Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
After Candace and Philippe graduated from Pennsylvania State University, they lost touch for nearly six years, when a mutual friend's Facebook page led Candace to her future husband. A message later and she discovered they shared the same zip code, and "so we innocently decided to meet up for a dinner to catch up," Candace says. "One of our favorite memories from that first date was when we took a cab from the restaurant to Bryant Park. During the ride, I told the cab driver about how we had just reconnected, and he was so moved that he gave us the cab ride free! A free cab ride in NYC? That's unheard of!"
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
As they settled in for a Central Park picnic last summer—complete with their favorite lobster rolls from Luke's Lobster—Philippe popped a bottle of Champagne, and then popped the question.
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
"After a few moments of hugging, giggling and crying," Candace says she grabbed her cell phone and called everyone she knew—but no one answered her calls. "I finally gave up and put down the phone. That's when I noticed a group of people walking toward me. It was our family! Philippe had all of our immediate family members come to New York City for the proposal!"
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
One thing was set for their August wedding from the start: Candace and Philippe wanted the groom's childhood pastor to marry them. "She agreed," Candace says, "and what was even better was that the head pastor at her church was friends with the pastor at Western Presbyterian Church," where the couple wed.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
The couple kept their ceremony decor simple because, the bride explains, "the church was breathtaking on its own and we wanted our guests to focus on that rather than cluttering it with too many decor items." Florist DBI Events flanked the wooden altar with two tall arrangements of airy baby's breath. "We laid down a white aisle runner that was customized by my mother with a silver R at one end," the bride says.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
"The ceremony was so personal, warm and full of tears and laughter," Candace recalls. In addition to reading their favorite e.e. cummings poem, I Carry Your Heart, during the ceremony, the bride's uncle played music and her aunt sang The Lord's Prayer during the celebration. "We are also blessed to have a very musical family," she says. "It was awesome to be able to involve so many of the people we love."
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
"I envisioned myself walking down the aisle in something a little sexy and romantic, something that was also a bit fashion-forward," the bride says. "My wedding gown was everything I wanted and more. The bottom of the dress was so dramatic, and I loved that."
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
The pink peep-toed shoes that peeked out from beneath the bride's Pronovias gown were by Joan & David.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Philippe chose a classic black and white tuxedo from Hugo Boss, but accessorized with custom cufflinks and argyle socks.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
The bride and groom's elegant wedding bands were purchased at Burke & Bannayan Jewelers.
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
The bride describes her bouquet—a mix of pastel pink dahlias and white baby's breath—as "simple and romantic. I also didn't want anything too big," she says. "I wanted the bouquet to complement my dress but not be a distraction."
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Eight bridesmaids wore floor-length lavender gowns by Amsale. "Each woman wore a different style," the bride explains. But they all carried the same kind of bouquet: "Simple yet beautiful baby's breath," Candace says. "The white baby's breath perfectly complemented their dresses."
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Philippe asked 10 men to participate in his side of the bridal party. They each wore classic black tuxedos and baby's breath boutonnieres.
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Even though the couple calls New York City home, the bride grew up in Washington, D.C., so "we decided to look at [reception] venues in both New York and D.C.," she says. Candace and Philippe found Sequoia in a magazine, and "before we even walked inside we knew that was it!"
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
"The views of the Potomac River were to die for and the floor to ceiling windows made us feel like we were standing underneath the stars," Candace says.
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
DBI Events "did a great job of making my vision of a simple, chic and romantic dinner party come to life," the bride says. "The designs were unique and modern and made the room so inviting." The florist mixed high-and-low white arrangements on both round and rectangular tables.
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Modern gray and white menus described a three-course sit-down dinner that included salad with a truffle-soy vinaigrette, braised beef short ribs and pan-seared tilapia served over mashed potatoes.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
"We went for a modern look for the cake," Candace says of the couple's four-tier confection. "The layers were off-centered, and uniquely shaped flowers of varying sizes cascaded down from the top to the bottom layer becoming more and more voluminous at the bottom." The flowers, the bride says, were sprayed with silver dust.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Candace and Philippe shared their first dance as husband and wife to Stevie Wonder's Ribbon in the Sky.
Photos: Meredith Hanafi Photography
Guests danced "all night long!" the bride recalls. "We have really fun friends and family. The dance floor was full the entire night. Our guests were even dancing during the cocktail hour and dinner!"
Photo: Meredith Hanafi Photography
"After the reception, we continued the party on Sequoia's outdoor boardwalk lounge," the bride recalls. "The night was beautiful, and it was so fun to enjoy more time with our guests."
—Jillian Kramer
Wedding Planner: Weddings and Events by Bliss || Ceremony Venue: Western Presbyterian Church || Reception Venue: Sequoia || Bride's Wedding Dress: Pronovias || Bride's Veil: Pronovias || Bride's Shoes: Joan & David || Bride's Accessories: Tiffany & Co. || Bride's Wedding Ring: Burke & Bannayan Jewelers || Groom's Tux: Hugo Boss || Groom's Wedding Ring: Burke & Bannayan Jewelers || Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale || Flower Girl Dress: Watters || Florist: DBI Events || Caterer: Sequoia || Late-Night Snacks: Luke's Lobster || Stationery: Minted || Cake Baker: Sweet Ladies Bakery || Rentals: Party Rental Ltd || Entertainment: Scratch Weddings || Videography: AM Media Group || Photography: Meredith Hanafi Photography
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