Katherine Meehan, co-founder of vintage-inspired fashion label Louise New York, was college roommates with Timothy McLaughlin’s sister, Tara. They met a few times previously, and little did she know that he had developed a years-long crush on her. Finally at Tara’s going away brunch, before she moved to San Francisco, he asked her out. Katie and Tim had their first date at Mother’s Ruin in Manhattan, and they eventually moved to the Upper West Side.
A little less than two years later, Tim proposed on his family’s boat in the middle of the Peconic Bay. “I was basically wearing my pajamas and high socks and did not have my nails done,” Katie remembers. “I was so happy and of course exclaimed, ‘Yes!’ like three times.”
The engaged couple chose to get married at a country club in Locust Valley, where Tim’s parents were married 35 years prior. For the wedding, Katie wanted elevated design details incorporated into her elegant, romantic garden-inspired theme. The color palette included blush, dusty rose, peach, coral, and sage hues with touches of fig and gray-blue. To help bring their vision to life, the duo hired Lisa Marie Blinn of L. Marie Events, and Shawn Connell was there to capture every moment. And artist Callie Buck and Bella Figura set the tone for the celebration with a whimsical invitation suite.
Katie and Tim originally set the date for May 30, 2020 and then optimistically postponed to August 15, 2020. After discovering the new date was not in the cards, the couple had a civil ceremony at the Oyster Bay Town Hall on July 31, 2021 and continued to plan their larger celebration for that August.
After trying on nearly 150 wedding dresses, Katie still couldn’t find “the one.” Then, she came across Hermione de Paula’s Instagram page and made an appointment to see the designer when she was going to be in New York for Bridal Fashion Week. Together, they created a gown with a long-sleeve top with Tim’s initials embroidered on it and silk overskirt and a matching veil.
The bride’s “something borrowed” was a pair of pearl drop earrings from one of Katie’s best friends. And her “something blue” was a vintage lace handkerchief with a script “M,” gifted to the bride by her mother.
On the day-of, Katie got ready with a beauty team from Damali Bridal. The bridal party wore robes made by her bridesmaid’s company, Indigo by Boutin, before changing into Fame & Partners dresses in sand and beige. “I absolutely love color, but I wanted a lot of the color to come from the florals and the backdrop of the water,” the bride explains.
To say, “I do,” Tim wore a custom black tie suit by Victor Talbot, and his 10 groomsmen wore tuxedos with boutonnieres consisting of pampas grass, scabiosa pods, and delicate blooms by Scarsella’s Flowers.
On August 28, 2021 at St. Dominic’s Chapel in Oyster Bay, Katie and her father passed the floral-adorned entrance and headed down the aisle. “When I locked eyes with Tim, I felt a sense of calmness, and for a moment, he was the only person I saw in the room,” the bride says.
The church’s deacon, Deacon Jay Valdes, married the couple. “He loves to crack jokes, so we knew that he would be a great option to marry us,” Katie notes.
After exchanging vows and being announced as a married couple (again), cocktail hour began at the club’s beach house with views of the Long Island Sound. For a sentimental touch, the new McLaughlins drove to meet their guests in Tim’s late grandfather’s beloved blue Mercedes convertible. Off of the beach club, the reception tent was set up for a wonderful multi-course dinner.
For entertainment, the 10-piece band from Element Music, Off The Grid, read the room perfectly with a mix of oldies and new hits. The newlyweds had their first dance to “This Magic Moment” by The Drifters. “I originally wanted a different song, but once we danced to it, we knew it was the one,” Katie says.
In addition to the father-daughter dance to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” by Elton John, Katie also dance with her mother to “Into The Mystic” by Van Morrison. “Both dances were so fun, and the dance moves were totally impromptu; there were unexpected swings, dips, and turns,” she says.
For the after-party, Katie changed into a custom ivory silk mini dress by Katarina Grey that featured a long draping bow in the back, and Tim put on a white dinner jacket. “I figured if I got a change of outfit, then he should too!” the bride exclaims. “I also loved the idea of a white dinner jacket for a summer wedding on the water.”
The new mister and missus danced with glow sticks and a deejay until late that night. ”Tim and I had to leave for our honeymoon to South Africa the next day, so we did not have an after, after-party, but we heard some of our friends did!” Katie exclaims.
