A Wedding at Home in the Hamptons

Samantha Lynch and Jordan Zmijewski have always loved visiting museums and galleries together, so she wasn’t suspicious at all when Jordan planned for the two to visit the new downtown location of the Whitney Museum in May of 2015. “We planned to visit the museum, then head to the museum's restaurant for dinner,” Samantha explains. As they toured the galleries, they made their way to a quiet balcony, where Jordan had flowers waiting and got down on one knee. “I was totally shocked,” she recalls. The pair’s families had gathered at Boom Boom Room, which overlooks the museum’s balcony, to watch the proposal from above, and the iconic bar was the perfect place to celebrate afterwards.

Samantha and Jordan first got to know each other during a summer in the Hamptons, and returning to the coast of Long Island for their wedding was an easy choice. They skipped the summer crowds, setting the date for October 1, 2016, and worked with Jung Lee at Fete NY to find a gorgeous private home to rent for their wedding day. “Our planners really walked us through all the possibilities and brought the most nuanced details to life,” Samantha remembers. They hired The Day Collective to capture their fall celebration, inspired by the coastal setting, and brought 190 guests along for a weekend full of beautiful memories. Keep reading for more!

Samantha fell in love with the hand-sewn floral and lace details of her Mira Zwillinger gown. The mermaid style featured a sweetheart bodice, a skirt that flowed below the knees, and a structured bow at the waist.

"My sister works at Gucci and was the style guru for the entire bridal party,” Samantha says. “She found me the perfect Giambattista Valli pumps, with beaded pink and green flowers that fit the floral theme of my gown. The best part, though, is that I’ve worn them so many times since our wedding day!”

The bride wanted a truly special bridal bouquet, ultimately deciding that there’s nothing quite like lily of the valley. To complement her emerald-cut engagement ring, Samantha donned sheer gloves topped with floral appliqués. “I saw them on the Mira Zwillinger runway and fell in love," she says. "The designer let me purchase the pair from her show!”

The maid of honor donned a blue Carolina Herrera gown, also finished with embroidered flowers, while the flower girl wore a puff-sleeved Nicki Macfarlane dress and her hair in braids topped with a crown of roses.

The altar was marked with two white lattice pedestals, topped with flowing ivy and urns filled with white roses and hydrangeas. White hydrangeas also lined the sisal aisle runner.

The couple's vows were followed by both laughs and tears.

Blue and white ginger jars were a nod to the coastal Hamptons setting. Escort cards were displayed on a bare table decorated with ceramics, mercury glass, and arrangements of white tulips, hydrangeas, and roses.

Each end of the clear tent was draped in soft white fabric with navy trim, meant to resemble a pool cabana. The back wall was actually a giant boxwood hedge, while the front was left clear to create a greenhouse feeling. Inside, textured linens covered the tables and chairs, softening the setting and providing a backdrop for mirrored table tops. Candelabras held towering taper candles and were surrounded by bud vases holding a wide variety of garden roses, French tulips, sweet pea, and ranunculus.

Before guests were seated for dinner, Samantha and Jordan practiced their first dance on the shimmering dance floor. Looking back, Samantha has this advice: “If you can, hire a really talented and experienced wedding planner,” she says. “They will make your vision come to life even better than you could have on your own!”