Monday, September 12, 2011

our big day (from 17beats)


Greetings from your resident cranky-pants and kill-joy, 17beats !!!

You've been getting a lot of emails from women hemming and hawing about eloping ... or questioning if they should just scrap their over-the-top wedding plans and retreat to Vegas. Here's our story (and a bunch of pictures) about the wedding that we thought would never happen.

The whole event was almost completely spontaneous, which truth be told, is very US. It wasn't until 36 hours prior that I even contemplated getting a dress; I just figured I'd wear something I already owned. After lunch with a good friend, though, I picked out this little number on a whim. It was somehow flattering (a marvel when you're 4 months pregnant) and seemed like it could be worn again. Everything else -- the bracelet, the ring, the earrings, the clutch -- was part of my hoard of sparklies. I had planned on wearing some brown pumps, but switched to black that morning, as it was chilly and I needed to wear a jacket.

The entire day was easy-breezy. No hoopla whatsoever! D's best friend was the witness and the photographer -- we called him the night before. I am lucky enough to be friends with a florist, so the bouquet & corsage literally appeared on our doorman's desk that morning (such a lovely gift from a dear lady).


We got an early start, and bounced over to City Hall and did the deed IN UNDER TWENTY MINUTES, and then headed uptown to buy rings. The sales woman was over-the-moon excited for us -- apparently we were the first newlyweds she'd ever helped (in 25 years) and she just LOVED our "story." We celebrated with a divine lunch at the Modern, and a leisurely stroll through MoMA, something we never seem to have the time for. That was the whole idea of the day -- to have the date we always promise each other, but never do because of work/crowds/etc.



We came home and D surprised me with a "Happy Birthday and Wedding" cake from my favorite straight-out-of-1960 Italian bakery. It was filled with chocolate pudding and cannoli cream and was absolutely delicious. It actually said "Happy Birthday and Wedding" on the top in perfect florescent pink jelly-icing script, which I found endlessly amusing. (I think I forgot to mention that it happened to be my 30th birthday, and the day before the world was supposed to end... HA.) After some cake, we slow danced to Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" and I sobbed like the sentimental sap I evidently am.

But that's because it was a Perfect Day. People fawned over us and went out of their way to be kind. There were "Mazel Tovs," "Best Wishes," and handshakes at every turn. Without a reservation, we somehow scored a table at the restaurant in under a minute. Countless tourists took our photos, and ladies-who-lunch toasted us with champagne. A little girl told us we looked like a prince and a princess, and a security guard cracked Will and Kate jokes. Even though we wanted the day to be completely private and JUST BETWEEN US, we ended up sharing it with all of New York. It was magnificent.



I am overwhelmed with joy that you sent me these photos.

I love them love them love them. And I love your story. It's just what I needed to hear on September 12, 2011.

30 comments:

  1. You guys are totally adorable and your wedding kicked ass.

    Mazel Tov indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 17 beats, I think you need to comment on your own story. Give yourself some advice.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pretty sure this is my favorite wedding story ever of all time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. awesome story...and i love the modern!

    ReplyDelete
  5. what a beautiful story, and THAT DRESS! you look fucking amazing. i'm pretty sure that four months into my pregnancy, i was already looking like the grim reaper.

    on a side note, @esb, i finally clicked on "caring for your introvert". um, GENIUS is all i can say about that. xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, that's fab! My fiancee and I are eloping from Australia to get married in New York in three and a half weeks and we are tres excited. We've just booked the fabulous Hart + Sol to come along and take our photos too. Really excited for the day....and this post has made me more so....lif that was even possible. Em

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is so wonderful, I teared up a bit while reading it...and that dress is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. i love your story, so beautiful!

    i am such a lucky lady, to have such a brilliant and darling older sister.

    baby was such a mini-bun! she is almost here!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That's why I love living here! We share. Thanks for your story. It made my day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i loved this. every last part.

    ReplyDelete
  12. this gave me a LOT of joy. thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is so badass. Beautiful story, perfect wedding day/birthday and great f*cking dress. xo.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Birthday and Wedding!!!

    I believe the word for all of the above is "awesomesauce." Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cool wedding story.. wish I could read more of these!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful! Congrats! This post makes me happy and reminds me why I read this blog. (We need more of these and less posts that dissolve into nothing but snarky comments.)

    ReplyDelete
  17. what a great story and an ode to New York. :)
    Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  18. so you guys know that all couples that get hitched in new york state between 7/24 and 10/18 get free tickets to love's labor's lost at the public, right?

    congrats, you beaming team.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I LOVE this wedding. Fabulous. Amazing. Congratulations you two! and happy birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  20. aaaand everything happens in real time in my head and i didn't realize you got married back in may. i congratulate you nonetheless!

    ReplyDelete
  21. CUUUUUUUUTE!! Happy to see this photos
    xx
    SR

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congratulations! It all looks so beautiful. Please can someone say where that amazing dress is from? (apologies if it's linked to already and I'm just being an idiot)

    ReplyDelete
  23. the dress is Alexander Wang -- I have no idea if it has a name or where you could get it at this point. I got it at a shop called Zoe here in DUMBO, Brooklyn, if that helps. :-/

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh wonderful.

    My parents eloped and married on my mother's 30th birthday too. Yay for the love!

    ReplyDelete
  25. ooh! ooh! ooh! just when i thought i couldn't love her more..................

    ReplyDelete