NY Public Library Wedding by Vanessa Joy Photography

Happy New Year! I’m so excited for this year and I hope you are, too! To start things off, I am THRILLED to share this amazing NY Public Library wedding with you today! Gabrielle and Jeff began their wedding day at the Loews Regency Hotel where they both got ready.  Gabrielle wore a stunning YSA Makino wedding gown that was convertible! It was breath-taking. Gabrielle’s bridesmaids all stood by her side in white Eleni Elias dresses.  Of course, no dress is complete without florals – and Wildflowers Floral design did a perfect job!

Gabrielle and Jeff’s catholic ceremony took place at Saint Francis Xavier Church. The church was beautifully decorated almost like a secret garden theme with gates at the entrance of the aisle and endless florals. Following a beautiful ceremony, we capture the bridal party alongside Gabrielle and Jeff just outside the church. Of course, the party didn’t start until we got to the New York Public Library! I adored photographing Gabrielle and Jeff in between the stacks at the library – so sweet and intimate.   The night was a huge hit thanks to the Soul Cruisers band that kept the energy going all evening. Congratulations to Gabrielle and Jeff  – it was a JOY being a part of your New York City wedding!

How did you two meet and fall in love?

My sister-in-law spent 8 months trying to set Jeff and I up. She knew him through friends in Philadelphia and thought he was the perfect guy for me, turns out she was right! However at the time I had no interest in being set up on a blind date. Ironically, neither did he. We both kept ignoring her pleas for 8 months until she finally took matters into her own hands and gave him my number. He texted me right away and we planned a date to meet for later that week. The date went so well and sparks flew immediately and we were inseparable from that day on!

What was most important to you when planning your wedding?

When planning our wedding we put a lot of emphasis on making sure our friends and family had a great time. We wanted the music to be amazing, the food and drinks to be spectacular and the event to be a carefree getaway. We provided transportation to and from each point throughout the weekend which was quite a detailed schedule! As for the food, we made sure no one left hungry! Besides the traditional cocktail hour food and plated dinner and deserts we also had late night snacks which included mini pizzas, mini burgers, and french fries and milkshakes. We also had a make your own donut station where you could put all kinds of toppings on your donut!

What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme?

Even though our reception was held in a ballroom I wanted it to feel like we were outdoors. I also wanted it to feel romantic and elegant. Our wedding decor theme was enchanted garden. The large dome ceiling was reflecting tiny lights so it looked like a starry night and the centerpieces were golden trees with flowers gathered on the branches. Inside the four large columns in the room we had trees strung with lights.

Let me just say, how amazing this lighting set up was done by Tower Productions! Wow!

What is your favorite memory from your wedding?

My favorite memory from our wedding was sitting next to Jeff up on the alter during our ceremony and feeling excitement and nerves and happiness running through me. We just kept looking at each other and smiling and quickly sharing our thoughts. It was the only time that day that we got to just sit quietly and take it all in together. It was like being in the eye of the storm.

How will you describe the feeling you had on your wedding day to your children one day?

One day when we are telling our children about the day we got married I think we would both explain our feelings are a rush of many emotions. There is so much love going around on that day. The love we had for each other and the love we could feel from our friends and families was palpable. It was the greatest and happiest day or our lives so far.

Entertainment Company: The Soul Cruisers //  Venue: NY Public Library // Videographer: D.P. Weddings // Hair Dresser: Tisha Mancia, Gabrielle Koltenicki // Makeup Artist: Make Me Up Pretty // Florist: Wildflowers  // Stationery/Invitations: Cupcake Graphics // Wedding Gown Designer: YSA Makino  // Wedding Shoe Designer: Christian Louboutin and Rene Caovilla // Bridesmaids Dress Designer: Eleni Elias  // Groom’s Attire: Canali // Groomsmen’s Attire: Calvin Klein //  Wedding Planner: Lisa Rice // Caterer: Abigail Kirsch // Lighting: Tower Productions

NY Public Library Wedding by Luxury Wedding Photographer, Vanessa Joy Photography