Getting Ready for a Wedding Day to Remember

The morning of Casey + Peter’s wedding day began with smiles, excitement, and a few beautiful surprises. While Peter was getting ready at a hotel with his groomsmen, Casey spent the early hours of the day getting ready at a cozy Airbnb with her mom and her bridesmaids. Once their hair and makeup were done, the ladies made their way outside. With laughter and a spray of champagne, they shared a celebratory toast for the bride-to-be. 

Back inside, Casey’s mom helped her into her wedding gown where Casey revealed a small blue heart sewn into the folds of her dress. The little heart was not only her “something blue” but the fabric came from her late grandfather’s shirt, a tender remembrance that he was with them in spirit on this big day. 

Casey’s father arrived just in time to escort the bridal party to the church – but, of course, he came with a sweet surprise of his own. Hidden on the back of his tie, he had sewn a baby photo of Casey riding on his shoulders. It was a sweet reminder that no matter where her life took her, Casey would always be his little girl.

A Fordham University Wedding

One of the things that mattered most to Casey + Peter while they were planning their wedding was making sure the day truly reflected them and their love story. They wanted to fill meaning into as much of the day as they could. For them, there was no place that held more meaning than the Fordham University campus. Not only was the campus where the two first met and fell in love in, it’s also where their families graduated from, making the university feel more like a family legacy than just simply a campus. 

Casey + Peter’s ceremony was held in the grand, light-filled Fordham University Church on the Rose Hill campus. As Casey appeared in the doorway, joy and awe filled Peter’s expression as he laid eyes on her for the first time that day. The moment was quiet, sacred, and full of love – just the way they always imagined it. Then, surrounded by their family and friends, they exchanged heartfelt vows promising to hold tightly to the love between them. 

After the ceremony, guests filed out onto the church steps and lined the pathway outside the church. With cheers heard all across the campus, Casey + Peter made their first official debut as husband and wife. Then, while their guests began to make their way to cocktail hour, Casey + Peter along with their families and wedding party stayed behind to take portraits around the campus that had brought them all together.

An Elegant Garden Wedding at the New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden is one of the greatest botanical gardens in the world and one of NYC’s premier venues. With four different venue options to choose from, there is sure to be a location that matches any couple’s style and personalities. Plus, with beautifully manicured gardens all year round, from vibrant spring blooms to snowy winter evergreens, the gardens always have something magical to offer. 

Weddings at the New York Botanical Gardens are managed by the Constellation Culinary Group. With almost twenty years of experience, the Constellation team knows exactly how to bring a dream wedding to life. They have everything you need down to a science including full-service catering, bar packages, and an experienced staff ready to help every step of the way.

What makes weddings at the New York Botanical Gardens so special is how private and immersive they feel. While the general garden grounds are always open to the public, the venues themselves offer private space just for you and your guests to enjoy. It’s a peaceful escape within the city, perfect for couples like Casey + Peter who wanted their day to feel intimate, romantic, and surrounded by nature.

After finishing up their wedding portraits at Fordham, Casey + Peter made their way over to the botanical garden for newlywed photos in the Rose Garden. With over 4,000 individual rose plants of different varieties and colors, the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden feels like a fairytale come to life. Casey + Peter wandered up and down the garden accompanied only by the vibrant pops of color from the different roses lining that paths. 

Of course, they also took photos beneath the iconic wrought iron gazebo at the heart of the garden. There they were able to take a moment and soak in their first minutes together as newlyweds with the pure elegance of the Rose Garden around them.  

A Starlit Evening at the Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Gardens

Casey + Peter made their entrance to their reception along a lantern-lit pathway leading from the Rose Garden to the patio of the Stone Mill venue. They had their first dance as the sun was setting and twilight began to set in. With more lanterns lining every walkway and bistro lights twinkling overhead, the evening was off to a cozy, romantic, and effortlessly elegant start. 

Meanwhile, inside, staff had transformed the farm-chic Stone Mill into a luxury venue. Black and white florals elevated the space while pristine white linens and candles on every surface gave the venue a timeless and modern look. For dinner, guests enjoyed a delectable three-course meal created by the Constellation chefs while listening to heartfelt speeches given in honor of the newlyweds. 

Once dinner was over, the celebration moved outside. The Stone Mill patio became an open-air dance floor as guests gathered beneath the stars. There was laughter, dancing, and even a special group photo with all of Casey + Peter’s fellow Fordham grads! It was the kind of night that felt like magic, filled with love, joy, and the people who watched their love story unfold right from the start.

Thinking of planning your wedding at the New York Botanic Gardens? Or maybe even at Fordham University to bring your college romance full circle? Either way, I’d love to be there for you!

Hey there! I’m Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography. As a New York City wedding photographer, I’m always ready for anything – charming garden parties, stylish luxury hotels, even portrait shots in the subway! You name it and I’ll be there for you. If you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding, be sure to reach out! Just fill out my contact form and let’s bring your dream wedding to life!