1. Real Weddings

Aimee & Kevin: A Fall Wedding in Queens, NY

Aimee and Kevin, who met as neighbors in a Manhattan apartment building, chose a very different venue for their wedding: a farm. We live in the city b

Aimee and Kevin, who met as neighbors in a Manhattan apartment building, chose a very different venue for their wedding: a farm. We live in the city but we're country lovers at heart, Kevin explains. THE BRIDE Aimee Brill THE GROOM Kevin Bott THE DATE September 5 Not all proposals go as intended. Kevin, 31, had a whole morning planned, in which he was going to wake up early Thanksgiving morning, make his girlfriend, Aimee, 30, breakfast in bed, have a long talk about his feelings on marriage, and eventually, propose. But Kevin overslept (his shift at the restaurant where we worked the night before went later than he had planned), and when he got up, he recalls, I chattered like an idiot while I made some runny eggs and 'crispy' pancakes -- and eventually asked for Aimee's hand in marriage. Prior to this Kevin had been making Aimee think that he was committed to her and that was all we needed, he says -- but behind the scenes, he was designing a pink sapphire and diamond ring to surprise her with during the proposal. Runny eggs and all, We kissed, cried, and then got ready to go celebrate Thanksgiving with her family, recalls Kevin.

The Couple
Instead of a traditional ceke, Aimee and Kevin chose cupcakes cupcakes decorated with sunflowers in bright yellow, orange, and red. They were arranged in six tiers with a six-inch cake at the top that was capped with a rowdy cowboy-and-cowgirl cake topper.
During the reception, Aimee's father brought out a wrapped glass and asked Kevin to step on in, as is custom in a Jewish wedding. As soon as Kevin broke the glass, music started and the crowd began a hora, lifting the couple in their chairs and dancing around them. This moving tribute to her heritage, which also introduced the start of her dance party, meant a lot to Aimee.
The ceremony, held outside on the farm under a pavilion, began with short silent meditation. Surrounded by cornfields, calla lilies and fresh vegetables, the couple exchanged self-written vows and wedding bands with personal engravings -- Kevin's says gratitude; Aimee's says grace.
The Couple
Following the ceremony, Aimee and Kevin's 115 guests rendezvoused inside the barn, where the palette was indicative of their late summer wedding: gold (to match the wedding invitations) and rust orange to accent the natural greens, yellows, and browns of the farm itself.
The Bride
The First Dance
The Music
My bouquet was in memory of my Grandma, who had long stemmed white Calla lilies at her wedding, Aimee says of her deep red calla lily, Black Beauty rose, and berry bouquet.
The Couple
Aimee wore a Mika Inatome off-white, chiffon mermaid-style dress with detachable cap sleeves that she removed for the reception.
Baskets of vegetables, fruits, roses, calla lilies, and dahlias served as centerpieces, while candles and tiny white lights were strewn everywhere. After sipping mojitos and sangria, guests went to tables featuring personalized place cards with nicknames and inside jokes. It took everybody a really long time to find their cards, but it was worth it, Aimee says.
The Couple