Jessica Kotal, VP of Design at Reformation, and Kyle Cohen first met as freshmen, living in the same dorm at Syracuse University. They dated for three years during college then spent seven apart before reconnecting, when Jessica was in California and Kyle in New York. “To make a long story short, his mom and friends encouraged him to reach out to me, and we met up in Nashville, where it would be neutral ground,” Jessica shares. “We ended up having the time of our lives, and it was as if nothing had changed.”
Two-and-a-half years later—somewhere in-between, Jessica moved to New York City—the couple got engaged. The proposal took place during a weekend away with friends and Jessica’s mother. While the girls were en route to a wine tasting and the boys golfed, Kyle’s mom “forgot her phone,” offering a brief delay while Kyle coordinated with the photographer nearby. At the suggestion of Kyle’s sister, they stopped to admire a neighbor’s newly redone garden. “Meanwhile I was so worried about being late to our wine tasting,” Jessica remembers. “She practically pushes me out of the car toward the entry to the garden and as soon as I walked through the gate, I turned and saw Kyle at the end of a stone path waiting for me and I knew exactly what was happening.” The same garden later served as the backdrop for their first look.
The easiest decision in the planning process was the venue. Kyle had always hoped to be married at his family’s home in Sagaponack, where his parents were married 34 years earlier. “It’s his favorite place on earth and quickly became one of mine,” Jessica shares.
The overall aesthetic came together just as naturally. “I have made so many design decisions over the years that have made me realize how important timelessness is to me,” she says. “This meant I had to go with all neutrals—one color and I would have looked back and regretted it.”
With the planning underway, the couple turned to the bride’s cousin, Kelly Patrice, for support, and brought in Via Imagery to document the day.
As someone who works in fashion, the bride admits she had a clear vision before she began dress shopping—but made a point to stay open. “Originally I pictured myself in a more slim gown, but as I tried more dresses on, nothing made me feel more like a bride than the dresses with fuller skirts,” she shares. “Following our aesthetic, timelessness was super important to me, but I also wanted something unique. The Danielle Frankel gown I chose was the perfect blend. Clean lines, and a simple shape, but the pleated fabric made it so special. And I loved the buttery ivory color as opposed to stark white.”
For shoes, she had a specific image in mind. “I had always dreamt of getting this shot where my shoes perfectly peek out from under my dress, like a Carrie Bradshaw moment,” Jessica shares. “It clicked—I had to get Manolos.” Her jewelry included a pair of pearl drop earrings from the same store where Kyle had once purchased a necklace for her in college.
For the after-party, she changed into a Reformation mini dress of her own design—comfortable enough for dancing and suited to a planned end-of-night jump in the pool.
Hair and makeup were among the more difficult choices. “I love doing my own hair and makeup,” Jessica says. “I would have done it myself, but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to make it last all day and night.” She worked with Sophia Vallejos for makeup and Kendall Williams for hair. Sophia created a natural look that allowed the bride to feel like herself, while Kendall styled loose curls, kept simple and polished by request.
The bridesmaids wore Reformation dresses designed by the bride over the years, in a palette developed in collaboration with the brand’s print designer.
On August 10, 2024, Jessica and Kyle were married in the garden of Kyle’s family home. In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, Kyle’s parents filled the space with blooming florals, planting by hand to shape the setting. Michelle of Creative Light Design added hydrangeas throughout, and butterflies moved through the flowers as guests arrived. The ceremony, officiated by Kyle’s father, was shared with only their closest family and friends. “During the ceremony, I just tried to focus on all the words that were being said and look Kyle right in the eyes,” Jessica remembers. “I can still picture the look on his face perfectly. It was an absolute dream.”
Afterward, the newlyweds drove to the reception in Kyle’s grandfather’s 1948 Jaguar—a tribute to the man who built the home where they wed. Their first dance under the Mcburnie tent was to Chris Stapleton’s “Joy of My Life,” followed by the hora as the rest of the guests joined in. The reception was intimate and warm, set to a playlist of Norah Jones and John Mayer. Dinner, catered by Art of Eating, featured chicken Milanese and short rib.
A full horn section anchored the Element Music band—an intentional choice for the groom, who has a deep appreciation for the saxophone—and kept the dance floor full well into the night. “Oh my…what didn’t happen after the reception?” Jessica laughs. “Everyone jumped in the pool and we had a DJ playing a bunch of throwbacks. When I say everyone…I mean everyone, including the parents.”
A few days later, the newlyweds departed for their honeymoon. They began in Italy, with stops in Ischia and Amalfi, before heading to Greece, where they explored Paros and Mykonos.
