Given the text: As Brit Morton tells it, she and Wes Turner first locked eyes in August of 2003 at a fraternity party at Appalachian State University. Fast forward 12 years and you'd find these two on the top of the Empire State Building, Wes on bended knee with an engagement ring in hand. "My favorite movie is An Affair to Remember so Wes planned an elaborate surprise engagement at the top of the building," Brit says. "He enlisted my best friend to get me to the Empire State Building for a work-related emergency."
Finding a venue for their October 24, 2015, nuptials was a breeze. "Wes and I live in Manhattan near the Williamsburg Bridge so when it's nice, we bike over and spend a lot of time in Brooklyn," the bride says. "We knew that we had to get married in the borough that was been the setting for so many of our dates, celebrations, and anniversaries." They chose Maison May Dekalb (formerly ICI Restaurant) and invited 76 guests to join them in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn for a wedding that evoked a sense of cool and simple elegance. Briana Moore captured it all — including one celebrity wedding crasher!
"The venue felt really authentic and sophisticated," Brit says of Maison May Dekalb. "The staff was always so nice and cool, and we decided on a vibe for the day that was laid-back elegance with good drinks, awesome music, and out favorite people."
Brit admits she didn't instantly know her lace wedding dress from Watters was "the one," but once she considered topping the geometric pattern with a white leather jacket, she was sold. "I knew it would look really cool!" she says. She completed her look with a pair of vintage earrings purchased at Fabulous Fanny's, one of her favorite shops in the East Village. "My mom and I always go in when we're walking around shopping," the bride says. "She actually wore the brooch that came with the set. That was a really great way for us to feel connected on the wedding day."
Wes wore a navy suit from SuitSupply, which he personalized with a patch that said "Brit + Wes." Unfortunately, there was some miscommunication about where the patch should be sewn, and it ended up on the front pocket of his jacket rather than the inside of his suit. "I happened to open it up to see it and put out that fire by taking it back to the seamstress!" Brit laughs.
While taking pre-wedding portraits at their hotel, actress Emma Roberts stumbled upon the bride and groom. "She was so nice and gracious and even took a few pictures with us," Brit says. "We had a fun conversation about my hair, of all things!"
The bride asked her five 'maids to select a neutral-hued bridesmaid dress they loved that would make them feel confident and cool. In the end, three ladies donned Reformation while the other two ladies rocked Tibi and Anthropologie. "I thought they were all amazing and so true to the style of each of my BFFs," Brit says.
Groomsmen wore the same navy suits at Wes, which they all paired with light colored slip on shoes.
The couple's ceremony was held on an outdoor patio illuminated with glowing string lights. Aisle-facing chairs were decorated with swags of greenery and white roses while a wall of more greens and flowers served as Wes and Brit's backdrop.
"I walked myself down the aisle," Britt says of her entrance to Lord Huron's "She Lit a Fire." "I feel like I've always been really independent and I wanted this to reflect exactly who I am. I carved out other special moments for my parents."
In addition to sharing vows the couple had written themselves, a friend also recited the lyrics to one of Wes and Brit's favorite songs, "A Little Bit of Everything" by Dawes.
The party then moved inside, where wooden tables were topped with understated arrangements of roses, peonies, dahlias, ranunculus, and greenery. The bride and groom's sweetheart table featured chairs dresses in floral garlands and a low arrangement of pastel blooms.
"Our venue was a farm-to-table French restaurant, so the food was incredible!" Brit says. "We had an amazing chicken and pasta, and so many delicious fresh veggie dishes." In addition to the great grub, Wes and Brit also served up two tasty cocktails: The Beauty Queen, a lavender vodka lemonade mix that was a nod to the bride's southern beauty queen roots, and The Marathon Man, a whiskey smash that hinted at the groom's love for running.
Like true New Yorkers, Wes and Brit chose Momofuku's classic naked birthday cake as their big day dessert.
CitiGrass, a Brooklyn-based bluegrass band, kept everyone out on the dance floor. The hit of the night? The band's rendition of Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road." "They were a huge hit," Brit says. "Everyone was dancing!"
"Do everything exactly the way you want to do it!" this bride advises future couples. "Don't worry about anything except having fun, throwing an unforgettable party, and getting the kiss right."
Looking for more wedding inspiration just like this? Then check out another couple's Brooklyn wedding in the video below.
Who surprised the couple during their pre-wedding portraits, and what did they talk about?
This prompt doesn't seem malicious.