DIY and NYC aren’t the first two things we think of as going together when it comes to Jewish weddings. But super cool (not to mention resourceful) couple Grace and Barry proved us wrong with their charmingly eclectic indoor garden party celebration in Brooklyn, beautifully captured by the amazing Mandee Johnson Photography — their outdoor photoshoot in the streets of Brooklyn is serious #weddinggoals.
With some help from their families — Grace and her mom DIY’d the floral arrangements, while Barry’s mother fashioned a beautiful, simple chuppah canopy from an old lace curtain — and fun touches like string lights and a BBQ buffet, these two prove that it’s totally possible to craft a memorable wedding on a budget, even in the most expensive of cities.
And how cool does Grace look in her dress from Reformation (which happens to be a fantastic option for brides on a budget who don’t want to compromise on style)? We’ll leave the gorgeous bride and groom to fill you in on the rest…
How we met
Grace and Barry, the bride and the groom: Barry is on stage, performing. Grace is in the audience, audience-ing. After the show, she cracked a joke about his shoes, he laughed, that was that.
Indoor Garden Vibes
We chose to have the wedding at Littlefield, an art/music space in Brooklyn, a stage Barry has performed on countless times, a slice of home as the backdrop for the wedding. We hung dozens of string lights to create an outdoor garden inside.
Sticking with bringing the outdoors inside, we used simple round tables and folding chairs to create an indoor picnic for an amazing BBQ buffet in cast iron pots raised up on loose bricks.
Our friend spun records late into the night to keep the dance party rock’n sealing the deal on the perfect NYC summer outdoor (indoor) party!
Reception on a Budget
Creating a wedding on a budget isn’t always easy, but working together with our families we created a homemade, eclectic, warm wedding with an indoor picnic reception filled with personal charm.
A Reformation Dress
I had a hard time finding my dress, but I finally found the one that spoke to me at Reformation. I added a personal touch with earrings I bought for myself, an heirloom necklace, and killer blue pumps. I had custom earrings made for my mother and bridesmaid + custom reception earrings for me!
Personal Vows
One of the most memorable parts of our wedding day was our vows. A hundred times over. We wrote them ourselves. They were funny and personal. They set the tone for our wedding, and people were ready to be together and laugh and celebrate all night.
Handmade Chuppah
Barry’s mother made our chuppah from an old lace curtain.
Our music choices
Processional: ‘To Love Somebody’ – Bee Gees
Bridal entrance: ‘Shelter From The Storm’ – Bob Dylan (preformed by a talented lady friend)
Recessional: ‘Good Day’ – Nappy Roots
First dance: ‘Tupelo Honey’ – Van Morrison
DIY Flowers
My mom and I spent the day before the wedding making the flower arrangements for the tables. We’d been collecting vases from thrift stores and decorated each table with different sized vases filled with hydrangeas, baby’s breath, greenery.
Dancing
The dancing was the moment when everyone let loose. People who never dance, who pride themselves on “not dancing,” were on the dance floor, together, celebrating with us.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Whatever your worst fear is about people not having fun, or whatever your personal worst case scenario is – it won’t happen. People got all dressed up, and came all this way to celebrate you – they are excited and ready to take your cue. You’re jazzed, they’re jazzed.
Grace & Barry’s little white book
Photography – Mandee Johnson Photography
Venue – Littlefield
Bride’s dress – Reformation
Bride’s jewelry – Erica Bee
Catering – Dinosaur BBQ
DJ – DJ Mateo Sarria
Tables and linens – A-Z Party Rentals
