Photographed by Mia McDonald1/28The minute my fiancé, Graham, and I saw Weylin B. Seymour’s, we knew it was perfect for our engagement party. It’s the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank down on Broadway across from Peter Luger’s that was left derelict for years until two Argentine families restored it to its former glory—and frankly, I suspect, better than it’s former glory. Graham used to live nearby in Williamsburg, and for the past few years, he’d been stalking this building on Brownstoner and Curbed, so when we were talking about having a party in New York, he suggested my mom and I go investigate. They had just opened and were very impressed that we ferretted them out so soon.
Photographed by Mia McDonald2/28To clarify, this event basically was my wedding. Technically, it was an engagement party—but it is the closest thing to a wedding reception we are actually going to have. For our actual ceremony, we want a small, intimate affair at my family’s house in the southwest of France next summer. My mother, Candice Bergen, was excited about a big wedding in New York, though, so this party was our compromise.
My mom and the <span class="st">Van Wyck & Van Wyck</span> team planned the whole thing. Graham and I just showed up and were wowed. She was so excited for me to see the space when I walked in. She wore an Akris dress that she paired with the most beautiful pair of Irene Neuwirth opal earrings.
Photographed by Mia McDonald3/28My friend Gillian Lite works at Bobbi Brown at Bergdorf’s and often does my makeup when I have black-tie events to go to for work. She was off that Saturday but came to my apartment from Queens to do my makeup as well as Graham’s mom and my aunt's. It made the whole afternoon feel more special. Graham and my mother picked out my engagement ring together at Fred Leighton, so it seemed thematic for me to wear their pink diamond earrings to the party.
Photographed by Mia McDonald4/28My dress is Valentino, and I fell in love with it when I borrowed it to wear to the Golden Globe Awards in January. Of course, it was the sample, so on the model the skirt was tea-length, but on my 5'3" frame, it was practically to the floor. Valentino kindly shortened it to accommodate the fact that I am vertically challenged. I liked that it was white and celebratory without being too bridal. My mom and I also loved the hot pink embroidery over the bodice and into the skirt. To play that up, mama went to M&J Trimming on Sixth Avenue and got a yard of matching pink grosgrain ribbon for me to tie around my waist.
Photographed by Mia McDonald5/28I often get my hair done at John Barrett Salon for events; everyone there does a wonderful job, but I particularly loved what Halli did with my hair for the party. I wanted something simple and unfussy but also clean and elegant, and that’s just what I got.
Photographed by Mia McDonald6/28Bronson van Wyck’s real stroke of genius was the entryway filled with votives and hurricane lamps.
Photographed by Mia McDonald7/28Graham and I were petrified that someone was going to either trip on a candle or set their skirt on fire, but fortunately, all crises were averted.
Photographed by Mia McDonald8/28Weylin B. Seymour’s has two connecting domes, so the big question when we started planning was how to divide the space and what to do with the smaller dome. When Bronson suggested hundreds of candles, my mother’s first response was, “It sounds like a fire hazard!” Fortunately, van Wyck keeps a fire marshall on staff.
Photographed by Mia McDonald9/28Here, Graham and I are making a couple of last-minute table changes before the evening begins.
Photographed by Mia McDonald10/28Happy Menocal designed our invitations, and we were so in love with her illustrations and calligraphy that we asked if she would do our escort cards too.
Photographed by Mia McDonald11/28My mother, Graham, and me waiting to greet people near the entrance. Graham looked exceptionally handsome in his blue suit. (He was very insistent that the color was not navy, saying, “It’s more exciting than navy.”) He had it made by a bespoke tailor in Williamsburg named Craig Robinson.
Photographed by Mia McDonald12/28Here, Graham and I are greeting my godfather, Mike Nichols, and his wife, Diane Sawyer. We were all thrilled they were there. My godmother, Tessa Kennedy, also flew in from London, so all the godparents were in attendance!
Photographed by Mia McDonald13/28Once everyone picked up their escort cards, the table they had been on was covered in small arrangements of spring flowers such as hellebores, sweet peas, parrot tulips, and gardenia.
Photographed by Mia McDonald14/28Van Wyck built a large bar along the wall, where the bank teller windows used to be. Leave it to Bronson to add some unexpected flourishes—like the stuffed peacock presiding over the bar.
Photographed by Mia McDonald15/28We had a very boozy tasting a few weeks before the event where we sampled a multitude of cocktails. This, the Airmail (rum, lime, honey, and champagne), was one of the winners.
Photographed by Mia McDonald16/28Graham and I both had a lot of friends and family come from out of town, so we had dinner with them first and then invited more of our New York–based friends for dessert and dancing later. I wanted dinner to be loose and unfussy, so we served it family-style and only sat people by table rather than individual placecards.
Photographed by Mia McDonald17/28The catering company, Bite, was incredible. Scott Skey and Nick Hosea, who run the company, came up with the most impeccable menu of seasonal, delicious food, including these mini Croque Madames topped with scale-appropriate quail eggs.
Photographed by Mia McDonald18/28Van Wyck & Van Wyck conceived of the idea of mixing up the seating and having some higher tables with bar stools and some blue velvet–covered chesterfield sofas and ottomans at coffee tables to make the space feel a bit cozier since it is so large and grand.
Photographed by Mia McDonald19/28Happy Menocal created our menus, too.
Photographed by Mia McDonald20/28I don’t think I’ve ever been in a room with so many people I love and care about. Graham and I were both extremely overwhelmed trying to greet and spend time with everyone!
Photographed by Mia McDonald21/28Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann are our neighbors in East Hampton, and we were thrilled they could come. Clearly I am excited about something since I am gesticulating like a Sicilian housewife.
Photographed by Mia McDonald22/28Many people had questions about the “festive” dress code, but it wasn't Lauren Santo Domingo or Tabitha Simmons’s first rodeo, so they had no problem. Lauren’s striped Emilia Wickstead dress practically screamed festive.
Photographed by Mia McDonald23/28I remember walking into the room and immediately asking my mom about the Medieval Times-style jousting tent that looked like it had been erected. “Oh, that’s just for the DJ” she explained. I thought it odd, but was quickly distracted. After dinner, she made a speech to Graham and I, finishing with the fact that she was just so happy everyone was here celebrating. As soon as she said the word "happy" the curtain dropped revealing a twelve-piece band singing Pharrell’s “Happy.” I was slack-jawed for a full two minutes. Graham and I were totally confused and surprised—we had been expecting a DJ, but Veronica Martell and her band, which specializes in Motown, was my mom’s big surprise. They were fantastic.
Photographed by Mia McDonald24/28At first, I was a little dubious of the celestial lighting scheme, but in action it was breathtaking and completely beautiful.
Photographed by Mia McDonald25/28A few people, including Sofía Sanchez Barrenechea and <span class="st">Alexandre de Betak</span>, were competing for MVP on the dance floor.
Photographed by Mia McDonald26/28Everyone danced until two in the morning. There I am in middle being twirled by Carlos Mota.
Photographed by Mia McDonald27/28A view of Weylin B. Seymour’s at night.
Photographed by Mia McDonald28/28Graham and I had the best time dancing together until the very end of the evening—especially once I put my flats on!
