Proof That A Rainy Day Can Be A Good Thing To Happen To Your Wedding

How They Met | Valerie and Michel met three years ago on a dating app. Both had signed up for the app on the same day, only spoke to each other and deleted it the next day. When it came to their engagement, Valerie describes it as pure magic! Knowing how much she loves the holidays, Michel tricked Valerie into planning a trip to New York City just after Christmas.

Once there, he took her to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and proposed right underneath. It was the first thing they did when they got there, as he couldn’t wait another minute. When they got back to the hotel, Michel arranged to have champagne waiting for them, with her parents on standby next to their phone to announce the big news.

As the owner of Studio Baron Photo, Valerie took the liberty of capturing the details and decor of her reception, while good friend Lana Nimmons Photography captured the rest of the day.

The Ceremony |It was important to Valerie and Michel that they blend traditions from both their Jewish and Catholic heritages for the ceremony. Although originally planned outdoors, the entire celebration was moved inside due to pouring rain. A violin version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley played as Valerie walked down the aisle, and to make it that much more special, her sister waited at the altar to officiate. The ceremony, which took place under a pink floral chuppah, was bilingual and inclusive for everyone (concluding with the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass), and even included two of Valerie’s family tallits (a traditional Jewish prayer shawl for men)—one from her father and one from her late grandfather.

The Reception | With Mother Nature’s unexpected call for rain, cocktail hour was also moved indoors. Luckily, Valerie and Michel have several musician friends who gifted them with a five-piece band and singer to entertain. Also, as the owner of Studio Baron Photo, Valerie took the liberty of capturing the details and decor of her reception, while good friend Lana Nimmons Photography captured the rest of the day. Moving into the reception, all food was served family style so guests could taste as much as they wanted. It was cozy and intimate with beautiful decor provided by Madame Bombance that included mismatched chairs, candlelight and string lighting.