Ingrid + Martin | City Glam and Multicultural Traditions

A celebration rooted in community with cultural traditions, a luxe NYC setting, and marriage lived out as mission.

Ingrid and Martin met through Frassati Fellowship, a Catholic volunteer community in New York City. They grew close and fell in love as they worked together planning missions to Peru and Jamaica. 

As they planned their wedding, they sought to invite their guests into the rich community life they’d found in the city, and into the mystery of sacramental marriage. 

In the original cathedral of New York City, celebrating with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, they bore witness to the beauty of the Creator and to their respective heritages.

From the Bride:

Now, more than ever, Martin and I feel so lucky to have been able to have our wedding before everything changed [due to COVID-19]. We really loved having a more intimate wedding by traditional standards, but now we know what a luxury it was to have a wedding with over 100 guests in New York and can’t imagine what couples are experiencing now.

We chose Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in SoHo for our wedding Mass. Not only had we done much of our volunteer work there, but the historic landmark has an incredible sanctuary with vaulted Gothic arches, stunning stained glass windows, and an 1868 Henry Erben Pipe Organ. The organ was played during the Mass and the music was led by some of our close friends from the Franciscan Friars. 

The rich music combined with the splendor of the space created for us and our guests a sublime setting where one couldn’t help but be filled with awe and joy. Exchanging vows at the altar will be a moment we will both forever treasure.

We have so many favorite memories from the day; it’s hard to pick just a few. Our wedding captured the reverence and solemnity of marriage but also the pure joy and bliss of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. 

If I had to pick my favorite memories, they would have to be when Martin turned around during our first look (I cried) and, of course, walking down the aisle with my father.

When we were walking down Mott Street in SoHo, everyone was so friendly when people saw I was in a wedding dress--the drivers didn't even honk when we stopped traffic!

Also, we loved giving our favors--they were custom-made capiz shell votives sourced by my Tita, which is “aunt” in Tagalog, and hand-carried by my mom all the way from the Philippines. I also loved dancing with my niece Isla on the dance floor and being hoisted up on chairs during the reception.

Finally, we loved [all of the personal and cultural details we were able to include in the day]. From the custom invitations, the ceremony programs, the Spanish trio that played at our cocktail hour, the hand-painted escort cards, and all the décor. 

It was incredible to see all the aspects of the day woven together to create such a beautiful experience for us, our families, and our guests. Guests shared how it was both the most beautiful ceremony they'd ever seen plus some of the most amazing food they'd ever had at a wedding. For us to get compliments covering both the spiritual and reception aspects of the spectrum was incredible.

From the Wedding Coordinator: 

The overall design for the wedding was based on Ingrid and Martin’s Filipino and Peruivian backgrounds and incorporated their favorite color, blue--which also showed reverence for Mother Mary. They complemented the deep blue shade with mauve and tan--beautifully fitting for a fall celebration.

The Nuptial Mass included the Filipino traditions of sponsors for the wedding candle, wedding lazo (lasso), and arras (coins). Ingrid and Martin also had a pair of rosary rings blessed during the Mass that belonged to Martin’s mother. They now wear them on their right hands and on mission trips.

Both the Philippines and Peru are known for their textiles, so we pulled inspiration from these nations’ native dress for the attire. To complement these elements, we included natural details like Filipino capiz shells. 

Ingrid wore a romantic dress by Watters and a custom veil. One of my favorite details of the day was her navy velvet Manolo Blahnik heels; they made a beautiful statement against her ivory gown. She also wore her grandmother’s earrings and carried a capiz shell clutch from the Philippines. 

Martin wore a midnight blue pin dot tuxedo and shoes by Jimmy Choo. He also wore mother-of-pearl cufflinks that Ingrid’s mother had purchased in the Philippines. 

Ingrid asked her flower girls to choose a floor-length dress within the color palette, instructing them to pick something “that made them feel beautiful.”

The cultural significance extended to florals, which contained spray garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias, anemone, chrysanthemum, foliage, lisianthus, Lunaria, and privet berries. The bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets, corsages, and reception centerpieces contained café au lait dahlia, anemone, Jasmine vine, garden roses, and Lunaria, some of which are grown in the Philippines and are very special to Ingrid’s family. The cream, mauve, and soft honey tones matched the season and the elegance of the day.  

The reception in a Little Italy restaurant, with its warm brick interior, exposed kitchen, and dramatic high ceilings, made the gathering of 113 guests feel like one big family dinner. Watercolor imagery and gold accents on the stationery complemented arrangements of vintage bottles and vases on each table, with custom votives and gold candlesticks. The votives were given as favors at the end of the evening.

