There’s no place like New York City. And we could not be more obsessed with the way today’s couple, Carleigh, a law student, and Ian, a financial reporter, channeled that Big Apple energy into their fabulous Jewish wedding.
For these two city dwellers, there was never any question that they’d get married anywhere but NYC. And their venue, City Winery, was the perfect spot to highlight the city’s energy (don’t miss the wonderful photos by Tiffany) – plus, it happens to be set in a stunning spot on the water. Naturally, Carleigh found her Martina Liana gown at Kleinfeld, THE quintessential New York bridal spot. And at the end of the night, the duo made their grand exit in a vintage NYC yellow cab.
We also love Carleigh and Ian’s commitment to making sure every aspect of their wedding was 100% “them” – from swapping out the traditional Seven Circles, in favor of each walking three around the other and then one together, to giving out packs of baseball cards during cocktail hour in honor of Ian’s baseball card collection, to opting for a stunning custom ketubah by Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor BritColors incorporating a Torah verse with personal meaning.
This was such an incredibly special day, and we hope you’ll read on to hear the rest in Carleigh’s own words!
How we Met
Carleigh, the bride: We met like any good millennial couple does these days: on Tinder. It may not have been love at first swipe… but we instantly had a good banter going, built largely on our shared experiences working in media. We both worked for our college newspapers, Carleigh at Duke, and Ian at the University of Pennsylvania.
A New York Wedding
We knew that we wanted to get married in New York City. Ian is from New Jersey, and Carleigh is from Virginia, but it never really crossed our minds to get married anywhere but in this amazing city we call home. Budget was a big factor in choosing our location. City weddings tend to be more expensive right from the beginning, so we wanted to make sure we weren’t getting carried away with any of our choices.
The first time we toured City Winery, it was still under construction. But we just knew instantly! It was the ideal combination of everything we loved. It was in a fun part of the city, but right on the water. Nature and the city came together beautifully.
A huge bonus was that City Winery also provided all of the food and drinks for the wedding, so there were fewer vendors that we had to coordinate with. And, anyone who has been to a brunch at City Winery before knows, the food is really good! As a couple that loves food and wine, we were so happy that this wasn’t just typical wedding fare, it was really a full dining experience.
Theme & Wedding Planner
We wanted every part of our wedding to feel very “us,” and I think we nailed it! Starting right from the ceremony, we made sure that our values were reflected and all of our guests felt welcome. Instead of the traditional Seven Circles, we walked in three around each other and then walked in one together. This approach radiated through all aspects of our ceremony, where we respected the traditions of those who came before us while also reflecting our own values and customs.
In addition to the seven blessings, we also had a reading from Carleigh’s aunt and uncle. First, a traditional Irish poem to honor her Irish heritage, and then a completely deadpan reading of Beyonce lyrics about love. The guests loved this part! Several people have told us that was their favorite part.
During cocktail hour, we had packs of baseball cards for our guests to open because Ian is obsessed with collecting baseball cards. (Secretly, his favorite part of the wedding was getting to open all of the leftover packs of cards after the wedding.) Forgoing a sparkler exit, we walked out to a vintage New York City yellow cab through an arch of our guests holding up football pennants from our favorite NFL Teams: the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. Our planner was Ready to Blossom.
A Martina Liana Dress
My sister got married in North Carolina a few years ago. While she doesn’t consider herself a “city person,” she did have one request for my wedding: to go to Kleinfeld. So I had a very bridal moment by saying yes to the dress at Kleinfeld! My dress designer was Martina Liana.
Ceremony and Chuppah
We were so excited to have our kippahs customized with our names on the inside and an outline of the New York City skyline around the edge. Our florist handled making the chuppah and they did such a wonderful job. It felt like Alice in Wonderland meets Sex and the City. We felt right at home under it, and we are so happy with how it turned out in pictures.
It is also very important to find a rabbi or officiant that you feel comfortable with. We have built a wonderful relationship with Rabbi Emily Cohen and Cantor Melissa Berman from West End Synagogue. I highly recommend reaching out to them if you are looking for a good place to find a synagogue community in New York City.
Ketubah
Our ketubah was one of the first things I ordered for our wedding. We wanted it to feel like a work of art, rather than just a contract. We saw BritColors on Instagram and instantly felt a connection. She hand makes every ketubah in Israel.
We chose a Torah verse that held special meaning for us, and Brit artfully integrated it in gold foil onto our ketubah. We are going to hang it in our bedroom, and it is just such a beautiful reminder of the promises we’ve made to one another.
Our Music Choice / Entertainment
If you are on the fence between a DJ and a live band, take this as your sign, GO FOR THE BAND! We loved the Gotham Project from Hank Lane, and so many of our guests have told us how it was the best band they have ever seen at a wedding. It felt more like a love show than just a wedding band. We even got up on the stage with the band during the final song!
The Gotham Project handled everything from the processional to the last dance! Our bridal party entered to a slowed instrumental version of ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas. When it was Carleigh’s time to walk down the aisle, they seamlessly transitioned to ‘Clair de lune’ by Claude Debussy. It felt magical. And after we were officially announced as husband and wife, we joyfully walked out to ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyoncé.
We picked very specific songs for our bridal party to enter the reception. The groomsmen came in to the NCAA March Madness theme song, and the bridesmaids entered to Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter. We came in to a crowd of guests that were going crazy for the Jeopardy! theme song, a perfect fit for us since our main fights are about who got the answer right first each night when we watch.
First Dance: ‘This Is How You Know’ by Union Moon
Father/Daughter: ‘Wildflowers’ by Tom Petty
Mother/Son: ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ by Phil Collins
Photographer
Tiffany did my sister’s wedding a few years ago, and we just loved working with her. She kept everything so calm and joyful, we knew we wanted to ask her to do our wedding too.
She flew all of the way from North Carolina to New York to celebrate with us. My favorite part about her work is her attention to the small and personalized details. She captured everything so authentically to how it felt in the moment.
Advice to other couples planning their wedding
If your budget allows for it, go for the wedding coordinator or a day-of coordinator. It really helps to take the stress of the day away. The day goes by so quickly as is, so you don’t want to spend any additional time on managing the little details if you don’t have to.
Also, keep your bridesmaids fed and hydrated! Those ladies are your main form of support, so make sure you are keeping them happy!
Honeymoon
Because I am a law student, we are delaying out honeymoon until my winter break. We will be going to Thailand and the Maldives, and we are very excited!
CARLEIGH & IAN’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – Tiffany L Johnson Photography
Ketubah – Brit Colors {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Band – Hank Lane
Wedding planner – Ready to Blossom
Venue – City Winery
Bride’s dress – Martina Liana found at Kleinfeld
Bride’s shoes – Betsy Johnson, Keds
Bride’s accessories –Kleinfeld
Bridesmaids – Dear Cleo
Hair + Makeup – Beautini
Flowers – Rose Hip Social
Catering – City Winery
Cake – Nine Cakes
Stationery/Invitation – Minted
Rabbi – Rabbi Emily Cohen and Cantor Melissa Berman from West End Synagogue
Photo Booth – Lodi
Live painter – J Howard Studios
Registry – Riley Grey
Kippot – Kippot World
Black and white cookies – Julianne Goldlust
Smash The Glass Pouch – Smashing The Glass Etsy Shop {or join Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club and get one for free!}
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.