Stefanie and Mike Wedding - Bridal Portrait - Gotham Hall - Emma Cleary Photography

Weddings

BB Featured Bride Stefanie on Her Breathtaking Anne Barge Dress

Stefanie and Mike Wedding - Bridal Portrait - Gotham Hall - Emma Cleary Photo and Video

Stefanie and Mike Wedding – Bridal Portrait – Gotham Hall – Emma Cleary Photo and Video

“My Grandma is my best friend.” If you read Part 1 where Stefanie talks about getting engaged, you already know how important her Grandma was in initiating her and Mike’s courtship. This was also true when time came for the bride to start looking for what to wear down the aisle – her Grandma was more than happy to step in and move the process along. Here, Stefanie talks about her breathtaking Anne Barge dress and personals.

Part 2: Wedding Dress & Personals
“I wasn’t the type of girl who grew up dreaming of a wedding,” Stefanie says. Her Grandma, however, had been giving a lot of thought to the momentous occasion. “She obsessively watched ‘Say Yes to the Dress,’” Stefanie says with a laugh. “Whenever a dress appeared on the show that she liked, she would hit pause, take a picture of her TV screen and send it to me. And then I would have to research the dress online.” After receiving countless photos this way, one dress finally caught Stefanie’s eye. “When I went into Kleinfeld, I still had NO idea what I wanted but asked my consultant to pull that particular dress my Grandma had sent me. I tried the dress on and knew immediately it was the one for me.”
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Stefanie and Mike Wedding - Bride and Groom Bouquet Chuppah - Gotham Hall - Emma Cleary Photography

Weddings

Stefanie & Mike: Opulent Romance at Gotham Hall

Stefanie and Mike Wedding - Bride and Groom Bouquet Chuppah - Gotham Hall - Emma Cleary Photo and Video

Stefanie and Mike Wedding – Bride and Groom Bouquet Chuppah – Gotham Hall – Emma Cleary Photo and Video

After seeing a Broadway show with her mom and grandma, Stefanie planned to meet up with friends for a night out in the city. Stefanie reassured them not to worry about how she would get home – her friend Mike had offered to drive in from East Meadow, just a town over from where her parents lived in Long Island and pick her up. She just had to ask. Grandmas know best and Stefanie’s grandma saw the situation clear as day. “If he is going to drive all the way into Manhattan at 1 am to pick you up and then just turn around and bring you home, he must be in love with you.”
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Randi & Bryan Wedding - High Centerpiece - Gurneys Montauk - JoVon Photography

Planning & Inspiration

The Harlow Stand: Elevating Wedding Table Decor

Randi & Bryan Wedding - High Centerpiece - Gurneys Montauk - JoVon Photography

Randi & Bryan Wedding – High Centerpiece – Gurneys Montauk – JoVon Photography

 

There are many reasons for wanting lofty table décor – it commands the eye while creating an alluring reception atmosphere. From a practical standpoint, a high centerpiece allows for more space below to accommodate the ever-flowing drinks and cuisine. One major trend we saw in our 2019 Real BB Weddings was the harlow stand. Taking the place of a tall vase, the harlow stand is 4-post metal structure used to display flowers. It is available in various heights and colors such as gold, silver, bronze, and black.
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Paige and Justin Wedding - Bride and Groom Kissing Tropical Foliage Arch - The Press Lounge - Cheyanna De Nicola Photography

A Look Back At The Real BB Weddings Of 2019

Paige and Justin Wedding - Bride and Groom Kissing Tropical Foliage Arch - The Press Lounge - Cheyanna De Nicola Photography

Paige and Justin Wedding – Bride and Groom Kissing Tropical Foliage Arch – The Press Lounge – Cheyanna De Nicola Photography

 

They say don’t dwell on the past, but we would happily relive just about every moment from our Real BB Weddings of 2019. The year leaves us with a great feeling of gratitude. We had the chance to really get to know our couples and make their wedding visions a reality. As our working relationships became stronger than ever, new connections with talented vendors and industry professionals were made. To say we are excited for what the future holds in 2020 would be a serious understatement.
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Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride and Groom First Dance - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Weddings

Melanie & Nick Celebrate With a Dance-Til-You-Drop Reception

Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride and Groom First Dance - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride and Groom First Dance – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

 

After the ceremony, everyone was ready for a Hollywood rated celebration which began with cocktail hour – signature drinks were named after the newlywed’s favorite film quotes. Melanie looks back and says, “We wanted to capture the opulence of the roaring 20s.” As important as the flowers, the music helped to set a mood of stylish free-spiritedness for the evening. Here, Melanie shares the final chapter in her and Nick’s Real BB Wedding Story.

Part 4: Reception, Centerpieces, and Sweetheart Table

Custom designed escort cards that looked like vintage movie tickets, which were created by the maid of honor, directed guests to their seats. Along with numbers, tables were marked with signs featuring Melanie and Nick’s favorite movies such as Indiana Jones, The Princess Bride, and The Incredibles. “We also painted the ‘movie poster’ frames. They were originally white $1 plastic frames from IKEA,” Melanie says with a laugh. Each place setting was topped with pins, also made by the bride, with designs inspired by the movie table marker.
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Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride and Groom First Kiss - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Weddings

Melanie & Nick Take Center Stage To Say “I Do”

Melanie & Nick Wedding - Ceremony -Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Ceremony -Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

 

After walking the red carpet, guests entered the lobby of The Suffolk Theater for Melanie and Nick’s wedding. A festive mood filled the air (literally) – a floating canopy of balloons trimmed with florals and ribbon hung overhead. While the movie theme was apparent, the couple kept the rest of their wedding details under wraps. Melanie reveals, “One of the surprises was that we made our own escort cards to look like tickets. The theater has an original ticket booth from the 1930s. Nick’s friend, who is an actor, stood in the booth handing out tickets and ushering everyone into the theater.” Here, she talks about sharing the spotlight with Nick to say “I Do” in front of family and friends.
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