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The Bride Wore a Custom Markarian Dress to Her Intimate Wedding at The Bowery Hotel

By Shayna Seid | Photography by 

Freda Banks

Jacqueline Falcon, the director of brand marketing at watch destination HODINKEE, and Bryan Booth first met as 16-year-olds, when they were both at court for speeding tickets. They became fast friends and stayed close throughout high school. The two made things more official during Christmas break of their freshman year at university. After doing long-distance and their graduations, the couple moved in together into a studio in New York City. 

Jacqueline originally never had any plans to get married—it simply wasn’t something she dreamed about. However, after the pandemic, she fully realized how lucky she and Bryan were to have each other and wanted to protect that. “I had told Bryan that if we were ever to get married, I would want to skip a formal engagement because we were far past that in our relationship,” she explains.

The unofficial proposal came in the summer of 2020 in Montauk. He asked, as he had several times before, if they could get married, and Jacqueline responded with, “Okay fine, but we’re doing it our way.” She adds, “We were just two adults who decided it was time to make things official.” The couple kept their plans a secret until that Christmas. The resounding response from loved ones was, “Finally!”

In 2021, the bride reached out to Kirsty Stone at Retrouvai for help designing her custom engagement ring. “We went back and forth on designs a few times, finally landing on a setting shaped after a vintage cigar band,” Jacqueline says. “The one thing I did know from the start is I wanted an emerald cut diamond, set east-west in gold. Kirsty sourced the stone for me which I only saw virtually—since she was in L.A.—but I trusted her.”

Jacqueline and Bryan originally planned to wed at the courthouse in New York City, but City Hall remained closed due to the pandemic, so they went with their Plan B—an intimate ceremony on the terrace of The Bowery Hotel followed by a dinner party at Palma. “The restaurant has a beautiful carriage house and garden terrace that feels like you’re in someone’s home,” the bride shares. “It also reminded us of the restaurants we visited during our favorite trip to Ischia, where the gardens were overgrown with vines, the tables were communal, and nothing was too precious. Bryan and I love hosting dinner parties in our own backyard in Brooklyn, so it felt very us.”

In alignment with her first courthouse vision, Jaqueline pictured herself “wearing something simple and classic.” “I love the chic effortlessness of a civil ceremony look,” she says. The bride started her search looking at ready-to-wear and vintage pieces—mostly avoiding anything too bridal. She remembered that Markarian had a showroom in the city and fortunately got a last-minute appointment. “I was able to customize one of their classic corset styles with satin-finished dupioni and a crystal belt.” 

To give her bridal ensemble a bit more of a fashion edge, she styled the dress with Amina Muaddi x AWGE white sandals and Sophie Buhai pearl earrings that Bryan gifted to Jaqueline. And on the day-of, she got ready with makeup artist Monica Nguyen and hair stylist Halie K. from White Rose Collective

For dinner, the bride changed into a champagne Jacquemus dress from the spring 2021 collection, so she could sit more comfortably. And the grand finale was a black Paco Rabanne star cut-out dress that she was saving for her 30th birthday in March of 2020, but alas, the pandemic diverted her party. “I would wear that dress a million times again,” Jacqueline says.

Bryan worked with P. Johnson on a made-to-measure dark navy suit. Since Jacqueline used to work for Mr. Porter, she knew exactly where to go for his outfit. He paired the suit with simple black Church’s loafers and an Ermengildo Zegna tie. “On the day of our wedding, I gave him a little handkerchief with our date and initials hand-sewn in,” the bride remarks.

On June 11, 2021, the micro-ceremony started on the terrace of their suite at the hotel. The couple’s immediate families and Jacqueline’s two best girlfriends were the only ones in attendance. The two walked hand-in-hand down the aisle. Honeybreak Officiants led the service and helped the two craft their story and vows. “While it wasn’t a religious ceremony, there was a special moment where we all joined hands, while my mom read a beautiful prayer that she had written for us,” the bride recalls. “Every single person was in tears, as she blessed us with her words.”

After saying, “I do,” there was a quick Champagne toast, and then everyone headed to Palma, where the rest of the guests were gathering. The newlyweds pulled up in a classic yellow cab to cheers from their loved ones and people passing by.

At the West Village spot, not much was done to add to the already beautiful carriage house and terrace. Jacqueline’s friend, Kelsie of Popup Florist, installed overhead greenery, making the restaurant feel more lush. 

Around 8:00 p.m., people made their way downstairs to the garden for dinner. On each place setting along the long table there was a handwritten note from the couple, expressing to each guest why they were happy they were celebrating this milestone with them.

Everyone enjoyed toasts while digging into a delicious summer Italian meal. “My dad made a speech and toast which brought us all to tears all over again,” Jacqueline shares. “I’ve always been super independent, but there’s nothing like hearing your journey through the eyes of your dad.”

At the end of the feast, Palma brought out a round of 30 espresso martinis, served alongside a chocolate and hazelnut olive cake that Jacquline’s best friend baked. And then the newlyweds surprised their guests by ushering them into a trolley, from The New York Trolley Company, that drove everyone around the city with more drinks and music. They were eventually dropped off at a karaoke bar in the Lower East Side, where the group sang until the early morning hours. Jacqueline adds, “The next day, we hosted everyone at our place in Brooklyn for a backyard BBQ, which also ended up going until about 2:00 a.m. that night.”