Claire & Geoff's NYC Civil Ceremony
Q&A with Claire
The Henrietta Dress, worn by Claire
What was your initial vision or inspiration when you started looking for your wedding outfit, and did it evolve throughout the process?
I was inspired by romantic, modern, and elegant silhouettes. I have always loved crepe and satin, and knew I wanted to incorporate both textures into my wedding looks. I discovered the Clara dress on Net-a-Porter and immediately knew I wanted to wear it on my wedding night. It fit both the romantic and modern vision I was envisioning. The hammered satin has such an elegant sheen and the ruching detail on the sleeves with the long ties felt incredibly chic. Vanessa’s tailoring is incredible, I didn’t alter it at all! I loved it so much that I ended up wearing it for my rehearsal dinner and for my wedding party. It was incredibly comfortable and fun to dance in.
I also fell in love with the Henrietta dress and wore it for my civil ceremony. This design was made for civil ceremonies! My favorite details are the waist bow the button-up V neckline and the open back. The fitted skirt adds a level of sophistication. This is also a dress that required no tailoring - magic! We took civil ceremony photos in Central Park, and they will forever be my favorite. I have never felt so effortlessly chic and elegant! Now I want the Henrietta dress in every color.
If you could describe your wedding theme in three words, what would they be?
Elegant, romantic, natural
How would you describe the overall feeling or atmosphere of your wedding day?
My husband and I dated for eight years before we got married and we wanted our wedding to reflect our relationship - natural, warm, and truly happy. I am endlessly grateful to our wedding venue, M&D Farm in Hudson New York for making it easy to cultivate an effortlessly romantic atmosphere. The incredible owners Mario Pollan and Daniel Buenos renovated a 1930s barn, turned the landscape into a breathtaking garden, and brought in gorgeous European inspired sculptures and design. I was elated to see our family and friends mingling in the stunning gardens all night.
I felt so lucky to wear the Clara dress on the dance floor after the ceremony. Under the low, warm lights the satin sheen looked so romantic. The dress was beyond comfortable to dance in!
Were there any challenges or obstacles you faced on your wedding day, and how did you overcome them?
We got married in June, 2021. The COVID restrictions lifted weeks before our wedding. Planning our wedding during times of uncertainty felt stressful at times. I believe we overcame this uncertainty by focusing on what truly mattered to us: our love and our family. Gratitude has been an important theme in our relationship, and ultimately we were overjoyed and beyond grateful to celebrate with our loved ones when it was safe to do so.
Did any specific songs or moments during your reception create an especially fun or emotional atmosphere?
We played Amsterdam by Gregory Alan Isakov and the Colorado Symphony during our ceremony. It is a magical song with a stunning, climactic build. It’s about coming home, and is inexplicably emotional. It remains one of our favorite songs today.
The Henrietta Dress
Credits
Photographer : Nicole Nero Studio
Hair: Gabrielle Kim
Makeup: Predame Beauty
Florist: Tyler Pearson
Cake: Deliciously Different
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Accessories: Venus Diamante by Sophie Bille Brahe
Venue: M and D Farm