That one time two beautiful book lovers got married in a freakin' NYC book store
Say hi to my super-terrific, MFEO friends, Rebecca and Ian!
They're married now (#TotesTheSloats). And their wedding weekend was cooler than your wedding weekend. Friday night, us girls hit up Marie's Crisis for some good old-fashioned Broadway sing-alongs. A delight, but next time: less Miss Saigon, more Hairspray, please.
Saturday's rehearsal dinner was held at Ample Hills Creamery, where the bride and groom had Shake Shack burgers and fries catered in before treating us to four kinds of ice cream. Ooey Gooey Butter Cake for the win — also drawing on brown craft paper table runners.
Rehearsal night ended with karaoke at Gagopa Karaoke; a natural Wedding Eve progression. If you don't know, karaoke bars with private rooms are a popular thing in Asia, so of course you can find such delights in the cultural mecca that is NYC. We had two private rooms, thus singing only for those nearest and dearest. It's truly the best experience, and I wish Milwaukee would get on board. Don't forget the champagne, hype lights, and tambourines! They're a must.
Enter: Wedding day. For those of you keeping score at home, yes, this was a Sunday wedding. So on Sunday, the bridal party primped and prettied in none other than the penthouse of the NoMo SoHo Hotel — a crazy-lucky upgrade because the bridal suite wasn't ready yet. The place had nearly 360-degree views of the city. If a better upgrade exists in life — better than being bumped up to a freakin' Manhattan penthouse on your wedding day — I don't know what it is.
The ceremony and reception took place at a book shop called Housing Works. Am I starstruck by an independent NYC bookstore? Why yes, yes I am. This one has picture books displayed on columned shelves and a shapely staircase that leads to the balcony. Bonus: 100% of venue proceeds benefit the homeless living with HIV/AIDS.
At go time, Rebecca floated in — ethereal elf-fairy queen of a bride that she was — to the tune of "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid. She and Ian said "I do" in an alcove of books — fitting for a girl who works in publishing and a boy who runs a library.
Cocktail hour ushered in an especially sweet hors d'oeuvre: fancy-pants cotton candy. The spun sugar was flavored with lavender and topped with edible glitter. As if that wasn't magic enough, dinner consisted of fried chicken, mac 'n' cheese, and biscuits.
For their first dance, Ian and Rebecca rummaged through the 1997 archives and pulled out Shania Twain's "From This Moment On." Kudos to the happy couple for getting ahead of the curve, as that song has somehow passed from cliché into nostalgia.
Also wonderfully nostalgic: scads of disposable cameras set about the space for all to use. Way more fun than having everyone on their phones — and also to thank for all of the photos featured here.
Thank you to Rebecca and Ian for all the incredible memories, whether captured on film or logged in the brain bank. If this wedding weekend is any indication of things to come, it's going to be one exuberant, wildly fun, and warm-fuzzy, love-filled lifetime.
No comments:
Post a Comment