A romantic Brooklyn wedding with a retro flair

Sabrina and Steve live in California, but they'd met in New York, shared an apartment in Brooklyn, and Steve had proposed along the water in DUMBO, with the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline -- like their lives together -- spread dazzlingly before them. So even though Sabrina was an event planner at a gorgeous historic estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean, helping other couples plan their dream weddings there, they knew that Brooklyn was the right place for them to exchange their vows. "We knew we might be making it harder on ourselves," says Sabrina. "But we just kept thinking about Brooklyn and the view and the bridge and how important all those memories were to us. We couldn't imagine getting married anywhere but there."

Their wedding took place on May 5, the anniversary of the night they met, in Pochron Studios, a photography studio in DUMBO, just a stone's throw from the spot where they'd gotten engaged. They chose Naturally Delicious to cater and plan their big day partly because they'd heard great things about the company, but also because they felt immediately understood -- and confident that their Naturally Delicious event planner could help them pull it all together, even though they themselves were hundreds of miles away. They also chose them for the food.

"We consider ourselves foodies, but we didn't want anything so over the top and overwrought that both sides of our families would be intimidated by the menu," says Sabrina, whose family is from Ohio and was marrying into a Brooklyn clan. "We were looking to do something a little playful: comfort food." Guests sipped limeades as they arrived and gazed at the gorgeous view. During the cocktail hour they were served margaritas -- a nod to Cinco de Mayo -- and passed hors d'oeuvres including mini grilled cheese sandwiches, cones filled with sweet potato fries, and deviled eggs. "That was my brother's favorite food growing up. My mom always made it for him," says Sabrina. "He was in the wedding, and I wanted to do something for him."

The buffet dinner included rustic roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and homemade lasagna. Dessert was no ordinary wedding cake, but rather a multilayered "black and white" -- named after the classic New York cookie, and just as delicious -- along with mini root-beer floats, just for fun.

The décor was black and white, with lime green accents. Single white peonies and tulips in black vases graced tables sheathed in white. A black-and-white mod floral fabric swathed the ceiling, adding warmth, buffering sound and partially obscuring the exposed pipes overhead. Candleholders on the windowsills echoed the shape of the Brooklyn Bridge -- with the white pillar candles evoking the sparkling skyline -- and drew eyes toward the Manhattan view and guests out onto the wide terrace. A video screen offered glimpses of the bride and groom as kids, and photos of their lives together. During the toast, Steve surprised Sabrina with a special video tribute -- and gathered musician friends to back him up as he played a song just for her.

"It was such a celebration of our love and our bond," says Sabrina. 

Pochron Studios

Saturday night 

100 Guests