Wanting a dance party most of all, the no-dancing law was a huge upset for us. That is, until The Garrison generously gave us the option to have our ceremony and an intimate gathering on our original date, and then to have our reception and dance party the following year. This double-wedding was the perfect solution! My best friend, Elena Dotoratos, crafted a beautiful ceremony for us. Weaved into the ceremony was a reading from Patrick’s cousin Kristen and my oldest friend, Heather. The ceremony was personal and romantic, and afterward we had a lovely dinner of delicious food, accompanied with beautiful live music.
Skipping ahead to our follow-up party, we picked up right where we left off! For our cocktail hour, we selected the barbecue station and the artisanal cheeses and fresh fruit station. We both love mac and cheese, which came with the barbecue station, and who doesn’t love a great cheese board? We knew these two choices would be a hit with our guests. We also selected delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, like fried shrimp dumplings, baked brie, potatoes and white truffle croquette, and more. We created a signature cocktail in honor of our Astoria apartment, called the “hootie-hoo,” reminiscent of when our doorbell didn’t work and our friends would shout that up to our window to tell us they’d arrived. The cocktail was a mix of Grey Goose and splashes of orange juice, triple sec, and Sprite.
The color scheme for our wedding was dusty rose, gold, and navy. We created an ambiance that enhanced, but didn’t distract from, the beautiful backdrop of The Garrison. Our accents were equal parts rustic and chic, with warm lighting, wood accents, and texture in the centerpieces. Our florist used our floral palette to tie all the rooms and décor together, with roses and eucalyptus in our bouquets, floral arch, and centerpieces. We also added strings of bistro lights over the dance floor. Guests were finally able to dance to a mix of our favorite 90’s hits, as well as some of the classics for all age ranges. We also had a traditional Middle-Eastern dance break, where relatives circled the floor for the dabke.
