21c: How did your wedding reflect who you are as a couple?
C&M: We are eccentric, love food, detail-oriented (at least I, Mark, am) and introverted. Our wedding was quite artistic, unusual, a foodie’s dream and intimate. We also come from culturally different families so 21c and Lockbox was the perfect place for us.
21c: What were you looking for in a venue? How did you know you found the one?
C&M: We’re an unconventional couple in many ways, and wildly creative, so we wanted to find a place that captured our unique spirit. We decided to invite only 30 guests to our wedding and have a simple ceremony, so we wanted the reception to have an upscale dinner party feel. The main gallery at 21c Lexington immediately struck us as the perfect venue because it had all of the ingredients to set up the dramatic, artful dinner party we wanted— high ceilings, unique art, gourmet catering, and moody lighting.
21c: If you could relive your favorite moment from your wedding day, what would it be?
C: My father’s toast to us. He is so charismatic, a great writer and speaker, so he captured everyone’s attention immediately. I’ll never forget him pacing around that beautiful gallery telling stories about me and the two of us as a couple.
21c: Which piece of art got the most Insta love?
C&M: I can’t remember what it was called, but it was a GIANT photo lineup of several gorgeous nude ladies with their hands on each other’s shoulders. We even lined up an recreated the photo during the reception (with clothes on). Haha!
21c: What are people still talking about from your wedding?
C&M: The decor, the art, and the AMAZING food. Also, the fact that it didn’t feel like a typical wedding and how that was a good thing. It just felt like a chill yet classy dinner party.
21c: What was the dreamiest dish from your reception?
M: The steak was phenomenal. Even my brother-in-law, who is a steak snob, was highly impressed. I know how hard it is to cook meat for a large group of people, and every piece was perfect.
21c: Which detail are you most proud of?
C: I’m an artist for a living, so I decided to make all of the table decor by hand, and I was glad to be at a venue that allowed me to take charge of those details and help me bring my vision to life. My favorite detail was the giant paper flowers I made for the place settings.
21c: Do you have any tips for future couples to make their day as stress-free as possible?
C&M: IT’S YOUR WEDDING. Set healthy boundaries early and stand firm in your decisions. I don’t believe planning a wedding should be stressful. It should be fun. Appoint a friend to be a liaison of sorts the day of. Someone who can answer your texts/calls and put out any small fires that come up, so you can focus on getting ready and being happy!!
Photos courtesy of the bride and Kate Howell of By Kate Curran Photography.
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