Greg Kwiat was visiting friends at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, when he was introduced to undergrad Ali Goletka. Even though they both felt a strong connection to one another, Greg and Ali did not go out on their first date until several years later when they were reunited in Manhattan. Fate had been patient, and Ali and Greg’s relationship finally had the chance to grow. They eventually purchased a new apartment together in New York City, and it was still in the construction stages when Greg was ready to pop the question. On May 20, 2006, he brought Ali to the site of their new building and, as the bride remembers, “He proposed in the space that would ultimately become our apartment –– hard hats, roses, and all.” Learning fairly quickly that “wedding planning takes exactly the amount of time you have to plan it,” Ali and Greg devoted the full eight months of their engagement to bringing their ideas to life. Despite a guest list of 250 people, the couple was still intent on an intimate atmosphere in a memorable location, particularly one that would appeal to their many international guests (Ali hails from London). They chose a quintessential New York nightspot, the legendary Rainbow Room, and set about creating their affair with the help of their families and recently married friends. So as not to compete with the elaborate Art Deco design of the Rainbow Room, Ali and Greg kept the wedding décor understated and elegant. Bridesmaids in chocolate brown dresses carried bouquets of roses and calla lilies in burnt orange while Ali, dressed in a draped ball gown, held a bunch of white lilies of the valley as her mother and father walked her down the aisle. She also wore a stunning diamond tiara designed by Kwiat Diamonds, the family company of which Greg is CFO. During the traditional Jewish ceremony, the bride and groom used an heirloom kiddish cup that they were delighted to discover had ties to both sets of families. Two days before the wedding, the couple learned that the cup belonging to Ali’s grandparents was actually given to them by a distant cousin of Greg’s more than forty years ago. The cup symbolized Ali and Greg’s unity in a deeper way than they could have ever imagined it would, and they shared in its meaning beneath the wintry chuppah covered in white flowers and greenery. Inside the dining room, tightly-packed arrangements of amber roses adorned each table, complementing the gold chairs and warm ambient lighting. But the seats were left unoccupied as Ali and Greg took their first twirl around the circular dance floor as husband and wife. “Our first dance was a moment both of us will remember forever,” says Ali. “We chose not to take dance lessons because we wanted to look natural and have fun. When it came time to dance, we were loose and truly enjoyed the moment.” Their guests put the band to good use as well, especially when the lead singer was the groom himself. Greg’s hobby is performing in a Beatles and Rolling Stones cover band, and when he took to the microphone to sing “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Stones, he brought the gathering to its feet. He also serenaded his bride with “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison, an experience that certainly contributed to the intimacy of the celebration. With more dancing to be done, everyone welcomed the sustenance provided by the gourmet meal. After courses of salad with cheese soufflé, veal, and sea bass were enjoyed, the beautiful and delicious wedding cake designed by Ron Ben Israel was served. Its cookies and cream filling was hidden beneath a delicate exterior trimmed in edible lace and decorated with sugar flowers and butterflies that coordinated with the warm colors of the room. With so many wonderful moments to absorb amidst all the excitement, Ali and Greg advise other couples to do what they did: step back and take a moment to let it all sink in. “And be sure to steal a few private moments with your partner to enjoy the big night together,” adds the bride. Armed with memories galore, the newlyweds departed on their exotic honeymoon, spending time in the Maldives, Vietnam, and Cambodia.