1. Real Weddings

A Vintage Glam Wedding at the Highlands Country Club in Garrison, New York

Andrew Hammer's (43 and an artist) proposal to Galina Nemirovsky (40 and a writer) might seem unexpected to most, but for this couple it could not hav

Andrew Hammer's (43 and an artist) proposal to Galina Nemirovsky (40 and a writer) might seem unexpected to most, but for this couple it could not have been more appropriate. The couple met 10 years before Andrew popped the question at a birthday party on the Upper West Side in New York City. Andrew, who is a professional clown, was there in full garb and at the end of the night walked Galina home — 30 blocks to be exact — in costume. So when he decided to ask Galina to marry him on the Brooklyn Bridge, dawning his clown-finest was an obvious choice. Andrew first presented her with a love lock, etched with their names and the date they met on it, followed by a solitaire diamond ring in a halo setting. For their wedding, the couple opted for an intimate affair hosted at the Highlands Country Club, situated in the picturesque Hudson Valley, a historic building built in the late 1800's. A vintage Gatsby-esque feel was chosen for the day, with a color palette of gold, hot pink and Tiffany blue introducing a touch of vibrancy to the historic setting. Creating many of the wedding's details themselves, like books of poetry that served as escort cards, illustrated place cards (a golf tee was attached to an illustrated card of “alternate uses for a golf tees” drawn by the groom to commemorate getting married by the 10th hole after ten years together) and screen-printed vintage handkerchief invitations. The tables were even covered with lace runners cut up from Andrew’s grandparent's old tablecloths from the 1940’s. Beyond the personalized details, the couple let their vibrant personalities show by getting guests up and dancing with live performances.

When Andrew proposed to Galin, in full clown gear, he presented her with a round cut diamond in a halo setting from Tiffany & Co.
Many of the wedding's details were made by the couple themselves, including their wedding invitations. The invitations were made from vintage handkerchiefs that they personally screen-printed and tied together with a card they hand stamped and embossed.
For an added element of texture, Galina and Andrew's florist mixed dark blue berries into Galina's bright pink and blue bridal bouquet.
The couple exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in the Highlands Country Club's enclosed glass Solarium, which overlooked the gold course's 10th hole, purposefully chosen as a nod to their 10 years of being together.
Vintage-Inspired Monogrammed Programs
Gold Flower Girl Dress
Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony
Birch Huppah with Cascading Vine and Berry Arrangements
As a personal touch, the couple topped the reception tables with lace table runners made from tablecloths belonging to Andrew's grandparents in the 1940's.
Instead of traditional escort cards, Galina hand-calligraphed the names of each guests onto cards and attached them to skeleton keys and handmade books of poems.
Galina and Andrew sent their guests home with custom pint glasses wrapped in gold embossed gift bags featuring their monogram and the name of each guest hand-calligraphed on the front.
The couple opted for a dark chocolate cake with cherry preserves, frosted with chocolate ganache. Each piece was served with fresh berries and was a huge hit with guests.
Galina and Andrew's First Dance
Instead of having their family and friends sign a traditional guest book, Galina and Andrew had them write their well wishes on an acoustic guitar.