Neghar and John’s wedding was held in an industrial-style venue, but remained an incredibly elegant affair. Tables named after planets from the Star Wars universe, music from The Princess Brides and quotes from Lord of the Rings reminded guests that the newly married couple were (romantic) geeks at heart. The lush greenery was incredible, giving everything a beautiful conservatory feel … topped off with Neghar’s dress choice, a blush pink Mark Zunino ballgown fit for a storybook romance.
Neghar + John | September 29, 2013 | Long Island City, New York | Dress Listing: Mark Zunino, 32593469
The Ceremony
Our ceremony in The Foundry Courtyard was anything but traditional! My 7-year-old son walked me down the aisle to a string quartet version of Storybook Love (from The Princess Bride), and our friend and officiant wore a Jedi robe as he read the ceremony that John and I wrote — given that we are both writers. There was much laughter, a few glasses breaking in the audience (resulting in a few “mazel tovs”,) and many unique personal touches. We had readings from Ernest Hemingway and “A Lovely Love Story” which is a love story about two dinosaurs. John and I exchanged “promises” which we wrote for each other and didn’t read until that moment. We chose to promise things to each other that the other wrote, and it was very silly and heartfelt. Laughter abounded. Many of our guests said the ceremony was actually their favorite part of the wedding!
The Reception
After cocktail hour, John and I danced to “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, where mid-way through the song we asked our guests to join us on the dance floor. Love surrounded us from the beginning of the day until the very end of the night. The reception was held inside The Foundry and it’s Greenhouse, while dinner was served family style in the Courtyard under an illuminated tent. The Foundry itself is a gorgeous space, which required very little decor other than cafe lights, votive candles, and a few cloche terrariums designed by our floral geniuses. I DIYed quite a few things, including several chalkboards with quotes from Lord of The Rings and The Princess Bride, as well as a dessert table sign depicting the word “sweets” in several languages as an homage to my roots as a linguist. Vintage furniture was arranged in the Greenhouse where Taboo (our favorite board game) was placed in bento boxes on the tables.
Our guests sat at tables named after Star Wars planetary bodies, with tablescapes of succulents, dahlias, and mercury votive candle holders. There were several speeches from our wedding party and even a surprise overseas phone call from my father who couldn’t make it. After a dinner of duck, curried cauliflower, fig stuffed pork, and mac n cheese, we served a full dessert table including gluten free lemon and pumpkin cakes. We offered bakery boxes for our guests to take dessert home, and then surprised them with a meatball bar! Because sometimes after dessert you want a second dinner, right? Our DJ was on fire, playing everything from old school hip hop, to Latin and Persian music, to Michael Jackson and Beyonce. I danced all night and had more fun than I ever could have imagined.
Neghar’s Dress Search
I was absolutely sure that I wanted a ball gown, given that it’s not a style you get to wear often, and entirely positive that I did not want to wear white or ivory. Our wedding had many references to and elements from my favorite movie The Princess Bride, so I knew I wanted something romantic and ethereal. But it also needed to be classy and unique in order to match the incredible venue.
I tried on a handful of dresses while I waited for my appointment at Kleinfeld in NYC but none took my breath away. I was lucky enough to reside part time in NYC where my fiancé lived, so I was able to go to Kleinfeld without any elaborate travel. I had seen a Mark Zunino gown on the Kleinfeld website and knew in an instant that it was the one for me. When I got there, I immediately asked for that gown and my consultant pulled it as well as a few others. But as soon as I put it on and looked in the mirror, I knew. My best friend cried, and everyone in the store said it was perfect. It was breathtaking. It was perfection.
How Neghar Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Elegant, Whimsical, Stunning
Why Neghar Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
Because this gown can only be found at Kleinfeld, you’d need to travel there in order to even try it on–which makes it hard to get your hands on. Pair that with the high couture price tag, and it is out of reach for many brides. I didn’t want it sitting in my closet; it’s too fine a gown to be kept in a garment bag forever, when it could make another bride feel as unbelievable as I did on my wedding day. I wanted to give another woman the rare chance to wear this breathtaking gown, because every bride should feel like a princess on her wedding day.
