On the eve of their wedding, Melissa Urfirer and Ben Gottesman hosted a lovely rehearsal dinner in the same New York City borough where they would tie the knot. “We wanted to do a full Brooklyn weekend,” Melissa tells of their pre-wedding soirée. Ecstatic about the following day, 100 loved ones gathered at Roberta’s, an Italian restaurant, for the prenuptial celebration. In the true spirit of the duo’s wedding state, and a special milestone in their relationship, pizza was a major motif throughout the evening. “We decided to start officially dating in 2010 over a slice of pizza in New York, so we thought it would be fitting and special to include a nod to pizza in our wedding weekend,” the bride reveals. “We wanted to do something different and non-fussy, but still elegant [so] we decided to throw a pizza party in a unique industrial space.”

Wedding photographer Maya Myers captured images of the pair’s outdoor party, which showcased a unique décor that offset the aesthetic of the urban locale. “It was such an interesting juxtaposition between the space outside the tent – industrial steel [and] graffiti – and the space inside the tent, which was filled with hundreds of flowers in every color,” the bride muses. The bright blooms were placed in blue-and-white chinoiserie vases, which paired beautifully with the fruit on the tables. Lush greenery, wicker basket lanterns, and string lights were suspended from the tent and perfectly complemented the overall ambience the couple envisioned. “Our floral designer turned the industrial space into one of the most beautiful flower wonderlands,” she remembers. Guests were enthralled by the gorgeous décor and enjoyed the sounds of a local jazz band as they consumed their delicious Italian entrées and celebrated with the bride and groom.

Reflecting on their lighthearted rehearsal dinner, Melissa and Ben are extremely thankful for the passion and dedication of their wedding planners. “Leslie Mastin and Annie McGrath from Leslie Mastin Events brought it all together and executed the evening perfectly.”