This Couple Wanted a Unique Venue That Would Stand Out From the Crowd

Their Story

Halle and Zach wed on March 4, 2023 at Felina in Ridgewood. They met in Criminal Procedure class in the spring of 2017 at Brooklyn Law School.

“I was running late to the first day of class, so my friend saved me a seat in the back row right next to Zach,” says Halle. “Throughout the semester, I attempted small talk, mostly trying to get Zach’s advice on applying to clerkships and law review. When finals rolled around, I asked Zach to study together. Thankfully, he said ‘yes’ and the rest is history.”

The Proposal

Zach took Halle on a New Year’s Eve weekend trip to Connecticut, where she’d lived for a year shortly after they started dating. Zach popped the question in the middle of an empty park, just around the corner from Halle’s old apartment.

Details of the Day

“I tried my best to be a really relaxed bride,” says Halle. “My only real priorities were for everyone to have an amazing night and to make sure the night truly was about the love between me and Zachary.”

“That being said, I wanted a venue that was industrial and unique, particularly because all of our friends are going to 100 weddings per year. The venue made the rest of our decisions easy—we didn’t need over-the-top florals or table decor.”

As for flowers, Halle wanted “white florals with a cool twist,” a vision that Karma Florals executed flawlessly. “The Karma team came up with the bud vases with purple accents, and it was perfect,” Halle says.

The Jay Prince Band “did not stop playing hit after hit,” and the couple says they were “absolutely incredible.”

Choosing the Venue

“We were always drawn to industrial spaces, but most of the ones we toured were blank canvases, which we really wanted to avoid,” says Halle.

After touring Felina, they “fell in love” with the Italian restaurant and event space owned by Landmark Venues. “It also helped that the staff were clearly very organized and incredibly friendly. It was an absolutely pleasure working with them,” she says.

The Menu

The couple featured four large stations during cocktail hour: a steak and pork belly carving station, a pasta station, a pizza station, and a charcuterie station. They also had passed plates and canapes. For dinner, guests started with an avocado caprese salad before enjoying an entrée of chicken al mattone or filet mignon.

“Because our families have a ton of food allergies and intolerances, almost every meal had gluten and dairy free options,” Halle says. “This was so important to us as what is a wedding without amazing food?”

For dessert, the couple offered traditional wedding cake that was cannoli flavored, plus strolling desserts for those guests who did not want to leave the dance floor.

The Bride’s Gown

Halle wore a classic and simple deep-v fit-and-flare Justin Alexander dress, which she bought at RK Bridal. “I went in knowing I wanted a bow, which to me felt like the perfect small feminine touch to a classic dress,” the bride says. “I went in wanting a timeless gown, and that is definitely what I bought.”

Favorite Moment

“My favorite moment of the night was standing under the chuppah with Zach, with my grandfather’s tallit around our shoulders,” says Halle. “That moment felt so special as we felt literally wrapped in the love of our family and friends.”

Another special moment was Halle’s look with her father. “He is my favorite person in the world (second to my husband), and we could not stop crying.”

Details They Couldn’t Live Without

“I could not imagine my wedding without Hold My Knots coming for late night treats. They served garlic knot sliders that are just to die for, and me and Zach’s favorite food. Our guests were so excited to grab some before heading to the after party at the hotel,” says Halle.

The couple also incorporated gifts from their late grandparents into their outfits. Halle had Karma Florals incorporate into her bouquet some of the decorative tulips that my grandmother had bought for her to display in her first apartment.  Zach wore his grandfather’s cufflinks.

Advice for Other Couples

“Don’t try to micro-manage every detail. Letting our families and bridal party pick their own outfits without any conditions was a huge stress saver and it just really does not matter what your family and friends are wearing. All that matters is that you and your fiancé are happy and having fun, so remember to be in the moment and never stray to far away from one another.”