Karen, in a fishtail Vera Wang gown, climbed the grand loft staircase to see her groom, Jonathan, for the first time on their wedding day—even before they said their vows! "Tribeca Rooftop is a loft space with the biggest skylight you’ve ever seen!" says Karen, who chose the downtown penthouse for both its drop-dead panoramic views and top-notch cuisine.
Karen and Jonathan in New York, NY
City lovers head downtown to trendy Tribeca for a true New York wedding
Throwing a fabulous party starts with location, location, location, and no one knows that better than Karen Ruiz, 30, who, in her former job as a public-relations executive, often planned corporate events throughout New York. So it was no surprise that the site of her March 2007 wedding to Jonathan Block, 33, had to be an urban oasis that spotlighted all the things this sophisticated couple love about city living.
The couple welcomed their 150 guests to a gastronomic cocktail hour featuring a raw bar, dim sum, antipasto and classic martinis, the prelude to a full-on, three-course meal. While the menu was decidedly elaborate, the decor—clean white tulips and a modern silver, celadon and aubergine color scheme—was intentionally spare, allowing the magnificent cityscape to be the main attraction. Postparty, Jon and Karen relived their magical evening with the bridal party. "The florist was taking things down and people were vacuuming around us, but we all just sat there, talking and laughing about the great memories we had just made together."—Hillary Quinn
Our Favorite Things
Winning Score: Instead of "Here Comes the Bride," Karen walked down the aisle to a harp trio playing the theme from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a film she and Jon saw together when they first started dating.
Sweet Serenade: To the crowd’s delight, the groom’s 90-year-old grandmother sang "You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" to the couple.
Branching Out: Though the huppah was simple (a tailored organza canopy stretched on four metal poles), it was surrounded by elaborate vases of cherry branches and French tulips.
That’s my Baby: Karen plans to pass down her wedding gown to her firstborn, whether it’s a boy or a girl, by using the fabric to decorate a bassinet!
