A Romantic Garden Wedding at the Boston Public Library

When Taylor King and Joe Lattari enrolled at Syracuse University in the fall of 2008, the pair had completely different majors, but wound up in the same 8 a.m. economics class. “It didn’t take Joe long to find a reason for us to talk,” Taylor recalls. A few weeks later, they headed to the first football game of the season together, and they’ve been "inseparable ever since." Fast forward to October 2016, when Joe was on a work trip to Switzerland, and Taylor flew over to meet him for a few days. “We spent an afternoon on a boat in Lake Lucerne, taking in the sights,” she says. On their way back to the city, Joe asked Taylor to stand at the bow of the boat to pose for a photo, but when she turned around, Joe wasn’t holding a camera—he was holding an engagement ring!

The couple considered a European elopement, but they’re both from the Boston area and wanted their loved ones to be there with them. “We visited the Boston Public Library, and realized we didn’t have to go all the way to Europe when we could find the architecture and ambiance we dreamed of in the heart of the city,” Taylor explains. On June 30, 2018, they invited 160 family members and friends to join them at the library for a courtyard ceremony and a reception amongst the books. Their black tie wedding, planned with help from the Catered Affair, featured a blush and white palette with gold and green accents, perfect for early summer on the East Coast. “The lush flowers and soft colors made it so romantic,” Taylor describes. Take a peek into the romance of it all, photographed by Emily Wren, below!

Taylor tried on more than 30 gowns up and down the East Coast, but kept coming back to the Fleur gown from Reem Acra’s spring 2018 collection. The gown featured a bustier top and A-line tulle skirt finished with floral appliqués and all-over beading. “The sample had a nude lining, which was beautiful, but I wanted something a little more classic,” says Taylor, who instead lined her dress in white. “It was perfect for our venue!”

Taylor's bridesmaids chose their own attire, each picking a floor-length blush gown. They were floored when they saw Taylor all dressed up for her trip down the aisle!

Joe paired his black Hugo Boss tuxedo with monogrammed cufflinks and a rose boutonniere in honor of Taylor’s great-grandmother, Rose (also the bride’s middle name!).

The columns and arches of the Boston Public Library’s courtyard were perfect for wedding party photos. Joe gave his groomsmen socks, pocket squares, and cufflinks to tie together their classic tuxedo look.

Taylor’s soft bouquet paired peonies and garden roses in white and soft pink with sprigs of bright greenery. A blush silk ribbon matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. “I loved my bouquet so much that I dried the flowers," she says. "I want to keep it forever!” The bridesmaids bouquets were smaller versions of Taylor’s, with a single white peony as the focal point and a smattering of blush roses for texture.

The ceremony took place in front of the fountain in the library’s courtyard, with urns of peonies and roses marking the altar. “The courtyard is so beautiful, so we didn’t have to add much,” says the bride.

The ceremony was arranged with guests beneath the portico. “My parents and I followed the path around the fountain to the altar, walking toward both Joe and all of our guests,” Taylor explains. “It was incredible to see everyone I love all at once.”

The couple found a reverend who could combine both of their religious backgrounds. She married them in an emotional ceremony in which Taylor and Joe shared vows they’d written to each another. “We wrote the first and last promises together and both used them to show our unity,” describes the bride.

Inside the library, LED pillar candles covered the stairs. “We couldn’t use real candles because it is a historic building, so we worked with our lighting team to create a warm glow,” the bride says.

Guests followed the newlyweds inside, finding their table assignments written on tented escort cards accented with gold wax seals. The custom wreath design was created by Sweetly Said Press.

“One of my favorite moments was during cocktail hour,” Taylor recalls. “We headed up to the balcony overlooking the courtyard to toast our guests from above.”

Joe and Taylor brought the lush summer feeling of the courtyard inside to the reception by covering the tables with blush and white arrangements of garden roses, peonies, and white football mums. “The floral installation over the head table was an absolute masterpiece!” Taylor raves. And the dinner menu was nearly as big a hit: “A big reason we chose the Boston Public Library for our wedding was the in-house caterer and planning team, the Catered Affair,” says Taylor. “The food is amazing!” The couple served a tomato and burrata salad, miso cod, and risotto.

Taylor says her mom is a wonderful baker, so she handmade the couple’s carrot wedding cake. After a sweet bite, the newlyweds hit the dance floor to Eye2Eye. “We wanted an upbeat band that would have everyone singing,” says Taylor. “We actually booked the band before we had a venue!” Though Joe and Taylor’s actual first dance, to “Yours” by Russell Dickerson, was the result of months of Saturday dance lessons. “We were worried wedding planning would be stressful, but instead it gave us a lot of projects to take on together,” says Taylor. “When else in your life will you spend a year planning an amazing weekend for your dearest family and friends?”