtual cooking and candle making classes to doing puzzles. While many would find being thrown into such an intense situation while still getting to know a person challenging, Rachel and Adam credit this period for establishing the strong foundation of their relationship. “Adam and I perfectly balance each other out. We love to sit on the couch watching TV shows and movies together just as much as we love to play tennis or go out with friends. Neither of us could imagine spending our life without the other.” She finishes, “To this day, we still try to incorporate ‘Camp Adam’ activities into our free time.”

Rachel and Adam got engaged two years later. To celebrate Rachel’s birthday, the couple planned a trip to Paris and London. The night before leaving, Adam told her they were going to have dinner with her family, but first he wanted to stop by the Pier Café near their apartment since he was craving French fries. “I thought this was absurd since we were flying to Paris the next day and could eat the best fries in the world. But he was insistent,” Rachel says. Once they arrived, he suggested they go for a walk along the water. While taking in the view, Adam turned to Rachel and asked her to marry him. “The moment was so casual and romantic. I would have expected a proposal to happen while we were in Europe, but this way felt much truer to us. Riverside Park is a place where we spend a lot of time together, and where I frequently would go to with my father before he passed away. It was such a meaningful location for us to get engaged.” The surprises didn’t stop there – Adam had covertly arranged for a celebration dinner with their immediate families. “It was a wonderful evening and we felt so much love. Needless to say, I didn’t get much packing done,” she says with a laugh.

When choosing a venue, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden had everything for which they were looking. “We wanted to get married in late spring, and for our wedding to have an outdoor component,” Rachel says. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden appealed to them for sentimental reasons as well. “Adam’s grandmother went there with her father every Saturday as a little girl. Once we made our decision, our vision unfolded organically.”

Rachel’s stunning wedding gown choice by Lebanese-American designer Reem Acra took shape in a diaphanous A-line silhouette, bateau neckline, and delicate off-the-shoulder sleeves. Exquisite, hand-cut floral appliqués adorned the dress from top to bottom, which she accentuated with a petal-trimmed cathedral length veil, underscoring her modern-romantic style.

Complementing her relaxed, half-up hairstyle and natural makeup, the bride wore classic diamond drop earrings and a blue sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet. She completed her look with Aquazurra shoes and a flourishing bouquet featuring garden and spray roses, ranunculuses, lisianthus, delphiniums and tweedia in white and pale blue mixed with silver dollar eucalyptus and Italian ruscus. Adam looked handsome, donning a dark blue suit from Enzo Custom with a white ranunculus boutonniere pinned on the lapel. “My father collected Hermès ties, so Adam, his father, and two brothers all wore ties from his collection,” Rachel notes. “It was a special way to remember him and feel his presence, which meant a lot to us.”

Rachel and Adam married on a perfect day in mid-June. The ceremony took place outdoors with décor inspired by the lush natural setting. “I love flowers and knew that I wanted to make our florals a big focus from the moment we started planning,” Rachel says. “Our chuppah was everything I dreamed of and more. I couldn’t stop staring at it!” The couple exchanged vows framed by abundant roses, delphiniums, hydrangeas, stock and tweedia in shades of soft blue, buttery yellow, pale peach, white, ivory, and cream accented with verdant greenery.

Cocktail hour took place on the Lily Terrace with guests toasting the newlyweds just as the sun began its golden descent. Then everyone headed inside the Palm House for dinner. “I wanted the flowers to elevate the room and make it feel like a warm, enchanted garden,” Rachel says. Vibrant magenta ranunculuses were added to the palette, bringing a joyous touch to the airy atmosphere. Tables were adorned with a lyrical mix of high and low centerpieces illuminated by soft candlelight. Adding to the magical scene was a breathtaking blossom and greenery installation. “During our first meeting, I told Carla, Bride & Blossom’s Wedding Director, that we needed to have hanging flowers,” Rachel explains. “She really helped me find a balance between our floral goals, also making sure that we incorporated my two favorite flowers, hydrangeas and delphiniums. I especially loved how the colors started out subtle for the ceremony, then incorporated brighter tones for the reception.”

A self-professed cake enthusiast, Rachel asked Sugar Flowers by Kelsie Cakes in Miami, Florida to translate the blooming theme into dessert. “I sent Kelsie my floral proposal and she did an incredible job, creating life-like sugar flowers. She then sent the flowers to us just in time for our wedding. They arrived in perfect condition, and our cake baked by Everything Lulu was delicious.”

Family is very important to Rachel and Adam – this sentiment, starting with the ancestral connection to the Garden, was felt all day long. She looks back and says, “The speeches made by our parents and siblings were heartfelt, and we were so moved to watch our families come together.” After months of practicing, the newlyweds got to do their first dance in front of loved ones – “one of the highlights of our wedding,” the bride adds. Live music from Luxe (Hank Lane) kept the party going with guests on their feet nonstop. In lieu of traditional favors, individual pies from Ledo Pizza, the groom’s choice spot for a pizza in Washington D.C., were delivered with the inscription ‘First comes love, then comes pizza’ on each box. Rachel describes this perfect ending to an unforgettable occasion, “Being able to share one of Adam’s favorite things with everyone at our wedding was really special, a genuine expression of our passions and personality.”

Congratulations, Rachel & Adam! Thank you for sharing your Real BB Wedding Story with us!

Couple’s Vendor List
Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Photographer: LH Photography
Planner: Two Kindred Event Planners
Bride’s Dress: Reem Acra
Bride’s Shoes: Aquazzura
Groom’s Suit: Enzo Custom
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Armani
Hair: Green Velvet Parlor
Makeup: Jody Formica
Stationery: A Little Card Company
Cake: Sugar Flowers by Kelsie Cakes + Everything Lulu
Music: Hank Lane Music
Catering: Union Square Events
Favors: Ledo Pizza