Modern Mediterranean Wedding in the Meatpacking District of New York City: Alex + Michael
/Michael and I met at college at NYU. After a few months of dating, it was clear that we had found something special in each other and spent our remaining college years attached at the hip. We quickly became a part of each other's family after many vacations and holidays.
After graduation, I continued at NYU to pursue a Master's in Music Performance while Michael began his career in corporate retail analytics. Once out of graduate school, I began performing on Broadway and found myself traveling on a national tour for nearly a year. Leaving Michael behind in New York was the hardest experience, and once I returned, we decided that there was no need to wait to tie the knot!
How and why did you pick your wedding venue?
Michael and I knew that we wanted to have our wedding at a restaurant because we wanted the cuisine to be a main focal point of our event. We had dined at Fig and Olive — Meatpacking many times, and the food, location, guest capacity, and ambiance were perfect.
What did you wear? Was any of the accessories or jewelry significant?
Michael and I both wore suits from The Kooples. I chose a dark navy pinstripe suit paired with a burgundy tie and accented with a silver tie clip. Michael went with a bright blue suit paired with a black tie and black tie clip. He wore his father's first wedding ring: a gold band with an engraved pattern. I wore a traditional piece of Chinese jade set in a gold band.
What special elements did you include in your wedding day? Were they symbolic in any way?
We were especially honored to have my brother as the officiant (who catered to our love of RuPaul's Drag Race by incorporating audience participation into the ceremony). We laughed, we cried, and I couldn't imagine marrying my best friend in any other way.
As a fun homage to our homosexuality, we ordered a custom six-layer rainbow cake from Baked, which received an overwhelming cheer from our guests once we cut in. We wanted to celebrate our pride and equality — and what better way than in cake form!
What did you splurge on?
Originally, we had planned to have a DJ, but after hearing the Silver Arrow Band’s sound and their expertise on a variety of musical genres, we decided that not only did we NEED this live band, but we also wanted to increase our original plan from a four piece band, to a five piece... they were just THAT good.
What did you save on?
Since we decided to get married at a restaurant and not a blank space, we saved lots of money on decorations. Fig and Olive achieves a beautiful balance of modern and airy, yet still warm and inviting. Candles lined the walls and the tables while large potted trees gave the impression of dining al fresco.
Words by Alex, one of the grooms, as told by Amber Marlow. Photos by Rima Brindamour.
VENDORS
Photography | Rima Brindamour
Venue | Fig and Olive — Meatpacking
Florals | G Designs
Band | Silver Arrow Band
Cake | Baked
RIMA BRINDAMOUR
Rima Brindamour is a wedding photographer and videographer based in Brooklyn, New York. Her relaxed style attracts laid-back couples who want their weddings captured honestly and intimately, with a focus on the timeless vs. the trendy. She struggles with a coffee addiction and spends her free time rock climbing all over the world.
