A Whimsical Garden-Inspired Wedding at the NoMad Hotel in New York, New York

Whitney Pizale (29 and a bridal accessory designer) and Ryan Dzierniejko (36 and a lawyer) pulled off an intimate affair at the NoMad Hotel for their mid-September wedding in the heart of New York City. The pair met through Whitney’s brother, who became friends with Ryan during law school. “I had heard my brother talk about him for a couple of years before we actually met. When we finally met, we hit it off right away,” Whitney says. So much so that a few months into their relationship, Ryan playfully proposed during a trip to Mexico with a fake ring he had bought at the mall. Eight years later, when he popped the question for real, he presented Whitney with a white gold and diamond replica of the ring he had given her in Mexico. The couple debated for months about how they wanted to celebrate their nuptials, finally deciding on a small, intimate fete in New York City with their closest family members and friends, followed by a larger bash in Toronto the following weekend. Whitney and Ryan scoped out some of the city’s most iconic landmarks—including the Central Park Zoo and the New York Public Library—to host the event, but nothing clicked. “Then we came across the rooftop at the NoMad Hotel, which was magical,” Whitney says. “I wanted a wedding with a secret garden theme on a rooftop, and the NoMad Hotel checked every box. It was exactly what we wanted and the night was exactly as we had envisioned it.” After a heartfelt ceremony, in which Whitney and Ryan exchanged vows against a backdrop of lush ivy, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed dinner and dancing on the NoMad Hotel rooftop. The couple gathered their guests around a long table draped in pale pink linen and a fresh garland of ivy and pink roses punctuated by flickering candles. A canopy of ornate candelabras and lanterns hung overhead, bringing an element of visual drama to the decor, while the rooftop setting provided unparalleled views of the city skyline and twinkling lights. “I wanted the table to be romantic and whimsical but still feel modern,” Whitney says. —Libby MacCarthy