In place of a traditional guest book, Ingrid and Martin asked guests to sign a beautiful coffee table book about sacred spaces that they'll display in their home. 

Photography: Laura Rose Photography | Nuptial Mass Location: Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, New York, New York | Wedding Reception Venue: Gelso & Grand Restaurant, New York, New York | First Look Venue: The Ludlow Hotel, New York, New York | Wedding Planner & Designer: Desiree Adams of Verve Event Co. | Videography: Filmwell Studios | Bridal Boutique: Our Story Bridal | Bride’s Gown: Shiloh by Watters, Style 3004 | Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Veil: One Blushing Bride | Bride’s Stole: Oscar de la Renta | Flower Girl Dresses: BHLDN | Flower Girl Crowns: Fancy Girl Boutique | Matron of Honor Dress: Jenny Yoo Logan Velvet Dress for BHLDN | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo Malia Dress for BHLDN | Getting Ready Robes: Jenny Yoo Isabella Robe | Ring Bearer Suit: Appaman | Ring Bearer Shoes: Converse | Floral Design: Ephemera | Groom’s Suit: The Black Tux | Groom’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Groom’s Tie: Tie Bar | Hair Stylist: The Drawing Room, New York, New York | Cake: Pip ‘N Bits, New York, New York | Wedding & Engagement Rings: Tiffany & Co. | Makeup Artistry: Glam Squad | Stationery: Louelle Studio | DJ: Ambient DJs and Greg Hollmann

Siobhan + Michael | Fairytale Christmastide Castle Wedding

A Christmastide nuptial Mass in the decorated church of the grand Basilica of St. John the Evangelist. Poinsettias and evergreen firs lined the sanctuary, crowned with a high-domed ceiling, stained glass windows, and gilt columns of gold. Later, carried into their “happily ever after” by a Cinderella carriage, the bride and groom celebrated their marriage in a fairytale castle ballroom.

It could be said that Our Lady Star of the Sea guided Siobhan and Michael through calm and stormy waters to the altar, where they exchanged their wedding vows. Looking back, Siobhan calls Michael her “miracle,” and reflects on their path from meeting at college through his proposal and their wedding—five years later.

From the Bride

I once told my husband that if our child ever asks how I know God exists, I’ll tell her: “because he gave me your father.” 

Christ’s hand in my relationship with Michael was clear almost from the start. We met a few days after I arrived at Thomas Aquinas College; he was a senior, and I was a freshman. And within ten days, we were dating. 

I can remember sitting next to him in the chapel praying a rosary. I was anxious, because it was clear that he really loved me, and while I knew I liked him a lot, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to return his love. So I asked Our Lady to help me love him, and within days, there was no doubt in my mind that this was the real thing. Through that experience, I came to understand that love is truly a gift from God.

Given our hasty entry into dating, it might seem surprising that our wedding took place more than five years later. Our relationship hit some snags along the way. For a year, we actually went through a painful breakup. The suffering I experienced during that time was like nothing I’d ever felt, but in hindsight, I see how God was using that year to heal us and prepare us for marriage. 

I struggled to let go of my own desire to be with Mike and to accept God’s will. About a year after we broke up, I had a profound experience of surrendering to God’s will. The next morning, I unexpectedly ran into Michael, and God took care of the rest. Humanly speaking, our relationship was hopeless, but the Lord took us in our woundedness and brought us closer together. 

Later, Michael proposed on a tower overlooking the beautiful city of Prague in January 2019, and we were married in December that same year. Now, when I look at my husband, I know he is my miracle.

Throughout it all, God has consistently been with us and shown us his merciful love, and many angels and saints have played a part in our journey. Our Lady Star of the Sea, however, has guided us in a particular way. 

When Michael and I were apart, I developed a deep devotion to Our Lady under this title. I was inspired to tell her that, if she answered my prayer for a husband and family, I would name my first daughter Maris Stella in her honor. After we were engaged, I told Mike this story, and he suggested entrusting our marriage to Our Lady Star of the Sea. 

As I write this, God continues to show us his goodness—we are eagerly awaiting little Maris Stella’s arrival!

We wanted our wedding to be truly magnificent—to shower our guests with a sense of God’s infinite love. Many of our family and friends were not Catholic or even Christian, so we saw our wedding as an opportunity to share the beauty of our faith. Most importantly, we wanted to show beauty through the nuptial Mass, but also in tiny, intentional details throughout the day. 

