This Brooklyn Wedding Was a Blooming Oasis of Vibrant Color

Pops of red were a meaningful nod to the bride’s heritage at this floral-forward celebration.

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Published on February 27, 2024

Sarah and David Wedding — Photo:
Barrie Anne Photography

Sarah and David’s romance started in the workplace when Sarah joined an investment banking firm in the summer of 2015; David had joined just one year prior. "We joke that if our relationship could survive three years of investment banking—even sitting next to each other on the same trading desk—then it can survive anything," Sarah says. "It certainly made the long days go by a little faster!"

Their proposal story was a little more romantic. They got engaged on Valentine’s Day in front of Grand Central Terminal in New York City, like something out of a movie. "Grand Central is symbolic to us for a few reasons: We met in New York City and lived and worked in that area for the first few years of our relationship," Sarah says. "I moved to Stamford, Connecticut, for my next job, and we would frequently commute to and from each other’s places via the Metro North, which gets in at Grand Central. And one of our favorite restaurants, Grand Central Oyster Bar, is also in the building! We went there after the proposal for a martini and oysters."

Both Sarah and David, naturally, are numbers people; they wouldn’t have met if they weren’t. So, finding the creative headspace to plan a wedding proved a challenge. "We both work with numbers and don’t typically do design-oriented work, so the task that we found most difficult was actually figuring out what we wanted for our invitations and design elements," Sarah says. "Things like keeping the budget organized were easy by comparison!" That said, "Once we were tackling something—like choosing wedding party attire, making menu selections, or organizing seating arrangements—we had lots of fun envisioning the event and our guests, and that always made things easier," she says. Enlisting a planning team, Dawn and Em at DM Events and Design, was especially helpful in refining their summer garden vision. Brooklyn Botanic Garden proved the perfect venue to bring it all to life on June 24, 2023.

One thing the couple was sure of? They wanted to represent both of their heritages in subtle touches throughout a floral-filled day. "David is of Italian heritage, while my parents both immigrated from Taiwan, and we both highly value the role of family in our lives," the bride says. "We wanted to reflect these cultural backgrounds and values during our big weekend in a way that felt cohesive and natural. For us, that meant a Chinese banquet-style rehearsal dinner, complete with a tea ceremony, lucky red favors, and Chinese door games, plus Italian confetti as a wedding favor and an Italian pizza brunch the day after the wedding." They included family in their wedding parties and gave members roles like reading in the ceremony; the day was as much an homage to those who love and support them as it was to each other.

The Invites

Sarah & David Wedding — Barrie Anne Photography

After considering custom invitations, the couple did a deep dive into Minted and found just what they were looking for. "We went with Angela Marzuki’s wispy design suite for our invitation set, which was in keeping with the botanic theme, and the red was also a nod to the Chinese-themed rehearsal dinner," Sarah says. "Minted makes it super easy, with highly customizable designs and free samples to order so that you can figure out exactly the look and feel you want." They selected matching designs for all the elements of their suite and customized the finishing touches. "Everything was printed on pearlescent paper with a subtle shine. We layered the invitations with a translucent vellum overlay, held it all together with deep red belly bands, and mailed them out in champagne-hued envelopes."

The Bride’s Dress

Trying on all types of silhouettes gave Sarah a better sense of what she was looking for. "After trying on some dresses, I knew I wanted the princess feel and functional comfort of an A-line dress with straps," she says. "From there, I fell in love with the fairy-tale quality of Jenny Yoo’s McKinley skirt and the leaf appliqué of the illusion bodice, which was perfect for the theme of our wedding." It was the ideal fit aesthetically, but there was an even deeper meaning. "While it wasn’t a requirement in my search, I also liked that the dress was designed by an Asian and New York-based designer, an homage to both my cultural roots and chosen home," Sarah says. "On the day I decided on the dress, Jenny Yoo was actually in the store, and I got to meet and take a picture with her in the dress I would wear, which was really special."

A Botanical Hair Accessory

Sarah added a final botanical touch with a floral hair comb in her pretty bridal updo.

The Groom

David wore a classic custom tux with modern details like subtle pinstripes and a customized liner. His accessories were another meaningful nod to where he came from: He wore his great-grandfather’s gold cross and cornicello necklaces beneath his shirt.

The Venue

"We wanted a summer wedding with a flowery garden aesthetic and an outdoor element to it—but we also wanted to have the wedding in New York City since the city has always been special to us," Sarah says. Brooklyn Botanic Garden was the best of both worlds and when they toured it, they fell in love. "The glass birdcage structure of The Palm House is so gorgeous, especially on a sunlit day—our favorite feature of the venue."

First Look

They met on the Lily Pool Terrace for a memorable first look against a stunning backdrop. "Everything felt a little surreal … I couldn’t believe the moment had finally arrived after so much planning and envisioning," Sarah says. "Of course, I couldn’t help goofing off a little. I snuck up behind David and said 'boo' instead of tapping him on the shoulder. We are both goofballs in our relationship and constantly laughing, so it just felt appropriate." David agrees. "I was nervous for the big day ahead," he says, "but was immediately put at ease by Sarah’s playfulness. I thought her dress was perfect, and she looked like an angel."

