This eco-friendly and cruelty-free wedding honored New York’s history

comfortable wedding hairstyles

April and Bijan's love story began on a stormy night in Washington, D.C. April, having just graduated from law school, was out with a dear friend. A hurricane was expected to move through the area that evening, leaving most of the bars empty. The friends had planned to also meet up with another mutual acquaintance, Bijan. It wasn't long after that night that the two realized they had feelings for one another! Keep scrolling to see images captured by Alyissa Landri of their wedding planned by EVL Events that honors love in many forms, as well as celebrates animals, the environment, and the rich history of New York.

custom venue wedding invitations

crystal encrusted wedding shoes wildflower boutonniere

linen bridal bouquet ribbon

Planning a sustainable wedding

At the heart of their wedding day, April and Bijan were inspired to create an intentionally beautiful and sustainable wedding. Their day was fully vegan, from food to desserts (courtesy of Oliver's Restaurant, Muscoreil's Bakery, and B Sweet Designs) to attire choices. In lieu of a traditional registry, guests were asked to make donations to animal welfare and environmental charities.

mix and match groomsmen accesssories forest green bridesmaid dresses

large wildflower bridal bouquet

A dress to match the venue's grandeur

Visually, the historic St. Joseph Cathedral boasts vaulted ceilings, glass windows, and a bright interior for the ceremony. The bride wore an incredible dress by Paloma Blanca that complemented that grandeur. She added a belt by Luna And Stone Co. and stepped into shoes by Kate Whitcomb. Honey Beauty Bar created a soft glam look for the bride complete with a Tania Maras hairpiece.

rhinestone wedding hairpiece

cap-sleeve wedding dress traditional cathedral wedding

cathedral length veil

wedding dress belt

Eco-friendly wedding paper goods

For their reception at The Buffalo History Museum, a rainbow of locally grown pastel flowers courtesy of Beck & Forth was in abundance. The whole day was truly eco-friendly, with all of the paper goods by Graphic Poetry made from recycled or natural paper and soy-based inks. The couple even designed a Buffalo-themed scavenger hunt within the museum for guests and children to enjoy!

wedding scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt for all ages

When guests needed a break from mingling or dancing, April and Bijan provided guests with a fill-in-the-blank scavenger hunt themed around Buffalo that took them all over the museum venue. It was the perfect activity to get people chatting, laughing, and moving around!

forest green table linens

donation wedding registry animal-inspired table signs

marbled linens

A colorful, vintage wedding bar

Playing with color and vintage glassware brought an elegant, yet whimsical vibe as guests were greeted during cocktail hour. Unique glasses for each guest made the moment special and beautifully Instagrammable.

colorful vintage glassware

pastel wildflower centerpieces wedding bar pet-inspired menu

pastel wedding bar arrangement

An animal-centric work of art wedding cake

Perhaps most extravagant was the bevy of desserts offered to guests by Muscoreil's Bakery and B Sweet Designs. These included cookies that were works of art, delicious fruit tarts with the freshest ingredients, tiny cakes with delicately pressed flowers, and a stunning forest green wedding cake with a silver design that featured animals throughout and two foxes on top.

animal-inspired wedding cake