When I first found out my sister, Rachel, got engaged this May, I had just awakened in Paris. As the morning sun kissed the Eiffel Tower, two things were certain: Life was grand — and I had to get home fast.
Before speaking to anyone, I already knew this would be a short engagement. My family, while wildly passionate and hopelessly romantic, is uniquely antiwedding. My bohemian parents think weddings are silly and stressful — and my sister (a nonmaterialistic free spirit) and I totally agree. As I drove to the airport, we decided the wedding would be at City Hall, maybe with a dinner afterward — in two weeks.
Despite my family’s wedding sentiment, there were still decisions to be made. Because I’m older (36 to Rachel’s 34), a control freak and a food writer — and, just like when we were little, she counts on me and thinks I’m cool — Rachel asked me to handle almost everything.
In less than six days, everything was set.
How did we pull it off? Rachel and her fiancé, Adam, dealt with City Hall logistics, while I CitiBiked around New York looking for a post-City Hall venue. It would just be our immediate family, so all I needed was a big table at a great place. Fearing hiked-up costs and fees, I avoided using the word “wedding.”
After narrowing it down to dell’anima (chill, delicious), Blue Hill (brag-worthy, celeb-studded) and Tavern on the Green (iconic, newly relaunched), I went with the latter, locking down a charming nook in Central Park.
Then, my friend Melissa, an indie wedding planner who owns Events by Melissa McNeeley, helped me create a fairy tale-themed table (to reflect their fairy-tale-like romance) with decorations we found on Etsy, like vintage fairy tale books we used as place settings.
I ordered Georgetown Cupcakes (my sister’s favorite) that read “Happily Ever After.” I connected the restaurant management, the cupcake staff and Melissa to coordinate the table setup during Rachel and Adam’s “I do’s.”
The nonwedding wedding-reception was booked. But could I count on everyone to do their part? I started to lose sleep.
Starbucks got me through the dress search. Finding a chic, yet City Hall-appropriate, dress for Rachel was tough — we struck out everywhere, from Saks to Century 21. Plus, it had to fit perfectly — no time for alterations. After three days, we found a whimsical yet refined gown by Aidan Mattox online, taking a chance on her size and the overnight delivery fee.
I transferred my nervous energy into a project: I prepared eight City Hall Survival Kits with mini-Chandon bottles, San Pellegrino, energy bars, confetti and customized candies by Sugarfina.
I would distribute the bags to our group at City Hall; the wait can be unpredictable — I knew we wouldn’t be bored, but God forbid we go hungry.
Rachel’s dress arrived without a moment to spare and, thankfully, fit like a glove. The morning of, Glamsquad came over for at-home beautification. As we waited our turn at City Hall, our exuberant army of eight laughed and snacked.
At 3:40, we were called into the purple chapel. Bride and groom faced each other, while the six of us held hands, bursting with excitement. By 3:45, Rachel and Adam were married. We all cheered and cried. At Tavern on the Green, excellent food, chilled Prosecco and an enchanting table awaited.
Everything went off without a hitch or staggering price tag. With only two weeks of planning, there was no room for drama, and because we were such an intimate group, we could delight in love and togetherness. And that’s what it’s all about.