When asked about how she decided upon Frankie’s Italian restaurant in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn as the venue for her wedding the bride replied, “People and food matter to me more than things and pretension.” Indeed this wonderful Italian restaurant is intimate, family run and the food is served family style.
I went there with the couple a few weeks prior to the wedding and since no reservations are accepted we waited about a half hour to be seated. The food was simply made, graciously served and delicious. Most of Brooklyn seemed to feel that way as the line to get a table always seemed to be long whatever hour of the night.
When their wedding day came and I arrived at the restaurant the garden in the back was turned into a wedding space. A huge horseshoe shaped table that could fit all the guests invited was set up and there were trellises with flowers and white lights to light up the night. People came from many different states and cities and the intimate setting made all feel like one family.
The seven wedding blessings or Sheva Brachot of the Jewish service were done by seven different friends/family who wrote modern versions of these ancient prayers as it applied to the couple. It was truly magical. The vows were hand written and personal that the couple put together. Afterwards we all had cocktails in a barn like building adjacent to the restaurant whose rustic flavor fit right in with the tone of the wedding.
How wonderful to have a small, personal and family oriented wedding and have the food match the tone of the celebration.