Amanda and Zach’s movie-like love story was a classic New York romance from the start, that led to a chic and breathtaking wedding at the iconic Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center.
Location: Manhattan, New York, USA
Style: Classic, elegant, New-York-City glam
Time of planning: 9 months
Number of guests: 180
Setting: Event space
Season: Fall
The love story of Amanda and Zach began with a blind date at the US Open Tennis at Arthur Ashe Stadium in NYC. They were set up by a mutual friend who believed they would be a perfect match, and he couldn’t have been more right. It was the night of Hurricane Ida. Straggling through water to their knees and ponchos on their backs, Amanda and Zach made it home on a packed subway while holding hands.
Fast forward to the Friday before Valentine’s Day, Zach planned the most romantic proposal in the cozy comfort of our Lower East Side apartment. He popped the question in private, making the moment intimate and special. The same night Zach orchestrated a beautiful, quaint dinner at Babbo, inviting their closest family.
Our greatest wish is to continue creating magical, unexpected moments together. We hope our marriage will be filled with love, laughter, and the same adventurous spirit that brought us together on that fateful night during the US Open.
Wedding Fashion
Amanda looked gorgeous in her Naeem Khan bridal dress. The sheer neckline, sleeves, and long fitted silhouette gave an elegant look. The shiny patterned beadwork all over the dress highlighted the bride’s bright personality and perfectly matched the dress with her accessories. Besides a family heirloom pearl bracelet and earrings, Amanda wore a statement headband by Reem Acra. Her minimalistic and chic bridal bouquet was made of white calla lilies. Iconic Jimmy Choo heels and Gucci perfume finished Amanda’s wedding look.
Zach’s velvet jacket from Suitsuppy was a nod to the venue’s old-world and classic nature. A single white calla lily boutonniere was an elegant detail to his ensemble, and the date of the wedding, embroidered inside the suit jacket, added a special sentimental touch. Classic and timeless Gucci shoes elevated his style, making him look exceptionally sharp.
First Look
The couple wanted to host the wedding in the city where they met and lived. Most of their friends and family also lived near New York City. Having visited the Rainbow Room of the Rockefeller Center before, Amanda and Zach fell in love with it at first sight. To achieve the WOW effect for the wedding, they leaned into the venue’s glam nature.
Their deeply emotional first look occurred at 620 Loft and Garden, which overlooks Rockefeller Plaza. Zach was waiting there for Amanda, anticipating the moment they would finally meet. When Zach turned around and saw Amanda, he told her she looked like a princess. Overfilled with emotions, the groom couldn’t hold back his tears of joy.
After the first look, they took an hour-long photo walk galavanting around the streets of NYC with Twah Dougherty and A Final Take Films. Amanda shared that it turned out to be one of the most fun parts of the day.
Twah Dougherty captured Zach and Amanda’s joy, their gazes full of love, and the city’s lively spirit. Her refined and cinematic style perfectly aligned with the couple’s goal of a classic and glamorous look.
During the photo walk, they reached the ice rink at Rockefeller Center. It happened to be the moment when everyone was off the ice. Twah Dougherty approached the security guard and asked if they could enter to take some photos there. At first, the security guard refused, but as soon as he saw Amanda in her wedding dress, he changed his mind! They got incredible photos with all of New York City watching above the scene. When Zach dipped Amanda and kissed her, the whole Rockefeller Center erupted into cheers! It was an overwhelmingly emotional moment that could happen only in New York City.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place at Bar 65 in The Rainbow Room, an iconic room where many famous people have dined. Breathtaking and unforgettable views of all sides of NYC unfolded in front of everyone. With the event timed perfectly at sunset, a stunning golden glow filled the room, making the moment unforgettable.
The unique circular seating arrangement added a fresh look. The chuppah was placed in the center of the room, surrounded by chairs for the guests, creating an intimate and personal atmosphere. Tall calla lilies at every column of the chuppah and the geometric ceiling decor made everyone feel like they were floating in the clouds during the ceremony.
Another unusual and personal thing about this ceremony was the absence of the vows. Instead, Amanda and Zach wrote them as letters and exchanged them the morning of their wedding. The couple wished to live this intimate moment without any distraction in the coziness of their own home.
“My uncle officiated the wedding, sharing the story of how we met and keeping it short and sweet so we could get to the drinks and dancing sooner! And we had the two most important people in our lives standing under the chuppah with us—Zach’s brother Eric and my sister Claudia.”
Reception Decor
Vibrant and voluminous arrangements of yellow flowers were a true highlight. With NYC views in the background and dimmed lights, it almost felt as if the flowers were emitting a soft light of their own.
Our amazing florist, Meredith at Belle Fleur, suggested using yellow color. Once she said she’d never done it before, I knew we had to follow her vision since we wanted something different, cool, memorable, and unique.
The guests were welcomed by a tall white orchid decoration with handwritten calligraphy Escort Cards, wax stamps of the AZ logo, and the couple’s initials combined, the menus were handwritten too. All the wedding stationery was created by a small company based in Belgium.
The cocktail hour offered three different margarita-based drinks, beloved by many New Yorkers. A special touch was cocktail napkins with the couple’s logo embroidery. One of Amanda’s best friends created them as a wedding gift and a keepsake.
First Dance
Amanda and Zack had been practicing for months to excel in the first dance. Zach’s 90-year-old grandpa gifted them professional dance lessons for their engagement. “Complete with dips, lights, and turns, we felt like literal movie stars as we floated around the iconic rainbow room floor, and all of our friends and family cheered for us. It was INCREDIBLE,” shared the bride.
When the time for the dance finally came, the couple peaked their performance, flawlessly moving through the dance floor to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. This classic and endlessly romantic song sounded so authentic in the Rainbow Room.
Cake Cutting
The tall five-tier wedding cake by Ron Ben Israel was a true masterpiece. Its minimalistic design, pearly decorations, and gold accents matched Amanda’s look and the room’s golden glow.
Dinner & Celebration
The dinner was filled with heartfelt toasts from Amanda’s dad, brother, and sister, leaving not a dry eye in the room. Live music by Brooklyn Law from Element Music set the perfect backdrop, enhancing the lively chatter and sincere congratulations as everyone enjoyed the evening.
As the night continued, the celebration hit its peak with a traditional Israeli chair dance, where Amanda and Zach were lifted high into the air, waving napkins in joy. The band, who had changed into gold jackets, kept the energy high, ensuring the dance floor was packed all night long—exactly as Amanda had envisioned.
We wanted to lean into the glam and history of the city. We knew we wanted a classic, elegant, back tie, New York City wedding where everyone would dance the night away.
Advice from the couple:
• Do a first dance and go to dance lessons. Whenever we were at our lessons or practicing in our apartment, we got to connect and get excited for our special day. Performing our dance will always be an everlasting memory. We truly felt like movie stars and were proud to do something outstanding.
PHOTOGRAPHER Twah Dougherty | VIDEOGRAPHER A Final Take | PLANNING Classic Events NYC | VENUE Rainbow Room | HOTEL Aman Hotel | DRESS Naeem Kahn | HEADBAND REEM ACRA | MUAH Eddie Plishti Salon | SUIT Suitsupply | PERFUME Gucci | SHOES Gucci, Jimmy Choo | FLORALS Meredith at Belle Fleur | CAKE Ron Ben Israel | BAND Element Music & Brooklyn Law | SOUND & LIGHTING Bentley Meeker
