A Burst of Summery Color Filled This Industrial Wedding at Brooklyn Winery
For law school students Aaron and Corey, their chance meeting in Buffalo followed a different kind of law: the law of attraction. The two moved to New York City post-graduation, making the Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill neighborhoods their home with their pup, Mack. On a beach trip to Southampton, nine years into their dating journey, the two took the next step in their relationship. “We took Mack to the beach each night to run in the sand, and Aaron used one of these nights as an opportunity to propose,” Corey says. “He hired a private chef to come to the house that night and cook dinner for us, his parents and a few friends.”
And since there’s no place like home, the couple knew a local Brooklyn wedding would perfectly match their vibes – a relaxed event with good food. Finding the right space to host this party was no small feat, but two venues quickly stood out to the nearlyweds: The William Vale hotel for their first look and the Brooklyn Winery for their ceremony and reception. Corey says, “We opted for a family-style sit-down dinner followed by the band getting the party started on the dance floor. Our goal was to create a colorful, fun party that wasn't too stuffy.”
With color taking center stage, both the bride and groom worked with their local vendors to ensure the event was full of vibrance and life. Everything down to the dress code included summery shades, with a mix of bright pinks, yellows, reds and oranges. They also worked to naturally balance the industrial space of the Brooklyn Winery’s exposed brick and hanging greenery by adding florals throughout the space. “I loved the greenery that Rosehip added, climbing up the pillars and onto the ceiling. The flowers were exactly what I was hoping for—asymmetrical, colorful arrangements,” the bride adds.
In order to let the colors shine during the wedding, both Aaron and Corey chose classic options for their attire. Corey found a classic, chic gown from a local bridal shop, with its square neckline and form-fitting silhouette. She paired this with a low bun, long flowing veil and a multi-colored bouquet of seasonal florals like dahlias and ranunculus. For Aaron’s wedding day look, he wore a beige suit, a light purple tie and a boutonniere to match Corey’s bridal bouquet.
Blending traditions into their day was an important element, like getting married under a Chuppah to honor Aaron’s Jewish upbringing despite the non-denominational ceremony led by their mutual friend. As for other ways they added Jewish customs to the ceremony, Corey says, “[We] used Aaron's maternal grandmother's wedding band for the ceremony (it's a Jewish tradition to get married with a plain gold band). Both of us stomped on glasses at the end of the wedding ceremony while holding hands!”
Another tradition led the festivities at the reception, but one more specific to Aaron’s parents. The newlyweds walked onto the dance floor wearing matching heart-shaped sunglasses, a retro vibe that they kept going throughout the evening. Corey also changed into a second look for the night, a white mini dress with the same neckline as her gown but embellished with 3D elements and sequins.
When guests entered the reception space at the Winery, they found an industrial venue transformed into a colorful oasis, with hanging plants, taper candles, gold accents at each place setting and low, asymmetrical centerpieces of lively blooms. At the welcome table, framed black-and-white photos of their grandparents’ weddings sat beside the seating chart for guests. “We were only able to have Aaron's grandmother physically at the wedding, so it was a special way to incorporate our other grandparents into our day,” Corey says. “His grandma really loved seeing her wedding photo when she arrived and was so surprised.”
Many personalized touches elevated the decor, as well, like their drink of the night, paying homage to their pup: the “Mack Attack” gin and tonic with cucumber. One of their groomsmen surprised them with performances of Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” and Weezer’s “Undone” alongside the live band. The bride adds, “The dinner menus [were made] with each guest's name printed at the top… I loved the alternative to place cards. It felt special to have something printed for each guest.” The after-party also included some of the couple’s favorite treats, like Joe’s Pizza and an ice cream cart. And of course, no winery wedding would be complete without some local wines and a charcuterie board perfectly paired with the flavors.
Having their “huge party” that also kept the relaxed vibes, they say, wouldn’t have been complete without hiring the right vendors. Staying at The William Vale to start and end their weekend also contributed to the perfect atmosphere, and they leave future couples with this advice to cover all the bases: “Don't take things too seriously. Track invites on your wedding website versus by mail… Get some props for the dancefloor; we did heart-shaped sunglasses and glowsticks, and it was so much fun!” Simply put, make sure fun is at the forefront of your wedding day.