This classic church ceremony and ballroom reception wedding with a color palette of neutral taupes and very soft pinks took place last summer in Long Island, New York. The bride’s Vera Wang gown looked equally at home in the dramatic Catholic church, as it did in the gardens and dramatic Tuscan ballroom of the Inn at New Hyde Park. Get ready to swoon over Elise and Michael’s elegant wedding!
Elise + Michael | July 13, 2012 | Long Island, New York | Dress Listing: Vera Wang
The Ceremony
Our ceremony took place at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church. We had a traditional ceremony officiated by a priest who is a good family friend, which added a personal touch since he watched us grow together as a couple over the years. One thing we did differently from traditional ceremonies was how we faced our seats toward the congregation instead of the altar. We wanted to be able to look out at all the friends and family members who gathered to see us say “I do.”
The Reception
We selected The Inn at New Hyde Park for our reception. We enjoyed the venue’s picturesque outdoor gardens for pre-reception photos as well as Tuscany-themed room that we selected for the cocktail hour, especially since my side of the family is Italian. We loved the ballroom for its high ceilings and beautiful décor. It had plenty of space for our band and a large dance floor, which was ideal since both of our families love to show off their dance moves. They also had a separate room for a grand Viennese hour and my sweet tooth just had to have it!
As an added perk, the bridesmaids and I were able to use the gorgeous bridal suites in the morning to have our hair and makeup before heading to the church for the ceremony.
Elise’s Dress Search
I started my dress search with a vision of a dress that was form-fitting and elegant with a wow factor. At the same time, I wanted a dress that was comfortable and lightweight enough to allow me to dance the night away.
Just as I was starting to get discouraged after visiting over ten bridal stores without finding the perfect dress, I finally set eyes on my dress. It had the perfect silhouette that I had envisioned. I loved the mermaid style because it flattered my shape and gave me curves. It had a train that was a perfect length for the church and still manageable to bustle without adding much weight to the dress. I was able to dance for hours easily! I added the sweetheart neckline to give the dress a more delicate look and fell in love with a belt that provided the bit of bling.
After a long while of searching, I finally had found the wow factor that I was looking for!
How Elise Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Dazzling, Invincible, Joyous
Why Elise Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
I decided to sell my wedding dress mainly because it seemed like a shame to let such a pretty dress sit in our closet for the next 25+ years until our daughter (if we even have a girl!) might want to wear it one day. Also, now that we moved into a New York City apartment with a closet that can barely fit the bare necessities, a wedding dress seems excessive.
If there is someone out there who loves the dress as much as I do then I would much rather sell it to them and have the honor of them wearing it on their special day. I will always have the pictures to remember the dress and nothing can ever take away the amazing feelings and memories that I have of wearing it on my wedding day! I hope someone else can have the same!
