A Romantic, Floral-Forward NYC Wedding at the Central Park Boathouse
New York City bartenders witness a lot of first dates, so one would imagine they wouldn’t bat an eye at yet another pair flirting atop a set of stools. But when Kayleigh Adam met up with Evan McLaughlin in March 2021 at The Craic in Brooklyn, the spark was so apparent that even their server noticed the connection (and offered them shots).
“The bartender asked me if we were on a first date, and said that he had seen a lot of first dates before, but none that had gone this well,” says Kayleigh. “He was definitely onto something—Evan and I haven’t gone a day since without speaking.”
A “Hinge success story,” the couple got engaged in July 2024 on a trip to Montauk, New York. Evan didn’t think Kayleigh was expecting the proposal—that is, until he suspiciously suggested they watch the sunset on the beach before dinner, even though it was a rainy day. Sure enough, something golden and bright (well, two golden things) awaited the lovebirds once they stepped on the sand.
“When we got there, the sun poked out of the clouds,” says Evan. “As I proposed, everyone on the beach applauded, and someone captured a video and shared it with us. So nervous, but so worth it.” Kayleigh said “yes!” in the golden glow of the surprise sunset, to a shimmering pear-cut, hidden-halo engagement ring on a gold band from Frank Darling. The couple celebrated at Mavericks Montauk, sipping on the seemingly endless champagne sent to their table by onlookers who’d seen Evan pop the question. “It was so special to soak in that moment before we shared it with everyone,” says Kayleigh.
Eleven months later, they welcomed 130 loved ones to NYC for a wedding weekend planned by Annie Lee of Daughter of Design that was a true snapshot of summer in the city.
“Since our love story began in New York, it was a no-brainer to get married here,” says Kayleigh. One of the many aspects of the city that she totally captured was its status as a hub for high fashion. Kayleigh curated her own slate of looks sans stylist, keeping tabs on social media and the Bridal Fashion Week runways for ideas. For the rehearsal dinner, she donned an ethereal PatBO number embellished with blue butterflies, which she’d fallen in love with during Fashion Week and her mother-in-law had bought for her once it hit stores. Later, she changed into an Anthropologie sequined corset-and-skirt set for the rooftop welcome party.
The special accessory that enhanced every look: a bespoke bridal bag by Anthony Luciano. “We built the purse around the frame, incorporating colors and a summer garden-party feel,” says Kayleigh. “Anthony found feathers and knew they would be perfect for me, a maximalist. I used the bag the night before, on the day and on my honeymoon.”
On the wedding day, the bride glowed in a gown by Netta BenShabu, fully hand-beaded with freshwater pearls and presenting what she calls “the perfect amount of poof”—an obvious call for this “embellished girly.” The groom and father of the bride brought style to their suits with custom floral brooches by Jennifer Behr in place of boutonnieres.
The couple got a sneak peek at each other’s day-of attire during a sentimental first look outside The Carlyle hotel, ahead of the ceremony at the iconic Central Park Boathouse. “We wanted to portray true, classic New York City,” says Kayleigh. The latter was the first venue they’d looked at and—in a moment of kismet akin to the brilliant sunset on their otherwise-cloudy proposal day—it also had Kayleigh’s ideal wedding date, June 21, free. “We knew it was meant to be.”
The space was bedecked with blooms to evoke a summer garden party, as well as to nod to the groom’s penchant for plants. “I love flowers and foliage,” says Evan. “I’d love to open a nursery one day and I love our apartment plants, so I asked for tons of greenery, and they made it look super lush.”
A grounded arch bursting with blossoms like peonies, ranunculus and delphiniums marked the end of the aisle (and later did double duty gracing the DJ booth), while three arrangements were fastened onto the room’s dark-wood beams to add color. Every petal played into the couple’s palette of sage green and dusty pink with pops of purple and terra-cotta.
Just as the flowers were handpicked for their June wedding, Kayleigh feels that Evan was selected for her by a beloved late relative: “My grandpa was a professional photographer, who I imagined my whole life would take my bridal portraits,” she says. “Shortly after I met Evan, after an eventful four years of dating in NYC where every thing went wrong all the time, it suddenly felt like this person was handpicked for me. I strongly believe that my poppy had some thing to do with that.”
Kayleigh’s uncle Scott officiated the ceremony as a nod to her grandpa (Scott is his son), and the bride mentioned the moment she’d noticed the godwink between her groom and her grandfather in her vows. She explains that cardinals are traditionally thought of as signs from lost loved ones, and she knew the relationship was right when she saw Evan wearing his old school track team shirts adorned with the red bird. His vows, meanwhile, included a promise to keep Kayleigh smiling—and an adorable preemptive lean-in for a kiss.
Once the couple was officially married and Evan had “nailed” the quintessential end-of aisle dip, the newlyweds hopped in a rowboat for a lap of the Central Park Lake. Guests cheered them on from a private brick patio, where cocktail hour unfolded under sparkling string lights and a raw bar overflowed with goodies like tuna tartare and poached lobster tails. Passed apps and a violinist circulated through groups chatting over Summer in the City spritzes, a take on the Hugo spritz with a fruity kiss from muddled strawberries. “The ambience was incredible, especially for guests who had never visited NYC before,” says Kayleigh.
Back inside the boathouse, patterned chargers and floral-embroidered napkins added charm to the reception tables, which were beautified with summer blooms spilling over the edges for an overflowing-garden feel. When guests were settled in their seats, the couple stepped into their first dance, to a song that was nontraditional, a surprise and totally them.
“We landed on ‘Heat Waves’ by Glass Animals for a few reasons,” says Kayleigh of the song, which is dreamy and danceable, with a killer bass line. “First, I’ve been obsessed with the song since 2020, to the point that multiple people in my life associate me with it. Second, when we were dating early on, Evan came over and I had it on a four hour loop—he was very confused why it kept repeating, but thought it was funny. Third, we got married in the middle of June—the chorus! And fourth, going this route made the general atmosphere more fun.”
After the dances (including a surprise number for Kayleigh and her mom) came a dinner of summer favorites like steak, lemony ricotta agnolotti and fluffy Parker House rolls that were a huge hit. Guests then en joyed almond wedding cake with chocolate filling and chocolate pot de crème. The sweets were followed by a reception set that, according to Evan, was specifically curated for maximum dance potential: The couple had a strict no-play list to tailor the vibe. A live saxophonist got the party start ed, and the bride shimmied into a sparkly minidress for the occasion. A last dance to “Innerbloom” by Rüfüs du Sol kept the good vibes up before everyone headed uptown to Keys & Heels, a speakeasy where the revelry continued well beyond 2 a.m.
“There were many special moments, but dinner and the after-party are what really stood out,” says Kayleigh. “We walked around and spoke to nearly everyone, and it felt special to have so many people in one room from all walks of life.” Guests exited into the “late night in the middle of June” with taxicab matchboxes, and the fizzy feeling that comes with spending a summer evening in New York City.