This Wedding With Citrus Details is a Summertime Dream at The Annex in New York

Summertime and the lovin’ is easy. When it came time for Stephanie King and Adam Partridge to tie the knot, they knew which season they’d be honoring. “Because the wedding was in June, it was inspired by the joyfulness of summer,” the bride explains. “I dreamed of a citrus-filled room surrounded by bright pinks, yellows, blues and oranges.” All these colors and decor elements combined gave Stephanie some strong Amalfi Coast vibes—"one of my favorite places on earth!” she tells.

A celebration of all things warm and sunny made tons of sense for a long-time couple recreating the magic of childhood summers—quite appropriate, as Stephanie and Adam grew up down the street from one another, weaving in and out of each other’s lives since elementary school. “My family is filled with lots of cousins, so Adam grew up hanging out with my guy cousin (who was also in the same grade),” Stephanie reminisces. “As we moved through elementary, middle and high school together, we began to connect more and more.” Almost seven years after their very first date, Adam proposed back in their hometown.

The morning of their big day, the bride donned a dreamy Essence of Australia gown. “This dress was all me: I’d never felt so beautiful in a dress before. It was incredibly beautiful, comfortable, and it had pockets (perfect for tissues)!” she exclaims. “This dress could go into a museum and still be stunning 100 years from now… a timeless piece.” Stephanie accented her look with a “something borrowed” diamond necklace from her mother, a “something old” vintage brooch from her great-grandmother and a “something blue” sapphire ring: a wedding gift from her parents.

Under a bright blue sky, guests found their seats for the ceremony in the open-air courtyard. Two large arrangements of white, blush and coral flowers flanked by clear vases filled with lemons marked the entrance to the aisle—lined with matching florals. Vibrant pink roses were heavily featured in the altar’s circular “arch,” which acted as the main area focal point.

Bridesmaids floated down the aisle in boldly pink gowns, perfectly matched to the ceremony blooms. Finally, Stephanie made her grand entrance and headed toward her groom—dressed in a light cobalt blue suit. “The boys were in blue suits because I have always loved blue suits,” Stephanie says. “Overall, a lighter blue [worked well], whereas black would’ve felt too heavy for a colorful June wedding.”

After the personalized vows, attendees found their way into the reception space while the newlyweds were afforded a much-needed breather. “After the ceremony, we had five minutes to regroup before pictures (just Adam and I) and having those few moments to jump around together and shake out the nerves was amazing!”

The alfresco reception highlighted the beauty of the coastal Italian aesthetic. “Blue and white Chinoiserie print tied in the reception details: from the linens, to the china, to the flower vases,” Stephanie reveals. Round tables bedecked with airy linens, deep blue goblets, citrus and low floral centerpieces were surrounded by ghost chairs. The entire reception sat underneath a verdant floral chandelier sporting blossoms in varying shades of pink, white and yellow along with ample greenery. Near the newlywed’s sweetheart table, a statuesque lemon tree with real lemons tied the whole room together expertly.

“I thought a neutral color scheme could be anyone’s wedding: it was a joyful day supported by happy, vibrant colors,” Stephanie explains. When it came to personalization, the bride and groom were sure to put their stamp on the event. “[We especially loved] the ice sculpture with our logo, the real lemon tree, leaving notes on each guest’s table (saying thank you to the group and we appreciate them), the bathroom being decorated in florals, the fireworks and the floral chandelier!”

A final word of advice, straight from Stephanie to future brides: “By the end of the night, your wedding dress will probably be close to ruined. It will be a giant mop, stepped on, makeup-stained, spray-tan stained and may even be ripped. Keep this in mind while thinking about budgeting for a dress. Consider what its second life could be by preserving it.”