Melanie & Nick: Hollywood Glamour at The Suffolk Theater

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride and Groom – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie and Nick met like many couples do these days – online. After a few email exchanges, they made plans to meet at a chic downtown NYC bar only to find out there was a two hour wait to get in. The dive bar just around the corner seemed like a better option. Melanie recalls, “We spent hours talking and playing pool against a Michael Clark Duncan’s look-alike. In the cab ride home, I realized Nick forgot to close out our one-drink tab. That’s how lost in the moment we were.” She continues, “When we said our goodbyes, we both knew that we had just been on our ‘last’ first date.”

We are excited to introduce Melanie, our Bride & Blossom Featured Bride for October. Melanie and Nick exchanged vows on unforgettable day at The Suffolk Theater. Here, she shares the first chapter in their Real BB Wedding Story.

Part 1: Proposal & Planning

Melanie’s intuition was correct – that first date was followed by many more as her and Nick’s relationship developed. One early summer day, she and her best friend planned to spend the afternoon at Central Park. “She led us through the entrance near the Museum of Natural History,” Melanie says. “I noticed that lyrics to one of my favorite songs were written on the walkway, which led to a bench where two more friends were sitting. We continued and around every turn were more song lyrics followed by another set of friends and family members. This led to a quarter mile walk that ended where Nick and I had our second date. And there he was waiting for me on the same blanket we sat on during that date with a bouquet of flowers in hand.” Melanie had no idea that Nick was going to ask her to marry him that day. “He put months of planning into the proposal and it was absolutely perfect.”

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Proposal – courtesy of bride

Initially, the couple wanted to have a small ceremony followed by a low-key reception. This all changed as the guest list grew. “We were blessed to have a lot of people who wanted to celebrate our marriage with us,” says Melanie. “Once we decided to have a larger wedding, we set out to make it a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience for our guests.”

The couple’s love of the movies was a major factor in deciding on a venue. “We knew that we wanted a non-traditional venue and came up with the idea of getting married in a theater.” After coming across The Suffolk Theater online, Nick and Melanie made an appointment to see the space in person. Located in Riverhead, New York, The Suffolk Theater is a fully renovated 1930s Art Deco venue that harks back to the golden age of Hollywood in look and feel. Retaining its original design, the interior stuns with majestic red walls, vintage decorative motifs, and a grand stage. Melanie remembers, “The moment we walked through the door, we knew it was going to be where we had our wedding.”

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride and Groom Marquee – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

With the venue locked down, the couple’s wedding vision started to take shape. “We wanted the evening to feel like a modern version of a 1940s Oscars party.” Channeling the opulence of that period, florals were dramatic, exploding with rich colors and texture. “Working with Rachel, we came up with the idea of having tall centerpieces that looked like fireworks and incorporating geometric elements to complement the Art Deco interior.” Modern touches could be found in the details – table signs were mini posters of the couple’s favorite movies.