Ella’s cousin Archie officiated the wedding. He led the ceremony to an emotional pinnacle when he had the couple’s friend, Maria Geyman, recite the poem “A Birthday” by Christina Rossetti. “Archie had read ‘A Birthday’ at my parents’ wedding 33 years ago, and I recited it at Archie’s wedding when I was 14—I loved that we could continue the tradition,” Ella says.
After exchanging their vows, the two walked back down the aisle arm and arm to “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure. During cocktail hour, the two sought reflective solace on the porch of the Boathouse. “We were kind of dazed; we kept looking at each other and laughing, saying, ‘We did it,’” Ella recalls.
Guests found their table numbers on marzipan fruits made by Fortunato Brothers in Williamsburg. A midsummer garden party awaited them inside: Ella, a floral aficionado, spent months thoughtfully planning the bloomscapes with Jennifer Huynh from Future Flowers. “I told her we wanted organic-feeling arrangements focused on local wildflowers. I also wanted some kind of floral nod to Oregon, where I grew up,” Ella says. “I sent her my parents’ old garden as a reference point.” Fittingly, the tables were covered with white cosmos, Queen Anne’s lace, and hops vines native to the Pacific Northwest state. “I wanted the day to be full of color and whimsy,” the bride says.
After speeches from Ella’s parents as well as the couple’s maid of honor and best man, the two descended the Boathouse’s grand staircase for their first dance to Lake Street Dive’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Then, it was time for the croquembouche. Francophile Ella fell in love with traditional French wedding pastry after writing a story for T about its history and current popularity. “It felt like a fitting, festive choice. The profiteroles were filled with vanilla or matcha cream, and the exterior was decorated with purple pansy petals,” she says.
The rest of the night was a blur of dessert and dancing. “We distributed disposable cameras to everyone and they were particularly effective in capturing the sweatier, more raucous part of the night,” Ella says.
Months later, the couple still just feels so grateful. “I feel a swell of gratitude every time I think about that day, for everyone who traveled to be with us and offered to help. It was surreal to see my friends from different phases of life all in one place; I love that they know each other now,” Ella says. “I think that’s the double pleasure of a wedding: it’s a chance to celebrate a partnership and knit a community closer.”
