Venue: Boston Public Library
Event Planning + Cake + Catering: The Catered Affair
Bridal Wear: Oscar De La Renta
Photographer: Snap! Photography
From the Bride… Dan and I love winter in New England, so it was the natural choice for our wedding, but that put a lot of pressure on finding the perfect venue. We wanted a place that would be an ideal setting for our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, was convenient and accessible and represented us as a couple. We visited only one venue in Boston – the Boston Public Library – and knew instantly it was the perfect backdrop for our big day. Not only is it a stunning historical building with many unique spaces, it is located in the heart of Boston and two blocks from our home. The BPL and my antique engagement ring, which was passed down from Dan’s great grandmother, were the two inspirations we used when designing our wedding. We wanted the day to be elegant, classic, and fun with lots of personal touches!
We performed the ceremony in the Abbey Room, which has beautiful murals, dark wood paneling, an ornate ceiling and marble floors, giving the room a very regal feel. It was important that we represent both our faiths so Dan and I wrote the ceremony from scratch with guidance of our priest and rabbi, tying in many Catholic and Jewish elements. For escort cards and one of our favors, we made wild blackberry jelly with the help of Dan’s mother, who is known for her delicious homemade preserves. For a second favor, SNAP! Photography took pictures of our guests on the BPL’s grand staircase during the cocktail hour, printed them and put them in glassine envelopes sealed with thank you stickers as keepsakes for guests to pick up at the end of the evening. These turned out beautifully and were a huge hit. For the reception, I swapped my long veil for a one-of-a-kind feather hairpiece made by Lo Boheme. Dan’s mother made a beautiful loaf of challah that she gave a blessing over before dinner and my mother led a prayer. We had photos of both our parents’ and grandparents’ weddings on the mantle over the fireplace behind the head table to honor where we came from. For dessert, in addition to our cake made by The Catered Affair, we brought in cannoli and rainbow cookies from our favorite bakery in Boston’s North End called Modern and reminiscent of my Italian heritage. Sayles Livingston created lush, beautiful bouquets and centerpieces full of texture and rich colors that complemented the space and time of year. She used candles everywhere from the grand staircase to the fireplace, and Groove Entertainment provided amber uplighting in the reception room to create a warm glow.
Beyond our ceremony, one of my favorite moments of the night was smoking cigars on the front steps of the library with Dan, my father and many friends and family members. It was the perfect opportunity to catch my breath and take everything in. Another favorite moment was late in the night when my 10-year-old cousin challenged Dan to a “dance-off.” Each performed the worm, among other break dance moves, while guests went wild. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. The night was everything that we had hoped and more.