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Despite it being a snowy, cold winter in New York City, the day arrived at a balmy 40 degrees as the couple, their families, and Charlotte\u2019s best friend Jay, who would serve as a witness, arrived bright and early to City Hall. The bride carried a bouquet designed by her friend, floral designer Sean Stronger<\/a>. \u201cI gave him almost no direction\u2014just \u2018red, pink, and ribbons\u2019\u2014and he showed up with something that felt less like a bouquet and more like a sculptural object,\u201d she says. \u201cThe red ribbons tied back to Lunar New Year in a way that felt subtle but intentional.\u201d Photographer Erin Michele Johnson<\/a>, who shot Charlotte\u2019s sister\u2019s wedding as well as multiple events for the couple, was also there to document the day. \u201cThe only thing that would have made the day better was if our siblings were there, but like most adults, they couldn’t take off on a moment’s notice,\u201d adds the pair.<\/p>\n One major hitch to their plans? The couple was unaware that New York law requires that you get your marriage license 24 hours ahead of the ceremony. \u201cOnce the clerk figured out we didn\u2019t have our license, she told us very nonchalantly, \u2018You\u2019re not getting married today.\u2019 You can imagine the look on everyone\u2019s face,\u201d shares Maxwell. \u201cAfter about 60 seconds of silence, somehow our mothers said something that ultimately turned the clerk around. The clerk handed me a Post-it with a note \u2018Exception Pls\u2019 written in Crayola marker and with a silent confidence said, \u2018Take this to them, they\u2019ll know.\u2019 At this point, what else could we do but find a judge and hope they wouldn\u2019t laugh me out of their chambers for handing them a Post-it note written in Crayola? After a long conversation, swearing an oath, and answering for the umpteenth time why we did not have our wedding license\u2014my initial answer was that \u2018it was our first time\u2019 did not get any laughter from the clerk\u2014we had our approval!\u201d<\/p>\n Initially, the family planned to celebrate afterwards with lunch at Lucien, a toast at Charlotte\u2019s gallery space, and finally The Ned for dinner. Instead, plans took a turn and Lucien became their in-between dining spot before heading back to the courthouse. The location was a meaningful choice for the couple. \u201cWe\u2019ve both been going there for years, long before we met. It\u2019s where we always end up after gallery openings or long nights, sitting at the bar, running into people, staying longer than we planned,\u201d shares the bride. \u201cWe were basically the only ones in the restaurant at 12:15 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, which made it feel even more intimate.\u201d<\/p>\n On the way back to the courthouse, the two families made a detour through the Lunar New Year Festival in Chinatown. \u201cThere was smoke in the air, confetti covering the streets, constant noise\u2014firecrackers going off in bursts, drums, people shouting. It felt dense and alive,\u201d remembers Charlotte. \u201cWe were chasing lion dancers, setting off confetti poppers we had just picked up, and trying not to lose each other or our families in the crowd. At one point, I was holding our paperwork in one hand and a confetti popper in the other, which felt like a pretty accurate representation of the day. No one around us knew what was happening\u2014we were just moving through this larger celebration, and then about to step into something so personal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n