Real New England Weddings: Gillian Rattray & Antonio Carcia
September 13, 2008
The Boston Public Library,
Boston, Massachusetts
Gillian and Tony had a fairy-tale first encounter. The tall duo—she’s 5’11”, he’s 6’2″—first spotted each other over a sea of hipsters at Cambridge’s Middlesex Lounge. When the lights came on, Tony summoned the courage to say hello. The rest, as they say, has been happily ever after. When a friend suggested they marry in the Boston Public Library, it made perfect sense: Tony had studied there as a kid, and it looked just like the Yale library where Gillian had spent long hours as an undergrad. During the ceremony in the courtyard, a steel-drum band paid homage to Gillian’s West Indies roots; Italian desserts were served in Bates Hall as a nod to Tony’s heritage. Once the official party ended, the celebration spilled into the former Azure at the Lenox Hotel—but this time, the couple didn’t stick around for last call.
Tony and his groomsmen posed outside the library’s Copley Square entrance.
Gillian prepped for the ceremony in a Lenox Hotel suite.
Place cards guided guests to tables named for cities that are significant to the couple, such as Taipei, Atlanta, and Stuttgart.
All-white arrangements kept the focus on the building’s architecture.
(From left, top to bottom) The cake’s monogrammed arch echoed the design of the wedding invitations.
Favor boxes were accented with the couple’s new monogram.
When Gillian saw the library’s green lamps, she was sold: They look just like the ones at Yale’s Stoneman Library.
The File
Dress: Monique Lhuillier, moniquelhuillier.com
Makeup: Louise Martino, Faces Boston, facesboston.com
Hair: Salon Monet, hairsalonmonet.com
Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo, Flair Bridesmaid Boutique, flairbridesmaid.com
Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse, menswearhouse.com
Catering: Sebastian’s, sebastians.com
Flowers: Ilex Flowers, ilexflowers.com
Cake: Cakes for Occasions, cakes4occasions.com
Music: Ceremony, Irie Roots, irierootsband.com; reception, DJ Bob Cronin, djbc.net