From DUMBO to the Flatiron: A New York City Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

When a couple travels around the world to take engagement photos at one of the most beautiful places on earth, we’re likely to expect pure magic from the wedding to follow. And that’s exactly what we have here! We shared Toby + Kayan’s stunning Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend engagement photos and today we get to reveal their NYC elopement! An elopement that, it turns out, wasn’t always the plan. Kayan filled us in on how what started as a fancy wedding in their hometown of Amsterdam became a big city getaway for just the two of them:

Like most couples probably do, we had a super classic wedding in mind: a romantic venue with all our family and friends, classy attire, and a fancy 12-course dinner. But the more we tried to achieve that image in our head, the more frustrated we became. Venues were fully booked, costs were getting way out of budget and, probably the hardest thing, we tried to plan everything around Kayan’s ridiculously unsteady work schedule + me, running a business. We realised soon enough that if we really wanted to have this “classic wedding,” we’d have to sell a kidney (or two) to make it happen – or compromise. We aren’t blessed with a huge bank account and we don’t like compromises. That’s when we decided to narrow it down to the essentials: a wedding, just the two of us, in our favourite place – New York City.

Jonnie + Garrett returned for round II with the couple, capturing the sweet moments around the city. Let’s have a look!

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Hailing a cab to take your to your wedding? RAD.

rooftop first look

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

We really wanted to have our ceremony on a rooftop right in the middle of the city. Everything came down to this moment. It was so special to finally hear each other speaking out our vows word for word. To top it off, we had our first dance (which was a really nice idea from Jonnie & Garrett) on the rooftop with the Manhattan Bridge as our backdrop. It was an intimate and amazing moment that we will never forget. Just the two of us and New York City.

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Imagine this sweet moment!!

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Pure joy – LOVE this.

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Kayan wore the Marjorie gown by Maggie Sottero while Toby suited up in ASOS. And if you’re walking around the city on your wedding day, comfy shoes are in order! Enter: matching Nike Air Force 1s.

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Classic.

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

First of all, get yourselves some amazing wedding photographers like Jonnie & Garrett. Couldn’t wish for better photographers!

And second, don't try to plan out everything. Sometimes the spontaneous things are the most fun and memorable. For example, we had this amazing wedding photoshoot with Jonnie & Garrett and by the time they shot the last photo, we were standing right in front of Madison Square Park. That’s when we thought, ‘Let’s have Shake Shack for our wedding dinner in Madison Square Park. Why not?' We really love burgers and it’s our favourite burger joint to visit in Manhattan. We didn’t plan anything for our dinner, but had an image in our head of dinner in a park with romantic lighting and simple, comforting food. So: dinner at a park, check. Romantic light, check. Simple comfort food, check. It all came together by coincidence.

Brooklyn Rooftop Elopement

Nothing like love in New York City! Congrats, you two!

photography: Jonnie + Garrett Wedding Photographers // wedding dress: Maggie Sottero // bride's shoes: Nike Air Force 1 Low White // groom attire: ASOS // groom's shoes: Nike Air Force 1 Low White

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