Brooke Hespeler
Meghan Brooks
Brooke Hespeler
Meghan Brooks
June 30, 2024
Schedule
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Prospect Park Picnic
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
95 Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Prospect Park is the heart of Brooklyn (and across the street from our place!) Weather permitting, we'll gather on the lawn of the Prospect Park Picnic House the day before the wedding for a *very* casual picnic for anyone who would like to stop by. We'll have light snackage and things to drink on offer. The Picnic House is in Long Meadow, and easily accessed from Prospect Park West between 4th and 5th Streets, or by walking down the main path through the meadow from Grand Army Plaza. We'll make ourselves seen!
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Wedding and Reception
5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Vibe is summer cocktail chic - come ready to dance!
The ceremony, cocktails, dinner and dancing are all at MyMoon, in a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. Please try to arrive right around 5:00 p.m. so we can start the ceremony about 20 minutes after the hour.
Travel
Travel Note
Flying to Brooklyn
For those flying in from out of town - LGA is the nicer airport, but JFK is just about as close to the venue area. Newark is also doable! It's just either a more expensive car ride, or a longer series of trains to get into the city. We don't recommend renting a car. Navigating NYC traffic and finding parking spots is more trouble than it's worth. The subway is your friend! We recommend downloading the NYC Subway app (full map of the city) and/or the Transit app (provides train arrival times and route-setting that is slightly more efficient than Google Maps).
Hotel
BYOH (Book Your Own Hotel)
New York has so much to offer - if you're coming in from out of town, we recommend that you find the hotel that works for you. There are plenty of options within walking distance of the wedding venue (which is in Williamsburg, address above), but you may find you prefer to be elsewhere in the city. One caveat: our wedding happens to be the same day as the NYC Pride March, so you may want to book your stay sooner rather than later. The parade basically shuts down the Village, and shuts down 5th Avenue from the Village to Times Square. For that reason, we highly recommend that you stay in a hotel to the *east* of 5th Ave if you're planning to take a car to the ceremony. If you plan to take the subway, the venue is within walking distance of stops on the L and G trains. You might consider a hotel on those lines. Whether you take a car or the train, be sure to leave extra early. Traffic and platform congestion are likely to be high! Note that AirBnBs are thin on the ground in the city - VRBO may have some additional options.
RSVP
Please enter the first and last name of one member of your party below.
If you're responding for you and a guest (or your family), you'll be able to RSVP for your entire group on the next page.
Gallery
Wedding Party
Stephanie Charles
Meghan's Bridesmaid
Elegance. Class. Chacos. Steph is an enigma and a joy. It took her three full years to decide she and Meghan were friends. Achieving this may be Meghan's greatest accomplishment.
Emilie Eaton
Brooke's Maid of Honor
Brooke's best friend of 28 years. She may or may not be in attendance with her infant daughter Ellie, who is currently on thin ice. She knows what she did.
Jules Forrest
Brooke's Bridesmaid
Brooke's friend and partner in bad theatre-watching. She has stopped Brooke from joining a cult on more than one occasion.
Jessica Hespeler
Brooke's Bridesmaid
Brooke's sister-in-law/bonus sister. Hobbies include taking her dog to the petting zoo and finding kittens in the garbage.
Wyatt Hespeler
Brooke's Bridesman
Brooke's brother. Contractually obligated to smile for one (1) picture. He's only here because the Army had a half day.
Shelby Malta
Officiant
The woman, the myth, the legend. She's the couple's pal, their homegirl, their rotten soldier, their sweet cheese, their good time gal.
Jes Norris
Brooke's Bridesmaid
Lived with Brooke for five and a half years and lived to tell the tale. Half of Brooke’s wardrobe consists of her hand-me-downs. Also, Tom Hanks knows her name.
Sarah Rosenkrantz
Meghan's Bridesmaid
Ask Sarah about Meghan's fashion choices, her travel planning, or her solo in that advanced belly dancing class we all accidentally signed up for in college. You'll get the truth. We <3 her for it.
Tori Wenger
Meghan's Bridesmaid
A golden retriever disguised as a real girl, Tori fed Meghan and was czar of ACTIVITIES! for the six years they lived together. She remains so, esp. while Brooke naps.
