Katie & Bryan: A Tropical-Boho Affair at New York Botanical Garden

Katie and Bryan met through an app in early 2021 during COVID when going on a ‘first date’ was proceeded with caution. After a sushi dinner, Kate invited Bryan over so they could continue talking. “At 6 am, after two bottles of cabernet sauvignon and 12 hours of nonstop conversation, we basically had to pry ourselves away from each other,” the bride remembers. The connection was immediate for the two Tauruses whose birthdays are two days apart. “Bryan and I are the same in so many ways,” she adds.” We are weird and silly, but also strong-willed and driven.”

As their relationship evolved, the New York Botanical Garden became a special spot for Katie and Bryan (they became members after she took him there for the first time). In June 2022, Bryan booked a private tour and was adamant that Katie take the day off. After initially telling him she was too busy because of work, she was able to accommodate her schedule and looked forward to a nice afternoon strolling NYBG’s grounds. During the tour, their guide offered to take a photo just as they were walking through the Rose Garden. Katie remembers, “When we walked over to pose, Bryan dropped down to one knee and popped the question. I had my suspicions but was still in awe when it happened. I still remember how my cheeks hurt because I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.” NYBG’s staff was on hand to help the couple celebrate with champagne and a golf cart ready to escort them to lunch at the Hudson Garden Grill.

When it came time to start thinking about where they were going to get married, Katie and Bryan’s obvious first choice was the New York Botanical Garden. “I was never the kind of girl who dreamed about planning her wedding,” the bride admits. “But I’m a big plant girlie so I knew florals were going to take the lead in décor especially with the venue being NYBG.”

Katie’s ‘say yes to the dress’ story is what all brides dream of – she only tried on two looks at Plumed Serpent in Westport, CT before settling on a gown by All Who Wander, a bridal label known for its boho-inspired designs. Her stunning choice featured a sweetheart neckline and floral trimmed bodice that gave way to a form-hugging skirt and floating train with delicate lace details. Romantic floral embellishments continued through the detachable puff sleeves adding a playfully delicate touch to the ensemble. Knowing that she didn’t want a veil, Katie had a diaphanous cathedral veil by Martina Liliana modified into a custom cape to wear during the ceremony. “My girlfriends who came with me nicknamed it ‘the mullet dress,” because it was simple and classic in front, and all ‘party in the back,” she says.

For personals and beauty, the bride stayed true to her distinctively elegant style. She wore her hair in a loose chignon, which showed off her gold floral earrings, complemented by a natural makeup look by Amy Klewitz Beauty. In addition to her engagement ring, Katie wore a cameo ring that her mom and sister had worn at their weddings. “There’s a handkerchief that has been passed down on my mother’s side of the family going back over a hundred years,” she says of her ‘something borrowed. “All of the brides who carried it before me signed letters on their wedding day.” She completed her look with a statement bouquet featuring king proteas, anthuriums, roses and cascading phalaenopsis and Thailand dendrobium orchids accentuated by gunii eucalyptus and monstera and tee tea palm leaves. Bryan stepped into his role as groom wearing a floral jacquard evening jacket by Jos. A. Bank and pants by Lululemon. “He didn’t even want to wear a jacket because it was going to be too hot. But I finally convinced him, and he didn’t take it off the whole night,” Katie notes. Their wedding party dressed for the summer occasion – the bridesmaids wore mix-and-match gowns by Azazie complemented by king protea bouquets and the groomsmen donned white shirts and black pants with formal suspenders and bowtie.

An interior designer with a strong eye, Katie wanted her wedding aesthetic to feel organic, lush, and unique, but not trendy and overdone. She was also fixed on her favorite flower, the king protea, punctuating the floralscape. “I let the colors be up to Rachel, Bride & Blossom’s founder, because I didn’t want her to be boxed in by my preconceptions and to pick any flowers that would work well,” she adds.

Katie and Bryan married on a beautiful day in late August. The couple exchanged vows in an intimate outdoor ceremony at NYBG’s Garden Terrace surrounded by family and friends. Offering a striking contrast to the rich forest backdrop, décor featured tropical inspired freestanding arrangements of king proteas, roses, café au lait dahlias, anthuriums, and stock in shades of pink and peach complemented monstera, fan palm, and tee pee leaves, palmetto stems, and pampas grass.

Cocktail hour followed with guests raising a first of many toasts to the newlyweds. Then everyone headed to the Garden Terrace ballroom where they were greeted by a breathtaking scene. Continuing the tropical-boho theme, tables featured three unique centerpieces starting with a ‘floating cloud’ centerpiece of delphiniums, roses, anthuriums, dendrobrium orchids, wax flower, baby’s breath, and stock accentuated by pampas grass plumes and cascading amaranthus. Topping other tables were low centerpieces composed of vibrant blooms and succulents with natural wood on beds of moss. “I love plants and sentimental things,” adds the bride who collected crystals and with a friend, hand painted geode table numbers to include in the display.

It was clear from the start that this day was going to be a genuine expression of Katie and Bryan’s love and easygoing personalities. They brought in a saxophone player they saw perform at a restaurant in Cancun, Mexico during their first vacation together. “We wanted to recreate that special time for our guests and were able to find him on Instagram,” the bride reveals. The fun continued well into the night as printouts of the couple’s faces bobbed up and down on the crowded dance floor. “One of my bridesmaids made them, along with a giant one of my dog who passed away, just to mess with us. Our wedding party also brought in a stick pony that everyone was running around with,” she says with a laugh.

Looking back, Katie highlights some of her favorite moments – waking up to clouds and rain singing Alanis Morrisette’s “Ironic,” then to have the skies clear just in time for the wedding start time, getting her hair and makeup done, laughing with Bryan through their entire ceremony, and the nonstop dance party. She finishes, “NYBG is such a special place to us. Bryan proposed there and I love that it’s a place we can continue to visit throughout our love story. We can take our kids there to play and get inspired and have anniversary lunches at the restaurant, rather than just be a venue we picked one time, it’s a place that is a part of our story.”

Congratulations, Katie & Bryan!

Couple’s Vendor List
Venue: New York Botanical Garden
Photographer: Sarah Churchill Photography
Bride’s Dress: All Who Wander from The Plumed Serpent
Veil: Martina Liliana
Bride’s Shoes: Cecelia New York
Groom’s Attire: Lululemon and Jos. A. Banks
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Azazie 
Groomsmen’s Attire: Lululemon 
Hair + Makeup: Amy Klewitz Beauty
Jewelry: Pellegrini Jewelers
Invitations: Minted 
Caterer: Constellation
Cake: Lulu Cake Boutique
DJ: DJ Nick Spinelli
Music: Fito Raygoza