As Seen In: The Anti-Bride.

The article courtesy of The Anti-Bride.

Tell us a little about yourselves.
Two pretty boys who met for a weekend in DC during the fall of 2021. Eugenio was an active duty service member for the United States Navy; his last duty station was Bethesda, Maryland. Ewan was in school, completing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at East Carolina University. Eugenio was making TikToks in his spare time, and one of his videos came across Ewan's For You page. Eugenio's uniqueness, nerve, and talent prompted Ewan to shoot his shot — a direct message on Instagram, with a simple “Hey.” Ewan was willing to drive four hours to see Eugenio, which carried such an aura. Eugenio could not resist. They were each other's first lovers. Eugenio was 23, Ewan was 21.

Ewan is from Greensboro, NC. Eugenio is from Lawrence, MA, a second-generation immigrant. Eugenio was nearing the end of his five years of active duty, planning to head back home to pursue his career in practical nursing. Long distance was maintained for the first year of their relationship. Both kept good communication, trust, and commitment — which led to Ewan and Eugenio moving in together after the nursing degree was complete. After one year of living together, they got engaged.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?
Originally, the plan was to save money for a destination wedding. But by the time wedding-tok came around, the political climate was too intense to wait. The fear of not being able to get married, of not being able to experience what so many before them had fought for, was overwhelming. The same country Eugenio proudly served was capable of taking away a human right that everyone is entitled to. If that was the case, they were going to do what they do best — live in their authentic truth. So they decided to have fun with what they had, and landed on a whimsical garden party. No black. They wanted color. More important now than ever, to shine the brightest.

They love New York. New York has been a safe haven, a place to escape to. Both faced cultural and environmental difficulties around their sexual orientation. In New York, they are allowed to express themselves creatively, and find others alike.

How many guests did you have?
30. Given the political climate, and the account balances reflecting it, they kept the day small and intimate. Very demure.

What was the budget?
Originally $10K. Family covered the reception dinner, which came in at $12.7K. That allowed Eugenio and Ewan to focus on the smaller details — suits and photography. Ewan's overall outfit, $4.6K. Eugenio's overall outfit, $3.1K. Photographer, $3K. Flora and cake, DIY.

Tell us about the outfits.
Eugenio coordinated the ensemble. He wanted the two of them to have fun with it, and step out of the traditional norms. The skirts were essential to the plan. They chose a green and white color scheme — green is Ewan's favorite color, and brown people look good in white. Ewan turned to Reddit to find queer-friendly tailors, which is how he discovered The Tailory New York. Eugenio took a different approach and shopped for pieces. He enjoys thrifting, so he browsed through eBay and found a Gucci blazer. The skirt was a gamble, ordered through Amazon, with a chance the shades would not match. The universe was on his side.

Pinterest helped pull the ideas together, with inspiration drawn from GQ Paris fashion week '21.

Were there any elements that were important to incorporate?

Eugenio: The small details — like my nails. I chose a snake-skin pattern to honor the year of the snake. Shedding my old self, and embracing the journey we call life.

Ewan: The florals. The garden party theme was such a good idea, and due to the budget, the bouquets and table flora had to be made by hand. We went to Trader Joes for a mass shopping spree, and built the arrangements ourselves. It was fun making the bouquets, and adding a personal touch to the venue and the vibe.

Any tips for couples getting married?
Couples therapy and open communication. Establishing a foundation of open communication before big life changes is important, because life can pull you in many different directions. Established communication grounds you through high-stress life anomalies. Couples therapy has been a great tool — non-biased, constructive criticism from a third party.

Are there any vendors you would like to tell us a little more about?
Chellise & Michael were great to work with. Michael captured the essence and the beauty of the day. A shout-out, also, to Brooklyn City Hall, for extending the guest count during the ceremony. The impression had been that only three people were allowed inside. A crowd was waiting outside. They were all let in. It made the day even more special.

Photographer: Chellise & Michael Photography · Planning: Eugenio and Ewan · Styling & Flora: Eugenio · Ceremony Location: Brooklyn City Hall · Reception Location: Celestine, Brooklyn · Nails: Prèsse Nail Studio · Hair: Eugenio and Ewan · Catering & Beverages: Celestine, Brooklyn · Eugenio's Suit: NWT Gucci men's tuxedo sport coat (eBay) with A-line silk maxi skirt · Ewan's Suit: Custom, The Tailory New York · Alterations (Eugenio's blazer): 9Tailors Boston · Engagement Rings: James Allen (Eugenio) & Brilliant Earth (Ewan) · Wedding Rings: Mejuri (Eugenio) & Hannah Naomi (Ewan) · Shoes: Marc Nolan (Eugenio) & John Fluevog (Ewan) · Sunglasses: Bottega Veneta & Gucci · Pearl Earrings: Tiffany · Pendant: Gucci.