Johara House and Claire Yau’s courtship began with a classic New York City love story. After the two connected on Hinge in early 2022, they decided to go on their first date to see West Side Story in the West End of London. “I was dying to see it,” remembers Johara, who works as a fashion stylist. “We bought a massive bag of popcorn and were both too nervous that we couldn’t eat any. Our date lasted over 12 hours, and we basically fasted the whole time!” She adds, “Now going out for food together is our favorite date night.”

Those date nights continued for years as their relationship blossomed. At one point, Johara—who loves a great pair of shoes and the show Sex and the City—mentioned she would want to be proposed to with shoes rather than an engagement ring à la Carrie Bradshaw. Claire took note. When Johara stated she would want to get married in a pair of Prada heels she saw, Claire secretly bought them. “I had nowhere to hide them, so I kept them in the boot of my car for over a year until the time was right,” explains Claire, who has a PhD in International Law. “I proposed to Jo on Valentine’s Day, which was such a cliché but felt like the perfect time for us.” She set their home up with flowers, candles, a home-cooked meal, and a cake that read, “Be mine forever?” Johara was shocked when she arrived and, of course, said “yes.” Adds Claire, “Luckily, they were still her dream shoe!”

To tie the knot, the brides decided to fly across the pond to New York City for a courthouse elopement at Manhattan’s City Hall on June 11, 2026. They would also stay at the iconic Hotel Chelsea, which would serve as the place they got ready, took photos, and celebrated after they were officially wife and wife. “I always knew I wanted to stay at the Hotel Chelsea,” says Johara. “It embodied the glamour, creativity, and sense of individuality that we wanted to surround our day.”

Johara took on the task of planning the elopement, from booking travel to finding vendors and dress designers. “She single-handedly curated our wedding, which was such a big task for one person—especially as it was transatlantic,” says Claire. “I supported her through the logistics and planning, but the creative vision, detail, and fashion were very much Jo’s from start to finish, and I am so proud of her!” Johara also undertook plenty of Pinterest research to curate floral and cake ideas that fit their vision.

Finding a great photographer to capture the elopement ended up being one of the hardest tasks in the planning process. “We realized that that was one of the most important decisions for your wedding because the pictures are what you have to look back on,” Johara says. “We made the perfect choice with Tiana Michele as her style aligns precisely with what we wanted—timeless, classic, and ages well.” The bride adds, “No one else was going to experience this day with us, so having beautiful photos was something that we knew we’d be proud to show our friends and family.”

As the couple wouldn’t need to curate décor for their hotel room or the courthouse, fashion would be paramount to how they curated the aesthetic of their wedding. Johara had a precise vision for her gown and turned to bespoke bridal designer Emma Beaumont to bring it to life. “Since the first appointment, I had a pretty clear idea of the silhouette, the structure, and the length I wanted,” says Johara. Pulling inspiration from Richard Quinn and Audrey Hepburn’s wedding dress in Funny Face, the bride had Beaumont craft a short-sleeve gown with buttons down the back and a full tea-length skirt reminiscent of 1950s silhouettes. “I wanted it to be a modern take on a vintage-style dress,” explains Johara. “The finer details that finessed towards the end of the process really made my dress unique.” Inspired by the floral details on her Prada wedding shoes, the designer added taffeta floral appliqué near the waistline. These petals were also mirrored in a headpiece Joahara would wear in her hair. “For jewelry, I wanted something chic and simple, so I chose pearl drop earrings that complemented my look without overshadowing the accents of my dress,” she adds. Her wedding day ensemble was finished with a dewy glow and a red signature lip.

Claire admits she wasn’t as sure of what she would want in a wedding dress when she came to work with Beaumont. “My typical style is quite androgynous, and I like simplicity, but designing this dress felt quite difficult,” she shares. The bride first decided on a silhouette with a high neck and open back. “I knew I wanted to wear something quite sleek, minimalist, and elegant, so we went with silk, which felt quietly luxurious,” Claire says. The designer also added two pieces of fabric down the back that tied and added a strong yet understated drama to the look. “I was worried my dress was almost too calm next to Jo’s, but ultimately, both our dresses reflect our personalities—complementing each other without competing,” notes Claire.

The to-be-weds jetted off to New York City a few days ahead of their ceremony to take care of a couple of important tasks—getting their marriage license and having a makeup trial. The night before, the couple would relax and watch the Knicks game at their hotel, “which was fun and felt like we were part of all the excitement New York was experiencing,” says Claire.

It was a hot summer day as Claire and Johara took a taxi from the Hotel Chelsea to City Hall with their photographers in tow. “We had so many funny moments throughout the day, and Tiana and Austin, our photographer and assistant, helped make it very memorable and easy for us to enjoy ourselves by bringing so much laughter and good times,” says Claire. “It was like being with our friends!” Arriving at City Hall, the brides remember feeling so much love and excitement from the other couples about to tie the knot. “Being in New York surrounded by the energy and diversity of the city was extremely special to us that made our wedding even more memorable,” shares Johara.