“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love”

This is one of my all time favorite quotes as said by Carl Sagan. This quote holds so much truth in all aspects of life and finding meaning in this unlikely world. We have been enduring hardships together and experiencing a revolution of racial injustice, yet it hasn’t stopped couples from saying I do.

I had the honor to help plan a very special wedding ceremony with my dear friend Karen Gómez of Bow and Rose Floral Studio in Port Chester, NY for our mutual long time friend Michelle and her fiancé Robert. Michelle and Robert planned to tie the knot on June 20th 2020. Due to social distancing guidelines and the pandemic still causing great risk here in New York, their dreams of getting married had been crushed. For these two mental health practitioners their hours, days, years, weeks, months of planning had been diminished as their dream wedding at their hand picked venue, Vittoria'Z on the Lake had to be rescheduled.

When love speaks, the universe vibrates in harmony. That’s exactly what was created on June 20th 2020. As I share with you the elixir; the elixir of alchemy that these two souls who joined as one, created.

Here’s how this summer solstice wedding went from 120 to 20 in the most epic way!

Karen and I both being in the wedding industry, knew we had to do something. We had the passion and knowledge to do so, being wedding industry guru’s. We felt it was still so important to stick through with plans to get married and let love prevail even during times of hardship that our world has been facing.

After all, this was our passion and we wanted to do something for our friend. Michelle and Robert trusted us, we had a vision. Where there is love, there is beauty. Karen and I needed to figure out a way where we can still celebrate safely, following guidelines to create an unforgettable day. A visual timeline was created, a mood board of inspiration. Which led to makeup inspiration (Kara Delfino of Beauty Alchemy), hair inspiration (Esteban Cordero of Le Salon Bleu) and floral inspiration (Karen Gómez of Bow and Rose). The most beautiful thing was how supportive friends and family were, as everyone came together to help set up and contribute to the day in their own way.

Funny enough, we planned Michelle’s wedding in just a few short weeks! Michelle and Robert weren’t planning on having a small ceremony and had rescheduled to 2021 with their venue. We offered them a proposition three weeks prior to their date, wine in hand just to make sure we got a yes ;) haha. They loved our proposition so much that they decided to cancel their big ceremony at Vittoria'Z on the Lake and picked the backyard micro wedding we presented to them!!! Woohoo!

Knowing this was going to be Michelle and Robert’s official wedding ceremony, we reaallllly had to knock it out of the park. We also wanted to be able to support local businesses in the area knowing the restaurant industry has been struggling greatly. We set up catering from Latusion Food Truck in Port Chester, NY and Franks Pizzeria in Port Chester, NY. Karen not only contributed the floral design and event planning but also so graciously lent her backyard in Greenwich, CT to Michelle and Robert to say I do.

Thankfully getting creative comes naturally for us because by the time we started planning it was the end of May beginning of June. As you can imagine it being very hard to get materials in such short notice with shipping delays due to the virus. Being the guru’s that we are, we knew exactly how to style the event.

Think….Garden Al Fresco entangled with a Rustic Romance.

To decorate the driveway as guests walked up, we cut out a heart stencil from paper, placed it on the driveway ground and used flour to capture the pattern. Which led to a welcome sign and detail sign for the champagne, which I made myself from salvaged wood. There wasn’t enough time to get something made and shipped so my calligraphy practice came to good use! White paper bags filled with faux tea lights lined Michelle’s walk down the aisle. A backdrop of a vintage garage, amongst a lush floral arch created the foreground for the ultimate rustic and intimate ceremony. A floral sanctuary was created for two beautiful souls joining as one. A very dear friend of Michelle, Alana Marsili performed the nuptials. Alana specifically became ordained for Michelle and Robert’s backyard ceremony. Together Michelle and Alana created a beautiful, intimate, spiritual ceremony. It was nothing I’ve ever experienced before and it was more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined. To be able to create your own ceremony word for word was something as special as the vows they chose to write.

Michelle and Robert had their first dance under strings of lights; as twinkle lights sparkled in nearby bushes it was as if a million fire flies danced alongside them. No detail left behind. A beautiful cake made by Michelle’s cousin, Samantha Sciavillo was cut. Speeches were made, laughs were heard, alike and familiar to any other wedding reception. The night ended circling around a fire pit as Robert’s best man’s daughter, Caylin Frangione-Rivera a young talented musician, played the guitar and sang. It was the perfect way to end the night, falling silent to Caylin’s melodic sound and the crackle of the fire.