Our original plan was a 100-110 person wedding at the DUMBO Loft in Brooklyn. We picked this space due to its small and intimate size, it fit our budget perfectly, and we wanted a bare-bones DIY setup with the ability to bring in our own vendors that fit our style. After COVID hit and about a month or so went by, it was clear that a 100+ wedding would not be in the books for this summer, or even year. Without even needing a big discussion on the matter, we were both on the same page of wanting to still get married this year in whatever way we could. After planning our wedding for two years and being together for 10, we did not want to postpone any longer.
So there began our new wedding vision! We had gotten engaged in Tompkins Square Park, a place we have shared many other memories, like watching the dogs play in the park or just taking an evening stroll, and after reaching out to our officiant, Reverend Samora, we decided to get married in the same place!
Difficulties were definitely grieving the loss of our planned wedding. Although we knew the most important part of a wedding is the exchanging of vows and the unification of our love for each other, there was the loss of traditions and moments many others get to experience, such as walking down the aisle, having all of our friends and family present, and having a first dance. With all of that, there was an uncertainty if we were doing the right thing, especially given the mixed communication surrounding COVID along the way of cancelling vendors.
But all in all, there are no regrets. As Phase II began the week of our wedding, we were still surrounded by a small group of our closest friends and family, including some that were in our bridal party. The ceremony was a perfect intimate alternative to our planned celebration, and there were new moments that we would have never gotten to experience, such as complete strangers congratulating us every (literal) step of the way! We read hand-written vows (but not before playing rock-paper-scissors to see who had to go first!), and streamed the ceremony to other family members via Zoom.
After the ceremony and taking pictures together with our guests, we headed to Astoria, the stomping ground of many of our first NYC memories. With the Phase II reopening, this meant we could eat and drink outside with our small group! We had brunch at Oliver’s, our beloved gastropub where we would dine every Friday night when we lived in the area, followed by more drinks at Judy and Punch in their backyard space, and dinner at Vesta Trattoria. Even as we huddled under umbrellas in the occasional downpours (they say that’s good luck, right?), our friends couldn’t help but exclaim how this was still the perfect wedding day!
