When Michael Hight met Harper Feingold for the first time, he couldn’t help but think: She’s even more stunning in person than in the pictures. After being set up by a mutual friend and agreeing to meet at a cozy speakeasy in Chelsea, New York, Harper was a bit nervous and unsure how the date would work out. “I’ll never forget that I immediately thought he was so cute,” she confides. Instantly smitten, they also realized they had a lot in common, and so, their love story began.

In the summer of 2023, the couple visited Michael’s favorite golf club in Upstate New York for a family trip with his cousins. He piqued Harper’s curiosity when he asked her to pack something nice for Saturday brunch. Her instincts were accurate, as he had also planned a romantic surprise proposal where they would take in amazing views atop a hill on the property. After he got down on one knee and she happily accepted, he whisked her away to lunch where her family also joined the celebration. “I was too shocked and happy to cry during the actual proposal, but I burst into tears when I saw my family,” Harper reveals.

Wedding planning was quickly underway, and the couple easily settled on New York City as the destination. After touring The Plaza, the bride quickly realized it was The One. “It is an iconic New York venue, and the aesthetic fit my vision perfectly,” she affirms.

Decision making was easy for Harper – who leaned on the advice of her highly sought-after planners at Victoria Dubin Events – and she decided on a neutral color palette of white, cream, champagne, blush, and gold. “These hues complemented the venue perfectly. I didn’t want a stark wedding, so the dimension of having different shades was important to us,” Harper adds.

One aspect that the bride found surprising during wedding planning was the unexpected lull. “Once we secured the big vendors over a year out,” she starts, “there was a solid few months of a lull in the planning that didn’t pick back up again until a few months prior to the wedding.” Rather than feeling anxious, Harper welcomed the break. It allowed her time to focus on personal touches with her parents, such as creating thoughtful welcome bags for guests staying at the hotel.

“I didn’t want a stark wedding, so the dimension of having different [neutral] shades was important to us.”

A beautiful décor concept was arranged for the ceremony with bullion Chiavari chairs facing a stage highlighting a large chuppah made of thousands of roses paired with sprinkles of orchids. “I wanted the look to be super dense without much greenery,” explains Harper. Large standing arrangements of blooms lined the aisle along with candlelight that lent a warm ambience to the gorgeous space.

Cultural traditions were important to the couple and the Jewish service was led by both a rabbi, as well as the cantor from Harper’s bat mitzvah 16 years prior. Their grandparents were part of the processional, which caused tears to flow as they gracefully walked down the aisle to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

The bride stunned guests with her timeless beauty, wearing a floral-inspired, full-skirted strapless gown with a modern low back and carrying a lush bouquet of roses with a touch of stephanotis blossoms to match the appliqués on her dress. The music selection was extremely intentional, and the couple thought it would be fun to conclude the ceremony with the song “Jubel” played on saxophone, for a fun upbeat moment.

As guests arrived to the quintessential New York City site for an evening of dinner and dancing, they were met with the staircases bedecked in flowers and made complete with votive candlelight. Tablescapes were adorned with hundreds of fresh flowers, including one jaw-dropping oversized crystal candelabra style. “Our floral visions were executed perfectly!” raves the bride. Mesmerizing customized menu cards that mimicked the design of the invitation suite were placed on bullion-rimmed charger plates to round out the sophisticated table setting.

The newlyweds hit the dance floor for their first dance, setting the tone for the remainder of the evening. “Our first dance was epic and really kicked off the party,” the groom exclaims. “We had the most incredible band! We made sure to select the perfect mix of music that would cater to all ages and keep everyone on the dance floor all night.”

Harper and Michael both note that they wouldn’t change a thing and treasure all of the memories from the special day. The biggest advice they can share with other couples: hire a videographer. “You are going to want to relive every minute. It’s all worth it!” confirms the new Mrs. Hight.

This real wedding was originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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