Rise Shine & New York couples recall those jittery morning-of moments stubborn zippers and all in the final hours before the wedding. by maura kutner walters PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION BY NAME HERE PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION BY NAME HERE After a long day of careful preparation, we were finally ready to put on my dress. My mom and I were perfectly positioned for the cameras to capture the moment. No matter how she tugged and tugged at the zipper, it just wouldn t budge. My bridesmaids, my friends, my brother, and even my videographer gave it a try. The prevailing thought was that it might be easier if I lay facedown on the bed. Forty-five minutes later, my dad saved the day with a hidden strength he must have stored for this very occasion. All I could think was: Please, please, please zip up this time! And if not, Kleinfeld s, meet my new husband, the lawyer. Kristin Misner-Gutierrez, chief of staff, & Carlos Gutierrez, lawyer. Married September 21, 2013, at the Roosevelt Hotel. 30 new york weddings summer 2014 Photograph by Tatiana Breslow summer 2014 new york weddings 31
This is Kristen, one of my two bridesmaids, whom I ve known for 30 years, stepping up to the window where my precious dress was waiting for its debut. She helped me in, zipped it up, and tied the bow. Tammy & Ron Rosselli, e-commerce manager, executive chef. Married September 10, 2011, at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. The way I remembered it, I was feeling relaxed and excited for the big day. But when we got the pictures back and I saw this shot I thought, I guess I did have some nerves after all. It probably didn t help that it was 97 degrees and I was fighting a hangover from the rehearsal dinner the night before. Dan & Sarah Connell, television producers. Married June 30, 2013, at the Metropolitan Building, Long Island City. PHOTOGRAPHS: FROM TOP, HEATHER WARAKSA; CHELLISE MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY 32 new york weddings summer 2014
It took six bridesmaids to get this necklace on. I m five-ten, so I kept thinking: Where are all of these little hands coming from? Because I m so tall, I actually forced my bridesmaids to wear four-inch heels. They got back at me by cleaning out all the food and liquor in the bridal suite before I even got to the venue. Judyann Bentick, lawyer, & David Paul, front-end developer. Married July 20, 2013, at Brooklyn Winery. We had three flower girls, but only two made it down the aisle. You can see the beginnings of a flower-girl breakdown brewing right next to me. Jenna Rogers Rafferty, international-development practitioner, & Ryan Rafferty, senior manager of ad operations. Married September 21, 2013, at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. PHOTOGRAPHS: FROM TOP, STYLISH AND HIP WEDDINGS PHOTOGRAPHY; CHELLISE MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY 34 new york weddings summer 2014
We got married in the countryside, so bug spray was a must. Unfortunately, it didn t really work: Several pictures into our first look photos, I discovered that a bug had died right in the bust of my dress. Our photographer saved the day with a wet nap and some ingenious folding. Olga Massov, writer, & Andrew Freedman, journalist. Married June 16, 2012, at Moraine Farm in Beverly, MA. PHOTOGRAPH BY STACEY ILYSE PHOTOGRAPHY 36 new york weddings summer 2014
It was such a hectic morning. I was on the phone with our wedding planner, figuring out the logistics of the traditional Chinese tea ceremony, while my mom helped iron my dress. Thankfully, my bridesmaid, Carmen, was nice enough to straighten up the hotel room so we wouldn t come back to a huge mess after the reception. Holly Dyre, real-estate-company owner, & Jason Stein, food-business owner. Married September 26, 2010, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. We decided to wear our grandfathers watches as a way of remembering two men who were important in our lives. The white-gold watch is a 1920s Gruen that Doug s maternal grandfather received as a college graduation gift. The gold Hamilton is from the 1950s and is the single thing I have from my paternal grandfather. There were 50 grandchildren on that side of the family, and I m 51 years old, so not many important personal effects were left by the time I got married. John D. Olsen, art registrar, & W. Douglas Ray, company president. Married November 2, 2013, at the Gramercy Park Hotel. PHOTOGRAPHS: FROM TOP, HEATHER WARAKSA; GRUBER PHOTOGRAPHERS 38 new york weddings summer 2014