With sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline as their backdrop, Megan and Ismail celebrated their wedding at Liberty House in Jersey City—a venue that felt, as they described it, like a second home. Their September 9, 2025, celebration was a study in romantic, airy elegance: garden-style florals in soft pink, lavender, and light blue; cascading wisteria throughout the reception; candlelight at every turn; and a handful of personal touches that made guests smile, including cocktail napkins printed with their cats, Lilac and Lavender, and a custom painting of the venue serving as their guest book. With a close friend officiating and the city glowing behind them, it was exactly the wedding they’d envisioned. Gleb Freeman Photography captured the day.
Their Story
“We met in NYC in the way many modern love stories begin—on Hinge,” says Megan. “A six‑hour first date in Turtle Bay became a life of exploring the city, movie nights, family moments, and adventures.”
“We moved to Jersey City together in 2023 and added our cats, Lilac and Lavender to our little family in 2024!”
The Proposal
“We got engaged in the clouds at the top of Loveland Pass in the summer of 2024, during our annual family trip to Colorado,” says Megan. “Ismail surprised me with a day full of activities, ending with the engagement and a celebratory dinner with our family.”
“It was made even more special by the fact that we got to celebrate on an ‘engagement-moon’ in Hawaii after!”
“Liberty House is so close to home that it truly felt like a second home to us,” says Megan. “From the moment we toured we were stunned by the sweeping views of Manhattan, sprawling outdoor space and airy, light-filled grand ballroom with the same city backdrop.”
“With the added plus of such an incredible team, we knew Liberty House was the place for us.”
Gleb Freeman Photography
Details of the Day
“We wanted to showcase the skyline and the soft pink‑and‑blue sunsets that glow over it, so we chose garden‑style, loose, organic florals in soft pink, lavender and light blue,” says Megan.
“In the reception space, the same florals flowed through, paired with candlelight and cascading wisteria for a romantic, airy feel. Some of our favorite touches were our personalized matchbox favors, cocktail napkins featuring our cats, and painting of Liberty House that we used as our guest book.”
“Our favorite moment was the ceremony,” says Megan. “After a whirlwind of preparation, everything felt instantly calm and right the moment we saw each other at the altar—we were finally getting married! Having a close friend officiate made it even more meaningful, and it was the perfect beginning to our night full of celebration and love.”
Wedding Day Attire
Megan wore a mermaid-style corset top dress with a scoop neck. Ismail wore a sleek, black tuxedo and black bowtie.
“We both changed into party outfits for the reception—a short floral dress for Megan and a white tuxedo jacket for Ismail. Our bridesmaids were in wisteria-colored floor-length gowns and the groomsmen were in black tuxedos.”
Advice For Other Couples
“Get a wedding planner!” says Megan. “We had a month‑of coordinator, and we still say we couldn’t have done it without Kayla.”
“There are so many details and moving parts we never would’ve thought of until she raised them. Her support leading up to, and on, the wedding day allowed us to truly relax and enjoy every moment.”
Honeymoon
“We traveled to Thailand in November 2025, exploring Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Koh Lanta,” says Megan.
“We started with adventure and ended with pure beachside relaxation. Our favorite experiences were visiting the highest point in Thailand and touring nearby coffee farms in Chiang Mai, and visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary in Koh Lanta.”
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