One mid-October night, Emily Wilk arrived at a pre-party for a black-tie charity event at the New York Public Library. Quickly realizing she didn’t know many guests in attendance, she walked to the back of the room with a friend, where two handsome men dressed in tuxes greeted the girls – the blonde man, being Jay Comerford. Emily connected with him right away and exchanged numbers by the end of the evening.
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During the next year, the two shared several incredible experiences together, such as trips to Paris, Anguilla, and the South of France.
" EMILY SANG “CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU” FOR HER NEW HUSBAND, BACKED BY THE LIVE BAND"
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When spring arrived in Manhattan, Emily and Jay were heading out of their apartment to what Emily thought was a friend’s birthday party. On the way, Jay told her they had to make a detour to Washington Square Park to meet another friend. When they arrived, he walked his then-girlfriend to the spot he had previously picked out for the proposal. With the arch lit up in the background and a photographer and videographer hiding nearby, Jay got down on one knee and popped the question.
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After many tears of happiness from Emily, the newly engaged couple rushed to their engagement dinner, which Emily still thought was a friend’s birthday party. Holding hands, they walked up the stairs to a private room and a crowd yelled, “Surprise!” Emily was completely in shock, and the couple spent the evening celebrating with friends and family.
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The wedding planning process soon began for a celebration in Michigan, where Emily is from. With the help of wedding planners, Alison and Bryan, they decided to have a whimsical, elegant garden party in the spring, which would be styled in a color palette of lilacs and plums. As a fan of color, Emily also wanted to balance out the purples with a mix of clean white chairs with patterned purple linens, and pops of color throughout the décor.
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Months of planning flew by, and the big day soon arrived. The unpredictable Michigan weather presented a perfect spring day as guests arrived in black-tie attire. A custom, love-filled ceremony led to a wonderful cocktail hour where guests enjoyed the bride and groom’s signature cocktails – “Off the Market” (for Emily, the real estate agent), and “Love, Set, Match” (for Jay, the expert tennis player).
During the reception, guests enjoyed a candlelit dinner, followed by an all-out dance party. As an extra special entertainment feature, the bride’s father performed “Sweet Caroline,” and the bride sang “Can’t Take My Eyes off of You” for her new husband, backed by the live band.
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To Emily, the whole night felt like a perfect and wonderful dream. To Jay, who mostly let Emily take the lead with the planning process, the event was beautiful and awe-inspiring. To both the newlyweds, it was the best day of their lives.
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WEDDING TALENT
Location and Floral Design: Planterra Conservatory, West Bloomfield, MI; Planner: Alison & Bryan, Santa Barbara, CA; Wedding Dress: Lusan Mandongus; Bridal Salon: L’Fay Bridal; Groom's Attire: Bespoke; Hair and Makeup: The Makeup Loft, Plymouth, MI