It’s a good thing Nicole Schade and Brian Farrington are both Yankees fans. On Thanksgiving Eve in 2009, they first spotted each another on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Yankee Stadium. Nicole noticed Brian was wearing a Dobbs Ferry shirt (the town next to hers in Westchester County, New York), and wondered if she'd spot him at the local bar that night (it was the night before Thanksgiving, after all). “Within five minutes of getting to the bar, he walked in," she remembers. "I was too shy to go up to him, but a friend of his came over, asked if I’d been on the Yankee Stadium tour, and said he wanted to introduce me to his friend, Brian.” They ended up talked all night, and realized they’d been to a number of parties together in high school without ever meeting. “It was all about that perfect timing,” says Nicole.
Five years later, on New Year’s Eve of 2014, Brian headed up to the roof of their apartment building to "grill some appetizers" before they went out for the night. “He called to ask if I could bring up a plate, and as I got onto the roof, I remembered the grills had been turned off for the season,” says Nicole. She tried to get Brian to come back inside because it was so cold, but he told her he had a few belated Christmas presents to open. He handed her two wrapped frames, the first with a quote about love and time, and the second reading “Will you marry me?” Says Nicole,” I looked up, found Brian on one knee, and screamed ‘Yes!’”
The pair set June 4, 2016 as their wedding date, which was a particularly poignant choice for them. “My grandparents were married on June 4, 1960, and both of our parents were married in early June, as well,” says Nicole. “We knew it was meant to be!” They invited 181 guests to Westchester County, New York, for a ceremony at Brian’s childhood church in Dobbs Ferry and a classic reception at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club. They kept the design light and fresh, with white flower and gray and gold accents, as well as gorgeous Hudson River views.
Stella Day Events helped the pair plan from D.C., and Philip Anema and Francisco Bravo for Christian Oth Studio helped turn the stunning moments into lasting memories. Keep reading to see Nicole and Brian's big day!
Nicole visited six different boutiques and tried on over 75 gowns, but knew in her heart that she was a Hayley Paige bride. “I just needed to find her dresses,” she says. And when she tried finally tried on one—an organza ball gown with a shimmering pinstripe design, she knew. “The dress was just dreamy,” Nicole says. She paired it with a timeless updo, a jeweled hair vine, and sparkling Jimmy Choo pumps. And as a nod to how she and Brian first met, she finished her look off with a Yankees garter!
The bride carried an all-white bouquet feautring a mix of mondeal roses, peonies, ranunculus, hydrangeas, and Italian ruscus. The stems were wrapped with the satin belt taken from Nicole’s mother’s wedding gown.
Brian’s father is a retired FDNY captain, so the groom and his groomsmen got ready at the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department. The groom wore a blue Calvin Klein tuxedo with black lapels, while his groomsmen wore traditional black—and everyone donned American Flag socks!
Nicole and Brian didn’t have a first look, and she was beaming when the doors to the church opened. The pair married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the groom's childhood church.
Following their traditional vows, the couple was all smiles as they made their way back down the aisle—this time as man and wife!
The newlyweds mingled with guests outside the church before hoping in a vintage car for the drive to Sleepy Hollow Country Club.
The reception took place on the club’s lawn, in a tent dressed in string lights and greenery. The space was filled with tabletops featuring soft centerpieces of white hydrangeas, roses, and wax flowers. The head table featured a garland of ruscus, hydrangeas, mondeal roses, and seeded eucalyptus, and the bride and groom’s chairs were draped with garlands, as well. “We made our entrance to a recording from Scotty Shevlin, the announcer from Brian’s high school football team," explains the bride. "He’s a Dobbs Ferry legend, and everyone loved it!”
During cocktail hour, they also had a special performance from the FDNY Pipes & Drums, a surprise for Brian’s father. “I had the day and night of my life, and seeing everyone celebrate together was incredible,” says the bride. “We finished the night with sparklers, and it was the perfect way to end the evening with everyone we love lit up in celebration!”
Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Church || Reception Venue & Catering: Sleepy Hollow Country Club || Wedding Planner: Stella Day Events || Bride's Dress: Hayley Paige || Jewelry: Etsy|| Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo|| Hair: Milexy Torres|| Makeup: Beauty with Kim|| Groom's Attire: Calvin Klein|| Engagement Rings & Wedding Bands: Jared|| Floral Design: Arcadia Floral || Invitations: Just Paper and Tea || Entertainment: FDNY Pipes & Drums; Stolen Moments || Cake: Lulu Cake Boutique|| Favors: JCK Foundation || Transportation: Top Class Limo|| Lighting: Social Decor || Photo Booth: Shake and Share Media|| Videography: Dideo Films Photography|| Photography: Philip Anema and Francisco Bravo for Christian Oth Studio
