Marisa & Josh Exchange Vows Under a Floating White Floral + Lucite Chuppah

One of the main draws of Gotham Hall is that it offers a ceremony atmosphere radiating dramatic sophistication beyond compare. BB Featured Bride Marisa realized early on how this would impact her décor choices. “The truth is I always wanted a chuppah that looked ethereal with a lot of greenery,” she says. “But that style just did not fit the space. Feeling the pressure, I scrolled through Bride & Blossom’s past designs and saw what appeared to be a ‘floating’ chuppah. I immediately thought ‘Oh, that’s it, that will work.’”

Here, Marisa reminisces about her and Josh’s unforgettable, deeply heartfelt ceremony before family and friends.

Part 3: Ceremony & Chuppah

We have had the honor of decorating many chuppahs over the years. It’s always exciting to see how couples use this symbolic feature of their wedding to not only express their Jewish faith, but also their personal style and taste. By the time Marisa and Bride & Blossom started conceptualizing the design of her chuppah, she had determined that white flowers were needed to offer a luminous contrast to the Gotham Hall’s dark interior. And since it would be the focal point of the ceremony, the bride also wanted the design to be unique and unforgettable. With these conditions set, they went to work.

 

Marisa and Josh’s chuppah took form in four Lucite posts decorated with lush Tibet roses, hydrangeas, stock, and cymbidium and Phalaenopsis orchids. Each clear post contained hanging cymbidium orchids, underscoring the impression that the structure was ‘floating in air.’ Marisa looks back and says, “Our chuppah was more than I could have ever imagined! It complimented the space perfectly. So many of our guests commented on how beautiful and different it was.”

 

 

A hush was heard when Marisa stepped to the aisle, escorted by her parents. Her pathway was lined with candles and a series of white floral arrangements set on Lucite pedestals, which added to the sublime ambiance all around. When she met Josh at the altar, it was evident to everyone that their love, which began when they were just teenagers, was meant to be.

The couple performed Jewish wedding traditions while incorporating elements with deep sentimental significance. “Two cups of wine are used in the Jewish ceremony,” Marisa explains. “We used the kiddush cup that my maternal grandparents used at their wedding in 1959. Then we used the same cup from Josh’s maternal grandparents’ wedding in 1962.” After the couple’s friends did the Sheva Brachot, seven blessings which are recited under the chuppah, they received the final blessing and were wrapped in Marisa’s grandfather’s tallit. She finishes, “We decided to add the cocktail hour menu in our program as a fun detail to get everyone excited for the celebration to come.”

Come back next week when Marisa shares the final chapter in her Real BB Wedding story.

Couple’s Vendor List
Venue: Gotham Hall
Photographer: Emma McDonald Weddings
Videographer: Nathaniel David Wedding Videography
Planner: Stillwell Events
Bride’s Dress: Mira Zwillinger
Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Groom’s Tux: Zegna
Groom’s Shoes: Magnanni
Rings: Verstolo
Hair & Makeup: Once Upon a Bride
Caterer: Ram Caterers
Invitations: Noteworthy Notes
Music: Hank Lane Music