1. Real Weddings

A Glam Park Wedding at Boathouse in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York

Dana Covarrubias (30 and a costume designer) and Ronan Babbitt (28 and an actor and comedian) took DIY to the extreme at their wedding at the Boathous

Dana Covarrubias (30 and a costume designer) and Ronan Babbitt (28 and an actor and comedian) took DIY to the extreme at their wedding at the Boathouse in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. “Being a costume designer by profession, I decided early on that I would plan and design everything myself,” says Dana. “Since we were having the wedding in New York and not in Texas where I’m originally from, it was important to me to incorporate some aspect of my Texas and Mexican culture into the design of the wedding." The decor included lots of cacti and succulents alongside Mexican star lanterns with a glittery gold and metallic color palette. “It was the perfect marriage of New York glam with my Texan culture,” says the bride. At their sunset waterfront ceremony, Dana and Ronan recited their own vows underneath a birch arch draped in a live salal garland. The newlyweds recessed into the boathouse to “This Will Be Our Year” by The Zombies, a song that reminds Ronan of the year he and Dana started dating, and for their first dance, the couple chose “Sea of Love” by Cat Power—the song that reminds Dana of Ronan. “We decided early on that the most important aspect of our wedding would be the dance party,” says the bride. The DJ played a mix of 90s hip hop, yacht rock, and “of course, a TON of Beyonce,” says Dana. “At one point, a conga line formed!” Towards the end of the night, the speakers cut out, which led to an impromptu sing-along led by some of the guests!

The gem-cut invitations were printed on kraft paper with gold foil-pressed lettering. The inside of the envelopes had gold gems, and the front was addressed to each guest with a gem above their name. The couple filled each invitation with silver and gold confetti and tied everything together with a metallic string.
Metallic Bridesmaids Dresses in New York Wedding
Asymmetrical White Bouquet with Lush Greens
Bride and Groom in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
The bride made her own floral crown with floral wire, fresh greenery and baby’s breath while she and her bridesmaids were getting ready. “It was super easy to make, and only took about 20 minutes!” Dana says.
Dana wore the Tallulah wedding dress by BHLDN, a long, flowy gown with a silk tulle skirt and crystal details on the cap sleeves and back. “When I saw how stunning the back was, I knew it was my dress!”
Cacti, Mexican star lanterns and mercury glass vases rested at the base of the birch wedding arch, which stood atop a rug and was wrapped in a live salal garland.
“The Prospect Park Boathouse was the first venue that we visited, and we knew immediately that it was where we wanted to get married,” says Dana. The groom is from Cape Cod, so the couple enjoyed nautical aspect to the beautiful outdoor space for a ceremony overlooking the water, as well as the architecture of the building. “We also loved that the money we put down for the space rental was going to be donated to the Prospect Park Alliance to help fund the park’s upkeep,” says Dana.
The bridesmaids wore dresses in mixed metallics, and the groomsmen wore slim fit black suits with gold metallic ties.
DIY Chalkboard Wedding Itinerary
The bride made gold matte sequined table runners for all of the reception tables and used cactuses, succulents and air plants to go along with the Texan and Mexican theme.
The DIY escort cards were each tied to a gold glitter-dipped white feather stuck in floral foam boards covered in moss and succulents. “It was one of my favorite things we made for the wedding!” says the bride.
Small wooden maracas, a nod to the bride’s Mexican heritage, rested atop the menus at each place setting. “The maracas made for super fun party noisemakers and were used to insight speeches later in the night,” says Dana.
The couple chose a white wedding cake with buttercream frosting and decorated with a cascade of succulents.
Custom Menu with Mexican Maraca Place Setting
Gold Table Number with Cactus Decor
Boathouse in Prospect Park Wedding Reception
Dana and Ronan First Dance in Boathouse in Prospect Park