Intimate Wedding at Boro Hotel in Long Island City, Queens: Sean + Jonathan
/
Words by Jonathan. Photos by De Nueva Photo.
Number of Wedding Guests
35
Wedding Date
10/11/19
Tell Us About Yourselves
Sean and I met one another in New York City in 2015 on the same weekend the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. We married (unintentionally) on national Coming Out Day. Sean is an actor, grad-student, and travel consultant. I’m a creative exec at a children’s television network.
What Attracted You to Your Wedding Venue?
We wanted a wedding in Queens (where we proudly call home). Our family has stayed at the Boro Hotel before (as have we) and the Boro has a killer view from their rooftop. Even though in the end we had to go with plan B and be indoors, we still got the view. They brought the rooftop furniture inside and lit more than 50 votives. It was simple, intimate, and romantic.
What Did You Wear? Were Any Pieces Significant to You?
We spent the three weekends leading up to the ceremony racing around Manhattan trying to figure out what to wear. We wanted spiffy but not stuffy. We ended up (unintentionally) alternating between us with some personality on top or on bottom — Sean with snazzy plaid pants and solid blazer and me with a colorful sport-coat and solid pants. My wedding ring was Sean’s father’s. I also kept my grandfather’s tie-clip in my pocket — after deciding to go without a tie.
What Special Elements Did You Include in Your Wedding Day?
Sean’s sister read from the Book of Ruth, a passage that means a lot to Sean and speaks to the universality of love. My nieces were both ring bearers and stood with us until the end of the ceremony. Sean’s best friend since college, Katie, was co-officiant. A best friend of my parents, who is essentially an uncle to me, was the other co-officiant.
What Did You Splurge On?
We splurged on paying for our cat O’Malley to spend the two nights with us in the hotel. The Boro is pet friendly and we knew we wanted him in on the wedding photographs. He played a key role in the proposal itself so he needed to be there! We also splurged on a Manhattan view room.
What Did You Save On?
We didn’t need to worry about transportation as the entire evening was a one stop shop at the Boro. Our guests were staying at the hotel (or the hotel directly across the street) and photos, ceremony, cocktails/toasts, and dinner were all at the Boro.
What Was Totally Worth the Time/Money Invested in It?
Getting a professional photographer! We almost didn’t. Nicki Fietzer was incredible every step of the way. We also appreciated having a small ceremony with just family. It allowed us to take everything in and truly wrap our heads around the love and championing in the room. We did a bigger party the following night at a favorite neighborhood bar of ours.
What, in Retrospect, Could You Have Skipped?
I could have skipped the sleepless nights. We didn’t sleep normally for about a week leading up to the wedding. Having had slept more regularly would have been nice!
What Is Your Planning Advice for Other Couples?
Don’t underestimate how much people want to celebrate you. It’s easy to get penned in by over-thinking what will be best and most reasonable for your guests, but at the end of the day they want to be there and they will come no matter how you decide to say “I do.”
Why Are You Excited To Be Featured on Catalyst?
Because Catalyst is opening doors and starting conversations within the wedding industry, and that’s pretty darn kick a**.
DE NUEVA PHOTOGRAPHY
De Nueva Photography is a New York City photography studio specializing in elopements and weddings for fun, offbeat and adventurous couples from around the globe. I think getting your wedding photo taken should be an enjoyable, relaxed experience. I aim to capture you being you, hanging out, laughing and maybe sharing a snuggle with your favorite person in the world. When not taking pictures I'm a travel addict, a runner and yogi who loves to cook in kitchens well stocked with wine.
