Anna & Michael: An Elegant, Tropical Celebration at Catch Steak NYC

Anna and Michael Wedding – Bride and Groom Portrait Bouquet – Catch – Zani and Duwayne Photography

When Anna and Michael met at the end of 2020 during the pandemic, dating was anything but casual. “Life still wasn’t back to ‘normal,’” Anna remembers. “Because many places to socialize weren’t open, we immediately spent a lot of time together.” The situation was to Michael’s favor because he was on a waiting list to get a new puppy (It was Michael’s profile photo with his parents’ puppy that initially caught Anna’s attention). “I was really excited when it finally arrived,” she says. “Michael goes to work very early every day. I was working remotely so he asked me to stay over for a week to help.” Raising a puppy in New York City isn’t easy. “My patience was definitely tested. I threatened to go back home a couple of times,” she jokingly says. “That first week turned into me pretty much moving in and we have been inseparable ever since.”
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Planning & Inspiration

13 Floral Wedding Dresses That Are Anything But Traditional White

by Kate Murphy

Floral Wedding Dresses – Monique Lhuillier Floral Wedding Dress – via vogue.com

On a rare occasion, a designer marries our first love, flowers, with our second love, bridal attire. To see a floral wedding dress emerge on the runway, or even better, the ceremony aisle way commands attention from fashion critics and guests alike. While traditional white will always be a mainstay, there is something refreshing, romantic, and playful about a blossoming big day look. Just because you are drawn to a classic style doesn’t mean flowers are off the table. From understated organic patterns to feminine pastels: refined floral brocade and embroidery to modern watercolor prints, there are options for every bridal aesthetic. Read on to see our selection of favorite floral wedding dresses from designers such as Monique Lhuillier, Marchesa, Lela Rose, Oscar de la Renta, and more.
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Hannah and Brad Wedding - Chuppah - Metropolitan Club - Melani Lust Photography

Planning & Inspiration

Viva Magenta: How To Use Pantone’s Color Of The Year 2023 In Your Wedding

by Kate Murphy

Hannah and Brad Wedding – Chuppah – Metropolitan Club – Melani Lust Photography

To say that we were excited when Pantone announced Viva Magenta as its 2023 Color of the Year would be an understatement. The brand describes the shade as “brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.” Simply put, Viva Magenta symbolizes all the love and emotion you feel when you are about to marry your soulmate and start a new life together. Still, it’s a bold color that demands attention, which may make some hesitant about incorporating it into their big day scheme. Does this sound like you? From flowers to attire and accessories to beauty, read on for beautiful ideas on how to use Viva Magenta in your wedding.
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Marteal Mayer - Founder Loulette Bride - image courtesy of Loulette Bride

Planning & Inspiration

Interview With Marteal Mayer Of Loulette Bride

by Kate Murphy

Marteal Mayer – Founder Loulette Bride – image courtesy of Loulette Bride

As much as a wedding dress should make a bride look beautiful, it should make her feel beautiful and confident. Scrolling through the looks on Loulette Bride’s website, you get a sense that this sentiment is threaded throughout the collection – these dresses are made to be worn by every type of woman. Behind the Brooklyn-based label is founder Marteal Mayer whose distinct vision and philosophy are evident at first glance. After years of working in fast fashion, Marteal knew everything she didn’t want her independent bridal line to be – exclusive, cookie-cutter, and wasteful. Marteal set out to make bridal wear that she could be proud of – custom pieces that connected deeply with customers on a myriad of levels. Inclusivity, sustainability, and craftsmanship have been the driving forces guiding the label from the very beginning. For Loulette Bride, designing with passion + purpose means not only making beautiful wedding attire, but also using recycled fabrics, donating a portion of sales to a new charity each season, planting a tree for every dress sold, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and running a fashion mentorship program for students of color.
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Weddings

Lauren & Patrick: Autumn Bliss at New York Botanical Garden

by Kate Murphy

Lauren and Patrick Wedding – Bride and Groom Portrait – New York Botanical Garden – Theory Photographie

Lauren and Patrick met for their first date in October 2017. They met the classic way you meet anyone in NYC…on Bumble. “We were both nervous, so things got off to a rocky start,” Lauren says. “But after I mentioned that I grew up listening to Billy Joel – who Patrick also listened to with his best friends growing up in Cold Spring Harbor – we instantly clicked. The night continued with margaritas and many laughs, exchanging stories about growing up in New York, and a failed attempt to go to karaoke – it was Tuesday and they closed at 10 pm.” On their second date, Patrick told Lauren that he was likely moving to Malaysia in six months for work. “I initially shrugged it off. But that following week, Patrick got a call that he was to transfer in four weeks,” she says. After making the most of the time they had left together, the couple decided to commit to a long-distance relationship. “The next two years were filled with so much travel and adventure…so lots of time in an airport!” Lauren remembers.
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Weddings

Caroline & Ben: An Amalfi Coast Inspired Celebration at Liberty Warehouse

by Kate Murphy

Caroline and Ben Wedding – Bride and Groom Portrait – Liberty Warehouse – Jaymo Jaymes Photography

Caroline and Ben first met in 2015 when they both were working for a tech start-up in New York City. “Ben was my on-board buddy. He welcomed me to the company environment and my role within it,” Caroline remembers. They became fast friends, often going to lunch and happy hour together. “We were both in relationships at the time. Everything was work related, but there was always an underlying feeling that this could be more. Those romantic feelings were finally addressed that following summer.” Not yet on the same page of what they wanted in terms of a relationship, they dated on and off for the following six months. In an age where dating apps play instant matchmaker, their long, more traditional courtship comes across as refreshing. “Looking back, this period helped build the relationship that Ben and I have now,” Caroline says. “We had been colleagues, friends, then ‘more than friends.’ By the time we were ready to commit, we knew each other inside and out.”
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Weddings