Amandamarie + Donald: Natural Splendor at The Liberty Warehouse

Amandamarie and Donald Cicero were married on a gorgeous day last June in an outdoor ceremony and enchanting reception at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

 

 

Amandamarie was not one of those girls who grew up dreaming about her wedding. Even as a newly engaged young woman, she didn’t have a clear vision. Amandamarie was sure of one thing though – she didn’t want an overly extravagant event. “We are a pretty laid-back couple,” she said, “so we wanted to keep that relaxed, understated style in our wedding, but still have it be beautiful and elegant.”

They met the summer Amandamarie moved back home to Brooklyn after finishing graduate school in Texas. She accepted an invitation from her best friend, Alicia, to stay with her and a couple of college friends in a summerhouse they were renting on the shore. Alicia knew Donald through a circle of friends. Proving that your best friend always knows what’s good for you, she introduced Amandamarie to Donald. Looking back, Amandamarie laughs, “I gave him such a hard time at first! But it didn’t take long for me to give in.”

After being together for a few years, they hit that point in life when it seems like everyone is either getting engaged or married. Still, the idea of marriage never crossed Amandamarie’s mind because they were really happy just being a young couple in love. Donald, however, had been giving the idea a little more thought.

 

 

Amandamarie and Donald celebrated their third anniversary on a weekend getaway in Long Beach Island. After a rainy morning, they packed a cooler of beer and headed down to the beach. There was still a lingering gloom in the air, but they were glad to have the empty beach all to themselves. Once situated, Donald asked Amandamarie to get his phone from the cooler pocket to take a photo. Nearly foiling his plan, she said, “No, let’s just use mine.” She looked down to adjust her sunglasses and Donald saw his opportunity. He quickly grabbed the ring, got down on one knee, and asked Amandamarie to marry him. The proposal took her by complete surprise. She recalls, “When I think back, it was perfect. We met at the beach and got engaged there. It’s our happy place. Water!”

Amandamarie and Donald only looked at one wedding venue. The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn appealed immediately to the couple whose story began near the water. They loved the interior’s exposed brick and original wooden beams, which cast an inviting atmosphere over the space. The breathtaking view overlooking the New York Harbor and Statue of Liberty is beyond compare. Further, Amandamarie and Donald live in Brooklyn and had their engagement party at a favorite BBQ joint less than a mile from the venue. Feeling right at home in the area, they knew this was where they wanted to start their new life together. “The Liberty Warehouse is classy and formal without being overdone,” Amandamarie said, “just what we were looking for.”

 

 

Finding a dress came almost as easily as finding a venue. Seven years earlier (way before Donald came into the picture), Amandamarie saw a wedding dress by Inbal Dror on Instagram and bookmarked it for “when the day comes.” But now that the day was actually coming, she was having difficulty finding a local bridal salon that carried the designer. Then, Mark Ingram Atelier announced a trunk show. Amandamarie immediately scheduled an appointment and asked her consultant if they still had THAT dress. Amazingly, they did! Still, she was asked to pick out a few other designs as well. She tried on the Inbal Dror dress last. Right then and there, Amandamarie knew it was the dress she would wear walking down the aisle. She says, “I didn’t want to take it off! I got sized that day. We were in and out in an hour. The lace, the shape, the illusion… I wish I could wear it every day!”

 

 

The ceremony took place outside on the pier under an arch made of white birch branches decorated with hanging flower-filled terrariums. Amandamarie carried a stunning, hand-tied bouquet of deep purple and lavender spray roses with accents of greenery. The bridesmaids wore unique dresses by Adrianna Papell and carried lovely bouquets of cream garden roses.

 

 

When asked about her colors and floral design, Amanda said, “We wanted a rustic, vintage-inspired aesthetic. And I really liked the palette of purple and green mixed with white and beige.” After saying “I do,” the couple led guests inside to the reception where they were greeted with a romantic and whimsical setting. Natural light flooded the space, illuminating table centerpieces and décor that mixed purple roses, peonies, white dahlias, and antique green hydrangea with lush accents of moss, succulents, and ruscus.

 

 

Décor hit a very personal note with the card table. Amanda and Bride & Blossom’s Elianna Phelps were childhood friends. Elianna recalls, “When I saw that an ‘Amandamarie Dimeo’ had contacted us, I knew it had to be my old friend from middle school. It was such a pleasure to reconnect with Amandamarie and help guide her in the making of such an important day. I really enjoyed our creative collaboration on the card table design.” Amandamarie added, “Donald is a NYC firefighter and we thought it would be special to do something with vintage fire ladders. Elianna is to thank for all of that! Her vision was more than I could have ever imagined!” The aged ladders were draped in rich greenery and fresh blooms, creating an impression of a secret garden.

 

 

For a bride who had no set ideas going in, Amandamarie’s wedding turned out to be a beautiful affair. Perhaps it was her relaxed approach to planning that made everything seem so easy. She was even thrilled when the event veered a little off script. We asked about her favorite moments from the day. “One of my favorite moments was when my cousin, who is also an NYC firefighter, surprised us by having the FDNY patrol boats that guard the coast drive up to the pier just as we were exchanging vows and spray water. It was incredible!” She continues, “And I will never forget when my Dad saw me dressed for the first time. I could cry just thinking about it.” Amandamarie left us with some advice for the bride-to-be questioning a first look. “My first look with Donny was totally worth it. To anyone out there thinking whether or not to buck tradition, DO IT!”

 

 

Congratulations, Amandamarie and Donald!

Venue: The Liberty Warehouse
Photography: South Eleventh
Wedding Cake: Ample Hills Creamery
Bride’s Gown: Inbal Dror
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Adrianna Papell
Bride’s Shoes: Anthropologie