Influencer Rachel Finley's "Shades of Pink" Restaurant Wedding at Juliette in Brooklyn, New York
For Rachel, a popular influencer, her college years were spent working nights as a bartender in New York and her days involved creating YouTube skincare videos through her university’s film club. When Paul joined as a writer, a friendship soon blossomed, and her audience began referring to him as “Mr. Hydration.” Three years into the friendship, both of their long-term relationships ended on the same day. The two spent nearly every day together over the course of three months before realizing “what we were both looking for was in front of us all along,” says Rachel. On a trip to Barcelona, Phil had plans to propose on a mountaintop with their friends, but nerves got the better of him. Instead, he waited until they were both alone at the Barcelona Science Museum, with a swarm of piranhas as their audience. “I have always loved science museums—that's why I love skincare/beauty so much—so it was perfect,” Rachel adds.
The New Yorkers wanted to bring their loved ones into the city they adored for their wedding day, choosing a venue in Brooklyn with French-inspired cuisine. “We wanted our wedding to feel intimate and romantic, and to show our visiting guests a piece of the city we both love,” Rachel says about choosing the Juliette in the Williamsburg neighborhood. “We picked this restaurant because we knew the food was going to be amazing, with highlights like French onion soup, steak frites, and crème brûlée.”
As a beauty influencer, Rachel wanted a color palette to match her unique look. She says, “We chose shades of rose to match my pink hair, and green to match my engagement ring and Phil's tux. I got asked a million times if I was going to dye my hair back to its natural brown, but instead, we planned the wedding colors around my (un)natural pink.” From the bridesmaid dresses to the florals, shades of pink graced the cozy venue, complete with eclectic French vibes to match the Juliette.
Their florist, Bad Boss Bride, chose a mix of anthuriums, roses, dahlias and other seasonal blooms in hot pink, light pink and blush shades to decorate the space. With the restaurant’s indoor garden already filled with hanging greenery, they elevated the lovely venue with the perfect complementary hues for added vibrance and texture.
Though pink was the primary color, both Phil and Rachel brought their own style to the wedding attire. In a classic white gown, Rachel’s bouquet and hair brought the blush aesthetic to the theme. She wore a strapless sheath gown from Watters with a deep sweetheart neckline, paired with champagne leather pumps and jewelry from Studs and Mejuri. To complement Rachel's engagement ring, Phil wore a custom emerald green P. Johnson tuxedo jacket, along with velvet Christian Louboutin loafers and a bow tie.
With their knack for style and design, the two brought many personal touches to their decor and signage. “Phil and I designed all of the paper products, such as the menus, signs and invitations,” Rachel says. “We picked a restaurant that was already beautiful, so we didn't need to spend a lot to make the space feel special.” They utilized Canva to create custom designs that brought the eclectic, colorful feel of the day.
The newlyweds had many memorable moments from the day, with the reception being a highlight. Rachel says, “Phil is part Jewish, and my favorite part of the entire wedding was getting to dance the hora together; it was a blast.” And choosing one of their favorite restaurants even helped calm their nerves from the hustle and bustle of the intimate wedding. “It was so nice to just sit down and eat with my new husband and my closest friends and family. It felt very normal and comforting to eat with friends after such a whirlwind of a day,” she adds.
There was one element that the couple successfully kept a secret from their guests, and that was the candy cart. “I visit the Swedish candy store, BonBon, on a weekly basis, so I knew I needed to share a sweet treat with my guests. We were able to hire a candy concierge and do a candy tasting beforehand to customize the experience for our guests,” the bride says. Guests loved this new twist on wedding favors, getting to choose between an array of sweet, sour and gummy candies (mostly in shades of pink, of course).
And as a content creator herself, Rachel’s number one tip for wedding planning is hiring someone else to do the work for you. “As someone who spends all day on her phone, it was so nice to put it down in a content creator's capable hands and be present in the moment. I knew I wanted BTS footage captured so I could relive my day, but I didn't want to put myself or a bridesmaid to work,” she says. Now, the couple has plenty of photos and videos of the day from another perspective, which allowed them to be more present, relaxed and in the moment.