Catie and Patrick are a wildly fun couple and were my very first micro wedding this year. They hosted a micro wedding at the Grand Banks in Manhattan, for crying out loud! If you haven’t had a chance to read my blog about the “new normal” and micro weddings, here is the link.
The Original Wedding
Catie and Patrick had initially planned to have their wedding on Memorial Day weekend of 2020 with 75 of their nearest and dearest at The Foundry in Long Island City. They attempted to get married on St. Patrick’s Day; however, New York City went into shut down two days before. Catie and Patrick met at Wilfie & Nell on St. Patrick’s Day, which is also where they got engaged! The lovebirds decided to wait out COVID-19 and find a way to have a beautiful wedding day in 2020 still.
During the planning process, Catie and Patrick stumbled upon Grand Banks on Pier25 in Manhattan. The two love the West Side and being on the water. So, the fact that this could work for their ceremony made it feel extra special! Of course, the most challenging part initially was finding a way to make it all happen. City Hall was closed, so they had to keep waiting until lockdown restrictions eased. Then the search was on to find a socially distanced venue, delicious food, and nice weather!
Grand Banks on Pier25, Manhattan
After some severe juggling, the engaged couple was able to lock in Grand Banks. There were just five people (including myself) in attendance. After their private ceremony, six of their closest friends joined them for a late lunch out on the boat deck. Once they finished snacking and cheering, the couple took a three-hour cruise on a boat around New York City!
One huge take away from micro-style weddings is that by having fewer guests, you open up a world of unique spaces (like Grand Banks)! Many spots are just possible if you have a larger wedding. Not to mention you have a little extra cash to spend on things for yourselves and not only your guests. Catie and Patrick were able to have fun with the day.
“We chose outfits that we loved, but also made sure they were comfortable and different from what we had picked out for the bigger celebration. We also made sure to include our dog Winston in our day, because let’s be honest – he’s the most handsome guy we know!”
