Q1

Tell us about your proposal! When and where...

Brant: I spent weeks and months trying to pick the perfect place to ask Jessica to marry me. Originally, I was planning something super elaborate in the Central Park Conservatory Garden, but as time went on I decided to make it more personal, and thought “I can bring the Central Park Conservatory to our favorite place… our home”. Once that was decided, I spent the remaining weeks ordering as many flowers as I could possibly fit in the apartment (I knew that cool and interesting flowers, and flowers in general are Jessica’s favorite)… The day was supposed to be very easy… However… that morning once I said I was going to work from home… Jessica said she was going to work from home too! (very atypical behavior)… I started to panic. I went downstairs to get “coffee” and while doing that I called her mother & her father and asked them help me find a way to get Jessica out of the apartment!!! Her mom came up with the idea of getting them both a manicure at around 3pm. Luckily, Jessica took the bait. I called the florists, the balloon delivery, the entire set up team, and told them we had about 1 hour to set everything up. We got it all done in time, and when Jessica walked in the door, I was in the foyer with flowers and balloons all around me, down on one knee, ring in one hand, and our dog Willy in another hand. Jessica started crying instantly… I don’t even know if she actually said yes in that moment.

Q2

On your day, what was your first thought when you woke up in the morning?

Brant: I actually felt super relaxed and calm. It was odd because I thought I would be worrying about last minute details, and if I would remember everything I need to bring with me, but truthfully, everything was completely working out seamlessly, and I had a very calm zen like feeling the entire day. Even my friends stated how calm they felt I looked. When I woke up, my overall feeling was just very excited and I couldn’t wait to see Jessica and to party and have a good time.

Jessica: I could barely sleep that night I was so excited! We slept in separate rooms the night before, so I couldn’t wait to see Brant. It had poured the night of our rehearsal dinner, so when I woke up, I was like please be sunny!! Turned out to be the most perfect fall day.

Q3

What was running through your mind when you saw your bride for the first time?

Brant: I was blown away by her beauty. I knew/know my wife, Jessica, is gorgeous, but when I saw her on the bridge in Central Park… in her wedding dress… with all the cameras around her (both from Nathan/the Day team and pedestrian passersby), I was floored. She looked magnificent. I also was so excited to give her a big hug and kiss hello… it was the first time we saw each other all day.

I know my wife, Jessica, is gorgeous, but when I saw her on the bridge in Central Park… in her wedding dress… I was floored. I was so excited to give her a big hug and kiss hello…

Brant

Q4

What is the most valuable thing that you have learned from each other?

Jessica: That we are a team. This process can be very stressful but if we stick together, we can get through anything.

Brant: I 100% agree with Jessica. We are a team. Through compromise, patience, listening, understanding, and meaningful discussion we can work together to face life’s challenges as a team. … and to remember to have fun with the wedding planning process. A million things can change/will change, but remember that at the end of the day…it is about your bride and groom: the person you love the most in the world, and want to spend your life with and say “I do”. After weeks, months, and eventually years, all those little changes and amendments I am sure will seem very trivial. The most important thing is that you and your significant other have each other.

Q5

What did you base your choice of location on?

Jessica: Being born and bred in Manhattan, and Brant growing up on Long Island, the city was the perfect destination. When we walked into that ballroom for the first time and looked out those huge windows to see Central Park and the city skyline, it took our breath away.

Brant: I knew I would want our mutually only living grandparent (my grandmother, Nana) to be able to make it to the wedding. Being close enough in proximity for her, and also in an amazing location was definitely important. I remember when Jessica took me to the Mandarin Oriental in Columbus Circle I was sold from the moment I walked in. I saw that city skyline, the central park views, and the elegance, yet fun party vibe, of the room and I was hooked. We both knew we 100% wanted it at the Mandarin Oriental and tried to do everything possible to make the dates work to have it there.

A couple months before the wedding I realized I wanted bright colors and lots of palms! I wanted our guests to feel they were transported to the chicest neon jungle.

Jessica

Q6

Did you have any surprises on your wedding day?

