Big fancy weddings are so 2019. With COVID-19 canceling or cutting events down to size, engaged couples were forced to get creative with impromptu elopements and “micro-weddings” on sailboats, in backyards, around pools, on farms and more, with ceremonies Zoomed to faraway family and friends.
“The pandemic has caused people to reflect on what, and who, is really important in their lives, and to celebrate that joy,” says wedding vendor Jenny Marchese of Wildflower Events.
In our ongoing series, Northforker is spotlighting some of the sweetest micro-weddings on the East End.
The relocated wedding at Jamesport Meeting House
“We attended a wedding out here a few years ago, and fell in love with this area so much that we moved here.”
Da In Yoon, 28, a fourth grade special education teacher, and Tyler Hastings, 32, who works in finance, hail from Los Angeles and New Jersey, respectively, but met in New York City. They were already planning a relatively small out-of-town wedding, but the Covid-19 pandemic ended up shrinking it even more: The recently relocated Southold couple chose the Jamesport Meeting House for their tiny re-envisioned ceremony, with only Hastings’s parents in attendance. Yoon told us all about the day.
“We had planned a bigger, 60-guest wedding outside of Nashville on dreamy Bloomsbury Farm, but had to cancel. Tyler’s parents were able to safely attend at Jamesport Meeting House as they are driving distance from where we had our intimate ceremony. However, my parents were unable to make it because it would’ve required them to take the plane, and it just wasn’t worth the risk.
On Zoom, we only had our immediate families, so Tyler’s two brothers and sister, along with their families, and my parents along with my brother, who is in Belgium studying cello, could be there.
The micro-wedding experience was incredibly intimate and meaningful, with some changes! I purchased a more simplistic dress, and grabbed a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers from Morning Sun Shop, a lovely farm stand near our home in Southold.
We had explored the North Fork when we were dating and frequented the wineries along with the beaches. We attended a wedding out here a few years ago as well, and fell in love with this area so much that we moved here.
My now husband and I were emotionally and physically exhausted after this day, and we couldn’t imagine what couples go through on an actual wedding day with cocktail hour and a reception following the ceremony! However, we are still hopeful and excited to celebrate our marriage with all of our loved ones when it is safe.”