A Near Miss

It almost didn’t happen: "Due to a mistake by our transportation company, the bridal shuttle never arrived, and Sarah ended up taking a yellow cab to the venue from the hotel," the couple says. "While we can’t say this was one of our favorite parts of the day, it’s definitely a special memory that made our wedding feel extra 'New York'—and something to look back on and laugh about."

A Colorful Bouquet

Sarah carried a rainbow-hued bouquet in an organic composition; it bloomed with peonies, garden roses, and anemones. Her bridesmaids, meanwhile, carried monobotanical versions of the same with "the most perfect peonies," Sarah says.

Emerald Green Bridesmaids Dresses

Sarah’s maids each selected their own dress, within the parameters of floor-length emerald green satin. "To make sure everything looked cohesive together, I had the girls send me their options for sign-off," Sarah says. "They looked fabulous, with some in classic silhouettes and others in asymmetric and off-the-shoulder styles."

On-Theme Guests

Guests, too, looked superb, taking notes from the wedding palette. "The colors of summer were not only bursting all around the grounds of the venue but so perfectly complete inside of The Palm House with the most stunning explosion of summer florals," Sarah says. "Colors included pinks, yellows, orange, green, and a bright range of sherbets, with pops of violet accents. Our guests also came dressed in colorful attire and accessories to complement the summery vibe of the day."

Vibrant Florals

"We wanted a beautiful floral garden aesthetic with vibrant bursts of color—something that felt romantic yet sophisticated, with bolder colors than a typical pastel palette," Sarah says. "We knew from the outset that the florals were key; we wanted our guests to feel enveloped in a lush summer garden that would feel like an extension of the Botanic Garden itself."

A Floral Arch

A circular floral arch denoted the altar, but negative space was just as important. "We wanted to let the structure shine," Sarah says of the ceremony site. And indeed it did: Sun shone brilliantly through the glass.

A Personalized Ceremony

The bride walked down the aisle with her father to the classic Canon in D. The ceremony was neither totally secular nor totally religious, but rather a combination of the two. "We had a secular ceremony that also included some elements we wanted, like a prayer," Sarah says. "David’s cousin read a passage from Song of Solomon 2 that evokes a beautiful sentiment fitting of both a wedding and a garden theme."

The Vows

"We both wanted to personally articulate what the wedding and each other meant to us, so we did write our own vows," Sarah says. After exchanging words and rings—and a romantic first kiss—the happy newlyweds recessed down the aisle to Handel’s Hornpipe in D.

A Raw Bar at Cocktail Hour

The couple snapped portraits quickly so they could mingle with guests. "One of the most fun parts of the day was arriving to cocktail hour and getting to interact with the majority of our guests for the first time," they say. "For some, especially those who traveled, this was the first time we were seeing them in a while, and getting to talk to everyone after the thrill and emotion of the ceremony was a great time." Plus, "there was no way Sarah was missing that raw bar!" The seafood lovers opted for oysters, lobster tail, scallop crudo, fluke sashimi, and more, paired with signature cocktails like an Old Cuban and a Strawberry Basil Spritz. An "Asian Night Market" station was another homage to Sarah’s roots and featured barbecue pork bao buns, shrimp dumplings, and spiced fried chicken with basil lime aioli.

Blooming Reception Decor

The reception decor was a lush extension of the ceremony, featuring a rainbow of vibrant hues in low and tall floral arrangements. "Outside of the florals, the venue setting and decor were done in classic white with gold accents for a fresh and contemporary look," Sarah says.

A Delicious Dinner

"The easiest part of planning was picking out the menu," the bride says. "Brooklyn Botanic Garden partners with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group for its catering, and they have an amazing and high-quality menu selection, so it was easy to put together a variety of options we knew our guests would love." The meal included a beet and strawberry salad, artichoke agnolotti, roasted beef tenderloin, seared salmon, and an array of late-night sweets.

A Special First Dance

The bride has spent her life dancing, so the pressure was on when the couple took the floor to Dean Martin’s "Sway." "The first dance was one of the most special memories of the night," they say. "We put in many hours of lessons and practice for it. We were so nervous going into it, but the practice paid off—we even nailed the lifts and dip at the end. It was one of the most fun and exhilarating experiences in a night filled with them."

Outfit Change

Sarah then changed into a party-ready one-shoulder jumpsuit fully adorned with sequins to dance the night away and dance they did. "Don’t be afraid to ask for help," Sarah advises other brides throughout the planning process. "Those around you understand and are often more than happy to help you wherever they can. And remember, you’re a team. While the bride often shoulders much of the planning, the groom can also help by taking on specific tasks, such as planning the transportation and honeymoon."