1 of 40
Bridesmaids are overrated—I wanted my close girlfriends to just be guests at our wedding.
2 of 40
Simi Valley was the first and last place we looked at, can you tell why? Italian cypress trees, hedges, 1920s brick, warm summer nights—done.
3 of 40
First pink bubbles of the day and the official start of celebrations in my mind.
4 of 40
Just the beginning of my absolute "bow-mance;" yes, that's a word that I made up and frequently enjoy using.
5 of 40
I brought some delectable chocolates for the ladies from Tobi Tobin, but surprisingly, nobody seemed to enjoy them as much as me...
6 of 40
My mother helped me get into my dress and was granted the coveted bow-perfector title for the day. Hint, hint—she did lovely.
7 of 40
This was the fastest I have ever gotten dressed, considering my outfit was already picked out.
8 of 40
My custom gown reflected my ultimate style mantra: classic, with just a touch of glamour. The bow was a non-negotiable from the start, and the second I saw this lace my heart skipped a beat. My dressmaker, Liza, made the skirt detachable, so I could swap into a little tutu later.
9 of 40
Meanwhile, Arthur was getting all dressed up with the boys, and by "dressed up," I mean without his usual flip flops and all too common athlesuire-wear.
10 of 40
And I must say, he looked beyond dapper in his crisp white tuxedo and bow tie.
11 of 40
Following in the footsteps of Pippa Middleton, my little sister, and maid of honor, wore a custom white off-the-shoulder, satin gown.
12 of 40
My mother also designed her own all-white ensemble. The decision for an all-white wearing familial bridal party was one of the easiest for me, and I am so glad I had that special time with them on this day.
13 of 40
And perhaps the most distinguished of gentlemen that evening, our little French bulldog and star of the family, Pierre.
14 of 40
I think Pierre was at a crossroads, knowing that my marrying his father perhaps meant less opportunities for leftover meals, however, also an increased chance of potential crumbs in the home. He was indifferent, yet dapper nonetheless.
15 of 40
We signed our ketubah right before our ceremony. The intertwining tree representing our joining foundation, the glasses representing our celebratory tequila shot.
16 of 40
These olives trees were so magical, so I wanted our chuppah to seamlessly blend in with them, and our florist, Isabelle, did the most impeccable job creating just that!
17 of 40
Walking down a bed of white rose petals towards Arthur. This serene setting really did feel like a fairytale, except I knew my story wouldn't end at I do.
18 of 40
I chose to walk myself down the aisle, as it felt the most authentic to me. I am an independent woman, choosing freely to join lives with this person, entering as an equal into a partnership. I am not, nor will I ever be, one who's given away.
19 of 40
Our ceremony was everything and more: sentimental, thoughtful, and got quite a few laughs. I didn't start tearing up until the Rabbi told us to turn around and see all the people who came to bear witness to this moment in time, and it was one of the most beautiful moments to feel that love and support from everyone we cared so much about.
20 of 40
We said our own vows to one another, and Arthur successfully broke the glass—no Charlotte York Jewish wedding luck yet at this point, thank god.
21 of 40
This was perhaps my favorite moment with Arthur, given most our time was with everyone we loved, it was nice to prance around together alone, reliving everything magical that just happened.
22 of 40
Wearing the veil felt the most significant. It really made me feel like a bride, given I will likely wear white the rest of my life without one.
23 of 40
I felt like I was floating around so gracefully that day, despite the fact that I may have tripped once or twice attempting to walk at my usual fast pace!
24 of 40
After walking the grounds, part of me was ready to jet off into the sunset with my new forever, but it would have been a shame to our beautiful cake and guests.
25 of 40
Just before going into the reception, I excitedly swapped out my full skirt for this little tulle number. Of course, it deserved its own equally bow-mantic detail too.
26 of 40
Our vodka shot & champs cart, honoring Arthur's Russian heritage and my love of bubbly, was everything—especially the personal touch on our champagne tub.
27 of 40
We welcomed our guests into the reception with a champagne tower toast and receiving line at the end of cocktail hour. It was a bit old fashioned; however, it was still the easiest way to see everyone before dinner.
28 of 40
The pink rose arch was perhaps the most unexpected, but absolutely lovely, detail from the day. Our florist, Isabelle, did such a wonderful job creating a romantic spot for guests to take photos on their way into dinner.
29 of 40
The reception was everything I dreamed and more. The touches of blues and pinks in the garden—summer's absolute best.
30 of 40
The golden light trickled in, illuminating the cobblestone courtyard in the most beautiful way—a perfect start to a magical evening.
31 of 40
I wanted the tablescape to feel approachable and summery, without too much clutter. Our menus were perfectly illustrated, and I loved how the blue and white patterns came together.
32 of 40
The pretty pink macaron tower was an obvious choice, but finding a less-than-basic cake design took some real thought. Suffice to say, I was incredibly delighted with the detail in the flowers and our lovely wedding crest. The strawberry tower had started as a simple vegan dessert option but ended up being an absolute favorite amongst everyone.
33 of 40
The cake was a hit, aside from my brand new husband's genius idea to smear some frosting on my nose right after we took this photo.
34 of 40
I'll be honest, we hadn't practiced our first dance until that morning in the Whole Foods parking lot with Etta James's "At Last" barely playing on my shaky iPhone speaker.
35 of 40
However, we improvised. It was comical, and I was happy to be free from my long skirt.
36 of 40
Given this was our only last minute detail of the day, I'd say we did pretty well. A good sign I believe for the future, finding some synchrony together, in the midst of the unexpected dips in life.
37 of 40
One of the most exciting, and slightly fear inducing traditions of the night, was when we bounced up into the air, while all our friends and family danced the horah around us.
38 of 40
I remember feeling so overwhelmed by everyone's love and excitement celebrating us. It was one of the most special days of my life and most certainly the best party I have ever been to.
39 of 40
Instead of a sparkler send off, we opted for a sparkler dance line. Wouldn't you?
40 of 40
Only the brave ones followed our lead, before I started chasing the late night truffle grilled cheeses.