Location: Morristown, NJ
Setting: Hotel and Rosegarden
Season: Summer
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
The number of guests: 120
Wedding theme/style: Modern elegance with a touch of nostalgia.
Adam and Amy’s love story began in December 2019 when they met on Hinge. “Our first date was at a wine bar, Antler, on the Lower East Side with some board games. We played Jenga, which had truth or dare prompts on it – this prompted our first kiss”, Amy recalls. When the city shut down due to the pandemic, their relationship blossomed. Adam would bike from Queens to Amy’s Upper West Side apartment every Friday evening after work since they were not meant to take public transit. The couple enjoyed delicious Trader Joe’s brie and homemade negronis and played Settlers of Catan there. They also spent time in Riverside Park, where they played frisbee and card games, creating memorable moments.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they virtually met each other’s families and traveled to Michigan to meet Adam’s family in person. A year and a half later, they moved in together in Brooklyn. On a beautiful hike upstate in July 2022, Adam proposed to Amy, and they embarked on a new journey towards marriage.
The lovebirds selected The Madison Hotel as their wedding venue due to the stunning conservatory that resembles a chic greenhouse. Its aesthetics were so impressive that they couldn’t resist. Moreover, for Amy, who grew up near the hotel, it also held sentimental value as she had previously celebrated significant family occasions at the attached restaurant.
Amy’s desire for garden-themed wedding photos led to the decision to capture their first look and wedding party photos in a nearby arboretum. As a meticulous planner, she scoped out the location a year in advance to ensure ideal lighting conditions. The fortuitous blooming of roses on their wedding day added an extra touch of magic to their cherished memories captured in photographs by talented Marylou, the founder of All Bliss Photography.
Adam and Amy are both skilled fashion designers who approached their wedding planning with enthusiasm to infuse their special day with their sense of style. Amy shares, “Adam’s mom’s best friend gifted us our wedding invitations. So, I designed them, and she helped me bring them to life. He had illustrated a card for me at one point in our planning. I loved it! It was a line drawing of the venue, so I used that as inspiration for the invitation. Adam’s mom’s friend also painted us a gorgeous floral arrangement, so I utilized parts of her painting to design the invitation suite.”
The bride has been a designer for Victoria’s Secret for the last 9 years, so all the bridesmaids, a man of honor, and moms wore matching Victoria’s Secret pajamas while getting ready. This cute detail reflected Amy’s connection to the fashion world and added a memorable element to the pre-wedding festivities.
Amy’s bridal attire reflected her love for timeless simplicity with a nod to 90s fashion. Her wedding dress from Ines di Santo had a simple, elegant bias-cut silhouette with a captivating back décolleté. The gown featured straps that elegantly transitioned into lacing at the back. This detail accentuated her waist and added uniqueness to her ensemble. The bride’s veil, crafted from lace sourced from her mother’s wedding dress, was a sentimental value to her attire. Amy mentioned that Carolyn Bessette, a style icon, and Sophia Richie influenced her style.
For her wedding day hair and makeup, Amy chose a classic yet glamorous look. She went for a voluminous blowout for her hair. Her makeup was kept natural, enhancing her ocean-blue eyes and fair skin. A pearl necklace and a bouquet of white kallas completed the bride’s elegant look.
While getting ready, Adam had his friends by his side. He was the only person to wear a tux, which gave him a little extra glamour.
Following the simple instruction to wear navy suits, the groomsmen picked outfits that reflected their individual styles and personalities. Although they chose different ensembles, the wedding party looked seamless and cohesive. The groom wanted the groomsmen to wear the same tie to link their looks, so he embroidered their initials on the back to personalize them.
Amy and Adam had a magical moment in the garden when they finally saw each other. Their first look etched itself into their memories forever.
Amy says, “I wanted a more candid, documentary photography style to capture everyone’s personality and make everything look less posed. Marylou went above and beyond! She captured the day’s feeling AND made everything look so beautiful. We are so grateful to have had her!”
We have already shared the main reasons for choosing the Madison Hotel as the wedding venue, but something else adds a bit of nostalgia. “It’s also located at the train station I’ve used to go in and out of New York City for the last 15 years that I’ve lived there,” Amy says. “And it’s part of the reason we loved the cheeky pictures in the train car attached to the restaurant!”
The couple drew inspiration from modern trends and aimed for an elegant yet classic ambiance. Amy made all the flower arrangements in the days leading up to the wedding, including bouquets, centerpieces, corsages, and boutonnieres. She particularly admired the romantic aesthetic created by the popular combination of baby’s breath and white roses, complemented by the lush greenery of the conservatory. The venue’s inherent beauty with massive chandeliers minimized the need for additional decor, allowing the couple to focus on subtle yet impactful details.
The family was a huge part of their wedding. Instead of hiring an officiant, Amy and Adam had their siblings perform the ceremony. This decision was incredibly meaningful for the couple, making it feel so intentional. Since the lovebirds could write their own script, they considered every word. As the ceremony unfolded, tears flowed freely, and Amy felt like she was on cloud nine, surrounded by her family’s love and support.
As the evening progressed, the atmosphere grew increasingly cheerful and relaxed. Soft lights cast a warm glow and enveloped the venue in coziness and intimacy. The guests prepared their speeches and enjoyed the delectable food and tasty drinks.
While planning their wedding, the couple’s biggest wish was to soak the day together, celebrating their love entirely. As designers and a dream team, they spent a lot of time creating personalized touches for their special day.
Amy designed the welcome sign, menus, ceremony programs, place cards, and his and hers drink signs. Adam printed, sewed, and assembled everything, proving to be a true partner in crime. They added unique touches like fun fact napkins during cocktail hour, and as wedding favors, they gave guests a box of matches paired with their favorite incense.
The night was filled with dancing. Adam and Amy cherished the festivity, encircled by dear ones and the enchantment of music.
The celebration ended with Adam and Amy cutting the cake together, realizing their day had surpassed their dreams.
Advice from the couple:
• It sounds cliche, but try to enjoy it and do not sweat the small stuff while planning because it is stressful.
• Try to soak in as much as you can because it really does fly by.
• Also, we’re both huge planners. Plan the heck out of the schedule so you can sit back and let the plan fall into place and feel stress-free on the big day. We made an hourly schedule and detailed list of photos by location, and when anyone at my party had any questions, we just pointed to the list!
PHOTOGRAPHER All Bliss Photography | VENUE The Madison Hotel | CATERING The Madison Hotel | CAKE Calandras Bakery | FLORALS & DESIGN By the bride | WEDDING DRESS Ines Di Santo | BRIDE’S SHOES Ted Baker | MUAH The Oser House, Shaun Lewis, Brittany Garruto | GROOM’S SUIT Todd Snyder | DJ Yagirlash, Elan Artists
