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The Wedding Files

When we ask newlyweds to think back on what they wanted most for their big day — and we’ve interviewed hundreds of them over the years — the most common response is “For it not to feel like a wedding!” Gathering with old friends and eating mini grilled cheeses in formalwear to celebrate love feels more special these days than ever, even downright miraculous. And the betrothed have never been less attached to the old wedding handbook — or the need to please their great-aunt. So in a flurry of pampas grass and perfectly mismatched-to-match bridesmaid dresses, how do you pull off a non-cookie-cutter affair? For the answers, we decided to interrogate the cool couples whose weddings we would actually want to steal, right down to the tiger-shaped cake toppers.

the wedding files

The Wedding Files: Saying ‘I Do’ in a Torrential Downpour

 Everything but the brides’ spirits ended up dampened. By Kaitlin Menza

more from 'the wedding files'

  1. the wedding files
    A Scientist and a Minister Walk Into a Furniture StoreThe ceremony quoted Albert Einstein and Walt Whitman.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  2. the wedding files
    A Wedding Where the Color Scheme Was Aperol SpritzThe Jell-O shots on the dance floor were also orange.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  3. the wedding files
    When the Brides Won’t Stop KissingA Montauk wedding with chic suits and a firepit.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  4. the wedding files
    A Nigerian Wedding in Newport, Rhode IslandWith lobster rolls and a money spray.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  5. the wedding files
    How the You Showrunner Tied the KnotThe couple’s astrologer told them it had to be a noon wedding.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  6. the wedding files
    A Woodsy Wedding in the Pacific NorthwestGuests ate salmon caught by the bride’s grandfather.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  7. the wedding files
    What It Looks Like When a Bridal Designer and Caterer Tie the KnotTwo dresses, two ceremonies, and dozens of tropical flowers.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  8. the wedding files
    An Intimate Wedding in the Nevada DesertThe couple eloped, then spent their wedding money on a month in Hawaii.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  9. the wedding files
    A Wedding With 4 Kinds of Pasta“If it works for the size of your party, get married in a restaurant.”
    By Kaitlin Menza
  10. the wedding files
    A Tropical Disco Wedding in Prospect ParkGuests toasted the happy couple with rum punch and pineapples.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  11. the wedding files
    A Couple Who Met in Obama’s White House“We knew we wanted to get married in a place of significance for Black people.”
    By Kaitlin Menza
  12. the wedding files
    A Wedding With So Many Surprises for the BrideThe groom planned them all.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  13. the wedding files
    A ‘Fairly Chill’ Wedding During an NYC SunsetThe groom’s a photographer, they met at a shoot, and they married at Milk Studios.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  14. the wedding files
    The Bride Wore an Interactive Art Piece“It was never going to be a ballroom thing. No. Never.”
    By Kaitlin Menza
  15. the wedding files
    A Jazzy Winter Wedding in GowanusFeaturing lush flowers, delicious fried chicken, and a lively music selection.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  16. the wedding files
    A Williamsburg Wedding With Makeup by a Beauty LegendFeaturing a jazz band and a steak dinner.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  17. A Chateau Wedding Full of Oysters and ChampagneFeaturing a scavenger hunt and a Sinhalese ceremony.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  18. the wedding files
    A Wedding in a Historic Garden in the West Village“It’s such a special, serene place, almost a secret.”
    By Kaitlin Menza
  19. the wedding files
    An Epic Celebration of Chinese and Filipino CultureRoast suckling pig and spicy wontons were served at cocktail hour.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  20. the wedding files
    The Two-Day Wedding With a Stop at Katz’s DeliFeaturing pastrami and a poem about aliens.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  21. the wedding files
    A Hawaiian ‘Love Party’ at a Brooklyn Winery“I’d never seen Emory in a tux and it was next level.”
    By Kaitlin Menza
  22. the wedding files
    The Couple Who Got Married While Launching Two Start-upsJenni Lee is the founder of Comme Si, a luxury sock company.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  23. the wedding files
    A Candy-Bright Wedding Where the Bride Wore a Crop TopNot even a terrible DJ could ruin this riotous celebration.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  24. the wedding files
    A Disco Ball Wedding in Long Island CityThe bride wore a cape; the groom wore a Ric Flair robe.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  25. the wedding files
    A Destination Wedding in Valladolid, MexicoHow a Filipino couple living in Australia got married on the Yucatán Peninsula.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  26. the wedding files
    A Steaming-Hot Wedding at Greta Garbo’s HouseOld Hollywood glamour in Palm Springs.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  27. the wedding files
    The Two Brides Who Wore Three Different Outfits“We were having a multicultural gay wedding: All expectations were out the window.”
    By Kaitlin Menza
  28. the wedding files
    A Down-to-Earth Wedding in WilliamsburgThe couple took over their favorite neighborhood restaurant on a Sunday.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  29. The Ceramacist Bride Who Made all the Wedding FavorsA creative couple gets married in Brisbane.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  30. the wedding files
    A Tropical Wedding Oasis in Joshua TreeThe couple served Pakistani food and wore garlands.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  31. the wedding files
    A Wildflower Wedding in Texas Hill CountrySpicy margaritas and BBQ brisket were served.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  32. the wedding files
    A Rock Opera Wedding in TuscanyThe party kicked off with a water ballet and ended with skinny-dipping.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  33. the wedding files
    A Wedding Among the RedwoodsThe brides served three kinds of boba tea.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  34. the wedding files
    The Bride Who Carried an Owl Down the AisleBrooke Wall and Jason Cannon got married at a former fly-fishing lodge in the Catskills.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  35. the wedding files
    A Gowanus Wedding With Pizza and DoughnutsThe bridesmaids wore white, while the bride wore florals.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  36. the wedding files
    A Brewery Wedding During a Congressional CampaignThe groom now represents the 11th district of New York.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  37. the wedding files
    A Sikh-Jewish Wedding That Ended in FireworksOn a horse farm upstate.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  38. the wedding files
    A Rooftop Wedding With Questlove As DJThe bride wore Vera Wang to the ceremony and custom Dapper Dan to the reception.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  39. the wedding files
    A Vineyard Wedding With 5 Different BandsGuests ate among the olive groves and partied in a barn.
    By Kaitlin Menza
  40. the wedding files
    A Wedding on Top of the Empire State BuildingWith a cake topped with miniature tigers.
    By Kaitlin Menza