An Ode to new york
Eliana & Nicolas
Eliana and Nicolas’s New York love story felt fated. Both from Greece, they met an ocean away from home, one night in Midtown, Manhattan. Seven years later, the couple said “I do” at City Hall in an elopement ceremony oozing with serendipity, too, from the bride’s vintage dress that fit like a glove to the knotted mid-heels she’ll wear for years to come. Read on for Eliana’s story behind her city-of-dreams dream day now.
Photography by Julia Crescitell
"Nicolas and I are both Greek, but we never would have met in Greece. Fate brought us together that one night in Midtown and it completely changed the trajectory of our lives. After a few dates I knew that he would be the man I would marry, and there was no better place to do it than New York.
"We call London home, but the city of dreams will always hold a special place in our hearts. New York has been integral to both our family histories — I was born at the Lenox Hill Hospital, my parents got married at City Hall in the 80s. and Nicolas had spent lots of time there when he was a student in Philly. Our wedding was an ode to New York and to our relationship and what makes us, us — the beginning of a new chapter."
"Olivia was my perfect 'something new.' Classic and elegant with a modern twist that has a sexy feel to it, and the silver color looked amazing with the dress. They felt absolutely amazing and extremely comfortable — I walked in them for five hours during the wedding photoshoot in all the various New York locations we had planned.
"I also love them for their versatility. I wore them during my 80s disco-themed wedding party, and they were perfect with my outfit then, too. The fact that they’re not a quote-unquote 'bridal shoe' per se was another part of the appeal. I curated my outfit by choosing items that I would normally wear and I bought Olivia knowing I would wear them in many more occasions to come. I’ll be dancing in them at my friend’s wedding in Barcelona next year, and I can’t wait!"
Shop Olivia
"Curating the bridal look was certainly my favorite part of the wedding. It took months to perfect it and every detail was carefully planned. I knew I was going for a total vintage feel and wanted to achieve a unique bridal look that is also personal and significant to me and to us as a couple. The process was long, but totally worth it. Hand-picking vintage pieces might take more time and effort, but it makes the most amazing and lasting memories.
"I had many themes and references in mind when hunting for my dress — 'Autumn in New York' by Billie Holiday, 'Breakfast at Tiffany’s,' 'Sex and the City' — and as soon as I saw my dress I knew it was the one. I found it at The Flux in London, a shop curated by Chloe Sups. The diamanté bodice drew me in instantly. It’s incredibly beautiful and heavy and has remained intact for who knows how many years. I tried it on and it fit perfectly — no alterations needed. It felt like serendipity. The groom also loved it from the beginning, and we were both very invested in curating our outfits for the wedding together. I do wonder what the story behind the dress is, but I guess we will never know — I’m honored to give it my own!"
"As for the rest of my outfit, my jewelry was largely family heirlooms with the exception of my Susan Caplan earrings. I wore a vintage bag of my grandma’s, gifted to her in the 60s. It is surreal how this bag survived during all these years in my grandmother’s closet completely intact and I ended up wearing it on my wedding day. I remember looking at this bag as a little girl with astonishment and was always amazed by the intricate beading. When I started curating the look, I knew this was going to be the bag I would have on the day. My veil was custom-made by a small UK-based business, Me and My Girl Vintage. The women who run this shop are incredibly helpful and kind and offer exactly what I wanted
"My husband’s suit was by Natalino, a UK-based boutique brand founded by incredibly passionate people who love high quality fabrics and timeless looks for men. It was a pain to find a suit to match the vibes of my outfit, but Natalino was the best choice. Our inspo was Cary Grant in 'North By Northwest,' which is allegedly the best suit ever worn on film. He paired it with a vintage Fendi tie — a gift from my father — and G.H. Bass penny loafers."
"I'll never forget driving over the Brooklyn Bridge to get to City Hall, when I realized, 'this is it, this is the moment.'"
"Our photographer, Julia Crescitelli, made the day so special. Julia is a native New Yorker who is based in Berlin. She is a good friend and an amazing creative who guided us throughout the day. We felt we collaborated to capture all these beautiful moments and New York was the most amazing backdrop. We let this magical city do its thing. We stopped for hot dogs, we strolled Central Park, we took the ferry back to Williamsburg for pizza at L’Industrie. The day was an ode to New York, and what it means to us.
"Walking out the door of City Hall in my Olivia was my favorite ceremony moment. I had played this moment in my head countless times. It’s such an iconic location, and once you’re there and you see the entrance and you know you’re there for your wedding… It makes me excited just by thinking about it.
"Cutting the cake at the party was my favorite reception moment. We played our special song, 'Une Femme Avec Toi' by Nicole Croisille, a French love song from the 1970s. The cake was delicious, fresh and light. It was strawberry shortcake flavor from Martha’s Country Bakery, another New York staple. We all loved the cake and completely devoured it."
"I loved planning our day, and I learned so many secrets along the way. Here are just a few, espcially helpful for any other brides considering the non-traditional route:
1. Have a creative vision and trust your vision. It is your special day, and you can curate it the way you’ve always dreamt. This means opting for synergies that transcend the usual wedding planning advice. Curate a celebration that totally represents you in every aspect, from the groom’s tie to the wedding cake flavour, no detail is small.
2. Prioritize what matters. This is very personal, and it is different to everyone but this will either make or break your day. Wedding planning can be very hectic especially if you don’t have a wedding planner and you are curating an intimate celebration like ours. It still needs effort.
3. Surround yourself with love. Our favorite moment from the wedding planning was when we “proposed” to our photographer, and she said yes. Julia Crescitelli is a friend and an incredible creative who shared our vision from the beginning. Pick a photographer with whom you are aesthetically and creatively aligned and this will ensure you have natural and original photographs that will stand the test of time.
"I’ll never forget driving over the Brooklyn Bridge to get to City Hall, when I realized 'this is it, this is the moment, your special day is today. You met in New York and now you’re getting married in New York seven years later.'"
"While taking photos in the city, lots of people stopped us and said congratulations and they were very sweet. We had our New York moment when a doorman on the Upper East Side dressed in his iconic outfit said to us 'You guys make a great duo! Congratulations.' It felt like we were in a movie."
