Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?
Autumn in New York, it spells the thrill of first-nighting.
Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds in canyons of steel;
they’re making me feel: I’m home.

—Billie Holiday

What is it about Autumn in New York that brings out the romantic in everyone? For Jordan and Michael there was no doubt that both the season and the city serenaded them in a way that was meaningful. So shortly after getting engaged in July 2016, the couple decided they would join their lives together the following October at the Bowery Hotel in Manhattan’s East Village.

“The minute we walked into the Bowery we knew the warmth of the venue was exactly the feel we wanted our wedding to be,” says Jordan of the East Village hotspot, whose dark-wood paneling, oriental carpets and overstuffed furniture provided an old world elegance to the modern couple’s big day. The afternoon’s mild temperatures and golden light made a pre-ceremony stroll through the neighborhood with the wedding party as pleasant as it was picturesque. Stars for the day, Jordan and Michael even got a round of applause from an entire outdoor cafe as they walked by!

Family ties played a prominent theme in the couple’s ceremony and moving touches abounded, including a great-grandfather’s hundred-year-old tallis that wrapped the couple during the seven blessings and a monogrammed handkerchief buried in the bride’s bouquet in case she started to cry. (From all accounts, it was her bridesmaids that needed the handkerchief more than she did!) Once the couple said their vows, not even the elegantly restrained chuppah could hold back the swell of enthusiasm from friends and family.

Warmth was Jordan’s intention for the event from its early planning and warmth was what she got, from its beginning in the golden-hued early afternoon to its end in the after glow of a party well celebrated. Sprawled out on a velvet couch as the final guests finished their revel, the couple couldn’t help but feel the thrill of first nights that Billie Holiday once sang of resonate through their tired bodies.

Photographer: Joanna Toto

Location
The Bowery Hotel
Date held
Sat Oct 28th
Q1

How and when did you meet?

Jordan: We both attended a birthday party in February 2014 at a bar where mutual friends introduced us. We went out the next week, talked for four hours in the blistering cold of the polar vortex and that was that!

Q2

After getting engaged, what was the first wedding planning decision you made?

Jordan: We immediately knew we wanted to get married in New York. We both grew up in the surrounding area and absolutely love living in the city now. The minute we walked into the Bowery we knew the warmth of the venue was exactly the feel we wanted our wedding to be.

 

Michael: We knew right away that we wanted to get married in the fall. We both love the crisp air, the foliage, and all the things that make fall in New York so great.

Q3

What part of planning did you most enjoy?

Jordan: All of it! I wanted planning to be an extension of our day, since the actual wedding day just flies by. We focused on enjoying each and every part of planning to make the wedding seem to last longer.

 

Michael: The food tasting! It’s hard to beat plates of delicious food and glasses of wine to sample.

Seeing his smile as he saw me for our first look—and seeing how handsome he was in his tux—was beyond anything I could have imagined. That smile will be ingrained in my memory forever!

Jordan

We knew right away that we wanted to get married in the fall. We both love the crisp air, the foliage, and all the things that make fall in New York so great.

Michael

The minute we walked into the Bowery we knew the warmth of the venue was exactly the feel we wanted our wedding to be.

Jordan

Q4

What was on your wedding day wish list?

Jordan: My number one thing was that the feel of the day be filled with warmth and love. That started with our venue and extended to the vendors we chose, the guest list we created and the traditions we incorporated that resonate with us. It was something we worked so hard at with each decision and it totally paid off. The love in that room was absolutely infectious, and everyone could not stop gushing about it!

 

Michael: I wanted a simple yet beautiful chuppah. I wanted it to highlight and enhance our personal ceremony without overshadowing it. It came out better than I could have ever imagined. I couldn’t stop smiling once I saw it!

Q5

Did you learn anything about yourself or your relationship throughout the planning process?

Jordan: The planning process really showed how strong our communication as a couple is, and it only got stronger as things arose. Wedding planning requires constant communication about so many things, and being able to effectively communicate is so important. Even though I already knew how dependable Michael was, wedding planning really brought that to the forefront. He came to every planning appointment—dress appointments aside! Having him care so much about our day and going through all the planning together was so special.

 

Michael: Knowing that the person I love always had my best interests at heart and was making the best decision with the facts she had was amazing. Also that she trusted me in the same way as well.

Q6

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

Jordan: Michael has taught me so many things, but maybe most importantly how to be fully open and transparent with the person I love. He has taught me how to love fully, how to appreciate the joy in even the simplest things and how to consider someone else’s interests equal to my own. We both put family first and that is the most amazing thing I could have ever asked for in a partner.

 

Michael: Jordan has taught me how to not overanalyze every little thing. She helps put my thoughts into perspective and inspires me to see the good and the big picture no matter what is on my mind.

Watching her walk toward me to marry me was beyond emotional. She looked so beautiful and had the biggest smile on her face. All the crying bridesmaids brought humor to the moment but also showed how emotional it really was.

Michael

I wanted a simple yet beautiful chuppah. I wanted it to highlight and enhance our personal ceremony without overshadowing it. It came out better than I could have ever imagined. I couldn’t stop smiling once I saw it!

Michael

Q7

What memory of each other on your day stands out the most in your mind?

Jordan: Seeing Michael for the first time at our first look! I was on the balcony of our room and the curtains were drawn so he couldn’t see me but the doors were open. Hearing his voice and his laugh as I waited for the curtains to open gave me butterflies equal to those on our first date. Seeing his smile as he saw me, and seeing how handsome he was in his tux was beyond anything I could have imagined. That smile will be ingrained in my memory forever!

 

Michael: For me it was when I saw Jordan emerge to walk down the aisle. Even though we had done a first look, watching her walk toward me to marry me was beyond emotional. She looked so beautiful and had the biggest smile on her face. All the crying bridesmaids brought a bit of humor to the moment but also showed how emotional it really was.

Q8

If you could choose only one memento from your wedding day to keep, what would it be?

Both: The photos! Joanna and Jason truly captured the magic of our day. We have already looked at the photos hundreds of times to enhance the memories and no doubt will continue to look at them forever.

Q9

What details did you include to make your day uniquely yours?

Michael: We used my great grandfather Milton’s tallit to wrap us in our ceremony during the seven blessings. It was the tallit that he was bar mitzvahed in, and is over 100 years old. My great grandfather is my namesake, so it was an important moment for the entire family.

 

Jordan: Michael’s mother kindly made monogrammed handkerchiefs for Michael, myself and both our fathers to use throughout the day. Mine was tucked securely in my bouquet, and I know the men had them in their tuxedo pockets. Having that common item for all of us made the moments we were emotional even more special.

Q10

What is the best relationship advice you have ever received?

Jordan: To be fully honest with your partner always. And to always consider your partner’s interests along with your own. You are a family unit now, and any decision you make affects the other person equally.

 

Michael: Always value, love, trust and respect your partner.

My number one thing was that the feel of the day be filled with warmth and love. That started with our venue and extended to the vendors we chose, the guest list we created and the traditions we incorporated that resonate with us.

Jordan

Michael has taught me so many things—most importantly how to be fully open and transparent with the person I love. We both put family first, and that is the most amazing thing I could have ever asked for in a partner.

Jordan

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Credits

  • Photography

    Joanna Toto for The Day

The Day