Joyann and Jeremy
There's not a human on Earth who hasn't bailed on after-work plans, but if you've ever needed motivation to rally, this is it. "I'd been invited to a dinner party and I wasn't going to go—I was completely exhausted after a long day," says Joyann King, editorial director of HarpersBazaar.com. A coworker talked her into going (the host, designer Lela Rose, is known for her parties, after all), and lo and behold, it's how she met the love of her life. "I was chatting with Lela about how lovely her husband is and jokingly asked if she had anyone to set me up with," says Joyann. The next day, in response to her thank-you note, she received an email introducing her to Jeremy Michael, who works in finance. "We met for a drink. I walked in and I just ... I don't know—it was instant," she says.
Drinks turned into more drinks, and before Joyann went to bed that night, she told her sister, "I think I just met my husband." The couple had lunch the next day, and within weeks, Jeremy whisked her away to Millbrook, New York, one of his favorite escapes from the hustle of New York City. "Joyann loved the area as much as I did," says Jeremy, "and I knew something special was happening." Months later, he purchased a weekend home in the quaint town, and, on an August evening just 11 months after they met, he proposed.
The couple dived right into wedding planning ("I'm very efficient and a total type A," Joyann says) and booked Locusts-on-Hudson, a private retreat, for the following July. "I'm from Texas and Jeremy is from Ohio, so a New York wedding made the most sense," she says. "Locusts is close to our home in Millbrook, and it's beautiful." With a date on the calendar and Joyann's vision of "Old World meets modern" leading the charge, the details—black-and-white marble, gilded touches, elegant florals, and fashionable everything—fell into place with help from event planner and designer Easton Events.
On the Friday before the wedding, the bride's father hosted a small group for golf, after which everyone joined in for a big welcome barbecue—a nod to Hudson Valley farm-to-table cuisine. Then, on a cloudy July 9, 2016, guests relaxed on a Hudson River cruise before returning to the venue for preceremony cocktails. The sky broke at 6:30 p.m. (rain at a wedding is good luck), and Jeremy and Joyann exchanged vows in a barn transformed with trees and greenery. Afterward, guests were shuttled to a tented reception site for an opulent rosé-and-oyster bar before dinner. On this night, no one had to convince the bride to stay up. After a quick change into a second dress, she joined her husband in the revelry until the wee hours. "We partied," she says, "until 4 a.m."
Watch Joyann and Jeremy's Video by Josh Gooden Cinema!
The Stationery
The invitation suite by Amber Moon Design, featuring a black-and-white marble design with gold accents, was inspired by the bride's love of interiors and the venue's details. The locust-tree motif (drawn by Karina Puente) symbolized the wedding site, and the response card mimicked the shape of the gold-rimmed plates that would set the table at the elegant reception. Calligraphy by Anne Robin was the final touch.
The Dress
Joyann wore a custom Lela Rose gown that incorporated two types of lace.
"My mom had a piece of fabric from her wedding dress made into a beautiful handkerchief for me," says Joyann. "As a finishing touch, our wedding date was monogrammed in blue."
Welcome to Upstate New York
Welcome baskets by A Signature Welcome held snacks, as well as Hudson River Cruises tickets created by Amber Moon Design. Goodies from the wedding region—plus tastes of the bride's and groom's respective home states—were included. Each wire basket contained local apples, a wooden cheese board and cheese knife, 1/4 pound of aged Gouda from Cheese Louise, a container of "killer pecans" from Dallas, flatbread bakery crackers, a "Revelry + Remedy" kit in a muslin bag, and a box of buckeye confections made by the groom's mother.
Family Time
The bride and her (maid of honor) sister, both in white Lela Rose frocks, posed with their parents.
Blooms for the Guys
Floral designer Ariella Chezar created delicate blue ribbon-trimmed boutonnieres of young blueberry, white roses, and local wildflowers.
Puppy Love
Jeremy (in a blue suit by Michael Andrews Bespoke) hung with the couple's beloved pooch—a goldendoodle named Isla—before the ceremony.
