1. Real Weddings

A Valentine's Day-Inspired Wedding at 501 Union in Brooklyn, New York

Inspired by OkCupid.com—the website where they first met, Allison and Beth Anne planned a playful, winter wedding using patterned paper, embossed gold

Inspired by OkCupid.com—the website where they first met, Allison and Beth Anne planned a playful, winter wedding using patterned paper, embossed gold details and a vibrant Valentine’s Day motif. Hearts, arrows and mini Cupids covered everything from an escort card display to gold-framed table numbers made from vintage Valentine’s Day postcards. “That was one of our favorite touches,” Allison says. "Some of the cards were over 100 years old." After the two tied the knot, guests indulged in red velvet cake, chocolate-covered strawberries, assorted Valentine's Day candy and Mexican hot chocolate ice cream courtesy of Brooklyn’s Ample Hills Creamery. "It's our favorite ice cream shop that's coincidentally located right down the street from 501 Union," Allison says. Postceremony, the newlyweds even ditched their ivory shoes for matching red heels to dance the hora. “We spent the month leading up to the wedding wearing them around our apartment in an effort to break them in,” Allison says. "Those shoes earned us some strange looks when we walked our dog at night." With the outdoor temperatures hovering at nearly zero degrees, the couple set up a hot cocoa station complete with homemade marshmallows and red travel mugs emblazoned with their custom wedding logo. "One of our favorite moments was taking a break from dancing to sneak into the kitchen so we could take shots of Fireball with the entire catering staff," Allison says. "Everyone tells you the night will be a blur for a reason—it will be!" —Rachel Sylvester

After Allison proposed to Beth Anne with a white gold engagement ring, Beth Anne returned the favor two months later. "Allison proposed at the finish line of the New York City marathon," Beth Anne says. "A few weeks later, I took my new ring to Rifka at Malidani in New York City to create an identical one."
Valentine's Day-themed details included heart-shaped confetti, arrow coasters and a festive red and white escort card display with a sweet arrow motif.
Valentine's Day-themed details included heart-shaped confetti, arrow coasters and a paper banner that read "Nice Shot Cupid"—a cute touch that the couple found on Etsy.com
While Allison (right) donned a Nicole Miller design with a V-neck and lace detailing, Beth Anne chose a Casablanca sheath-style dress made entirely of lace. "We wore different Badgley Mischka shoes and changed into matching red heels for the reception," Allison says.
In addition to blue crystal earrings and vintage pearl bracelets, the pair accessorized their all-white looks with matching pairs of red heels for the reception. "We spent the month leading up to the wedding wearing our heels around the apartment in an effort to break them in," Allison says. "This earned us some strange looks when we walked our dog at night—bedazzled shoes and pajama pants aren't an everyday sight!"
Guests were encouraged to leave notes for the newlyweds in a pink mailbox marked with a heart-shaped red flag. "It now serves as the mailbox in our apartment," Allison says.
The couple embraced a vibrant Valentine's Day motif for their big day. "One of our favorite details was the vintage, framed Valentine's Day postcards," Allison says. "They each featured cartoon cupid's delivering love letters. Some of the postcards were over 100 years old!"
While Allison (right) donned a Nicole Miller design with a V-neck and lace detailing, Beth Anne chose a Casablanca sheath-style dress made entirely of lace. "We wore different Badgley Mischka shoes and changed into matching red heels for the reception," Allison says.
Simple gold frames popped against chiavari chairs in the same hue. For an added pop of color, red and pink arrangements of hydrangeas and garden roses lined the aisle.
"Brooklyn was where we met, shared a few dates and first exchanged 'I love you's,' " Allison says of choosing 501 Union for both their ceremony and reception. "It felt like the appropriate backdrop for our wedding since it was where our relationship started."
To honor both Beth Anne's Catholic upbringing and Allison's Jewish background, the couple read from the New Testament and stomped on a glass to symbolize the end of their lives apart. "The last reading was 'How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog,' which was our hat tip to our bichon frise-shih tzu, Cody," Allison says.
While searching for their perfect venue, Allison and Beth Anne immediately fell in love with the loft's white marble bars, patterned wallpaper and geometric ceiling installments. "We loved that the building had three distinct rooms that each had its own personality," Allison says.
While searching for their perfect venue, Allison and Beth Anne immediately fell in love with the loft's white marble bars, patterned wallpaper and geometric ceiling installments. "We loved that the building had three distinct rooms that each had its own personality," Allison says.
"We didn't account for the fact that roses on Valentine's Day are quite expensive," Allison says of their initial meetings with their florist. Ruth, owner of Quatre Coeur, created romantic, Valentine's Day-inspired arrangements using a fresh mix of garden roses, ranunculus, anemones and lisianthus.
Dinner menus gave a subtle nod to the day's Valentine's Day motif.
Dessert included a red velvet wedding cake by Betty Bakery and Mexican hot chocolate ice cream provided by Ample Hills Ice Cream. "Instead of a traditional topper, we found a two-piece arrow from an Easy shop, Icing101, that looked like it had been shot through the cake," Allison says.
Guests took home photo strips from an on-site photo booth, where they posed with festive pink and red props.
"We wanted wedding favors that would be useful beyond just our wedding day," Allison says of the red travel mugs printed with their custom wedding logo. To send guests off at the end of the night, a hot cocoa station was set up with steaming hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows.
To send guests off at the end of the night, a hot cocoa station was set up with steaming hot chocolate, homemade marshmallows and the couple's red mug favors. "We wanted wedding favors that would be useful beyond just our wedding day," Allison says.
Two standout reception moments included the traditional hora dance led by Allison's family, which was followed by the chicken dance. "It's a song that is loved and performed annually in Beth Anne's hometown," Allison says. "Her extended family ran to the dance floor as soon as it started playing!"