Wedding Day

Ceremony

Raphael

Reception

Our Wedding

A friend once told me to "marry a cheffy." I took that advice to heart and filtered through the apps, only looking for chefs, until I found Brandon.I'm totally kidding.The truth is, I met Brandon just as I was making plans to upend my life. I was considering a significant geographical move that would take me off Long Island so I could find something different, something new — and then I met Brandon through my new friend Dave, who talked about his best friend with such reverence I thought he must be too good to be true.Too good, yes, but all true.Through trips, dinners, weekends on the couch, countless texts and calls, I found the love of my life at the end of the island. And I'm so glad I did.

Lee's take

March 22, 2022. I get a text from my friend (and our wedding officiant) Dave, saying that this "new guy" that works at The Suffolk Times that was asking about me. I had shown up in his suggested friends on Facebook, and seeing that Dave was a mutual friend, he was asking if I was single. Not for long.We started messaging each other and decided to meet up for drinks after work at the brewery in Peconic. Drinks turned into dinner, and he was brave enough to order pulled pork and cole slaw on what was technically our first date.Two dates later, we make our way out to dinner and he suggests ordering the sweetbreads, because they "sounded good." Being a chef, I was impressed and thought "OK, this guy can hang." As some of you know, it didn't turn out to be a a basket of pastries, but rather veal pancreas. While surprised, Lee didn't back down and instead ate (and I think enjoyed?) them. This guy can definitely hang.Two months later came our first "I love you"s. A year later, I got my last and best roommate, as Lee moved into my (now our) apartment in Greenport. Just shy of two years after that, I put a bracelet on it in one of his favorite spots up in Beacon, and now here we are — and there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

Brandon's take

Our Story

Photos

We are so excited to celebrate with you over the weekend, and have a few things planned to keep the celebration going...

Friday 11/13 (Times TBD) — Weekend kick-off! We'll be having a "come as you are" welcome reception at one of our favorite spots, Little Creek — featured in our engagement shoot. Bites and drinks will be served, and can be a good launchpad for continuing the night around Greenport! Little Creek Oyster Farm &amp; Market211 Carpenter StreetGreenport, NY 11944<a href="http://littlecreekoysters.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://littlecreekoysters.com</a>

Saturday 11/14, 3pm — The main event! Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to PARTY!Like all people planning a wedding, we're hoping the weather cooperates and that we're able to have the ceremony outdoors, so dress accordingly. Raphael39390 Main RoadPeconic, NY 11958<a href="http://raphaelwine.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://raphaelwine.com</a>

Sunday 11/15 (Times TBD) — Time to say goodbye We're not monsters and won't be expecting you to get up early, rush to checkout of your hotels and AirBNBs to join us for some coffee and bagels. Instead, come join us at your leisure for some beers and food at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company in Peconic. Bring your kids and/or pets! Chill by the fire! Come watch the Jets lose to the Bills! (It's ok... we're a Jets household.) For those of you not leaving by car, the Hampton Jitney leaves from right out front directly to NYC and airport connections. Fun fact: Brandon and Lee first met at the brewery, so what better way to wrap everything up than by ending it where it all began. Greenport Harbor Brewing Company42155 Main RoadPeconic, NY 11958<a href="http://greenportharborbrewing.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://greenportharborbrewing.com</a>

Itinerary

We met through Dave, who is one of our closest friends. Also, he owes us, as Brandon officiated his wedding to Alice a few years back. 

Dave Benthal

Wedding Party

What Is Cocktail Wedding Attire?

Cocktail Dresses to Add to Your Cart ASAP

What Guys Need to Know About Dress Codes

It's a winery! Hopefully the ceremony will be outdoors! Dress how you feel comfortable, but make it cute — as one guest has suggested "just classy and hot."...Lee says no black tie.

Dress Code

Q + A

OK, so being as this is a smaller area, there aren't many hotels large enough to offer blocks. We managed to secure one in Riverhead (about a thirty minute drive to the west). We'd much rather have you all closer to us and the festivities, and these are a few properties we'd highly recommend! Also, feel free to look into B&amp;Bs or any short-term rentals that may be available. Any questions, we can help vet them for you.

Closest spot to the welcome event, and conveniently across the street from our house!

American Beech Hotel

The Harbor Front Inn

The Menhaden

This property has everything from waterfront rooms to cute beach bungalows and full-on houses. (if you're still hungry after everything you've eaten with us, they have three delicious restaurants on site!)

Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows

A beautiful hotel on the Long Island Sound, this is actually where Brandon's parents got married 46(!) years ago. They are very proud of the fact that they still hold the highest bar tab for an event there.

Sound View Greenport

The Jitney has multiple stops along Lex in the city, as well as a pick-up stop in Queens for people flying into JFK or LaGuardia. It then stops right in Greenport village and is ideal for anyone staying in town. Conveniently, they also have a stop located in front of the brewery where we'll be wrapping up the weekend on Sunday.

Hampton Jitney

The LIRR runs from the city to Greenport, just steps from the heart of the village! This is another great option when coming from the city or the airports. While the schedule is a bit more infrequent than the bus, you don't have to risk sitting in traffic. Trains run from Grand Central and Penn Station (connecting in Ronkonkoma). To get to the LIRR from JFK your best bet is the AirTrain to Jamaica, while from LGA a taxi or Uber is best (although there is the free Q70-SBS bus that runs to Woodside as well).

Brandon & Lee