The Programs
Ceremony programs featured the couple's signature locust tree motif, which appeared on everything from the invitations to the welcome baskets to the cocktail napkins.
The Ceremony
Though the original plan was to exchange vows outside on the lawn, wedding-day showers forced the rain plan into effect. "I never imagined myself getting married in a barn, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way," says Joyann. "It was absolutely magical."
Joyann's dad walked her down the aisle to Pachelbel's Canon in D. "The whole thing was very traditional, but also very us," she recalls. For the recessional, a gospel choir sang "You Are The Best Thing," by Ray LaMontagne.
Petals and Prettiness
Marbleized vellum boxes of freeze-dried blush-, mauve-, and ivory-hued rose petals doubled as confetti and escort cards.
An Epic Petal Toss
Amid the flutter of hundreds of rose petals, Joyann and Jeremy recessed down the aisle as newlyweds.
Happy Newlyweds
Joyann and Jeremy stole a quiet moment together outside the barn where they exchanged vows.
Tasty Bites
Miniature BLT towers—complete with tarragon pink peppercorn aioli—were just one of the mouthwatering canapes served at cocktail hour on marbled paper-lined trays by Olivier Cheng Catering and Events. Other bites included New England lobster rolls, smoked salmon croque monsieur with caviar, seared wagyu beef lollipops, Chinese sausage "pigs in blankets," and more.
The Guest Book
Loved ones signed a gold-foiled white leather guest book with—what else—a marbleized pen.
A Tent, Transformed
With the addition of trees, flooring, and elegant lighting, Easton Events transformed the inside of the reception tent into a sophisticated oasis from the rain.
The Place Settings
Dinner tables were set with centerpieces by Ariella Chezar of garden roses, ranunculus, anemones, foxgloves, clematis, and copper-beech foliage; accordion-style menu cards outlined the evening's eats.
A Beautiful Dinner
Once guests sat down to dinner, "it felt like we were eating at a restaurant—I really loved that," says Joyann.
The Wedding Cake
The elegant vanilla-buttercream-and-raspberry wedding cake was just one of many desserts for guests to choose from. Other highlights included watermelon-mojito push pops and espresso cups.
Time to Dance
Joyann and Jeremy took a spin around the dance floor as husband and wife. For the reception, Joyann changed into a custom minidress by designer Jonathan Simkhai—who also happens to be one of her best friends. "I felt so lucky to be able to wear one of his designs."
Sources
Location, Locusts-on-Hudson
Event planning and design, Easton Events
Catering and cake, Olivier Cheng Catering and Events
Flowers, Ariella Chezar
Photography, Christian Oth
Videography, Josh Gooden Cinema
Stationery, Amber Moon Design
Calligraphy, Anne Robin Calligraphy
Stationery illustration, Karina Puente
Music, Rhythm Collective
Rentals, Casa de Perrin; EventWorks Rentals; La Tavola Fine Linen; Party Rental Ltd.; PPC Event Services; Revolve Lighting & Furniture Co.; Taylor Creative Inc.
Custom bars, tabletops, and draping, Blossoms Events
Bride's gown and maid of honor's dress, Lela Rose
Bride's accessories, Stephen Russell earrings; Dolce & Gabbana clutch; Paul Andrew shoes
Bride's dancing attire, Jonathan Simkhai dress; Aquazurra shoes
Bride's getting-ready attire, Carine Gilson
Groom's suit, Michael Andrews Bespoke
Hair, Tommy Buckett
Makeup, Joshua Ristaino
Maid of honor's shoes, Miu Miu
Mother of the bride's and maid of honor's earrings, Mindi Mond
Flower girl dresses, Isabel Garretón
Lighting and rigging, Technical Event Company
Tent and flooring, The Greenwich Tent Company
Transportation, Leros Point to Point
Welcome baskets, A Signature Welcome
Candlesticks (for head table), Ted Muehling