Our photographers and friends, Abdi and Nico, were generous and gave us a post-wedding “pre-wedding� session. We danced in McGolrick Park where we used to eat breakfast sandwiches together. We also stopped by 1 or 8 - our favorite restaurant.
Celadon & Celery helped us forage branches from Richard Gere’s property upstate. Emily Thompson procured foraged hops, trumpet vine, wild smilax, wisteria and autumn clematis to drape on the branches. Above shows the blank area, Emily’s sketch and one inspiration image given to the creators of the altar.
We named the tables after composers we like and marked them with their bust and name.
Dagger ferns were placed on the tables to act as table runners. Tables were then dressed with jasmine, plumosa fern, snowberries and specialty garden roses such as yves piaget. The tables were finished with fruit still lives that included lychee, okra, dragonfruit, stonefruit, rambutan and durians. The head table was framed with persimmon on the branch and dressed with landscapes of moss. The wedding party flowers were used for floral accent on the table.
The wedding party: Jeff Gensterblum, Ellis Whitehead, Yuli Fisher, Jenny Gensterblum and RÊgine Labossière.
The wedding party is made of amazing siblings and dear friends who helped with so many of the details. Here you see Jeff putting composers’ names on ribbons. Ellis is printing and folding 200 programs. Yuli made Chadwick’s bowtie. Jenny and RÊgine sanitized the toothbrush holders. Chadwick and Ling hand tore the place cards and hand wrote them.
We could not have gotten married without the help of so many folks. Everyone at Saturday Drinks helped us screw in 500 feet of globe lighting for our ceremony. Ling’s brother Yuta Hsu was the officiant and Ling’s sister Yuli was the witness for our marriage license. Friends Eric Watkins (former co-worker of Chadwick’s) and Colin Forbes (Ling’s good friend from college - they met at orientation) ushered. Cousin Ryan Koh hand-painted Ling’s reception shoes. Nephew Kyran Fisher helped pick a dress. Daniel de Simone (husband to brisdemaid Régine) scraped the wax off used candlesticks so that Régine and Jenny could spray paint them gold. The boys took Chadwick out to a pre-season Bears vs. Giants football game. Niece Taisim Hsu was our beautiful flower girl who tossed petals from an authentic birds nest hanging on grograin ribbon.
Many years ago, Ling worked at a restaurant called Momofuku. Quino Baca was one of the owners. He has since opened his own restaurant called the Brooklyn Star and obligingly agreed to cater our wedding with the most delicious food. Our good friend Jenny also worked at this Momofuku and has since become a Director of Food Programs. She created all 400 custom desserts in her Brooklyn apartment for us, while also tending to brisdesmaid duties.
DINNER Bacon Jalape単o Cornbread Mac n Cheese Summer Squash Casserole with Buttermilk and Caramelized Onions Fried Green Tomato Salad with Pickled Watermelon Rind, Pickled Mustard Seed, and Smoked Molasses Fried Corn Cobs in Chili Oil Whole Roasted End to End Pork Loin with Corn Relish Whole Grilled Sea Bass on Black Eyed Pea Salad Smoked Chicken with Cabbage Jicama Slaw DESSERT Vanilla and chocolate 3-tier mini cakes with sprinkles Sorbet Layer Cakes of mango, blood orange, strawberry, coconut Champagne Chocolate Truffles dipped in gold sugar Wedding sorbet layer cake made of green tea, red bean, toasted coconut and sesame
Getting ready at the Gramercy Park hotel in Manhattan: These women know how to keep a bride calm, pampered and beautiful.
Uncle Sekai gave a speech and toast with Ling’s father during dinner. Then the bride and her father danced to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. The groom and his mother joined the dance.
Big brother Yuta Hsu and the groom shake hands as brothers for the first time. DJ Dave unexpectedly initiates a spontaneous group hug after the first dances. The bride and groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day. The bride and groom have their first dance to Forever Came Today by Diana Ross & The Supremes.
A week before the wedding, we decided to rent gold mylar instead of creating curtains made of streamers. Fortunately, we loved the results. Bridal Bouquet of specialty garden roses such as yves piaget, snowberries, smilax, chocolate cosmos, autumn clematis Matron of Honor Bouquet of chocolate cosmos, castor pods, Persian carpet zinnias, quince on the branch Bridesmaid Head Wreaths of castor pods, snowberries, zinnias, porcelain vine, muehlenbeckia, blushing bride, cypress vine foliage Exterior garland of wild smilax, grapevine and plumosa fern Ring by Lola Brooks: red diamond set into pure 18k gold
Ling wanted masses of flowers as a backdrop for guest photos. The photo of Audrey Hepburn in 1955 served as inspiration for Bess of Celadon & Celery to create a custom flowerwall for our wedding. Her team built a 10x10 foot wall and poked 1000 carnations, celosia and hydrangea into it the day of our wedding. Ling’s mom and sister crafted the oversized paper flowers for the flowerwall. Guests were given Fujifilm Instax cameras to take photos at the flowerwall to put into our guestbook.
The key to love is understanding ... as it is the little things that say so much by themselves. The key to love is forgiving .... to accept each others faults and pardon mistakes, The key to love is sharing ... Sharing your good fortunes as well as bad, together. The key to love is giving ... Giving without thought of return, but with the hope of just a simple smile, and by giving in but never giving up.
Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth for the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there are three lives before you; His life, Her life and Your life together.
Jewelry by Lola Brooks, 18k gold bands + red diamond set in 18k gold Suit by Hugo Boss Shirts and Socks by Ted Baker Bowtie by Matron of Honor Yuli Fisher Wedding Dress by Reem Acra Ceremony bare feet and ability to walk cructh free by Brooklyn Body Works Reception Dress by Aidan Maddox Reception Shoes by Ryan Koh Necklace a gift from Matron of Honor Yuli Fisher Makeup by Kati P. Earrings by London Links (a gift from the groom to the bride) Hair by Régine Labossière and Yuli Fisher Nails by Stella of Iris Nail Salon Venue The Bell House, care of Naomi Pelham First Dance “Forever Came Today” by The Supremes Processional: “Cello Concerto in b minor Op. 104” by Antonin Dvorak Recessional: “The Throne Room” by John Williams Officiant: Brother Yuta Hsu Groomsmen: Jeff Gensterblum, Ellis Whitehead Bridesmaids: Yuli Fisher, Régine Labossière, Jenny Gensterblum Flower Girl: Taisim Hsu Ushers Eric Watkins & Colin Forbes Photography: Abdi & Nico of 3PHOTOGRAPHERS Dinner provided by Quino Baca and The Brooklyn Star Dessert by Jenny Gensterblum Event Design & Flowers by Emily Thompson Flowers Additional design by Celadon & Celery Events Music Handling by David Yang Coordinator, Forager and Jack of trades: Janusz Jaworski