In high school, Megan Silverman was voted “Most Likely to Live a Fairy Tale and Marry a Prince.” So it’s not surprising that she envisioned a magical ambience when planning her wedding to fiancé, Stephen Uzick. To capture the aesthetic of a royal ball, Megan selected a palette centered on ivory and blush tones with gold touches, as well as an abundance of fresh flowers, including thousands of peonies and roses.

Though she loved the process, it wasn’t entirely smooth sailing – especially when the couple learned three days before the wedding that their reception venue would not be available due to flooding. During such stressful moments, the advice her father kept repeating to her helped Megan stay calm: “At the end of the day, you get to be married, [so] you win every battle,” he said. Fortunately, a ballroom at the location where the ceremony was going to be held had an opening.

For the Jewish service, Megan selected a significant site – the synagogue where her parents were married 30 years earlier and where they attended services as a family when she was growing up. Honoring Jewish customs in the celebration was important to the couple, particularly the signing of their lacelike laser-cut ketubah. Before the vow exchange, immediate family joined the bride and groom at the candlelit ketubah signing ceremony.

Inside the wood-paneled sanctuary, the altar featured backlit sheer panels. Airy fabric was fastened to chuppah posts with floral tiebacks and crowned with a bevy of blush and ivory blooms. Standing beneath the chuppah with her dapper groom was an ethereal moment for Megan. “Although the pictures can depict the scene, the smell is unforgettable. Amongst all the flowers, that one spot had a different, almost holy, smell,” says the bride, who was radiant in a strapless lace gown, taupe sash with pearl details, and sparkling headband. Floral and greenery garlands climbed up tall gilded vases to bouquets of white and pink blossoms on either side of the structure.

As guests stepped into the reception, it was difficult to discern a last-minute change of venue had taken place. Loved ones found their names elegantly written in golden calligraphy on envelope escort cards pinned to a panel of champagne and pearl peonies in an ornate gilded frame. Long mirror-top tables, round tables clad in sequin gilt linens, and square tables draped in matte bullion tablecloths were paired with gold chiavari chairs, tufted love seats, and modern chairs with ivory velvet upholstery. Stunning arrangements that featured vanilla hydrangeas, snapdragons, and orchids accented with pale pink peonies and roses in blush, peach, and lilac hues filled large and small cut-crystal vases, tall streamlined vessels, and cascaded around gilded candelabra. A collection of Moroccan-inspired lanterns was suspended from a magnificent ring of roses and peonies over the glossy circular dance floor bearing a gilded monogram.

Dinner offered a delectable selection of options: A Mediterranean station where fresh risotto was served from a large Parmigiano-Reggiano wheel; an American station with a biscuit bar, chicken-fried steak, gourmet jellies, and honeys; an Asian station serving fried rice, spring rolls, fish, and vegetables; and a made-to-order sushi bar. Embellished with rosettes and designs to replicate the lace of the bride's gown, the wedding confection featured white cake with two kinds of filling: dulce de leche and raspberry liqueur. A cherished companion was also honored during the dessert course. The groom’s cake was in the form of the couple’s puppy, Penny. “It was so spot on,” declares Megan of the likeness. In addition, macaron ice cream sandwiches in a variety of eclectic flavors, such as blueberry lemon ricotta and margarita with salt, were served to family and friends on the dance floor.

Looking back, Megan wouldn’t change anything about the magical experience. “Even the flood,” affirms the beaming bride, “it added character.”