Wedding Season: Manhattan Rooftop

By Heather Summerville
May 11, 2010

Centerpieces, menus, the gray tulle headband the flower girl will wear—weddings are a thousand small decisions that add up to one extraordinary day. In this ongoing series, The Inside Source talks to brides who leaned heavily on eBay on their way to the alter. Our first installment features a bridal gown consultant—who knows nuptials better than anyone—planning a swanky affair on a Tribeca rooftop to wed her doctor beau.

Who: Emily Leu, a sales consultant at Amsale’s flagship bridal salon, to Dave Anthony, chief resident at New York Presbyterian Hospital

How they met: The only way a modern couple in New York can meet…online.

The Proposal: “He called me at work to tell me a pipe had burst in our kitchen and the entire apartment was flooding. I was so busy I told him to call the maintenance guys and I'd be home later. Everyone at my office knew what was going on and told me to go home. Begrudgingly I did, grumbling the whole way about how this guy can save lives, but can't handle a little water in the kitchen. When I walked in, there was no water, but hundreds of candles and music playing. He turned the corner—all dressed up—dropped to one knee and proposed. I was shocked!”

The Mood: “Glam and a little dark with the NYC skyline and lots of little candles to make the night magical.”

The Palette: “Black, charcoal and deep, dark purple.”

The Location: “Tribeca Rooftop for the cocktails and reception.”

She's Wearing: “Amsale....of course!”

He's Wearing: “A tux. His inspiration is James Bond.”

The Flowers: “Very monochromatic: Dark, dark, dark purple.”

The Menu: “Lots of stations: Mediterranean, sushi, a raw bar, a martini bar, and tiny comfort foods, like mac and cheese.”

The Playlist: “A good mix of old-school hip-hop, '90s one-hit-wonders and classics (not wedding classics though—no chicken dance or YMCA).”

Leu's eBay picks for the big day:

1. Brian Atwood Starburst Pumps (buy it now price, $379.99) “The perfect bridal shoe.”

2. Miu Miu Sequin Clutch (buy it now price, $249) “A great bridesmaids gift—and something they're sure to use again.”

3. Tibetan Silver Chinese Tea Set (starting bid, $2.76) “Just what I need for the traditional Chinese Tea Pouring Ceremony that will take place between the ceremony and reception.”

4. Tulle Headband (buy it now price, $18) “The perfect fashion accessory for the littlest member of the wedding party, our flower girl.”

5. Silky Ribbon in Eggplant Purple (buy it now price, $4.75) “Great color for wrapping the bouquets! And you can't beat the price...”

6. Crème De La Mer Moisturizing Cream (buy it now price, $107.46) “It’s an investment, but glowing wedding day skin is priceless.”

7. Stella McCartney Perfume (buy it now price, $73.92) “This is the perfume I was wearing when we met—Dave calls it ‘First Date Perfume’—so it’s a must for the big day.”

8. Vintage Mont Blanc Pen (buy it now price, $105) “The most glamorous way I can think of to start writing thank-you notes.”

To see what our other brides selected, click here.

Heather Summerville is a freelance writer and editor in New York City who has contributed to publications including InStyle, Lucky, Real Simple, and Travel and Leisure.

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