Brant: Originally our dog Willy was supposed to come down the aisle on his own and run to us, but he was a little nervous so he walked down in my brother-in-laws arms instead. During the ceremony I could hear him whining for Jessica and I a few times. He is a tea-cup Yorkshire terrier and he is obsessed with both of us. He needs to be the center of attention as well. At the end of the night we also surprised our guests with confetti cannons… they were a huge hit… other than her choice to use Nathan and The Day… it was one of the most amazing choices Jessica made.

Jessica: There was a hiccup the day of the wedding. The velvet sash of my dress was not in garment bag when I went to get dressed!! My amazing sister was able to get one rushed over and it arrived right before the ceremony. On the day of you can’t stress about things you can’t change, it is a funny story we now get to tell our kids about why I don’t have the sash on in our first look pics!

Q7

Did you plan the look of your wedding around a specific theme or color scheme?

Jessica: I knew I wanted to have a unique and different wedding. I interviewed 3 florists, always knowing that I had wanted to work with the incredible duo of Putnum & Putnum. A couple months before the wedding I called Darroch and Mikey and said we need to change the color story! I realized I wanted bright colors and lots of palms! I wanted our guests to feel they were transported to the chicest neon jungle. Mikey, Darroch, and their team totally got my vision and absolutely killed it!

Brant: This was all Jessica. She planned virtually every aspect with her mom and the great team at Putnam and Putnam. The only thing I knew I wanted was the statement/tequila bar on the edge of the dance floor… she even found a way to make sure that happened and really planned an amazing wedding. I am so proud of all the hard work she put into it, because it really payed off. I may be biased, but I still think it was one of the best and most fun weddings I have ever been to.

Q8

What was your most memorable moment?

Brant: At one point in the night, Jessica and I were on the stage with the band… we were both in pure joy… The confetti cannons were going off and the dance floor was packed and everyone was smiling and having fun. I grabbed Jessica and gave her a huge kiss. I even picked more confetti off the floor and threw it back up in the air. It was the apex of the night and I am so happy that I remember it so vividly.

Jessica-Brant and I took a moment and looked around the room together, really taking it all in. Everyone was having the time of their lives!

At one point in the night, Jessica and I were on the stage with the band… we were both in pure joy… The confetti cannons were going off and the dance floor was packed and everyone was smiling and having fun. I grabbed jessica and gave her a huge kiss. I even picked more confetti off the floor and threw it back up in the air. It was the apex of the night and I am so happy that I remember it so vividly.

Brant

Q9

What wedding planning decision was the easiest one to make? What was the most difficult?

Jessica: The easiest decision was probably the photographer I knew from the day we got engaged that I wanted to use Nathan. He was the only person we interviewed. We just clicked with him right away, he is laid back, and so incredibly talented. It felt like we had known him for years. The most difficult was deciding if we wanted to have a wedding or if we wanted to get married with just us. But ultimately decided we wanted to have our friends and family there to celebrate. Best decision. Ever!
Brant:I agree with Jessica, the easiest choice to make was to use Nathan from The Day. From the moment I met him, I knew he got the vibe we wanted and he was a like-minded spirit. Next easiest choices was 1) the band, Element, and 2) the tequila bar/statement bar directly at the edge of the dance floor. I wanted even those that don’t dance at a wedding to feel like they were on the dance floor and there to party.

Q10

What do you hope your guests remember most about your wedding day?

Jessica: I hope our guests remember all the love that was in the room. The wild and incredible dance party we had. And the tequila bar!

Brant: I hope the guests remember it all, haha… everything from the amazing flowers and the flower wall with the neon signs (which my wife designed), and all the incredible music that the band played, the confetti cannons, the tequila bar, the passed desserts, my wife’s beautiful vows that she gave to me… all of it… I tell people all the time that to date, it has been the best day of my life. I hope for every person in attendance to feel that way about their own wedding night… but for ours to maybe be the second best night to them!

I tell people all the time that to date, it has been the best day of my life. I hope for every person in attendance to feel that way about their own wedding night… but for ours to maybe be the second best night to them!

Brant

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