When Pedro Reyes, 52, and Natasha Danielle Smith, 44, decided to tie the knot, they knew New York City would be one of the key players in their nuptials.
“It’s where Natasha and I fell in love,” said Reyes. “It only felt right to bring our closest family and friends into the city that shaped our story.”
The duo decided to turn their July nuptials into a three-day celebration that captured the spirit of the city they adore.
Their celebration began with a nighttime TopView bus tour, visiting iconic spots such as Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building, Soho, Chinatown, and even a quick loop through Brooklyn, said Reyes.
“The next evening, we gathered at Biga Bite for dinner and shared a giant pizza for 18,” added Reyes, who works in audience development at The New York Post. “Most of Natasha’s family had never met me or my family, so it was the perfect way for everyone to connect before the big day—laughter, pizza, and a touch of New York magic.”
Smith, a communications director for a financial services firm, has family who hail from the deep South.
“Since almost everyone was a tourist, we leaned into that energy,” she said. In fact, her 81-year-old aunt had never been to the city before. “She said she’d never seen buildings so tall in her life,” recalled Smith.
The couple’s wedding weekend culminated with a ceremony and reception for 18 at the Crosby Street Hotel, complete with a Soho walking tour following the ceremony and a performance by magician Matt Szat during dinner.
“We love learning, and we wanted our guests not only to be in awe of New York City but also to leave knowing a little more about the neighborhood than when they arrived,” said Smith of the private walking tour.
“Plus, it was so much fun for Pedro and me to trek through the cobblestone streets in our wedding attire—it’s the one time I’ve seen so many stoic New Yorkers break stride to shout congratulations and well-wishes to us,” she quipped.
(“Be ready to dodge a few taxis and scurry out of the way of traffic,” the groom warned. “It’s all part of the authentic New York experience.”)
Even the details on their wedding day served as thoughtful nods to the Big Apple.
Working with their wedding planner Ikiya Devonish, owner of Intimate Occasions by Ikiya in Brooklyn, they created custom dinner menus through Zazzle featuring a watercolor painting of Central Park.
Additionally, each guest received a watercolor illustration from Four Things Paper, complete with jokes and fun facts about the couple.
“It captured everything from the moment we met and our first date to Pedro’s love of the New York Knicks, our concert dates at Madison Square Garden, and our shared disdain for shellfish,” said Smith.
Devonish appreciated the yellow taxi cab motifs incorporated into the wedding, from showcasing a taxi cab design on the mocktail hour napkins to a tiny cab figure hidden among the ceremony florals.
The pair also went above and beyond with their party favors, ensuring no two goodie bags were alike.
“Each burlap bag had a personalized frayed cotton ribbon, its own teas curated by the New York Botanical Garden, aromatherapy candles in different scents, and even New York lottery tickets,” said Smith, noting that they also included Läderach pralines to honor her Louisiana family members and Georgia peach jam “as a nod to my people in Atlanta.”
To lean into a New York City-themed wedding without overdoing it, Devonish recommends “finding unique personal touches that speak to the couple’s love story.”
Smith encourages couples to “create a wedding that reflects the things you love about New York and speaks to your personal experiences.”
For example, some of the gifts the couple gave Smith’s mother and sister came from an exhibition at the Met and held special meaning since “they reflected Black culture and celebrated New York City during the Harlem Renaissance,” Smith said.
This introduced elements that were uniquely NYC and encapsulated who the couple are.
“Reflect on why you love New York, and let that guide your decisions,” she added.
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https://nypost.com/2025/10/27/lifestyle/this-couples-wedding-doubled-as-a-love-letter-to-nyc/