real weddings

Rainne, a UX designer, and Chris, an animation artist, held an intimate celebration in New York City at a Manhattan penthouse loft with a stunning 360-degree view of the cityscape.

After getting engaged, this fun-loving and creative couple checked out many locations before finding the one that best fit their style—“when we walked into Gary’s Loft, we knew we’d found the place,” Rainne says. With white wooden floors, a neutral color palette, eclectic furnishings, and wide windows offering amazing natural light and views of the city, the penthouse provided a chic, yet intimate venue for their special day. The rooftop, with its brick walls and a rustic water tower, created an urban backdrop for memorable wedding photos by OLLI STUDIO.

“The music we selected, the decorations we made, the props we chose for our photo booth–all reflected a relationship with a very firm foundation in a deep and abiding friendship,” Rainne says. “So much of the wedding was driven more by fun than by tradition,” she added. Rather than a formal seating arrangement, they scattered comfortable chairs and sofas throughout the space to encourage guests to mingle and walk around. They filled a vintage claw foot bathtub with beverages, served a buffet of desserts in the kitchen and kicked off their shoes on the dance floor–giving the event a relaxed, house party vibe.

Many of the wedding details were designed by the couple. Christopher created the Legend of Zelda box that held the couple’s rings before the ceremony. Rainne made the colorful origami cranes that served as a backdrop for the photo booth. An elaborate floral arrangement by Occasion 9 set the scene for their intimate ceremony. They indulged guests with a dessert/cocktail bar serving mini, boozy White Russian cupcakes from Prohibition Bakery and classic Red Velvet cupcakes from Billy’s Bakery. From mingling and dining on delicious cuisine, to photo-ops and dancing all night long, Rainne and Chris celebrated their union in fabulous and memorable style.

The Wedding Makers
Photographer:  OLLI STUDIO | Event Venue: Gary’s Loft, Inc. | Floral Designer and Event Planner: Occasion 9 | Bakeries: Billy’s Bakery and Prohibition Bakery | Caterer: Sagaponack/Madeline | Dress Designer: Badgley Mischka Collection on Shopbop.com | Hair & Makeup: VickyC5

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Registry Picks for the Urban Couple
Zola’s carefully curated starter collections make it fun to build your registry. Inspired by downtown NYC, Zola’s chic Tribeca Starter Collection suits design buffs and anyone who favors a minimalist aesthetic. Clean lines, neutral colors, and contemporary accessories set a sophisticated tone for entertaining or lounging. Here is a sample from this collection of 96 items. Create your Zola wedding registry, then start building a registry that reflects your couple style.

Shown here: Rosenthal Loft dinnerware collection; Schott Zwiesel martini glasses; Chilewich Dhalia metallic placemats; and, Rosenthal TAC 02 Skin Platinum dinnerware.

Shown here: Kinto Carat coffee dripper and pot; Staub dutch oven in graphite; KitchenAid Artisan Series stand mixer in Silver; and, Magimix by Robot-Coupe Vision toaster.

Shown here: Eccolo angled stripes frame; Michael Aram Tree of Life candleholders; Jaipur woven wool pouf; and, Area Harvey throw.

Zola Wedding Registry is a one-stop solution for the modern couple, and your guests will love it too! Gifts, experiences, cash funds, and anything from any store: it all fits on your Zola Registry. Sign up now to discover the smarter wedding registry.