...I went to my appointment at Vera Wang... [and] I just had that “ah ha” moment when I tried on my wedding dress. [I] ended up buying it on the spot.
-Felicia
Q1
How did your proposal unfold? Was it a surprise?
Jake: She had no idea! I proposed at the Gallow Green rooftop where we had our first date, and then we had an engagement party with our friends and family later that evening.
Felicia: Jake proposed to me on September 17th, 2017 at the Gallow Green rooftop in the McKittrick Hotel. Nine months earlier, we had an amazing first date there over cocktails followed by dinner at The Red Cat. Ever since that date, we talked about going back to Gallow Green during the summer months when the rooftop bar turns into a brunch spot. So when Jake made us a brunch reservation at the place where we had our first date the thought of him proposing didn’t even cross my mind. When I met him outside the hotel the first thing he said was “you couldn’t wear something a little nicer for brunch,” as he saw I was wearing a beatles t-shirt and jean shorts. The entire brunch he acted completely normal. After we finished eating, I spotted a nice bench with a view of the city and asked Jake if we could take a picture there. When we sat on the bench he asked me if I was sure if I wanted to marry him; a question he asked me multiple times in a hypothetical matter when we previously discussed marriage. I told him for the hundredth time “yes, what are you waiting for?” He said I was right and then got down on one knee with the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. The entire restaurant cheered when I finally said yes after I had to compose myself from being in complete shock. It was the perfect surprise proposal.
Q2
What wedding planning decision was the easiest one to make? What was the most difficult?
Jake: The easiest decision was hiring Ceci Johnson to design invitations and accessories — her watercolor tied the entire day together visually. Most difficult was deciding on the food!
Felicia: The easiest wedding planning decision was choosing The Pierre as our venue. We fell in love with it from the moment we walked in. The hardest decision was choosing a wedding dress. I went to four different bridal salons before I found the one. At the first three salons I visited I liked multiple dresses with similar styles and just couldn’t make up my mind. However, when I went to my final appointment at Vera Wang I just had that “ah ha” moment when I tried on my wedding dress and ended up buying it on the spot.
I was so excited — I couldn’t wait to see her — it had been a whole week!
Jake
Q3
Describe any specific family or cultural traditions that were important to you during your wedding planning.
Jake: Our families both come from different types of Jewish backgrounds — so it was important that all of our guest felt comfortable throughout the day.
Felicia: Jake and I are both orthodox Jews so having a traditional Jewish wedding was very important to us. We got married by a rabbi that we both feel very close to. We also put a lot of effort into having a beautiful chuppah, which is the canopy we got married under. My favorite Jewish tradition that we followed at our wedding was the bedeken, which is a ceremony in which the groom marches to the bride to put the veil over her face and is accompanied by family and friends, who sing and dance in front of him. This was the first moment I saw Jake in front of all our guests at the wedding so it was really special.
Q4
What did you base your choice of location on?
Jake: We both wanted to get married in a New York City landmark — and fell in love with The Pierre right away.
Felicia: Jake and I wanted the quintessential Manhattan wedding. The Pierre was the perfect choice to meet our vision. I also loved the idea that we were able to take first look pictures in central park.
My favorite Jewish tradition that we followed at our wedding was the bedeken... This was the first moment I saw Jake in front of all our guests at the wedding so it was really special.
Felicia
We both wanted to get married in a New York City landmark — and fell in love with The Pierre right away.
Jake & Felicia
Q5
On your day, what was your first thought when you woke up in the morning?
Jake: I was so excited — I couldn’t wait to see her — it had been a whole week!
Felicia: The first thought I had when I woke up in the morning was that I was super excited to marry my best friend today.
Q6
What was a highlight of your wedding day?
Jake: The first look had me in tears. But then again, so did the entire ceremony.
Felicia: There were so many highlights but if I had to chose one it would be seeing the look on Jake’s face when I walked down the aisle. I never saw him break down in tears like that before. I felt so lucky to be marrying someone who loved me as much as I loved him.
Q7
What do you hope your guests remember most about your wedding day?
Jake: I hope our guests left feeling the love that we share for our friends and family.
Felicia: I hope my guests remember how magical the night felt. Everyone was just happy and enjoying the party which was exactly what I wanted.
Q8
Is there anything you would do differently?
Jake: Not at all!
Felicia: Honestly the only thing I’d do differently was to tell Jake I loved him more during our engagement. Planning a wedding was really stressful and sometimes I forgot the big picture. But at our wedding the only thing I focused on was showing him love; everything else was just in the background.
Q9
Which quality do you most admire about one another?
Jake: Felicia is a deeply caring person — to her friends, family, loved ones, and anyone that she comes across. She is always looking help in both her personal life and career.
Felicia: The quality I admire the most about Jake is his ambition. I think he is going to change the world one day and I can’t wait to be by his side when he does.
Q10
What is the most valuable thing that you have learned from each other?
Jake: Felicia helps me slow down every day and appreciate the most minute details of our lives.
Felicia: The most valuable thing I learned from Jake is that family always comes first. No matter how busy we are with work and other everyday noise Jake makes sure that I know I’m his first priority.
I hope my guests remember how magical the night felt. Everyone was just happy and enjoying the party which was exactly what I wanted.
Felicia
Credits
- Second Photographer Alexis Silver
- Second Photographer Darren Sabino
- Planning Eyal Tessler
- Decor Mark Rose Events
- Venue The Pierre
- Stationary Ceci New York
- Catering Foremost Caterers
- Dress Vera Wang
- Hair / Make-up Ramona Solages / Carlo Geraci
- Music Neshoma and Element Music
- Lighting Frost Productions
As the founder and creative force behind The Day, Ira Lippke brings 20-plus years of experience creating compelling images to every wedding he documents. “One of the best compliments I’ve ever received,” he says, “was from a planner who said I was the only photographer she knew who had so much experience but whose heart and soul was still so strongly in their work.”
