Joanna and Mike wanted to make their Current Chelsea Piers NYC summer wedding as memorable as possible, so they incorporated elements that would be personal, yet popular. While having the time of their lives on the dance floor featuring the best band I honestly
have ever seen in my life, Chioma and Sugar Lane Band via Hank Lane Music, the couple heard about a power outage just a few blocks away. Rather than worrying about it interfering with the perfect evening, Joanna and Mike looked at each other and shrugged. Miraculously, and thanks to their good couple karma, Practically everyone in NYC lost power, but not Current.
Thank you to Joanna and Mike for writing this wonderful synopsis of their fantastic wedding. I had the pleasure of photographing their engagement photos in Bridgehampton as well-they brought bikes, hydrangeas, and outfit changes!
Talk about “Meet cute”-Joanna and Mike met playing kickball through a social sports league in New York City in 2013. It was fitting that Joanna is a teacher and practiced the sport with her students during recess so she could impress Mike each weekend. After almost a year of flirting, the two finally got together. Mike took social dance classes in college and he brought this talent into many date nights by spending them on the roof of his apartment teaching her various styles of dance such as waltz, foxtrot, and rumba. This prepared them for one of the best first dances that I have ever seen.
Their wedding vision was to match classic city elegance with summer relaxation and ease. The themes of simple white with pops of bold black, blue, and gold sprinkled throughout their wedding. Since they got engaged in Bridgehampton, they worked with Superior Florist in NYC and their vision simple; various sized candle votives and small centerpieces to reflect the water and the gorgeous natural light that bounced through the modern space and white hydrangeas for their centerpieces as an ode to the gorgeous flowers that paint the landscape in Long Island.
The couple chose to pay homage to the food and beverages that they enjoy each summer in the Hamptons. For their signature cocktail, they created an electric pink “Relaxer” in honor of the drink that Mike’s father makes every summer for their signature “Festa Fiestas,” including his famous pineapple-infused vodka. They also kept the summer-theme alive with a New England Seafood Cart (thank you Abigail Kirsch-always bringing it with the food!)and included the couple’s favorite indulgence: Lobster Rolls. They even had passed-desserts on the dance floor at the end of the night including cookie-dough pops, something the couple plan to recreate each summer. Their wedding cake even had a layer of “fun-fetti” cake, something Joanna loves to bake for birthdays.
When the couple thought of words that described their families, one adjective continuously came to mind: loud. Their last name, Festa, means party after all! Mike was stunned when the entire crowd erupted in applause as he walked down the aisle with his parents. The tone was set for the wedding from that moment on. The couple was crying and laughing the entire time Joanna walked down the aisle to “Sweet Thing” by Van Morrison and throughout the entire night from pure joy. Their band brought even more energy to the late-night party with their own dance choreography, costume changes, and even circled the bride and groom with an improvised song featuring the couple’s names. During the couple’s first dance, which was meticulously choreographed, to “Everything” by Michael Buble, the band had everyone on their feet to surround the couple with love and support. The band was so popular that guests refused to leave the dance floor when the wedding was over. No blackout could stop the joy and fun that existed on the dance floor that night!
Overall, Joanna and Mike’s expectations were completely exceeded when they think about their wedding day. The electricity provided by their guests, the space, the band, and their love was palpable. They did not have to worry about a thing the moment their day began and couldn’t be more grateful for each vendor who constantly wowed the couple with professionalism and communication. Their wedding was “the event of the summer” for most of their guests and now, it has become “the event of their lives.”
Check out some photos from their fun Bridgehampton engagement shoot here~
Location- Current, Pier Sixty
Dress- Elizabeth Fillmore “Whisper” dress
Shoes- Badgley Mischka
Groom’s Suit- Robbie and Co.
Groom’s Tie and shoes- Robbie and Co.
Invites- Minted
Flowers- Superior Florist
Officiant- Rabbi Juliana Karol
Bridesmaids’ Dresses- Various Vendors
Jewelry- Something Borrowed
Hair Piece: Etsy
Rings- Jimmy The Rock
Ceremony Music- Sugar Lane Featuring Chioma
Reception Music- Hank Lane
Caterer- Abigail Kirsch
Cake- Abigail Kirsch
Hair and MakeUp- Ashley Lauren Beauty Lounge
Ketubah- Etsy
Veil- Something Borrowed from the Groom’s Aunt Rochelle Festa
Planner or Day of Coordinator- Tanya Shevloff
Trolley: The New York Trolley Company
Hotel: Andaz Wall Street
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