Ashley & Joe: A Timeless Garden Wedding At Wave Hill

 

In an age when people are meeting through dating apps and social media, the beginning of Ashley and Joe’s love story maybe considered old-fashioned by some. “We met at work,” Ashley recalls. “I had recently joined the company and a co-worker introduced us in the hallway.” At that moment, a seed had been planted with the perfect conditions for them to get know each other and eventually fall in love.

We are excited to introduce Ashley, our Bride & Blossom Featured Bride for April. Ashley & Joe exchanged vows on a lovely day at Wave Hill. Here, she shares the first chapter in their Real BB Wedding story.

Part 1: Proposal & Planning

After meeting Ashley, Joe let a few months go by before letting some of his co-workers know that he had a crush on her. Ashley remembers, “They plotted ways to get us to spend more time together – including an impromptu lunch. After that lunch, we began talking a lot more and within a few months we went on our first date.”

 

 

Joe may have relied on the help of friends to make the first move, but he planned the ultimate surprise proposal all on his own. He organized a full weekend of activities to celebrate Ashley’s 30^th birthday. After an afternoon spent exploring Brooklyn, the couple returned to the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg where they were staying. Ashley says, “It was the first snowfall of the season, which made for a beautiful setting. But after being outside for most of the day, we were pretty exhausted and looking forward to relaxing before heading to dinner. We settled in and started watching a movie.” At this point, Joe was probably feeling anything but relaxed. “Before I knew it, Joe was next to me on one knee. We really don’t remember much else because we both blacked out…” And the movie that was playing before Joe popped the question just happened to be “Hitch.”

 

 

As they started to think about their wedding, Ashley and Joe knew they wanted the day to be a sincere reflection of them as a couple. “The real vision of our wedding took shape as we planned together,” Ashley says. “Once we found the venue, everything else fell into place.” They had looked at a few places before Ashley’s brother-in-law, Adam, suggested they check out Wave Hill. He had attended a wedding there a few years prior and always remembered how beautiful it was. First established as a country home in 1843 in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, Wave Hill House boasts an illustrious list of residents that includes Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain. Today, it is considered one of New York City’s most beautiful parks, offering access to gorgeous flower gardens, greenhouses, and sweeping views of the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades.

 

 

 

Ashley remembers their walk through. “We were immediately drawn to the fact that Wave Hill offered multiple elements – there is the garden, a grand building, and the charm and history of the grounds. The director pointed out that our guests would never be bored with all these things to do, see, and explore. This really stood out to us. We loved the idea that new and surprising experiences would be offered through out the day. And of course there is Wave Hill’s natural beauty. After leaving, Joe and I knew that was where we wanted to get married.”

 

 

When asked about her décor, Ashley replies, “Flowers were one of the most important elements to me. I knew I wanted a lot of flowers!” Inspiration was found in Wave Hill’s breathtaking outdoor setting. Ashley continues, “And I knew I wanted a very simple color palette of green and white that would make the surrounding atmosphere all the more magical.”

 

 

Stay tuned for next week for Part 2: Dress & Personals when Ashley talks about her gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown.

Couple’s Vendor List
Venue: Wave Hill
Photographer: Heather Waraksa Photography
Planner: Laura Remmert Events
Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Groom’s Tux + Shoes: Hugo Boss
Cake: Luckybird Bakery
Hair: Glam Squad + Frederic Fekkai
Invitations + Place Cards + Table Numbers: Percolator Press
Favors: William Greenberg Desserts