I’ve always been a hopeless romantic and a lover of fairy tales (as is my husband, to some extent), but I didn’t want a full-on fairytale themed wedding. Instead, we decided to include elements of the classic stories we loved and elements from the winter/Christmas season and the traditions of our Catholic faith.

The story of finding my wedding dress was providential. My appointment for dress shopping fell on the feast of St. Joseph, and I prayed a nine-day novena to him leading up to it, asking him to help me find the right dress. When we arrived at the store, we chose several gowns to try on, but the first one I put on was perfect. It was like it had been made for me. 

I can’t help but think that St. Joseph had a hand in this—although I imagine he was perplexed by my request and consulted Our Lady for fashion advice!

Our nuptial Mass was held at the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist in my hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. We wanted the liturgy to be accessible to all our guests, but also to convey some of the grandeur and mystery of the Latin Mass. So we opted for a Novus Ordo liturgy with music in Latin. 

For the Mass parts we chose Byrd’s Mass for Three Voices, and during the presentation of flowers to Our Lady, my college suitemates chanted the Ave Maris Stella—the perfect way to incorporate our devotion to Our Lady Star of the Sea. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Peter Smolyk, a wonderful priest and the pastor at my family’s parish, but was con-celebrated by two other priests who have played important roles in our lives. 

Some of my memories of our nuptial Mass are a blur, but certain moments stand out: walking down the aisle with my father; gazing on the tabernacle with a statue of the newborn Christ child just above it; choking back tears as I recited my vows; looking back at my dear friend and maid of honor for reassurance; and leading the congregation in reciting the Litany of Trust, one of our favorite prayers.

Our reception was held at Whitby Castle in Rye, New York, the perfect setting for a fairytale wedding. Ever since I was little, I have loved the story of Cinderella, and in some ways I think my first ideas about married love were formed while watching Disney movies. 

The final scene of the Disney movie (where we see Cinderella and Prince Charming kiss through the rear window of their carriage) made a huge impact on me as a child. 

When I learned of a local company that rented Cinderella carriages, I couldn’t resist! Aside from capturing the perfect photo in the carriage, the best part was watching the children riding in the carriage after we made our grand entrance.

The reception itself included treasured traditions and special moments. For me, our first dance carried deep significance. When Mike and I first met, he invited me to go waltzing with him (a Friday-evening tradition at our alma mater), so a waltz as our first dance seemed fitting. I am also grateful that I was able to have a father-daughter dance. At the time of our wedding, my dad had been struggling with a knee injury, and I suspect only his determination and God’s providence allowed him to dance with me! 

Later in the evening, all the guests gathered on the floor for an Irish ceili, or group dance, in honor of our Irish heritage. Afterwards, Michael serenaded me with a song (partly) of his own composition. On our first date, he sang me the Irish ballad “Red is the Rose,” and it quickly became “our song.” The final verse is tragic, however, and for years Mike promised to write me a new ending. At our wedding reception, he finally debuted the full song for me, happy ending and all. 

Lastly, our cake was truly a dream come true. When I was about 4 years old, I began collecting antique wedding cake toppers, and my collection now includes roughly 75! Our cake was crowned by my favorite set of toppers: a circa 1950’s set including not only a bride and groom, but a Catholic altar, a priest, and the wedding party.

Through the gift of my wedding day, God taught me that his grace is so much more powerful than our thoughts and emotions. 

I wish I could say that I felt calm and at peace, but at times quite the opposite was true, especially leading up to our vows. At almost the moment I reached the altar, I was overtaken by anxiety and fear of entering into the sacrament. I think it was the devil’s last attempt to keep Mike and me apart. Throughout the Liturgy of the Word, I struggled to remain calm and trust in the Lord. To be honest, this feeling of anxiety didn’t fully resolve until much later in the day.

Imagine my surprise when we received the wedding photos and video. Throughout the day, I was smiling—not the “performance” smile I put on for photographs, but a real smile that radiates a profound joy. 

Yes, I can see that I was choking back tears during our vows, but they were more than tears of apprehension. They were tears of a young woman who was knowingly joining her cross to that of her husband, understanding that we would suffer together, but accepting that suffering with God’s help. 

In those photos and videos, I can see the grace of the sacrament shining through, and I realize that God was working in me on a much deeper level than I realized in the moment. He has shown me that whatever I’m feeling isn’t the full story of how he’s working miracles in my heart. It’s possible to be filled with his joy and peace even as we struggle with our human weakness.

