California Dreamin'

What's the perfect excuse for a long weekend in the city of angels? A good friend getting married there! Neither Alex nor I hadn't been to Los Angeles since high school so we were excited to do a bit of exploring while we were in town.

We stayed in downtown LA at the Ace Hotel. It was a hipster's paradise with a huge Chinese lantern as the main source of light in our room, a hopping rooftop bar, and plenty of exposed brick and shiny chrome.

The wedding itself was very LA - super low key. There was no ceremony, just a small reception with a burger truck, cupcakes, and tons of booze with a maybe-too-serious DJ wearing gloves and a scarf. We had a blast celebrating our friends and embracing the LA vibes.

And we did a whole bunch of other LA things too. We devoured some tasty bites at Grand Central Market, explored a multitude of museums (some highlights were a Chagall exhibit at LACMA, the sculpture gardens at the Getty Center, and a room full of Rothkos at MOCA), and took a walk around the La Brea Tar Pits. We rode a 117-year-old funicular, Angel's Flight. We hiked in Griffith's Park then relaxed with breathtaking views and a short stop at the observatory. We sampled tacos washed down with agua fresca and ate incredible sushi. We grabbed brunch with some friends in Silver Lake and I got the chance to catch up with my former boss from Juilliard over coffee. 

It felt great to get away from the grey skies and chilly temperatures of NYC and spend a little time in the sun. We thought for a moment about what it would be like to be a real Los Angeleno. But even with the beautiful weather and the laid back atmosphere, all those cars and traffic made us appreciate just how easy it is to get around NYC. Those sunsets though...they're reason enough for another visit.

Mini-Moon

After our wedding, Alex and I decided to get out of dodge for some much needed relaxation. We took a few days of down time in the mountains of the Hudson Valley and relaxed at Mohonk Mountain House.

As soon as we arrived, we took advantage of the beautiful day. We went for a guided hike through a rock scramble, we snacked on tea and cookies on a picturesque terrace, and Alex paddled me around the lake in a row boat. It was so romantic and we were full of joy. Dinner that evening was spectacular.

Our second day was a bit cloudier but still unseasonably warm. We did a lot more hiking, had cocktails on the porch, lounged a bit in the wooded trails, and ate more delicious meals. One highlight of our second day was lighting the wood burning fireplace as the sun went down.

And we spent our entire third (and sadly last) day at the incredible spa. We sipped tea by the huge fireplace, took a dip in the mineral pool, and got a romantic couples massage.

It was a glorious getaway. The best part about Mohonk, is that we didn't have to plan anything. All meal times are pre-booked. Guided hikes don't require a reservation. They serve cookies and cocktails at designated hours. We just showed up and enjoyed. It felt like summer camp, but for adults. With the fresh mountain air and beautiful fall foliage, it was the perfect place to unwind after an exciting and emotional wedding day.

Our Wedding Day

After a year of planning, it was finally time for our wedding. On October 21, 2017, we got married at Beach Point Club with our ceremony on a terrace overlooking the Long Island Sound followed by a reception in the Club's harbor room with panoramic views of the Sound. We lucked out with a 75-degree sunny day with a light breeze.

After a primping and preening all morning with my bridesmaids, mom, and mom-in-law, it was time to get married. Alex and I signed our ketubah in the Club's board room with our closest friends and family. We fit in all of our posed pictures before the ceremony so that we could truly enjoy the day.

A wonderful friend filmed our entire ceremony.

It was perfect in our eyes. Covering our huppah, we had a 100-year-old hand-crocheted table cloth passed down through four generations of my mom's family. A string quartet played personally chosen classical music. Our rabbi was incredibly thoughtful, personal, and lovely. The ceremony was so full of love. Alex had a huge smile as the canon sounded in perfect sync with his breaking of the glass. And we were clutching each others hands with bliss as we put on our wedding bands for the first time.

I must admit that parts of the ceremony were super difficult. My entire body was shaking in the moments leading up to my solo walk down the aisle. As I breathed in and out, a warm glow from within came over me and I suddenly felt like everything was going to be alright - I truly believe that my dad was with me in that moment. I also cried my eyes out each time my father was mentioned by the rabbi.

Huge monarch butterflies were weaving in and out of our huppah. Many guests said they imagined that was my dad showing he was looking down on us from heaven. I like to think that he was definitely present, smiling and proud.

We took a yichud where we relaxed, ate a few appetizers, drank a glass of champagne, and took in the glorious first few moments of being married.

My meticulous planning and very specific timeline meant that we actually got to enjoy our reception. We ate the scrumptious food. We danced with family and friends. We drank a little of the wine we had carefully selected. If anything actually did go wrong, I didn't notice it. And we were on a cloud when the party wrapped up.

It was magical in so many ways. Framed pictures of me and Alex sailing were placed all around the rooms where our cocktail hour was held. I felt like a princess in my wedding gown. Our chef did an incredible job with every aspect of our menu. Beautiful speeches were made. Our photographer captured so many special moments. The transportation company we hired was on time at every juncture. The bridesmaids and groomsmen looked like they stepped out of a picture book. Our cake was absolutely delicious and topped with adorable bride and groom skier figurines. My hair and makeup was in perfect order from sunrise to sunset. Our DJ stuck to the program and customized the music to our liking. My sparkly shoes were actually very comfortable. Our flowers were exactly what I wanted, right down to the billy balls and dusty miller. Little chocolate sailboat pops were the perfect send off for our guests to nibble on as they headed home. And happiest of all, I now have a handsome, loving husband.

After the party ended, we headed back to the hotel and met a bunch of our out-of-town guests for a drink and snacks at the hotel lobby bar. Alex and I were still full of energy and had so much fun catching up more closely with our friends and family from all over the globe.

When we retired to the bridal suite, we were greeted with a bottle of champagne and chocolate strawberries. Before we settled in for our first night as husband and wife, we read all of our cards and relished in the glow of being newly wed.