“In 2018, I connected with a guy named Karl on a dating app who teased that we shared the same name,” Carly recounts. This playful remark piqued her interest, and after their first meeting in real life, the two fell head over heels. A year later, they adopted a dog; during the initial year of the pandemic, he popped the question with his grandmother’s engagement ring. Carly and Karl got married over lunch with their close friends and family at Cafe Spaghetti. Here, Carly shares insights into their remarkable day…
“It was wonderful having the wedding in our Brooklyn neighborhood — in the backyard of Cafe Spaghetti. Before we went to see everyone, the staff prepared an Aperol Spritz for me and an Old Fashioned for Karl. We took a sip together before entering. We were pretty anxious!”
“We exchanged our vows in front of our friends and family. I got a bit choked up and unconsciously exclaimed ‘shit!’ My little nephew chimed in, saying, ‘Hey, there are kids here!’ Laughter erupted, and it lightened the mood.”
“While our wedding wasn’t entirely traditional, there were two elements we insisted on: the breaking of the glass and lighting a unity candle. When we finally kissed, everyone applauded and cheered.”
“My nephews were thrilled to wear suits. They talked about it for months leading up to the wedding. My younger nephew, who was in front, has a birthday during the same month we wed. He asked his parents for a motorcycle, but my brother and sister-in-law said, ‘No way.’ So, he was overjoyed to arrive and find a Vespa parked in the restaurant’s backyard!”
“Wedding food can often be bland, but since we had ours at a restaurant, it was incredible. The eggplant was exceptional, but it’s tough to pick a favorite as everything was so delicious.”
“At your own wedding, it’s easy to get caught up greeting everyone, and suddenly you realize you haven’t eaten a bite. So, Karl and I agreed to take time to sit down and savor the meal.”
“I visited Cha Cha Linda searching for a vintage dress. I wanted to shine and had no interest in wearing white. This sequined 1970s disco dress was just right. Since my mom lives out of New York, she couldn’t join me for the dress shopping, and she felt a bit sad about it. So, when she next visited, we returned to Cha Cha Linda to find her an outfit, which she’s wearing here. I was like, ‘Someone has to wear white!’ She looked fabulous.”
“Guest books can be pricey, so for their wedding, my brother and sister-in-law selected a coffee table book they loved and had guests sign each page with a Sharpie. They picked a book about architecture; we chose one on New York graffiti. Guests had fun deciding which page to sign.”
“We offered homemade desserts made by the owner Sal’s father, including tiramisu, cannoli, and gelato. There was such an abundance of food that the staff prepared to-go boxes for our guests to take leftovers home.”
Thank you immensely, Carly and Karl! What a lovely day.
P.S. Four NYC City Hall weddings, romantic engagement stories, and which wedding dress would be your pick?
(Photos by Thalia Nino.)
**Couple Commemorates Their Wedding at Café Spaghetti: A Distinctive and Heartfelt Occasion**
In a realm where weddings frequently equate to opulent ballrooms, lavish floral presentations, and multi-course meals, one couple opted for an alternate path. They decided to celebrate their affection in an intimate and delightful venue: Café Spaghetti, a quaint Italian restaurant that is meaningful to them. The outcome? A wedding as distinctive and heartfelt as their romance.
### A Venue Filled with Significance
For Emma and Lucas, choosing Café Spaghetti for their wedding went beyond just stepping away from tradition—it was profoundly personal. The pair had enjoyed numerous date nights at the café, sharing plates of pasta and glasses of Chianti. It was at Café Spaghetti where Lucas expressed his love for Emma for the first time, and where they toasted their engagement with tiramisu and espresso.
“When we were organizing our wedding, we realized we didn’t desire a large, impersonal venue,” Emma stated. “Café Spaghetti felt like home to us. It’s where our narrative unfolded, and we wanted our wedding to mirror that.”
### An Inviting and Romantic Vibe
Situated in the heart of their city, Café Spaghetti is celebrated for its cozy, rustic charm. With its exposed brick walls, classic Italian posters, and softly glowing string lights, the café served as the ideal backdrop for a close-knit celebration. The couple collaborated closely with the café’s owner, Marco, to morph the space into a romantic sanctuary.
Tables were set with simple yet elegant centerpieces made of fresh herbs and candles, while the café’s signature red-and-white checkered tablecloths delivered an extra touch of allure. A small outdoor patio was adorned with fairy lights and greenery, crafting a magical ambiance for the evening’s events.
### A Memorable Menu
Naturally, no wedding at Café Spaghetti would be complete without an extraordinary Italian banquet. The couple chose a family-style dinner, allowing guests to share dishes and bask in the communal essence of Italian dining.
The menu incorporated classic favorites such as bruschetta, caprese salad, and creamy burrata as starters. For mains, guests relished a selection of handmade pastas, featuring rich fettuccine Alfredo, hearty spaghetti Bolognese, and a vegetarian option of mushroom ravioli. The café’s wood-fired pizza oven was also in operation, serving thin-crust margherita and prosciutto pizzas.
For dessert, the couple bypassed the traditional wedding cake in favor of an Italian dessert bar. Guests feasted on tiramisu, cannoli, panna cotta, and gelato in various flavors. To toast the newlyweds, Marco mixed a special batch of limoncello, served in petite glasses as a nod to Italian customs.
### A Tribute to Love and Community
The wedding was a genuine tribute to love and community. With just 50 guests present, Emma and Lucas engaged in quality conversations with every loved one. The cozy atmosphere fostered laughter, dialogue, and heartfelt toasts that brought tears to many eyes.
One of the night’s highlights was a surprise performance by a local accordionist, arranged by Marco. As the musician strummed classic Italian love songs, guests joined for an impromptu dance party, filling the café with exhilaration and happiness.
“The entire day felt so true to who we are as a couple,” Lucas remarked. “We envisioned our wedding as a celebration of love, family, and great food, and Café Spaghetti fulfilled that and beyond.”
### A Shift Toward Intimate Weddings
Emma and Lucas’s wedding at Café Spaghetti is part of an emerging trend leaning toward smaller, more personalized celebrations. In recent times, many couples have leaned towards intimate weddings that stress significant experiences over extravagant displays. By selecting a venue that held sentimental meaning and zeroing in on what mattered most to them, Emma and Lucas crafted an unforgettable day.
As the evening drew to a close, the couple shared their first dance beneath the café’s twinkling lights, surrounded by their dearest friends and family. It was a moment that perfectly embodied their wedding’s essence: simple, sincere, and brimming with joy.
For Emma and Lucas, Café Spaghetti transcended mere venue—it symbolized their journey together. And as they step into their next chapter as husband and wife, they’ll always have a place to revisit, where the memories of their special day will endure.
