This Chic and Design-Forward Celebration Is Unlike Any New York Wedding You've Ever Seen

Michelle Hoffner and Eric Hugon knew each other since middle school, but they didn’t become close until high school, which is when the two had a short-lived romance. Years later the duo reconnected and were inseparable ever since. “We had both grown up so much and had our own flourishing lives that complimented each other perfectly,” Michelle says. It was while they were on the way to get their morning cup of coffee that Eric proposed in a park near their apartment—an intimate moment that Michelle remembers fondly.

Since the to-be-weds were born and raised in New York City, a place they’ve always loved and where they rekindled their romance, having their wedding there was a no-brainer. But they didn’t want their Big Apple nuptials to look like everyone else’s. “The goal for our wedding was to reinvent the classic NYC wedding with a fresh downtown aesthetic,” the bride says. To achieve this, the couple had to pick a venue that could be a blank canvas for their vision, accommodate 200 guests and have outdoor space. After visiting numerous sites, Michelle and Eric found Halo, a newly renovated venue located on the prestigious 28 Liberty Street.

When it was time to decorate this unique venue, the Daughter of Design planners and the Buunch florist team were the perfect people for the job. “I’m very style and design focused, so we wanted that to reverberate through every aspect of the event. I focused on mixed patterns, floral installations and furniture to level up the drama of the event,” Michelle says. For their Jewish ceremony, the couple married under a sultry green chuppah with suede upholstery, while their guests sat in ghost chairs surrounding them. And with the help of minimalistic plants and flowers, which included ferns, calla lilies and white bird of paradise, everything came together seamlessly.

The cocktail hour was held outside where the black-and-white linens and low centerpieces were inspired by the space’s focal point, the iconic Group of Four Trees sculpture. And instead of transitioning to a traditional seated dinner, the couple opted for a free-flowing reception with delicious food stations, which encouraged movement and socializing. “We’ve attended many weddings in recent years and always enjoyed the cocktail hour over the seated meal, so we made the whole event feel like an extended cocktail hour,” Michelle says. Once inside, guests sat on rust-colored modular couches, chatted at dimly lit small tables and partied all night thanks to the wood, greenery-adorned bar at the end of the dance floor.