David Symons planned on surprising girlfriend Heather Abramson with a proposal in the lobby of the hotel where they had shared their first kiss. However, not everyone was in on the surprise.

“In the middle of Dave telling me how he felt, a security guard asked us to leave because we were not guests of the hotel,” recalls Heather. Dave ignored the request and proceeded to get down on bended knee. Fortunately, the guard must have been a romantic at heart. “He escorted us to the top of the hotel and took photos of us with the beautiful view of the East River in the background,” she beams.

The couple enjoyed a month of celebrating with friends and family before diving into wedding planning. With a sizable guest list and a desire to integrate their hometown into the celebration, the couple selected a landmark hotel in the center of the city for both their ceremony and reception. “The Plaza set the stage for the classic old New York feel that we wanted,” explains the bride.

The traditional, conservative Jewish service began after the sunset. Golden light cast a warm glow across the grandeur of the room and illuminated a large, round chuppah that had been encircled with flowers and crystals suspended on ethereal strands of ribbon.

Heather’s bridal party consisted of ten bridesmaids clad in floor-length navy frocks, and two matrons of honor – including the bride’s identical twin sister – wearing jet-black strapless gowns. David’s entourage of fifteen groomsmen sported dapper tuxedos paired with coal-black ties; the groom’s attire was identical, save for a contrasting tie in white. A cherub-faced ring bearer and an angelic flower girl evoked sighs of adoration from the audience as they made their way down the long aisle.

The bride carried a bouquet of vanilla peonies and wore a strapless gown that featured a tiered skirt with embroidered floral details. “She not only looked beautiful, she looked perfect,” affirms the groom. “If I could have picked out my favorite wedding dress, it would have been the one she wore.”

Following the vow exchange, guests enjoyed a celebratory cocktail hour. Escort cards for the reception were arranged in neat rows on an elegant table with a monochromatic theme that foretold of the décor that awaited guests in the historic ballroom. A dreamy all-white selection of flowers – including hydrangeas, orchids, roses, and ranunculus blossoms – juxtaposed nicely against contemporary elements such as round and square glass tables, clear chairs, floating candles, and translucent vases. “We had tons of candlelight throughout the room for a romantic feel,” explains the bride, “but then contrasted that with fun and funky lighting that rotated colors throughout the night.” As violinists drew their bows across their instruments, bride and groom made their grand entrance into the ballroom and were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. David Symons for the first time.

A band entertained guests as they enjoyed hours of fine dining and festive dancing. The pièce de résistance – an exceptional cake adorned with handmade sugar flowers to match the details on the bride’s gown – stood just outside the room. To cap off the evening, a DJ spun tunes at an after-party that continued well into the early hours of the morning. “The band and the food were two of the most important aspects of the celebration to me,” reveals the groom. “They’re two things that help create the best wedding!”

In lieu of favors, the couple made a donation in each guests’ name to the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization founded by the bride’s younger sister. “It is a cause to which our entire family is very dedicated,” explains the bride. “It was a really meaningful element of our day.”

Surrounded by friends and family in the heart of their beloved city, both bride and groom believe their wedding to be the best night of their lives. “I received advice to take a step back and savor the moment during the evening,” said the groom who was grateful he adhered to the suggestion. “I remember looking around to take it all in and thinking what a perfect night it was.”