A Rooftop Garden Wedding in Midtown Manhattan

Bridal Vision

Jialin envisioned a dreamy wedding dress and found exactly what she was looking for in her Mira Zwillinger off-the-shoulder gown, complete with floral appliqué detailing.

Finishing Touches

She paired her dress with statement earrings from Shashi and a delicate headpiece from Twigs & Honey; Jimmy Choo pumps with asymmetric mesh bows and a cathedral-length veil from Leanne Marshall completed her ensemble.

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Pop of Color

Jialin carried a petite hand-tied bouquet with copper, peach, and pink ranunculus, dahlias, and sweet peas down the aisle. The arrangement was tied with a long naturally-dyed silk ribbon.

Handsome Groom

Howard stepped into a black tuxedo from Ermenegildo Zegna for the ceremony.

Manhattan Moment

The bride and groom shared their first look on the rooftop garden of NoMad hotel, about a mile south of their venue. Having left Jilian in their hotel room that morning to get ready for the wedding, Howard was excited to be back with his bride-to-be. "It was a moment full of joy and happiness," he says. After the first look, they snapped a few portraits around Midtown.

Emotional Vows

Jialin wrote her vows that morning, and got so emotional during the process, that she had to ask her makeup artist, Lynn from Lynn Makeup Studio, to retouch her makeup before she headed down the aisle.

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On Top of the World

The couple chose to host their intimate wedding at 620 Loft & Garden because they enjoyed the way the outdoor rooftop garden is nested between tall urban skyscrapers. "We both loved the serenity of the venue surrounded by magnificent New York architecture," the couple shares.

Bursting with Color

As guests entered the venue, they were greeted by a display with a pink hand-painted backdrop via JD Artshop and a framed welcome sign from Papel & Co positioned on top of a velvet chair from Patina Rentals. Elizabeth Gopal, the couple's planner from East Made Co., added tropical fruits and an organic, on-palette flower arrangement to the setup. "Jialin wanted this display to feel like a vignette in an art museum, so as a last-minute addition, I placed her artful reception shoes on one of the tables," Elizabeth says. "Seeing Jialin's excited reaction to this when she stepped off the elevator was one of my favorite moments of the day!" The display was later transformed into a selfie station during the cocktail hour.

Ghost Town

On the rooftop lawn, where the ceremony took place, ghost chairs were set up in rows; they didn't draw attention away from the city scenery. Two "growing" arrangements, created by Flwr Studio, were placed in bowls and situated at the entrance to the aisle (these were later re-used at the base of the reception tables). Jialin and Howard also took a nontraditional approach to their flower arch: Flwr Studio designed an upside-down iteration, which incorporated tons of greenery, and pink, cream, and peach florals. "The entire ceremony felt organic and whimsical—a touch of playfulness in midtown Manhattan," the couple's planner notes.

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Sacred Moment

Jialin was accompanied by her father as she walked down the aisle to "Miles Apart" by Nick Wilson; then, the ceremony, delivered in both English and Chinese, began. The pair exchanged vows and, as the bride was reading her own, the bell at St. Patrick's Cathedral started to ring, marking the five o'clock hour. "It was such a sacred moment," Howard says. "Oasis" by Kygo played as they made their way back down the aisle as a married couple.

Tropical Bar

The couple attended their cocktail hour briefly to take some group photos and greet their guests. When they went off to change, guests mingled and enjoyed passed appetizers including truffle risotto tots, chicken satay, and peking duck quesadillas. A geometric wooden bar was decorated with scattered fruit and an asymmetrical flower arrangement.

Signature Sips

Howard and Jialin worked with their caterer, Krisp Events, to dream up two signature cocktails; the tequila-based "Gu Specialty" and rum-based "Wang Specialty."

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Picture-Perfect Reception

The couple's reception took place outside on the rooftop, where two long tables were set up for guests, along with a sweetheart station for the newlyweds.

Ghost chairs framed each table, allowing the bright, colorful décor to pop. Neutral tablecloths were covered with candles in tall glass votives, bold coral-and-peach centerpieces, and fruits like berries, peaches, and grapes for an artistic, still life feel.

Ikebana-Inspired Flowers

Ikebana-style centerpieces were scattered down each table; anthuriums popped out of each for height. "Jialin was very inspired by minimal brands and their marketing, so we wanted all of the florals and vignettes to feel as if they'd come straight from an art gallery—very intentional and playful," Elizabeth says.

Place settings included rose gold flatware, cheesecloth napkins in a dusty rose shade, and menus and name tags in both Chinese and English.

New Looks

Jialin changed into a gold dress by Leanne Marshall for the reception. "The delightful color and dynamic style perfectly reflected our wedding's overall aesthetics," she shares of the garment. She also changed into her second pair of shoes by Jacquemus, which featured fun geometric shapes at the heel. Howard also changed; he donned a charcoal suit from Thom Browne, paired with a skinny black tie and white sneakers.

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Dinner Under the Cathedral

During the seated dinner, the celebrants were served salmon tartar to start, followed by a main course of filet mignon. Although the couple didn't have a traditional wedding party, Howard's cousin, mentor, and Jialin's best friend gave toasts during the meal.

The First Dance

Jialin and Howard chose "Love" by Lana Del Rey for their first dance. "We love the grand feeling of the instruments," they say. Guests then joined them on the dance floor as a DJ got the party started.

Sweet Treats

Their planning team set up a dessert station that mimicked the reception tables outdoors. Lady M's Mille Crepe cakes, decorated with fresh florals, were the focal points.

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Take-Home

Each guest received a favor package that included a thank-you card from the couple, a small handmade pineapple cake made in Jialin's hometown, and an Aesop hand balm. Jialian and Howard had a little help putting them together: "Parents from both sides gathered the night before the wedding to prepare all 50 packs together. It was such a touching moment!" the couple shares.

Sources

Photography, Stetten Wilson
Venue, 620 Loft & Garden
Event Planning and Design, East Made Co
Videography, Joyce Films
Paper Products, Papel & Co
Catering, Krisp Events
Flowers, Flwr Studio
Bride's Gown, Mira Zwillinger via Mark Ingram Atelier (ceremony);Leanne Marshall (reception dress and veil)
Bride's Earrings, Shashi
Bride's Hairpiece, Twigs & Honey
Bride's Shoes, Jimmy Choo (ceremony); Jacquemus (reception)
Hair and Makeup, Lynn Makeup Studio
Groom's Attire, Ermenegildo Zegna (ceremony);Thom Browne (reception)
Music, TCM DJ Events
Cake, Lady M
Rentals, Patina Rentals; BBJ Linen; Please B Seated
Favors, Aesop
Welcome Backdrop, JRD Artshop