Things To Do
Staten Island Ferry Sunset Cruise
What's free-99 and a rockin' good time? A Staten Island Ferry cruise! Departing from Whitehall Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan every 20 minutes, this commuter boat trip swings you reasonably close to the Statue of Liberty, and deposits you at St. George's Terminal on Staten Island about 25 minutes later. You can jump right back on for the equally free return trip, or explore the waterfront first. We recommend grabbing a slice of pizza and a paper-bag beverage of your choice to enjoy on the outside decks as you make the crossing. This trip is especially worthwhile as the sun begins to set, but is a good time anytime otherwise. (Photo: Meghan and cousins Veronica & Frederick, cruisin' in January 2023.)
Walking the High Line
The High Line is an elevated train track-turned public park running down the west side - we recommend jumping on at Hudson Yards (W 34th & 12th, or W 30th & 10th, home of "the Vessel") and walking south over Chelsea to 14th St. Descending there, you'll find Chelsea Market (an indoor flea & food market), and the Little Island - a manmade, fanciful public park just off the Chelsea Piers. This walk is about 2 miles all said, with lots to see. (Photo: Brooke's MoH Emilie balancing on a rail tie, circa July 2015.)
Broadway
Brooke's current Broadway recommendations: & Juliet (ages 13+), Hadestown (15+), Merrily We Roll Along (15+), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (great for families w/ children ~10+), Moulin Rouge (15+), Drunk Shakespeare (off-Broadway; 21+). For the best ticket discounts, download the TodayTix app or visit the TDF booth in Times Square (only for same-day shows). If you have any theatre-related questions don't hesitate to reach out to Brooke -- she's always ready to drop everything and give advice/recommendations! (Photo: Brooke sees Sara Bareilles's smash-hit Waitress, circa 2016.)
Pride
NYC Pride just happens to be the weekend of our wedding. There are events all weekend long (see the calendar, attached!), but you'll have time to check out PrideFest in the Village and the parade itself on the day of the wedding. The parade starts at 11am - we recommend that you post up close to the start line at 25th and 5th Ave so that you can leave by 1pm-ish to have enough time to shower (you'll be sweaty), get ready and make it to the venue in time for the ceremony. Just remember your sunscreen! (Photo: Brooke & Meghan at Pride, 2023.)
Central Park Row Boats
You could spend a whole day in Central Park, but if you do one thing, make it a row boat rental (seats 4). The Prospect Park lake has paddleboats at the LeFrak Center, for a down market alternative. (Photo: See that boat? No that one, way in the distance. Imagine it's Meghan & Brooke.)
Prospect Park Zoo
A significantly cheaper version of the Central Park Zoo - and so, the site of early Brooke and Meghan dates - the Prospect Park Zoo offers educational fun for all ages. Residents include free-roaming peacocks and the Pallas Cat (pictured), who we're pretty sure is a just a housecat, but jacked. You might consider the Zoo before Saturday's pre-wedding picnic! Amy Thai, Ix, Midwood Flats & Edie Joe's are good neighborhood eats nearby.
The Beach
People forget that New York is a seaside town - there are plenty of beach options if you need a day away from the bustle of the city. (You will not, unfortunately, escape the crowds.) Take the B or the Q all the way down to Coney Island for a classic Nathan's hot dog under the wooden roller coaster, or take the A or the Rockaway Ferry out to the Rockaways for small town beach vibes without leaving Queens. If an overnight sounds appealing, you can take the Long Island Rail Road all the way out to Montauk. Hotels and restaurants are right off the train platform - just book your stay well in advance! And if the Hudson River Valley is more your speed, MetroNorth will take you up to Beacon or Cold Spring Harbor for a day trip or an overnight, quaint towns with plenty of art (Beacon) and antiquing (Cold Spring). No car needed. (Photo: Meghan flies kite, Brighton Beach, summer 2022.)
FAQs
Question
Is there parking for the ceremony or reception?
Answer
There are some paid garages nearby, but there is no parking at the venue itself. We highly recommend that you take a cab or the train!
Question
Anything in particular I should know?
Answer
For LGBTQ+ wedding etiquette tips, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtgY1q0J_TQ