We get super excited when we get to share a wedding photographed by the incredible Heather Waraksa. Add in the floral genius of Poppies and Posies and magic is all but guaranteed. So you can imagine how thrilled we are to featuring Sarit and Michael’s wedding day at The Brooklyn Museum. The couple enlisted the planners-extraordinaire at Bellafare to create a glamorous, fine art and floral filled celebration. We love it and know you will too!
What made the wedding special and unique?
Our wedding took place at the Brooklyn Museum, which was both special and unique. Our mothers and their mothers (maternal grandmothers) are from Brooklyn; (our paternal grandparents are from the Bronx) so while we knew that we wanted to get married in the city, as we’ve both lived here for the past 10 years and are both from NYC suburbs. Once our wedding planner took us to the museum, we loved the idea of getting married in Brooklyn; a location that was special to all of us. We were also drawn to the museum because of its impressive art collection, as well as the very interesting and unique permanent collections and special exhibits it often has, but it was the exceptional expansive Beaux Arts Court that really drew us in, and which served as a dramatic backdrop for our wedding reception. From the beginning, we wanted to ensure our wedding was fun, beautiful, and unlike anything else either of us had ever been to.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
My wedding planner, at this point knowing my style much better, and that I’m not really a girly-girl (more like a girl with tomboy interests) nor wanted a dress with anything shiny or sparkly, told me that she thought I would like a smaller bridal boutique called Gabriella’s, in SoHo. At the time that I found “the” dress I had already narrowed down everything else I had tried on – having already been to 4 or 5 stores to this gorgeous Oscar de la Renta. After finding the one-shoulder, low back (which was an element I wanted most), and nude/champagne with white lace overlay Anna Maier dress at Gabriella’s, I was convinced by all of my friends and family to go with the Anna Maier. Because I am Israeli and therefore olive skinned, most bridal consultants actually tried to veer me away from stark white as it contrasted so vividly with my skin tone. The champagne colored fabric under the white lace ended up being perfect.
What were some touches added to make it personal?
Several elements were incorporated to personalize our wedding, and reflect who we are as a couple and as individuals:
– Save the Date: a custom illustration of various items that were significant to our relationship and the upcoming wedding.
-Music: we wanted to create a fun experience for our guests at the wedding itself where our lives and/or personalities could shine through. As guests were seated for the ceremony, Hebrew music streamed through the glass lobby from my favorite Israeli singer Idan Raichel (I/the bride is Israeli). Additionally each person or pairing that walked down the aisle, from aunts to grandparents, the wedding party, siblings, and parents plus bride and/or groom, walked down to a different song of his, each of which was a personal favorite and handpicked due to the music or lyrics, or both.
-Misc.: A magician worked the crowd during cocktails and offered a surprising personalized touch. My bridesmaids all wore white, in various styles and designers (as I hadn’t really seen that before and again, wanted something ‘different’) and after the ceremony, danced into the night in their white Jordan’s high tops, which I gifted to them earlier in the day (ironically they surprised me with a pair of custom Jordans they had made me on NikeID).
-Ceremony items: The two Kiddush cups that we used belonged to Michael’s maternal grandparents, and my great grandmother, respectively (both of whom passed away).
The Tallit that we used to wrap ourselves to symbolize the binding of the couple. The groom’s ring was his grandfather’s wedding ring, and my gold band that we exchanged under the Chuppah was made by my uncle, a jeweler, from a gold bracelet of my grandmother’s; all family heirlooms and/or things that were personal to us.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
Easily the entire ceremony – in particular, walking down the aisle with my father, staring at my future husband under the Chuppah; everything our Rabbi said (which we loved); and the kiss (which we heard from friends afterwards was quite long and memorable!) I would also say the speeches (my/the bride’s father and sister in particular).
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
We actually met online in the fall of 2010. I actually found him in a search, and as Mike’s profile was pretty short it was hard to tell much in terms of his personal interests. He was however, wearing a Nike SB hat (Nike Skateboarding) in one of his pictures so I, assuming he must like at least some of same things that I did, sent him a message saying that I liked his hat! We began speaking, and as my profile was insanely long and detailed (not surprising if you know either of us!), he was able to write back and comment on the fact that we had a ton in common. We dated on and off for the next 8 months or so and the following summer started dating seriously, and two years later, on our 2 year anniversary, Michael gave me an anniversary “present” while we were sitting in our living room. The present turned out to be a pair of Jordan sneakers with a diamond engagement ring in the laces! He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, which I ecstatically said YES to (the second day best of my life, after the day we got married) and that began our year and a half long engagement and year of wedding planning!
sarit + michael from Buzz Media Company on Vimeo.
Photography: Heather Waraksa // Planning: Bellafare // Venue: The Brooklyn Museum // Floral Design: Poppies and Posies // Dress: Anna Maier Ulla Maija Gabriella Bridal // Bride’s Shoes: 1) Gucci; 2) Gianvito Rossi; 3) Valentino; 4) Air Jordan // Groom’s shoes: Prada // Suit: Ralph Lauren // Bride’s Rings: Panther Creations // Stationery: Sue Coe Designs // Music: Hudson Project; DJ Rumor; The Herreras // Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar // Lab: Richard Photo Lab // Photobooth: Magbooth // Lighting: Eventlights // Bridesmaid Dresses: Rebecca Schoneveld / Jenny Yoo / Erin Fetherston / BCBG / Reformation / Nili Lotan Maxi Cami Dress / AQ AQ Vienna Maxi Dress // Makeup: Nam Vo // Hair: Once Upon a Bride