1. Real Weddings

Maggie & Jake: An Intimate Wedding in New York, NY

Sometimes, when two people meet online, it takes a few dates to realize how they feel about each other; but this wasn’t so for Maggie Moon and Jake Va

Sometimes, when two people meet online, it takes a few dates to realize how they feel about each other; but this wasn’t so for Maggie Moon and Jake Vander Linden. “I knew from our very first date that I would marry him,” remembers Maggie, who, despite this self-assurance, was still thoroughly surprised when Jake proposed at an outdoor cafe in Istanbul a few months later. The Bride Maggie Moon, 31, educational consultant The Groom Jake Vander Linden, 32, advertising executive The Date August 31 Maggie and Jake gave themselves just five months to plan their wedding, so location was key. At first, they were inspired by Jake’s proposal and started looking at Turkish restaurants, but then they decided on Cendrillion, a Filipino restaurant -- an even more appropriate choice since the couple was moving to Asia shortly after their wedding. With the spot picked, Maggie and Jake’s wedding style and small guest list easily fell into place.

The cake was a surprise wedding gift to the bride and groom from Maggie’s uncle. The two-tiered confection was decorated with fresh flowers and featured yellow cake with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting. The cake was topped off with bride and groom salt-and-pepper shakers.
Five porcelain flower pins, borrowed from her sister, accented Maggie’s chic updo. Topping off her look was an ivory mesh nylon hat pinned at an angle.
Orchids were the flower of the day, hence Maggie’s simple orchid bouquet. Her gown was just as understated yet stylish as the rest of the event. Maggie wore a two-piece Romona Keveza ensemble that teamed a silk-shantung skirt with a lace corset bodice.
Rather than bringing in lots of decorative accents, Maggie and Jake decided to let the restaurant’s natural beauty speak for itself. Three tables were set up beneath a skylight for the couple’s 32 guests, and each table was topped with two orchid plants. A heart-shaped chandelier provided the room’s warm, romantic lighting.
Maggie and Jake were married in a traditional Episcopalian ceremony in the back of the Cendrillion restaurant beneath a skylight. A family friend who is a priest at St. Thomas Episcopal Church agreed to perform the ceremony at the unconventional location. Afterward, the space was revamped for the reception.
Maggie and Jake gave each of their guests a signed cookbook by the owners of Cendrillion, entitled Memories of the Philippine Kitchen, tied with bright green ribbon. They also passed out CDs of their favorite songs.