This White Plains Wedding Features So Many Local Touches

From The Pamplemousse Project to the sky-high Kanopi, this Westchester wedding kept it local in the best way.

March 18, 2025

Julia & Albert Lee
August 24, 2024
White Plains

For Julia Lee, a senior content marketing manager at American Express, and Albert Lee, an associate general counsel at Westchester Medical Center, it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed. Albert grew up in Yonkers and Julia in Yorktown Heights. They both attended Columbia University (although in different years), their commute from Westchester to Manhattan on the Metro-North line was the same, and they worked five blocks from each other in Midtown East.

“While we will never know why we never met earlier, we truly believe it was God’s plan that we did at just the perfect time in our lives,” says Albert.

By chance, Julia attends the same church as Albert’s sister, who invited Julia to a barbecue at her home in early July 2023. After a few brief conversations, numbers were exchanged, and first dates were planned. A good ol’ coffee shop first date at The Pamplemousse Project in White Plains was in the books for July 4, and it went so well that it lasted five hours and inspired their specialty “Pamplemousse First Date” wedding cocktail, which featured silver tequila, grapefruit, lime, sparking water, and a salted rim. The second date was brunch at Hudson Social four days later.

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Flowers — orchids specifically — play a big role in the Lees’ love story. The first “I love you” was said when Julia’s orchid plant bloomed, and Albert proposed with a Harry Winston Forget-Me-Not flower ring in front of the same orchid (now with five flowers) at Julia’s apartment in White Plains. When it was time to select a theme for the 150-person wedding, the couple chose modern with a tropical twist, featuring an abundance of white with pops of pink Phalaenopsis orchids as a sweet nod to their proposal. The delicate orchids were enhanced by tropical monstera and palm leaves, coral bridesmaids’ dresses, a flower girl with a white Gerbera daisy crown, and a ring boy with a sky-blue suit.

The wedding took place inside Kanopi’s stunning two-story penthouse and Portuguese restaurant. The room is enclosed with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering wedding guests outstanding views of New York City, White Plains, and the Long Island Sound.

The Looks

Julia earned her art history degree with a focus on fashion history, something she leaned into when choosing her wedding-day look. She choose an old Hollywood glam aesthetic with a one-shoulder gown (Sachin & Babi) topped with an oversized, bejeweled bow that swayed down in the bias cut of satin crepe. The dress effortlessly complimented her flower-shaped ring, made of six pear-shaped diamonds, and vintage Vera Wang tiara, which was borrowed from her aunt. Albert sported a My Suit tuxedo and a Seamaster Aqua Terra Omega watch.

The Big Day

The Lees wedding weekend kicked off with an intimate rehearsal dinner at Greca, which is conveniently right across the street from Kanopi. Julia notes that the semi-private upstairs dining area transported the family right to Greece, with whitewashed walls, bougainvillea trellises, and the golden hour sun streaming into the space.

The wedding party had their makeup and hair done at The Opus, where several of the guests stayed overnight. While waiting for hair and makeup, the party snacked on kimbap.

From the age of eight, Julia and her mother would do her hair and makeup for ballet performances at the Westchester Ballet Center for the Performing Arts in Yorktown. Because of this, it was important to Julia that on her wedding day she do her own hair and makeup alongside her mother. Afterward, she and Albert did first look and pre-ceremony photos at both The Opus and Kanopi.

The Lees had a Christian wedding ceremony at Kanopi in White Plains in front of a tropical floral arch courtesy of Monet’s Garden in Chappaqua. A gospel-centered message based on their chosen passage, Isaiah 61:10-11, was performed by Pastor Rob Freire of New Hope Fellowship. Afterward, Julia’s aunt played Bach processionals and Vivaldi recessional on the piano alongside a violinist friend. Additionally, the New Hope Fellowship music team performed the hymn “Speak O Lord.”

Following the ceremony, the party kicked off a lively reception overlooking the cityscape. “It was so fulfilling to see our guests departing the venue encouraged by many newly formed friendships!” adds Julia. Guests enjoyed house-made pasta, Hamachi ceviche, and a choice of king salmon or prime sirloin. “The Kanopi staff went above and beyond what we requested – they surprised us with spiked lemonade and cucumber water ‘Capri Sun’ packs and a nitrogen ice cream sundae bar,” says Julia.

The newlyweds celebrated their first dance with the sounds of “Lover” by Taylor Swift and danced the night away to tunes including Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” from the movie Barbie, which happened to drop on the same date that Julia and Albert became “official.”

Unfortunately, Julia’s aunt and uncle had to cancel their trip to the wedding due to a medical emergency at the eleventh hour. However, Julia was able to feel her presence through the tiara that sparkled on her head. The family heirloom is now in safekeeping with Julia’s aunt and uncle in Chicago to one day be worn again by Julia’s niece, the flower girl, or another family member, to keep traditions alive.