Photographer: Emma Dallman Photography | Nuptial Mass or Engagement Location: Basilica of St. John the Evangelist | Reception Venue : Whitby Castle | Videographer: Chari Films | Bride’s necklaces: Stella and Tide | Flowers: Hansen’s Flower Shop | Cake: Lulu | Rings: Shane Co. | Bride’s shoes: Rachel Simpson | Bride’s dress + Veil: Kleinfeld | Invitations: Minted | Custom prayer cards: original artwork by Margaret Youngblood, printed by CatholicPrayerCards.org | Hair (Bride and Maid of Honor): Maria Livesay Salon Carriage: Regal Carriage Inc.

How He Asked | Jackie + Elias

From NYC to Lourdes, a lifetime invitation to dance.

Elias knew it from the first time he went: Lourdes, France, the holy ground where Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette, captivated his heart. Elias heard Mary speak to him and pull him back year after year, visiting on pilgrimages with his family business and through his service with the Order of Malta. Ultimately, this sacred place would take on an even deeper resonance. 

At the end of a Young Adult Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, Jackie found herself swept along in the crowd to the Christmas celebration that followed at a nearby bar. “I was literally being led,” she says. She enjoyed the evening but soon began glancing at the time, concerned about getting a train home from the city before it got too late. 

From the Bride:

I was about to leave, but was stopped by a girl complimenting my dress. I politely tried to hurry the conversation along, and then it happened: my heart was pierced. This strikingly handsome man passed me and moved my soul with his eyes.

My friend asked, “Did you feel that?!” I did. Deeper than I wanted to admit.

We introduced ourselves. His name was Elias, and we had a lot in common. Before long, we were salsa dancing and laughing, and though we were surrounded by hundreds, it was as if no one else was in the room. He never took his gaze off of me. At the end of the night, Elias offered to drive me home to Long Island, but I declined and he hailed a cab for me instead. I needed space to absorb what just happened: I’d met an incredibly handsome Catholic gentleman, after mass at Saint Patrick’s, on the Feast of Saint Lucy--patron saint of eyesight! All on a snowy night in New York City. I knew my life was never going to be the same. My many prayers were answered.

From the Groom:

After the beautiful Mass, filled with Christmas spirit, I quickly made my way over to the afterparty location, where I was setting up a table with World Youth Day information. 

As I mingled and chatted, I saw this incredibly striking woman walk up to the bar across from me and order a Jameson on the rocks. A beautiful Catholic woman, seemingly single, ordering my go-to drink. Thank you, Jesus!

Right then I made a promise that I wasn’t going home without getting her name, and hopefully her phone number, too.

When I made my move and approached Jackie and her friend, we locked eyes. As cliché as it sounds, time seemed to stand still. We eventually found ourselves in a group chat, sharing a little about ourselves and our interests. She had me at “faith, food and fitness.” By the time we were dancing, I tried not to step on her feet nor reveal how much I was secretly sweating. That night, I met Jackie and fell in love.

The Proposal

Jackie and Elias traveled to Lourdes on a pilgrimage trip to serve in the healing baths. The theme of the trip, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5), left them with full hearts, on fire for growth, acceptance of their vocations, and the pursuit of the Father’s will.  

Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, in reference to Our Lady’s hand in her children’s lives, said, “the first movement does not belong to us, it is the second which belongs to us.” Jackie and Elias considered this first pilgrimage their personal “first movement.” The following year, they returned. They share:

 “The second movement: in 2019, we returned for the second time together with more experience, confidence and a desire to fully abandon ourselves to God’s will--and each other). It is believed that in year one Our Lady invites us; year two is our decision or fiat--our Yes.

“Saying “yes,” giving our fiat, was a continual theme throughout that trip. We said yes to encountering people where they were on their walks of faith, yes to performing our daily duties serving the people of Lourdes, and, in the most literal way possible, saying yes to one another.”

On a rainy Friday night on the Feast of Saint Anne and the final evening of a novena and their second year of service in the healing baths, Jackie and Elias attended Mass in the Grotto at Lourdes. In the moments that followed the Mass and Adoration, with their families tuning in from a livestream in New York, Elias read Jackie a letter, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry him. Her response: oui.

“We couldn’t have dreamed for a more perfect, holy and beautiful proposal,” they say, “and even more, the gift of one another. We are still overjoyed with the complete beauty, blessing and meaning in it all”.

