Elegant NYC Wedding at The Bowery Hotel :: Lucy & Alex
The internet is full of gorgeous, rustic, outdoor weddings… farms, vineyards, English gardens… and we love them all! But there is something uniquely beautiful about a wedding in New York City, and this black tie celebration at The Bowery Hotel exemplifies just that. From the Lucy and Alex’s elegant attire, to the candlelit dinner reception, this wedding is timeless from tip to toe.
What was the best advice you received as a bride? Stay calm – it will all come together!
What advice do you have for other couples in the midst of planning a wedding? Same advice – Stay calm – It will all come together!
If you had it to do over again, is there anything you would do differently? Not a thing!
Do you have any other tips for other brides? Find three vendors you like for each service, get quotes and go with the one with the best pricing. Don’t drive yourself crazy searching for the best deal – the internet is vast and there is only so much you can do!
Lucy and Alex made time for plenty of timeless portraits throughout the city.
The Ceremony
How did you go about planning your ceremony? We worked with our officiant, Reverend Roberta Finkelstein, on the readings for the ceremony and our planners Daughter of Design for the logistics. It was important to us that the ceremony use traditional vows, but still feel modern and personal.
Your ceremony in three words. Romantic, personal, meaningful
Who officiated your ceremony? Reverend Roberta Finkelstein. Roberta was my grandparent’s Minister at the Unitarian Church in Westport Connecticut. The Church has been very important in my grandparent’s lives and, although Alex and I are not personally religious, we identify with the values of the Unitarian Church
What was your ceremony music? Processional: Sheep May Safely Graze, Bach / Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Bach / Air on G, Bach (Bride) // Recessional: Spring, Vivaldi
What were your ceremony readings? We opened with a quote by George Eliot:
“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, share with each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting?”
What were your vows like? We chose traditional vows, but selected the versions that seemed the most modern to us.
Did you include any traditions in your ceremony? We included a brief wine ceremony.
What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony? The warmth of the ceremony and personal connection to our story as a couple.
The Reception
“We always wanted to have a chic downtown wedding, and fell in love with the unique look and feel of the Bowery Hotel.”
How would you describe your reception? Romantic, elegant, and a little whimsical.
What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? We were inspired by the hotel itself – we incorporated the terra cotta colored tiles and green velvet curtains into our color scheme, and the overall medieval feel of the space inspired our long tables and romantic table settings.
What was your favorite moment or part of the reception? We loved every moment, but I think our favorite was after dinner when everyone hit the dance floor– the energy was amazing!
Menu: FIRST COURSE: FIOR DI LATTE creamy mozzarella with grape tomatoes and basil / BABY BEET SALAD baby beets with mizuna, goat cheese and pistachios // MAIN COURSE: PENNE ALLA NORMA in a rich tomato sauce with roasted eggplant and ricotta salata / POLLO AL MATTONE chicken cooked under a brick served with sautéed Brussels sprouts / GRIGLIATA grilled Burgundy Pastures grassfed hanger steak served with sautéed broccoli rabe // DESSERT: Chocolate Fudge Brownie Squares with a Fresh Raspberry / Chewy Chocolate Chip Sandwiches filled with Cream Cheese / Lemon Bars / Pignoli / Momofuku Wedding Cake
What type of cake did you serve? Tier 1 was Malted Chocolate, Tier 2 was Chocolate Chip Passion Fruit, and Tier 3 was Pistachio Lemon.
Did you have a signature cocktail? Yes, the Regalo Verde: Jalepeno Tequila, Chartreuse, St. Germaine, Lime, Basil.
What was your first dance song?
First Dance: This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) by The Talking Heads
Father/ Daughter: Scarlet Begonias by The Grateful Dead
Mother / Son: Hey Jude, by The Beatles
