A Modern Formal Black-and-White Wedding in New York

July 27, 2011

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The Couple

Annette and Dan met at a party in 1996 and soon began dating. Three years later, they moved in together. Two years after that, they went their separate ways. "I was ready to get married," says Annette, a designer and art director. "He had cold feet." Five years later, in 2006, a mistake brought them back together when she sent him an email that was actually intended for someone else. They cautiously began talking again and then dating; a year later, Dan proposed. Annette went to work gathering ideas for their summer wedding at the boho-luxe Bowery Hotel.

Here, Annette and Dan gaze out at the New York City skyline from one of the Bowery Hotel's outdoor terraces. The bride carries an abundant bouquet of white peonies.

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Wedding Invitations

The bride also created the stationery suite. Ceremony programs include an illustration by the maid of honor's young son.

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Bouquet

The bride's bouquet from E.G. Geddes Inc. is made up of large white peonies tied with a black-and-white-striped ribbon to go with the color palette of the wedding.

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Wedding Favors

Annette designed the takeaway egg shakers, a nod to Dan's musical background, by overlapping their thumbprints to form a heart.

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Flower Girls

For Annette and Dan, their wedding was a family affair. Sean Berry and Stephen Miller, the bride and groom's brothers, were ordained for the occasion and performed the ceremony together. "It made us so happy and proud to have them do it," says Annette. Here, flower girls Dylan and Maxine Miller, the groom's nieces, wear stephanotis wreaths and sprinkle rose petals down the aisle.

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Boutonniere

A small white flower is accented by white feathers and a black ribbon.

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Reception

Centered on tables are low arrangements of peonies, astilbe, lisianthus, and roses set in antique Venetian glass vases loaned by friend Jes Gordon, an event planner.

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Dessert Bar

A color-coordinated sweets buffet features several confections and a vanilla cake decorated with sugar anemones.

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More Wedding Favors

Boxed black-and-white cookies topped with thumbprint heart labels and graphic ribbon also served as parting gifts.

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Drinks

A guest cools off with a classic New York City cocktail: a vodka martini, straight up, garnished with two black olives.

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Sources

Location & Catering: The Bowery Hotel
Flowers: E.G. Geddes Inc.
Stationery: Annette Berry Design; SoHo Letterpress; Artale Graphics
Calligraphy: Betsy Dunlap
Cake: Fortunato Brothers, 718-387-2281
Sugar Flowers: Sugar Flower Cake Shop
Music: Tim Ouimette Big Band
Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals
Wedding Photography: Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studio
Gown: Derek Lam
Headpiece: Jennifer Behr
Bridesmaid Dresses: Butter by Nadia
Flower Girl Dresses: My Girl Dress
Menswear: Valentino
Hair: Lishl Rigg-Reives
Makeup: Anna Bernabe
Favors: Egg Shaker World (custom egg shakers); William Greenberg Desserts (cookies)

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