Christina + Derek: Urban Bliss at The Foundry

Christina and Derek were married on a lovely day in July at The Foundry in Long Island City.

 

 

You just never know when your soulmate is going to walk into your life. For Christina and Derek, all it took was a chance meeting through a mutual friend. Not long after, the couple realized that they had found what many spend years looking for – true love. Looking back at that moment ten years ago, Christina said, “We hit it off right away and have been together ever since.”

 

 

When it came time to start planning for his proposal, Derek chose to pop the question at a place that had already played a significant part in their love story – Jones Beach in Long Island, the very spot where he had asked Christina to be his girlfriend. In order to keep it a surprise, he enlisted the help of Christina’s best friend. Under the guise of just two friends hanging out, she took Christina to the designated location. When they arrived, Derek was waiting with ring in hand just as the sun was setting. The scene could not have been more perfectly romantic. Christina added, “How fitting as my new last name is Jones!”

 

 

The bride, whose surname is Feggoudakis, has a lot family in Greece. The idea of a destination wedding in her family’s homeland sounded wonderful at first. Wedding planning is stressful enough as it is, and making arrangements in another country is incredibly difficult. So Christina and Derek started considering venues in New York City. This was shortly after their engagement and they were living in Astoria at the time. After a walk through of The Foundry, the couple agreed that the space had all the features they were looking for in the place where they would begin their next chapter in life together. Christina recalls, “We spent three special years living nearby the venue, so it already had special meaning to us. And we fell in love with the industrial yet naturally beautiful vibe of the space right away!” Located in Astoria, The Foundry is a beautifully restored building dating back to the 19^th century. The interior is marked by its open and raw space with soaring ceilings and natural light. Lush plants and sprawling ivy transform the outdoor courtyard into an enchanted urban oasis.

 

 

Christina had no intention of making the process of finding her dress a big production. But when a family friend of your future mother-in-law works at Kleinfeld Bridal and offers you the ‘Kleinfeld experience,’ it’s a opportunity you don’t pass up. “I agreed and ended up having a fantastic experience overall,” said the bride. She chose a stunning creation by internationally renowned designer Romona Keveza. Classic in style, the gown was strapless featuring a fluted silhouette with all over lace detailing. “I wanted something classic that I would look back at and still love in the future when I saw the photos,” she added.

 

 

While the wedding in Greece wasn’t in the cards, the bride made sure to honor her heritage. “My compromise was to include touches of Greek culture throughout the day in the décor and food. We both agreed we wanted it to be an intimate affair with about 100 people.” The entire event emanated natural romance. Christina’s classic style was sensed through out the floral décor and styling. “The Foundry is filled with greenery, so I wanted the florals to compliment the beauty of the venue,” she said.

 

 

The bride carried a breathtaking bouquet of white and ivory roses, sweet pea, and anemones accented with olive branch greens, dusty miller, and silver dollar eucalyptus down the aisle. Wearing a veil and all-white flower crown, she could have easily been mistaken for a Greek goddess.

 

 

The ceremony was followed by cocktail hour in the Greenhouse where guests enjoyed drinks under an illuminating skylight ceiling and flourishing interior greenery. Soon after, everyone headed to a courtyard reception where they were welcomed by a gorgeous scene. Long tables were decorated with organic arrangements of white blooms and verdant greenery in glass bowls and small mercury vases.

 

 

“With its industrial meets secret garden feel, The Foundry is one of the most unique venues we’ve had the pleasure of decorating. We loved how Christina’s vision translated into floral décor that really connected with the space. At the same time, her choice of flowers and arrangement styles were striking and certainly did not go unnoticed. It was a beautifully alluring balance that can be hard to achieve,” said Elianna Phelps, our Director of Operations at Bride & Blossom.

 

 

Family and friends are very important to Christina and Derek and they wanted to make sure that everyone who came out to honor their marriage was also feeling the love. “We both knew we wanted our wedding to be intimate and personal – NOT cookie cutter at all.” The entire day was peppered with fun and surprising moments that really let the couple’s personality shine. Place settings were marked with evil eye favors. The bride explains they were “something that brought a touch of Greece to the décor and a bright pop of color. They are known for protection and I thought, ‘What better way to help our guests feel protected and loved?’” An artisan in Greece that Christina found on Etsy made the evil eye keepsakes.

 

 

And let’s talk about the cake! Admittedly, we are used to seeing extravagant 4-tier or more creations. With something very different in mind, the couple opted for a mini, white-to-blue ombre cake by Mini Melanie adorned with bride and groom Lego cake toppers. “Derek loves Legos and we were given the cake topper as a gift from his sister and her fiancé.” The adorable cake made for some memorable photos, but would never have fed the entire crowd. Instead of a slice, guests were treated to an ice cream cart and dessert bar!

 

 

And we had to ask Christina about the puppet that was passed around over the course of the evening. The bride explained, “So the puppet belongs to my family and his name is Jerry. My brother and I bought him at our neighbor’s garage sale when we were young and he has sat on a shelf in our living room ever since.” Once the groom’s best man caught wind of Jerry’s existence, he insisted on inviting him to the bachelor party. The joke then escalated to where Jerry was coming to the wedding. Christina recalls, “I said ‘NO,’ since bringing a puppet to a wedding is a little bit weird… Anyway, Jerry ended up coming and he was a hit with guests after all!”

 

 

In a day filled with love, excitement, and laughter, there was one particular moment that stands as Christina’s favorite. “Our first dance. Being surrounded by all of our loved ones while having that intimate moment together.” It should come as no surprise then that this fun loving duo are no strangers to cutting some rug. After slipping on their comfy Vans shoes, they joined guests on the dance floor and celebrated the night away.

 

 

Congratulations, Christina and Derek!

Venue: The Foundry
Photographer: Kevin Markland Photography
Planner: José Rolón Events
Bride’s Gown: Romona Kezeva
Bride’s Shoes: Imagine Vince Camuto
Bride’s Floral Crown: Crowns by Christy
Groom’s Tuxedo: Foresto Tuxedo
Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J. Crew
Cake: Mini Melanie
Caterer: Creative Foods Catering
Hair + Makeup: Glam Me Up
Music: 74 Events
Invitations: Lucky Penny Paperie
Menus + Table Numbers: Karly K Designs
Rentals: Patina Rentals + Broadway Party Rentals