1. Real Weddings

A Modern, Urban Wedding at Brooklyn Winery in Brooklyn, New York

Devon Avallone (29 and a lawyer) and Chuck Graves’s (33 and an account executive) wedding was an intimate, modern affair with urban touches. “We’re et

Devon Avallone (29 and a lawyer) and Chuck Graves’s (33 and an account executive) wedding was an intimate, modern affair with urban touches. “We’re eternal New Yorkers, so keeping a city feel was really important to us,” Devon says. “Brooklyn Winery was the perfect setting for our ceremony, family-style dinner, wild dance party and endless supply of doughnuts and cake.” With a palette of neutrals, metallics and pops of navy and burgundy, the pair put their own twist on the hot spot in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. “We planned everything ourselves and could not have asked for a better day,” Devon says. 

The festivities kicked off with a short ceremony in the Brooklyn Winery atrium. Bistro and fairy lights twinkled overhead as the couple exchanged vows they’d written themselves, while 1980s tunes established a lighthearted atmosphere. “The atrium at Brooklyn Winery is stunning on its own, so we brought in some florals to add color and romance,” Devon says. To-die-for food was a top priority for the fun-loving couple, which was one of the main reasons Devon and Chuck settled on Brooklyn Winery for their “I dos.” This included a raw bar during cocktail hour and crispy brussels sprouts and seared salmon for dinner. Dessert was the star of the show, with the newlyweds serving up a selection of cakes from Baked NYC and a spread of decadent doughnuts from Dough. The Winery’s interior set an inviting tone for the celebration, which Devon and Chuck built on with bright blooms and eye-catching gilded accents, including spray-painted wine bottles, mirrored prisms, votive candles and funky New York-inspired stationery. After the meal, everyone hit the dance floor, where the couple’s DJ kept the upbeat tunes spinning all night. “The photo booth was a big hit with our guests, but most of them stayed on the dance floor all night thanks to our phenomenal DJ, Brant!” —Libby MacCarthy

Pineapple Street Designs took the couple’s love for New York City and transformed it into a custom suite of city-inspired invitations. Each element of the invitation suite featured a different New York City landmark, including the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park.
When it came to the florals, Devon and Chuck let Molly Oliver Flowers take the lead. “Molly is incredibly talented and focuses on seasonal florals, so I trusted her judgment. My only requests were nothing too pastel and nothing too orange,” Devon says. “She did a phenomenal job.” Loosely tied to create a wildly romantic look, Devon’s bouquet was filled with ranunculus, garden roses and various greenery that elevated the arrangement’s sense of drama.
Devon’s BHLDN gown was the perfect blend of modern elegance and classic, feminine style with its fit-and-flare silhouette and V-neck. “My initial dress plans fell through, but fortunately, BHLDN’s New York showroom and quick shipping got me a stunning dress in a pinch,” Devon says. She completed the look with a lace crop top, gilded belt and a crystal-embellished halo.
The couple kept their ceremony short and sweet, while managing to make every moment feel highly personal. In addition to writing their own vows—which struck the ultimate balance between sincere promises and comic relief—the couple incorporated E.E. Cummings’s poem “I Carry Your Heart With Me (I Carry It In)” and a quote from the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell vs. Hodges decision. “We also incorporated the license signing into our ceremony,” Devon says, “since that piece of paper is the most important part of the day.”
“After my bouquet, my favorite floral element was the garland behind us during the ceremony,” Devon says. “It looked like a heart.” The lush green garland was punctuated with full fuchsia and white blooms that infused Brooklyn Winery’s urban decor with an element of freshness and vibrancy.
The reception also took place in the Brooklyn Winery atrium in Brooklyn, New York, under a canopy of ambient bistro lights and a glass dome that gave way to the night sky. The venue’s innate character let the couple go light on the decorations, with petite bundles of bright florals, votives and gilded accents bringing elements of polish and romance to the venue.
In addition to designing the couple’s wedding invitations, Pineapple Street Designs crafted New York City-inspired table cards that highlighted the couple’s love of the Big Apple. Each table was named after a city landmark and featured a corresponding illustration.
The reception tablescapes fused old-world elegance with modern simplicity. Lace table runners played up the warm, welcoming feel of the wooden farm tables, while details such as mercury-glass vases, full florals and flickering candlelight brought the romance in a big way.
Devon and Chuck treated their family members and friends to doughnuts from Brooklyn icon Dough in flavors such as dulce de leche and chocolate-cocoa nib.
After a dinner of hanger steak, seared salmon, crispy brussels sprouts and tarragon potatoes, Devon and Chuck treated their guests to a decadent spread of sweets. First up was a selection of cakes from Baked NYC, each one designed in the naked style with white buttercream and fresh bunches of fuchsia ranunculus.
From start to finish, Devon and Chuck planned every detail of their fall wedding themselves. “Everything felt very personal and really reflected who we are as a couple,” Devon says. “My favorite part of the day was our first look on the rooftop, which our incredible photographer arranged for us.”