1. Real Weddings

A Simple, Rustic Wedding at Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn, New York

After visiting several New York City venues, Candice and Edouard still hadn’t found the perfect spot to say their “I dos”—until Candice went to see th

After visiting several New York City venues, Candice and Edouard still hadn’t found the perfect spot to say their “I dos”—until Candice went to see the Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn, New York. The pre-World War II rope factory provided an intimate backdrop for the couple’s early-fall affair, with its cathedral ceilings, exposed wooden beams and views of the Manhattan skyline. “The funny part was that Edouard didn’t see the venue until our wedding day. He saw pictures, but it was magical walking in with him for the first time.” Twinkling bistro lights strung across the ceiling infused the cozy loft with warm ambient light, while cross-back chairs and bundles of fresh white and yellow florals exuded rustic charm. The aesthetic may have been understated, but the finer details truly gave the evening a personalized flair: bold custom-designed suits, a postdinner performance, paper airplane escort cards, croquembouche. a decadent, inspired menu designed by Fig & Pig. A tip from Candice: “Hire a day-of coordinator, or make sure your venue has someone who will take care of in-the-moment decisions so you can enjoy your day with your new spouse. And don’t be late!” —Libby MacCarthy

Drawing on the affair’s lemon theme, the florists at the Metropolitan Plant Exchange incorporated a real lemon into Candice’s bouquet for a fun twist. The brilliantly hued bundle was a vibrant mix of roses, stock, hydrangeas, ranunculus, craspedia and more with silver brunia adding a touch of texture and drama.
In addition to his custom yellow silk bow tie and suspenders, Edouard accessorized his royal blue suit with blue Berluti dress shoes. “A longtime dream of mine was to own a pair of Beluti shoes,” Edouard says. “The great thing about Berluti—besides the quality and originality—is that they have a patina, so your shoes glow with your favorite hue.”
“I’m a colorful person, and my clothes are too,” Edouard says. “It was obvious to choose a bright blue tuxedo for our celebration.” The groom had two custom suits for the occasion, a royal blue number for the ceremony and a two-tone, 1970s-inspired tuxedo for the reception.
The bridesmaid dresses embodied the cheerfulness of the soiree with their playful yellow hues and flowy silhouettes. “I wanted their styles to be carefree and less bridesmaidy," Candice says. "I wanted them to be comfortable and happy."
The couple gathered their family and friends at Pebble Beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park for an intimate ceremony with direct views of the Manhattan skyline. “Having a wedding in a public park was challenging, but we pulled it off,” Candice says. “No flowers were necessary, which was a huge budget saver.’’
After visiting several New York City venues, Candice and Edouard still hadn’t found a venue that checked all the boxes—until Candice went to see the Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn, New York. “I fell in love. So in love that I was willing to switch our wedding to a Friday so we could have it there,” Candice says. “The funny part was that Edouard didn't see the venue until our wedding day. He saw pictures, but it was magical walking in with him for the first time.”
“Edouard was adamant about handwriting the escort cards and somehow incorporated recycled old wine list pages from his restaurant, Cafe Boulud,” Candice says. “After a lot of persuading, I finally gave in to the idea of escort paper airplanes.” The couple spent an entire Sunday folding planes, taping the bases and writing the guests’ names. “We managed to tie the planes into our day’s theme in a pretty crafty way. Instead of table numbers, we used country names of places we intend to visit or have visited together.”
For the reception at the Greenpoint Loft, the couple kept the decor simple, letting the venue's features take center stage. Long farm tables draped in white linens were styled alongside cross-back chairs and bundles of brilliant yellow and green blooms. Twinkling bistro lights hung overhead, casting a warm, ambient glow over the expansive loft space.
During the reception, Edouard surprised guests—and Candice—by performing a song on piano that he’d written for the occasion. “It was important to me to sing for my wife. I’m not a songwriter, but I found the inspiration to do so for our wedding,” Edouard says. “I had no idea that he could even write songs,” Candice says. “He included so many funny and quirky things about me into the lyrics. After hearing it once, I had the tune in my head for weeks after the wedding. It is a truly special memory.”
Candice and Edouard offered their guests a few special amenities, including a cigar bar, during the reception. DP Cigars was on hand to hand roll cigars for interested guests.
Fig & Pig catered the event, wowing guests’ taste buds with an inspired spread bites and dishes. Passed appetizers such as mini fish tacos, mini chicken and waffles with bacon gravy, bacon-wrapped dates and a spread of meats, cheeses and olives whetted guests’ appetites during cocktail hour, while dinner dishes such as heirloom tomatoes with striped bass and skirt steak with fish sauce were home runs.
“I wanted to incorporate a traditional French element into our wedding and found the perfect place: cake time,” Candice says. For a twist, the couple opted for a traditional French croquembouche in lieu of a classic fondant or buttercream confection. Playing off the affair’s subtle lemon theme, Candice and Edouard had the croquembouche’s choux filled with lemon curd and decorated with slices of candied lemon and pearl sugar.