The Wedding of Katharine Black and John Quinn at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, NY

Katharine Black and John Quinn May 14, 2011

Katharine Black and John Quinn met when they were both working in ad sales for Comedy Central and Spike TV. Katharine had become accustomed to the daily morning meeting, where John would come in for a “shoot-around,” catching up with her and two of her office-mates about what they had done the previous night. “I was always very shy and quiet,” Katharine says, “because I had a big crush on him.”

But she finally let her guard down at a work event at the Central Park Boathouse, which led to a quiet office romance that resulted in a proposal under the big arch at Washington Square Park (where they’d had one of their best early dates). And, though they had to keep the relationship secret at the office until John was transferred to another network in the same company, for the wedding, they were determined to let their romance—and their personalities—take center stage.

- Advertisement -

“I didn’t want it to be cookie-cutter,” Katharine says. “I really wanted it to reflect us.”

They started by including one beloved member of the family who couldn’t attend the wedding—Lyla, their mixed-breed shelter dog—on the save-the-dates. “It was a little kitschy, but all of our friends know how obsessive we are about our dog,” she says. The Washington Square Park arch also played a role in the wedding, with a sketch of it, done by a family friend, turning up on the place-card table and menu.

Though they both live in New York City, the couple chose to have the ceremony in Larchmont, where Katherine grew up. Photos were taken at Larchmont’s Manor Park. “It’s a place where we always went for walks with my family and friends,” Katharine says. “Plus, the backdrop is beautiful, with the boats and the water.”

Afterward, festivities moved on to Rye Brook’s Doral Arrowwood. Upon arriving in the ballroom, guests were wowed with soaring centerpieces topped with cherry-blossom branches. “I originally wanted low centerpieces, because I thought of tall centerpieces as being these big candelabras and over-the-top things. But the ceiling at Arrowwood is so high that you really need tall centerpieces; otherwise, the room looks kind of empty. Lauren Sozmen of Loli Events came up with the idea of branches with cherry blossoms, and we went from there. We got the height that we needed without interfering with conversation around the table.”

Katharine and John started things off on the dance floor with the Zac Brown Band song “Free,” which segued into Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” Then, it was time for everyone to join them on the floor as the eight-piece band Gotham kicked the party into high gear. “The band was one of our favorite things about our wedding,” Katharine says. “John and I would stop every once in a while to take in everything and, most of the time, everyone was up and dancing. Two people there had physical ailments leading up to our wedding, and were still getting down on the dance floor. That dance floor was packed.”
—Marisa LaScala

- Partner Content -

Resource Guide: Ceremony: Church of St. Augustine, 18 Cherry Ave, Larchmont (914) 834-1220; staugustineny.org.
Reception Venue: Doral Arrowwood Conference Center, 975 Anderson Hill Rd, Rye Brook (914) 939-5500; doralarrowwood.com.
Cake: Doral Arrowwood.
Flowers: Westchester Floral Decorators, 299 Wolfs Ln, Pelham (914) 633-1900; westchesterfloral.com.
Photography: Cynthia DelConte/Day for Night Productions, 60 Broadway, Tivoli, NY (845) 757-2222; dayfornightproductions.com.
Bridal Dress: Pronovias 14 E 52nd St, New York, NY (212) 897-6393; pronovias.us.
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo,132 W 36th St, New York, NY (212) 645-0823; jennyyoo.com.
Music & Entertainment: Gotham, Todd Barrie Music & Entertainment, 15 Bryant Ave, Roslyn, NY (516) 625-4700; toddbarrie.com.
Wedding Planner: Lauren Sozmen, Loli Events, (914) 659-1294; lolievents.com.
Stationery: RSVP 215 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck (914) 381-0202; rsvpny.com.

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Our Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot is open through March 6!

Holiday flash sale ... subscribe and save 50%

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.