While Ramón Taylor and Kristina Tafuri vacationed together in Quebec City, Ramón took the opportunity to propose on a charming snowy street beautifully decorated for the holidays. Once he handed Kristina headphones to put on, she was keen that something special was about to happen. 

“A medley of my favorite Christmas music played, which was soon interrupted by a ‘breaking news weather report’ recorded by Ramón with cameos by my family members,” she describes. “At the end of the recording, Ramón got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes through my tears and laughter.” 

After coordinating their big day for over a year, the pandemic forced the couple’s original wedding venue to cancel events. Disappointed, Kristina and Ramón scrambled to determine their next steps, until the bride landed upon an Instagram post from a restaurant they had visited a few times; they were allowing micro-weddings! 

“Celestine overlooks the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges and Manhattan skyline,” illustrates Kristina of the enchanting space. “I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect place for a small, intimate wedding, so the next day I emailed the wedding planner and set up our first meeting.” 

The venue set the stage for a gorgeous celebration that included the couple and 33 of their loved ones. Atypical for many brides and grooms, Ramón took charge and performed most of the communication with vendors for the nuptials, while Kristina really honed in on her favorite aspect: the florals. “Flowers were the one detail I really cared about when it came to planning because I am a flower fanatic,” she admits. “Our flowers were absolutely dreamy!” 

“Flowers were the one detail I really cared about when it came to planning because I am a flower fanatic. Our flowers were absolutely dreamy!”

A heartfelt service, which incorporated handwritten vows, also highlighted lovely music performed by their dear friend Aleksi Glick, who is a professional jazz guitarist. Kristina made her way down the aisle wearing an A-line gown featuring a flowing skirt and feminine V-neck bodice. She carried a luscious bouquet of blooms, including fresh ranunculuses, dahlias, and garden roses. In addition to the loved ones in attendance, many more relatives and friends were able to watch the ceremony via Zoom. 

Dinner tables were adorned with a variety of arrangements highlighting blooms in shades of blush, peach, and white. Just before the seated supper commenced, the newlyweds began their first dance. “It was absolute magic. The love was so palpable. I wish I could relive that moment over and over again,” muses Kristina. 

Heartfelt family elements made the celebration even more memorable. The bride’s sister Lauren penned the calligraphy on place cards, while her other sister Jennifer made the delicious almond wedding cake with raspberry and chocolate ganache frosted in a vanilla buttercream. Ramón’s mother brought chocolates and trinkets from the groom’s hometown in New Mexico, and Kristina’s stepdad handmade Italian wedding cookies. “These details made the day all the more special,” emphasizes the bride. 

The new Mr. and Mrs. advise other couples currently planning their celebrations to simply go with the flow. “Our wedding got postponed, then canceled, and then re-planned all within the course of a few months,” Kristina illustrates. “There were some tough moments – and probably a few meltdowns – but I think for the most part, the two of us just rolled with the punches, and we were so very grateful to have each other.”