Love Stories

All NY Wedding Albums Two in a Miliion (Winter 2007) A Night to Remember (Summer 2007) One Enchanted Evening (Winter 2006) Love Stories (Summer 2006) A Fine Romance (Fall 2005) A Walk Down Memory Ave. (2005) The Wedding Album (2004) The Wedding Album (2003) The Wedding Album (2002)

• By Sari Lehrer
• Published Summer 2006

The Engagement

It was a pretty regular evening. I had gone to the gym, and Dave had gone back to the apartment to start dinner. When I got home, he asked if I would check something in the oven. I opened the door, and on a pan were tiny cookies in letter shapes spelling out WILL YOU MARRY ME—very appropriate since we own a cookie company! I slammed the door shut and started laughing. I was so surprised!

The Dinner

Because Dave and I entertain all the time, we wanted our wedding to feel like a larger version of a dinner party, so we sat our guests with a few people they knew and a few they did not, in the hopes of their meeting new friends, or at least having some interesting conversation. We served the whole meal family style in beautiful rustic pottery that we shopped for with our caterer. We put bottles of wine and olive oil on each table, and, at each place setting, we had a menu tied with a piece of twine and sprig of rosemary (which represents love and remembrance).

Our menu was strongly influenced by my Sicilian heritage. We started with cavatappi in a light sauce of fresh tomatoes, peas, and asparagus, followed by a baby-spinach salad. The main courses were spinach-stuffed pork loin and seared tuna. For sides, we had roasted sweet potatoes, breaded zucchini, broccoli, and beets. Dessert was a delicious hazelnut wedding cake with chocolate ganache, and a cookie bar, of course, compliments of our company, One Girl Cookies.

The Surprise

Once everyone was seated, my dad gave a welcome speech with a special twist. Years ago, he had given my mom a little gold plaque on a necklace that said, in French, “More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.” Growing up, my sisters and I remember my mom wearing it always. Somehow, my dad managed to have duplicates made and gave one to me and one to my sister who is already married, and my other two sisters will get theirs when they get married, too. It was a really sentimental gesture and very special because I know it was no easy task to have that piece replicated.

The Mishap

We forgot beer! Our caterer thought we were getting it, and we thought they were getting it. We did have delicious wine, as well as a full bar, and under normal circumstances that would have been sufficient, but given that it was over 100 degrees out, beer would have been a welcome beverage!

The Girl Time

My mom, my sister, and one of my bridesmaids all went to Rhinebeck three days before the wedding. We stayed at a wonderful inn and were the only guests there, so we had the place all to ourselves for our projects: putting together the hotel gifts and setting things up at the vineyard. At night we went for dinners and enjoyed some “girl time.” Although there was much to be accomplished, it was great to be with the people that are so special to me, and I think it was because of this time that I was so relaxed on the wedding day.