Their first date went extraordinarily well, with both Blakeslee Johnson and Will Reiter recognizing that their connection felt uniquely special. As they said their goodbyes that evening, Blake pointed across the street to a building that was under construction and said, “I want to live there someday.” Years, later, they now call that building home.
Will also sweetly fulfilled another of Blake’s wishes by secretly purchasing the vintage engagement ring she had fawned over for months with friends. “When I showed it to him, he was mildly horrified and said we were absolutely not getting engaged anytime soon,” Blake recalls. “I was devastated when the website said it had sold – little did I know that he was the one who bought it.” Secured with his beloved’s prized ring and the blessings of her parents, Will proposed on a typical Sunday evening in their apartment. “It was perfect,” she confirms.
Planning their wedding was at times more stressful than anticipated, so the couple was grateful for the guidance of their wedding planner. “I was actually surprised by how many things Will and I disagreed on,” the bride confides. However, they easily settled on the venue for the big day: a gorgeous property in the Hamptons boasting seven suites and three cottages, all within a private estate. “It was so beautiful,” Blake describes of the site, “and it also allowed us to have some of our friends and family members stay with us over the weekend.”
Though there was no particular theme for the event, the bride and groom sought a classic look that didn’t appear fussed over. The ceremony was modestly decorated beyond the single tall arch erected, crafted from lush greenery and florals. The structure served as the area for the nuptials officiated by father-of-the-bride’s best friend. As the string quartet began to play “In My Life” by The Beatles, guests rose from their wooden vineyard chairs for Blake’s grand entrance. She wore a timeless trumpet gown of silk satin with a V-neck from Mark Ingram Atelier and carried a romantic bouquet of cafe au lait dahlias, spray and garden roses, and lacecap hydrangeas in muted shades. “I thought Will was going to cry when he saw me, but he actually had the most ridiculously huge smile I have ever seen on anyone,” reveals Blake. “That was the greatest feeling that he could look so happy to marry me.”
Will admits he wanted a ceremony that was special but not too long. “It was important to me that we write our own vows to reflect our values, the views we both shared of our marriage, and how we planned to spend our lives together,” he adds. The couple asked Will’s father to do a reading during the service. “He selected the perfect poem: ‘The Master Speed,’ which Robert Frost wrote for his own daughter’s wedding,” says the bride. At the conclusion, guests shifted to the reception tent, which was flawlessly decorated in a clean, sophisticated design.
Round tables covered in neutral linens were adorned with garden-inspired flower arrangements of roses, dahlias, and hydrangeas in blush and watermelon hues placed in footed glass vases. A sit-down supper was served as well as slices of delicious red velvet cake. “The speeches were great and so well-timed in between each course of dinner,” Will tells. “All of them were funny and heartfelt and just the right length.”
A high-energy band kept loved ones on their feet most of the night. “They had the dance floor packed from the moment they started playing,” describes Will, who had a great time dancing with his new wife to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” surrounded by all of their friends. Blake encourages other couples to choose a few things they care about and not sweat the small stuff: “If the band is good and there’s plenty of booze, everyone is going to have a great time.” And they did. The newlyweds and their late-night revelers enjoyed not one, but two after-parties. “It was all so perfect,” reminisces Blake.