A lot of planning went into Jessica and Liam’s marriage, starting with their two best friends conspiring to set them up. That worked out well, but Liam’s proposal didn’t go as smoothly. “He was planning to take me out on an old sailboat from South Street Seaport,” says Jessica. “He was the only person who booked it for the day, so they cancelled on him.” But Liam didn’t give up, popping the question to Jessica on a water taxi instead.
The couple took their time planning the wedding during their two-year engagement. It took awhile to find the right venue, but ultimately Jessica and Liam chose Brotherhood Winery for its unique ambience and beautiful stone interior. “But it was a little intimidating,” recollects Jessica. “They don’t even have a kitchen, so you have to bring everything in.”
Jessica had some experience planning events at prior marketing jobs, so she took on the task of organizing the wedding without a planner. Once they found a caterer who could bring in a kitchen, the couple shifted the focus to dancing, choosing to have stations instead of a sit-down dinner, so guests would have more time to dance. “We had an amazing DJ,” says Jessica. “We actually ended up adding extra time, to make sure there was plenty of dancing.”
Jessica and her mother designed all the decor and centerpieces themselves, with a mix of vintage and modern items from local flea markets and stores. A favorite element was the table-card display, featuring white feathers and a vintage frame. ”I wanted to have feathers on my dress, but it was just a little too much,“ says Jessica. ”We put them on the table cards, and then I had them in my hair.“
While some brides use the dress as inspiration, the springboard for the décor scheme at Jessica and Liam’s wedding was a necklace with an Art Deco feel that had once belonged to Jessica’s great-grandmother. “It’s kind of crazy,” admits Jessica. “We both like that vintage kind of feel—a little Gatsbyesque but not too costumey.” Jessica and her mother shopped everything from flea markets to Home Goods to create that vintage ambience with a contemporary edge. “We just kind of went crazy on that, which was really fun—collecting it and seeing what kind of new things you could find,” says Jessica.
Jessica knew she wanted lace but couldn’t settle on a gown. She had already purchased another dress before falling in love with this Pnina Tornai gown from Kleinfeld Bridal. She paired it with her great-grandmother’s necklace, a family heirloom that was also worn by her mother on her wedding day.
Photographer: Jade & Tim O’Connell of Uplift Photography; www.upliftphotography.com.
Venue: Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville (845) 496-3661; www.brotherhood-winery.com.
Caterer: Inn Credible Caterers, Stony Point (845) 429-0555; www.inncrediblecaterers.com.
Florist: Floral Designs by Nancy, Danbury, CT (203) 743-6458; www.floraldesignsbynancy.com.
Rentals: Cartwright & Daughters Tent & Party Rentals Inc., Carmel (845) 225-9200; www.rentaparty.com.
Cake: Homestyle Desserts Bakery, Peekskill (914) 737-4659; www.homestyledessertsbakery.com.
Music: Hal Prince Music and Entertainment, Mount Kisco (914) 241-3300; www.halprince.com.
Invitations: Minted; www.minted.com.
Wedding Gown: Pnina Tornai purchased at Kleinfeld Bridal, New York, NY (646) 633-4300; www.kleinfeldbridal.com.
Bridal Hair: Giannetta Salon & Spa, Beacon (845) 831-2421; www.giannettasalonandspa.com.
Bridal Makeup: Lindsey Gallagher of Like Flutter for Lashes, (203) 241-0557; www.flutterforlashes.com.
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm, purchased at Be Unique Boutique, Mount Kisco (914) 241-2410; www.bubmtk.com.
Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse, multiple locations; www.menswearhouse.com.
