The Wedding of … Kara Coyle & Paul Newmann
Their Vendors Ceremony: Our Lady of the Rosary Reception: Brooklyn Botanic Garden 718.307.7133, www.patinaevents.com Gown: Liancarlo Photographer: Sullivan & Sullivan Photography Makeup & Hair: Glamsquad Florist: Atlas Floral Cake: Patina Events Band: Russ Bennett Band
“Romance & Elegance”
Paul and I met in Chicago when we both ended up working at the same public relations agency. For several years, we were just work acquaintances, then friends, and then one summer we finally realized we wanted more. We were out with friends and decided to leave to swim in Lake Michigan until sunrise. Fast forward five years and I am now a creative director at an advertising agency and Paul works in finance. We made the cross-country move from Chicago to the Upper West Side in New York. One warm day in February, Paul proposed to me during a walk in Central Park. I was surprised again to find our friends and family packed into our little 700 square-foot apartment waiting for us to celebrate.
We saw multiple venues in both Chicago and New York before falling in love with Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The venue had the elegance and romance we were looking for, especially the stunning beaux arts-style glass conservatory. We decided on a New Year’s Eve wedding and we worked with the catering sales manager to craft the perfect day. She was always available for walk- through appointments and to answer our zillions of questions.
We were married by our priest, Father John Duffell, at one of Manhattan’s oldest churches. When guests arrived at Brooklyn Botanic Garden for cocktail hour, they walked through the garden down a brick path lined with candles. In the glass conservatory, we featured various food stations including an Asian street cart with delicacies like Peking duck and shrimp shumai and a Southern station with comfort foods like mac and cheese and ham with buttermilk biscuits. Our reception was in The Palm House and our décor was classic black and white elegance.
For a romantic touch, tea lights and goblet candles adorned each table. Our amazing florist, Wade Bernesby, created two stunning centerpieces that alternated throughout the room; one made of birch trees and dendrobium orchids tied to the branches and the other arranged with white roses, hydrangea, lysianthus, and dendrobium orchids. Dinner was delicious. We started with an arugula salad followed by a choice of branzino, roasted filet mignon, or a vegetarian option of honeynut squash. For dessert, we served our three-tier lemon cake with strawberry mousse.
Our nine-piece band got guests dancing as soon as they walked into the Palm House until the midnight countdown. We did our first dance to Van Morrison’s “Someone Like You,” and then the band kicked in the classics like Bruce Springsteen. Paul and I left the ballroom with a grand sparkler exit, leading everyone to the after-party at Franklin820, a bar in Brooklyn.
Thanks to everyone who made our wedding such a pure example of love and happiness. Thank you to all our guests, who traveled from all corners of the world to be there for us. A special shout out to our parents, Dennis and Denise, and Michael and Candi, for their incredible support. We feel so grateful to have you in our lives. Thank you to all our vendors and to the staff at Brooklyn Botanic Garden for their hard work in helping us create the perfect day.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn, NY 718.307.7133, www.patinaevents.com