Update! John & Paul's wedding has been published in the Spring/Summer 2016 Issue of The Knot Magazine! Snag your copy today!

SMF, y'all, this post is gonna be long and mushy. Honestly I'm getting all kinds of choked up as I begin to write this blog about one of the most amazing couples I've ever been blessed enough to work with. John & Paul quickly went from incredible clients to good friends to people I now consider family. I'd say I miss them, but lucky for me they've become a part of my life and I'll never have to actually say goodbye to them. Geez, am I mushy enough or what?!

Now to the nitty gritty, but where do I even begin with their epic 3 part wedding extravaganza?! Let's get the vendor credits out of the way :)

::: planning, design, floral & styling : Sara Skinner, Scarlet Plan & Design | photography : Milanes Photography | venue : Library Hotel | menswear : The Modern Gent | shoes : Converse | cufflinks : Burberry | rings : Chris Ploof Designs, Mokume Gane | stationery : Paper Daisies | videography : Love Brain Films | cupcakes : Prohibition & Buttercup Cake Shop | restaurant : Tri Bec Ca | officiant : Reverend Lou Olivieri | glass ceremony : Unity In Glass | musicians : New York Virtuosi :::

When John & Paul first contacted me about planning their wedding, we hit it off within seconds and I immediately knew it was right up my alley and I just had to be involved. They were sweet, funky, madly in love and wanted a creative nontraditional bash to celebrate their marriage. And for them, it was all about the details! We took all the special details about their life and found ways to incorporate them into their big day. 

We set the wheels in motion for the ceremony and a small reception to be held in New York (since at the time same-sex marriage was not yet legal in all 50 states) and planned for their reception to take place in their hometown of Atlanta a month later. And stay tuned for Part 2 of their Epic Wedding Adventure coming soon!

So off to New York we went! After countless Uber rides, 11 venue tours, 17 cases of the giggles (SMF!), 3 nights in a super sketchy Air BNB, treks through 2 Boroughs, a super awkward "tasting", inside jokes nobody but us will ever understand, dinner at a winery where no wine is actually made and one of the MOST fun planning trips I've ever taken, J&P fell in love with the Library Hotel, an impeccable gem of a boutique hotel. With sweeping views of Manhattan and the NY Public Library from the rooftop garden and the most incredible staff I've ever worked with (especially Sarah & Joel!), I couldn't possibly have better things to say about them!

Then we met with Reverend Lou Olivieri and he has easily become my favorite officiant of all time. Kind, genuine and just incredibly warm and welcoming, we immediately knew that he was the man for the job! I think it's safe to say we all fell a little bit in love with Rev. Lou! And his ceremony?! Just forget it. I straight up Kim K Ugly Cried the entire time. It was beautiful.

The grooms got ready together the morning of the wedding, just the two of them. Seeing as how it was their 7th anniversary, my team and I surprised them with an enormous bouquet of roses in their room while they were out taking their portraits with Cathi. 

And then off they went to Washington Square Park & Central Park for portraits! Never have I seen 2 people more excited or full of joy than John & Paul the morning of their wedding day!

After J&P greeted most of their guests, we got the ceremony started! Their families walked down the aisle first, then their ADORABLE little flower girl, before John & Paul walked together, side by side just like every other aspect of their lives. Partners. Equals. Soul mates. 

We did a gorgeous Glass Unity Ceremony where John & Paul poured different colored glass together and then we sent it off to Unity In Glass where they turned it into a gorgeous sculpture. And with the extra glass that was leftover from the sculpture my wonderful grooms had 2 gorgeous Christmas ornaments made for their mothers! Pics of those on my Part 2 blog post!

Following the rooftop ceremony John & Paul enjoyed a fabulous brunch mini-reception with all of their nearest & dearest! And then the entire gang walked a block over to the New York Public Library for some fun group shots!

Cheers to you both, my loves. May your lives always be filled with joy, love and laughter...and loads of SMF ;)

love always and always and always, Sara