Prospect Park Picnic House Wedding

Q: Tell us about your wedding!

“We hoped to throw a lively, joyous party to kick off Halloween weekend in Brooklyn and properly welcome our (many!) loved ones who traveled from as far away as London and Brazil to make the day that much more special.

Q: Let’s talk wedding decor

“Prospect Park already looks pretty fancy in the fall, so we didn’t need a thing for the ceremony. For the reception, we aimed for spooky chic, which our florists (Buds of Brooklyn) and lighting team (Bentley Meeker) expertly delivered. From the beginning of the design process, it was clear how skilled they were. Just for fun, we pitched in some painted, glittered, and studded pumpkins a few lovely friends helped us decorate the week before.

Q: What were the florals like in your wedding?

“Our favorite spot was the fireplace mantle, which Buds of Brooklyn decorated with black candles and these incredible centerpieces with red and purple tendrils hanging from bursts of greenery and flowers. A dear friend of mine contributed homemade apothecary bottles from her bad-ass Etsy store, Deadnettle Apothecary, to add a touch of macabre. I also loved my bouquet, which dried beautifully and now sits on a ledge in our kitchen. I’m not usually one to display dead flowers, but it still looks so pretty!”

Q: Did you personalize the day in any way?

“We had a lot of fun planning our ceremony, which was officiated by one of our closest friends, Anna. We walked down the aisle together as our spectacular band (45 Riots) played the Ground Theme from Super Mario Bros., and our sisters read Neil Gaiman’s “The Day the Saucers Came” and Joyce Sidman’s “Come, Happiness” before we exchanged vows. For the recessional, the band played the Overworld Theme from The Legend of Zelda. Throughout our planning process, we kept thinking of our wedding as the beginning of a great adventure together, which was very much reflected in our ceremony.”

Q: Let’s talk fashion

“I had no idea what I was doing, as I’d never before envisioned myself in a wedding dress. After visiting only one other store, I went with my mom to The White Room in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and picked the dress we both liked best. I had intense buyer’s remorse that afternoon—too much pressure!—but ultimately loved it once I took it to The Wedding Dresser. Susan and her team are gentle geniuses. They’re dress therapists.Laura Burns did my hair and makeup. She’s a beauty wizard and has a fantastic sense of humor! It was a joy to spend time with her as she worked her magic.Mike went for a traditional tuxedo, custom-made by the talented tailors at Kozinn+Sons.”

Q: How did you meet?

“Our officiant, Anna, introduced us back in 2006. At the time, I was in a long-term relationship and lived on Long Island, and Mike was working and dating in the city. We’d hang out together with a group of friends every six months or so when Anna flew in from California, and then there were a few years when our paths didn’t cross. In 2013, Anna moved back to NYC and invited us both to join a group for drinks. I was sitting at the bar eating a pretzel when Mike walked in, and as he approached I spilled mustard down the front of my shirt. Mike loves mustard, he says.After Mike and I decided we wanted to get married, he surprised me with a trip to Hudson to see Rufus Wainwright at the Hudson Basilica. We got engaged on a hill overlooking the Hudson River after he gave the loveliest proposal speech, which I was way too excited to hear at the time. Later he emailed me the transcript, which I’m especially thankful for.”

Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

“Before we went upstairs for the processional, we hung out and drank whisky alone in the bridal suite (which was really a cool storage room to hold materials for the Picnic House’s nature programs). Having learned during Mike’s proposal that it’s hard to listen closely when one is so excited, we read our vows to one another so we could enjoy them better during the ceremony. That was the most memorable moment for both of us.Back in the room after the ceremony, our talented caterer (Raging Skillet) sent down a sampler of delicious appetizers, which we devoured before going back upstairs.We loved the dance party, too. Our band (45 Riots) was perfect. Our friends are still talking about them.

Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

“Amber: Plan it together and split the work equally. You’ll bicker here and there, but ultimately it’ll be something special you created together.Mike: Spring for a day-of wedding coordinator so you’ll be able to enjoy yourselves after months of hard work. We recommend Two Kindred Event Planners! Allison Szleifer was a godsend!”