In Brides of Long Island’s Monthly “Mrs.” series, we profile some of our members’ unforgettable weddings. This month, we spoke with Kariel DeBlasio about how time helped to keep her wedding planning stress-free – even when the forecast called for downpours.
(Photo courtesy of Studio 27 Photography)
When Kariel and Thomas DeBlasio envisioned their wedding day they knew there was a chance it would rain, but they never thought the forecast would call for downpours that caused trains to shut down and highways to close. However, despite the weather, this couple had an amazing wedding day of their dreams.
Plenty of Planning
Kariel and Thomas met in 2016 on a dating app. Five years later, on a quiet night in July, the couple took a walk in their DUMBO neighborhood in Brooklyn when Thomas stopped under the Brooklyn Bridge and proposed. According to Kariel, she started doing research shortly after they got engaged, specifically on venues. Though she sort of knew all along they’d end up at the Bourne Mansion, a BOLI preferred vendor. “We had gone to a wedding there a few years before we got engaged, and I loved it!” explains Kariel. However, Thomas needed some convincing since he wanted to do something different from his friend, who had gotten married there. “Once we took a tour, Thomas changed his mind pretty quickly,” she says. “We both just had a moment that we knew it was meant to be.”
Once they booked the Bourne Mansion for their Sept. 29, 2023 wedding, they focused on finding a photographer, as the venue and photographer were the most important vendors to the couple. They met with Studio 27, a BOLI preferred vendor, for photography and videography, and booked them quickly based on their great reviews from the Brides of Long Island! The rest of the vendors fell into place pretty quickly, and with two years to plan, they had plenty of time to relax and enjoy a longer engagement.
(Photo courtesy of Studio 27 Photography)
MORE: 5 Reasons to Have a Long Engagement
A Gatsby Affair To Remember
Kariel says what she loved about the Bourne Mansion was the atmosphere and vibe. “We wanted that mansion, Great Gatsby-sort of vibe, and Bourne Mansion hit the nail on the head.” In fact, when it came time for décor, Kariel says she didn’t really have to do much because the grounds and the mansion are beautiful. “I wanted to keep my decorations minimal, so we had greens and white flowers,” she says. “We did use gold mirrors for some of our signs.” And they couldn’t forget their fur baby – as their dog’s face on personalized cocktail napkins.
The morning of the wedding, Kariel says she knew it was going to rain, so she took it all in stride. “I did start to freak out earlier in the week, when they were calling for flooding, but I knew it was out of my control,” she says. It wasn’t until she started getting weather alerts on her phone did she realize the severity of the situation. “Roads were closed, and we had people coming in from Westchester and New Jersey,” she recalls. “Once I really accepted that this was the situation, I had my mother and mother-in-law reach out to the guests to alert them of the weather, and to give themselves extra travel time.” In the end, she says 16 guests weren’t able to make it due to the weather. “At that point, it really was a matter of safety, so I’m just glad everyone stayed safe.”
Despite the weather, Kariel says everyone had a blast. Nocturne, a Hank Lane band, kept the guests dancing all night long. And the oyster shuckers from Red Oyster were the highlight of the evening. In fact, Kariel says they updated her every hour to let her know their ETA and that they were going to get there early due to the rain. “They really went above and beyond for us, which was amazing.”
(Photo courtesy of Studio 27 Photography)
MORE: 6 Reasons Why Rain on Your Wedding Day Can Be Awesome
Love Is All Around
The moment that really stood out to Kariel and Thomas, though, was as they sat down for dinner. “I remember looking around the room and thinking how unbelievable it was to have all of our friends and family together in one spot for one night,” she says. “I thought that was the most amazing thing for us.”
Fresh off her honeymoon to South Africa, Kariel has some advice for brides. “Plan early! Having those two years to plan really helped keep my stress-level low,” she says. “And don’t have a specific vision for your wedding day. Go with the flow, even if things don’t go as planned.”
(Photo courtesy of Studio 27 Photography)
Vendors:
Venue: Bourne Mansion, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Photographer: Studio 27 (Boy Wonder), a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Videography: Studio 27, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Band: Hank Lane – Nocturne
Florist: New City Florist
Oyster Shuckers: Red Oyster USA
Transportation: Mark of Elegance, a BOLI Preferred Vendor; Camelot; Tran Star Limo
Hair: Ink & Ivy, a BOLI preferred vendor
Makeup: Makeup By Cole
Officiant: Rabbi Sara Shonfeld, a BOLI Preferred Vendor and Reverend Deb Viola
Invitations: Robedee Design
Dress: WONA
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Cake: Campbells, a BOLI Preferred Vendor
Tuxedos: Soto and Co.
(Photo courtesy of Studio 27 Photography)
