An Urban Garden Wedding on a Brooklyn Rooftop

Craigslist can help you find way more than an internship or cheap furniture. In Chelsea Marshall and Joe Predham’s case, it can find you your soul mate! “Joe and I met in September of 2010 when we became roommates,” says Chelsea. Yes, they answered ads looking for roommates, and they found each other.

The couple shared their first kiss on the roof of the building where they lived together, and in March of 2016, they returned to that same rooftop and Joe proposed. “As we started planning, we looked at venues from California (where I’m from) to Maine (where Joe grew up), and could really have gotten married anywhere,” says Chelsea. But once they walked onto the roof of Brooklyn Grange, they knew they’d found the spot. “Considering how many moments in our relationship happened on a roof, it was fitting!” she says.The gorgeous urban garden inspired the couple’s vision for their September 16, 2017 wedding. “The roof is covered in beautiful sunflowers, so we gravitated toward blues, yellows, and blushes,” Chelsea describes.

Keep scrolling to see this sunny rooftop garden party, photographed by Sean Kim and planned by Melissa McNeeley, in the heart of Brooklyn.

The bride’s Alexandra Grecco gown checked all the boxes: it was fun, easy to wear, and had an interesting back. “I wanted to be able to slip it on, feel gorgeous, and then not think about it again for the rest of the night,” she says.

With such a colorful setting, a bright bouquet was in order. Chelsea paired the dress with yellow Stuart Weitzman sandals. Sunflowers were paired with dahlias, chamomile blooms, and billy buttons. “Our florist even used leaves from the same type of tree my parents planted when I was born," says Chelsea. "I’m still floored—I never mentioned it!”

The paired his custom blue suit with a yellow tie and a billy button boutonniere.

“Brooklyn Grange is such a unique space. You have no idea what you’re getting into when you arrive at the Navy Yard, but once you get upstairs, you’re in a beautiful farm overlooking Manhattan,” says Chelsea.

Guests gathered amongst the rows of flowers and plants, while Chelsea walked through the sunflowers (with both of her parents) to meet Joe at the altar.

The couple stood in front of the city skyline as they exchanged vows. “We didn’t plan on writing them ourselves because we knew it would get so emotional, but then we realized our wedding would be emotional no matter what, so why not go for it?” says the bride.

After their vows, Chelsea and Joe climbed the rooftop water tower for photos. “I think we gave our moms mini heart attacks,” she says, but I loved that I could make it up there in my dress and still feel put together!”

Guests grabbed bottles of beer or sipped berry and gin smashes and Manhattans. Dinner included the couple’s favorite food—lobster rolls!—as well as coconut shrimp, roasted eggplant, and charred dandelion greens.

All the guests were seated at a single wooden table, decorated with bud vases of sunflowers and dahlias. The table was divided into numbered sections to help guests find their way. Jars of Brooklyn Grange’s own honey served as both escort cards and favors.

After dinner, Joe and Chelsea shared their first dance to “If I Needed You” by Andrew Bird.

“Joe and I could not figure out how to properly cut our cake,” says Chelsea of the vanilla and berry confection. “We cut it all the way from top to bottom! Regardless, it was absolutely delicious.”