Daisy and Eugene
Nicole Daisy Schwartzberg and Eugene Toye's first date was a success by all accounts—which is remarkable, given that it had all the makings of a rom-com disaster.
When Daisy (she goes by her middle name), a makeup artist who has counted Martha among her clients for nearly a decade, invited Eugene, a hairstylist, out for a drink, he was eager to accept. She had just started at New York City's Rita Hazan salon, where Eugene works, and he was immediately taken with his new coworker's outsize personality. "She can make friends with a lamppost," he says. He expected the evening to be fun, and maybe a little bit awkward—it was a first date, after all. But one thing the self-professed introvert didn't expect was an entourage.
"While I'm in the cab on the way to the bar, she texts me, 'I hope you don't mind, but my parents are here, too. And my friend. And my parents' friends,'" he remembers—the horror still fresh. "It was like she had set a booby trap!"
Luckily, Eugene didn't fall into a trap; he fell in love—with Daisy, and with the group of dear friends and family that surround her on any given day. Their quadruple date that night went so well, in fact, that even though Daisy offered him an escape after a few drinks, he surprised himself and declined. He was having too much fun.
Daisy fell for Eugene just as easily and quickly. "We spent hours and hours on the phone. It was something I was so not used to. It's such a texting world! Eugene is old-fashioned in that way, and I love it," she says. "He's just super-warm and solid—and very easy to look at." Eugene returns the compliment. "She looks best without a smear of makeup on," he says. "Daisy doesn't need any of that."
Seventeen months after they started dating, Eugene proposed with a rose-gold-and-diamond ring (he now wears a matching rose-gold band), and just four months later, on November 27, 2016, (over Thanksgiving weekend) they exchanged vows at their friend Gabby Karan de Felice's downtown New York City restaurant, Tutto Il Giorno. A cocktail reception—or, as Daisy describes it, "one big dance party"—with about 100 friends and family followed the ceremony. Naturally, Eugene had originally hoped for a shorter guest list. "It was so overwhelming. Me, shy, reserved, with all these people there," he recalls. But he adds, "I felt all the love." As for Daisy's impression of the day? "I regret not inviting more people!"
You're Invited
A nod to Eugene's heritage, the Chinese "double happiness" character adorned the envelope liner and thank-you card of the custom wedding-stationery suite from Minted.
The Setting
Tutto Il Giorno, the location of both ceremony and reception, is one of the couple's favorite neighborhood haunts.
Getting Ready
Daisy entrusted her look to one of her best friends, makeup artist Taymour Hallal. She got ready at Conrad New York, not far from her home or the wedding location.
The First Look
Eugene says seeing his bride in her wedding gown for the first time was his favorite part of the wedding: "For me, it was the anticipation of waiting for my wife to appear. When I finally saw her, it was a euphoric feeling. I was like, 'Wow!'"
Before the ceremony they met in a garden just blocks from their apartment in Manhattan's Battery Park City. She wore an Atelier Pronovias sheath dress with a removable cape. ("I tried on so many dresses but kept going back to this. I felt fabulous in it," she says.) He wore a Paul Smith tux.
A Bold Bouquet
Florist Bridget Vizoso created Daisy's sumptuous bouquet, which included garden roses, red nerines, Euphorbia fulgens, dahlias, and cosmos nestled amid fall foliage and berries.
All in the Family
The bride's nephew and niece walked down the aisle as ring bearer and flower girl. Martha's granddaughter and grandson also entered during the processional, Eugene's brother served as groomsman, and the four bridesmaids all wore rose gold, sparkly attire. The bride then entered to an instrumental version of Adele's "Make You Feel My Love," before the 20-minute ceremony. Once proclaimed newlyweds, Daisy and Eugene recessed to "You Are the Woman" by Firefall, as performed by a family friend.
Flower Power
Floral designer Bridget Visozo created seasonal centerpieces that combined Quicksand, Ross, and Cafe Latte garden roses with red peonies, anemones, pepperberry branches, accents of golden raintree pods, sorbus berries and foraged fall foliage.
Cheers and Kisses
Martinis garnished with lemon and rosemary were served on cocktail napkins, foil-stamped with a lipstick kiss via ForYourParty, playfully referencing Daisy's profession.
Her Favorite Wine
Daisy made sure that the bar would be stocked with one of her favorite wines, Whispering Angel rosé.
A Moment with Martha
Martha, who is a friend as well as a client, enjoyed the event.
An Italian Menu
Instead of a sit-down dinner, small plates, like this trio of polpettine—mini veal meatballs—were passed.
Photo Booth Props
What else would a makeup artist and a hairstylist use for photo-booth props? A selection of gleaming gold beauty supplies, laid out on a tray of red enamel—glamorously in-palette.
The Wedding Cake
The newlyweds were all smiles as they sliced into a carrot cake with cream-cheese icing and fresh flowers.
Decadent Desserts
For dessert, guests were served mini portions of tiramisu in addition to the wedding cake.
Fun and Games
Gold takeaway boxes were filled with an assortment of novelty trinkets and toys for guests.
Favors to Savor
Gingerbread cookies by SweetDaniB, topped dramatically with gold brushstrokes, were packed in origami-style boxes for guests.
Sources
Location and catering, Tutto Il Giorno
Event production and rentals, Studio3
Flowers, Bridget Vizoso
Photography, Jaka Vinšek
Stationery, Minted
Cake, Jason Schreiber
Music, Yut and the Hot Four; DJ Shortkutz at Sound Active Events
Bride's gown, Pronovias
Bride's accessories, Ippolita earrings and bracelets; Marisa Perry engagement ring; the Clay Pot wedding band
Hair, Juan Carlos Maciques
Makeup, Taymour Hallal from Paul Labrecque Salon
Groom's tuxedo, Paul Smith
Groom's accessories, Calvin Klein shirt; DivaDora wedding band; Dolce & Gabbana shoes
Napkins, ForYourParty.com
Wine, Château d'Esclan's Whispering Angel
Cookies, SweetDaniB
Boxes for cookies, Gallery 91 gift box
Favors, Perpetual Kid lipstick pens and "Pop Pop Snappers"; Partypalooza Chinese yoyos; Zazzle temporary tattoos; Nashville Wraps gold takeout boxes
Restaurant's branch arrangements, Floréal
Photo booth, Smilebooth
Bride's getting-ready location, Conrad New York