While living in Washington, DC, Josh Haberman set his Hinge location to New York just before moving to the city. Thankfully, his decision paid off when he matched with his future wife, Madi Friedman. “This was his first Hinge date, but he had also set up three other dates for the following weeks… He canceled those after our date, so ours was his first and last Hinge date!” smiles Madi of the best first date either of them had ever been on. 

As Madi and Josh had bonded while visiting the Westhampton beach residence of Josh’s parents, he felt it was the perfect proposal site. Before dinner one night, Josh suggested they watch the sunset. “Josh brought me to the end of the dock, and violinists started playing our song, ‘In My Life’ by The Beatles. It was magical,” remembers the bride of their engagement, captured by a photographer in hiding. Josh also surprised Madi with both sets of parents and all of their siblings at a celebratory dinner – including her sister who came home from studying abroad one week early for the surprise – as well as a rooftop engagement party in the city the following day. 

The betrothed felt it was only right to say “I do” in New York City since it was where they met and fell in love. They selected The Pierre, a luxurious venue across the street from The Plaza where the bride’s parents got married 35 years prior, and even incorporated an illustration of Central Park in their invitation and ketubah designs. 

Madi and her mother worked closely with Victoria Dubin Events to create their beautiful, classic day filled with elegance and personal elements. “Our incredible wedding planner, Victoria Dubin, was our biggest help! She is so amazing and gave us the best advice on every detail,” shares the bride. 

Madi was gorgeous in a strapless Mira Zwillinger gown featuring botanical embroidery from famed New York City bridal salon Mark Ingram Atelier. She met her handsome groom beneath an exquisite chuppah embellished with thousands of florals for the heartfelt Jewish ceremony. “It was the most beautiful chuppah I have ever seen,” confesses the bride. Madi and Josh shared handwritten vows, which became a highlight. “It was extremely important to me that [the ceremony] feel like us and our relationship. I wanted a dark, candlelit room to reflect the seriousness of the ceremony, but also wanted it to feel very warm and welcoming to our guests.” 

“Our incredible wedding planner, Victoria Dubin, was our biggest help! She is so amazing and gave us the best advice on every detail.”

During cocktail hour, friends and family mingled and enjoyed libations and hors d’oeuvres in the stunning space fit for the black-tie celebration. When it was time to find their table assignments, guests traversed to the escort-card display, which included a special addition: framed photos of the bride’s grandmother. The first showed her at Madi’s parents’ wedding wearing the dress the bride had altered for her after-party attire, and the second showed her at Madi’s aunt’s wedding wearing the dress the mother of the bride wore to the wedding at the same venue. “My grandma passed away a few years ago, so this was our way of honoring her,” Madi smiles, adding that her grandma’s blue garter was her “something blue.” 

The couple’s 230 friends and family members then made their way into the reception ballroom, which had been transformed to fit the bride’s vision. “I wanted a white wedding… As for theme, we wanted it to have the feel of a summery, enchanted garden with candles and flowers everywhere,” Madi shares. “The candles were a very important aspect, as we felt they set the mood and softened the room.” As loved ones walked into the space, their eyes were met with a 360-degree bar featuring a tree structure adorned with florals in the center – the groom’s idea and number-one request, which ended up being the biggest hit with their guests. 

Tablescapes were decorated with a blend of high and low centerpieces featuring loose, romantic arrangements of florals including roses and hydrangeas, as well as various textured elements. The whimsical garden feel continued on the dance floor, with white roses and twinkling lights suspended from a luxurious ceiling installation of greenery displayed overhead. “Even though we were in NYC, it truly felt like we were in the middle of an enchanted garden,” Madi remembers of the incredible scene. 

Friends and family savored slices of the pair’s Funfetti-and-chocolate wedding cake with cookies-and-cream icing, as well as a wide range of desserts. “We are both big kids at heart – especially Josh – so our desserts were mostly fun takes on classic desserts,” notes Madi of the miniature Ring Dings, cupcakes, ice-cream cones, Twinkies, and more. “We also had the personal touch of our favorite ice cream shop [Caffè Panna] making us mini containers with custom ‘Mrs. Habes’ and ‘Mr. Habes’ labels,” affirms the bride, along with Tate’s Bake Shop cookie favors. 

The rest of the night was spent celebrating on the dance floor to the sounds of a live band. When they performed “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic! At The Disco and “the line, ‘what a beautiful wedding’ came on, the band went silent and everyone screamed the line. We all stopped and looked around at the beautiful wedding,” smiles Madi. “We were dancing in the middle of all of our friends, and it just felt so fun and special.” To cap off the perfect day, the bride and groom got up on stage to sing the last song of the night – “Piano Man” by Billy Joel – with the band as everyone they love danced and sang along with the happiest newlyweds.

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