Photographer: Martin Jernberg | Engagement Ring: H&F Diamonds

Emily + Aaron | College Memories Wedding

Aaron and Emily met in college, and after developing a solid friendship--through daily Mass, involvement in campus ministry, and Facebook messenger--they both began to desire a dating relationship. As they began their sophomore year, Emily knew that she was in love with Aaron. To her delight and surprise, the feeling was mutual. One evening shortly thereafter, Emily and Aaron began dating after praying together in the campus chapel. "It was in that moment that I knew this man was going to be my husband someday," Emily recalls. Three years later, Aaron proposed in the same chapel where they began dating, and the chapel where they eventually married. 

From the Bride: Our wedding was all about details: From draping my First Communion rosary through my bouquet and Aaron wearing cufflinks I’d given him during our first year to carefully selected Mass readings, and ditching cake for an ice cream sundae bar at the reception (and having cake pops as favors), our personality was stamped on everything. Instead of floral centerpieces, I put together four 3-sided picture frames for each table that had photos of Aaron and me during our childhood with the people sitting at the table. Watching everyone pass them around the table throughout the reception and reminisce was a scene I will always treasure.

One of my favorite parts of wedding planning (and one that all of the guests are still talking about!) was writing individual notes to each guest on the inside of his or her place card. Everyone still asks me how I had the time to write all of those notes by hand, but for me, it was the most calming and rewarding part of the whole planning process. In the midst of chaos, I had the opportunity to take a moment and think of each person attending our wedding in a deeply personal way.

One challenge I faced during the planning was struggling to word the section in our program on reception of Communion. We were going to have several non-Catholic family members and friends in attendance, and I realized that our wedding may be the one time in our entire lives that we could truly evangelize to our loved ones. 

With that idea in mind, I started writing, and what had originally begun as a sentence or two about who could receive Communion turned into a double-sided insert in our wedding program that talked about the Mass, the symbolism behind exchanging rings, the importance of the readings, why Catholics have to get married in a church, and offering flowers to Mary in a lighthearted tone that reflected our wedding style while also offering us a chance to lovingly share our faith with our family and friends.

Our wedding day brought about an uncharacteristic calm in me. I’d always imagined myself pacing up and down the house on the morning of my wedding, freaking out about last minute details and getting cold feet, but instead I slept in, went to confession, and prepared for the day with peace and joy in my heart. 

Instead of renting limousines, I has asked my parents to drive me to the chapel in our blue minivan, the same one they’d brought me to the school in for the first time. As is characteristic for Aaron and me, there was a torrential downpour by the time we arrived, but the rain only rattled my nerves for a moment before I regained a reigning sense of peace.

Our wedding Mass was beautiful and flew by in a whirlwind of emotions. My former pastor celebrated the Mass and offered a beautiful reflection on God’s presence in our relationship. At the end of the homily, I suddenly realized with a jolt the moment I’d been waiting all my life for was here, and it felt like the whole rest of the room melted away and it was just Aaron, me, and God. The best part was getting to giddily whisper “We’re married!” to Aaron afterward.

God’s extra wedding present to us was stopping the rain after Mass, allowing us to take pictures with the picturesque Hudson River in the background.

All my life, people had always told me that my parents’ wedding was the best they’d ever attended because of its simplicity and fun atmosphere. I had always desired that sort of wedding, so hearing everyone tell me that ours was the best wedding they’ve ever attended made me so proud. Despite all of my planning and worries, God made the day even better than I could have imagined, and we feel so grateful to have begun our marriage with such a blessed day.

Emily's Spiritual Takeaway: I saw God working through our wedding because everyone there was truly the best version of themselves. Aaron and I marveled as normally straight-laced family members partied on the dance floor and old friends smiled for the first time in years. Months later, everyone is still talking about how amazing it was and how ours was the best wedding they’ve ever been to. I believe that Aaron’s and my genuine love for one another and joy to finally be married simply spilled over to everyone else. Which leads me to believe that our mission as a couple did not end on our wedding day. Our marriage is not just about us; as we witnessed on our wedding day, the way we interact as a couple and love one another affects those around us for the better. After our wedding, I realized that, when I married Aaron, I not only signed up to work on getting him to heaven, but also took on the task of getting others to heaven through him. 

Photography: Newman Photos and E-Von Photography | Church: Founders Chapel-Mount Saint Mary College| Reception - Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel | Wedding Dress, Bridesmaids' Dresses, Veil, and Accessories: David's Bridal| Bride's Shoes: Elegant Park | Groom and Groomsmen's Tuxes: Men's Wearhouse | DJ: Soundsational Party | Flowers: Lucille's Floral | Videographer: Best of Times Video | Rings: Kinston Fine Jewelry and Michael's Jewelers | Cake Pops: Busy Bee Cake Pops