Actress Jeanine Mason Is Married! See All of the Photos from Her Stoop Wedding in New York City

New York City-based actress Jeanine Mason and her husband, Nicholas, met “the old-fashioned way,” they say: on a dating app. “The only way two people from such different worlds could have possibly met!” adds the bride. Along with television credits that include Upload, Roswell, New Mexico, and Grey’s Anatomy, Jeanine is also a previous winner of So You Think You Can Dance; he spent years serving in the active duty military. “Both of us had spent the last few years doing quite a lot of traveling,” says Jeanine. “We met the week we both moved back to the city, and we were each other’s first dates back. The timing really was everything.” 

After Nick proposed on the stoop of their home in New York City, the couple hired Orange and Rose Events to help them create an incredibly intimate ceremony and reception inspired by their favorite weekend activities. “We thought, how fun would it be to bring our favorite people along for a weekend in our lives here in New York City and to fill all our neighborhood spots with our families and friends,” says Jeanine. “We imagined, ‘What would our ideal weekend be with our favorite people?’ and then, ‘How do we want to be married?’ We really threw tradition or answering to any standard out the window.”

The answer to their questions was right in front of them—literally. They decided to exchange vows on the same stoop where Nick proposed, closing down their street to traffic to allow guests (and neighbors and random passersby) to watch safely. “An at-home wedding felt exactly right,” says Jeanine. “Looking back, I couldn’t imagine any other venue. We’re so lucky the weather held.”

Jeanine and Nick wanted to take advantage of the inherent creativity of their fellow New Yorkers. “In my opinion, artists are the most vital resource in New York,” says Jeanine. “That was one of our main wedding objectives: How do we use this celebration to hire as many artists as possible? We had so much fun finding ways to jam creatives into every detail of our weekend.” Brooklyn-based artist Mokshini created custom illustrations; the couple’s neighbor, a Broadway violinist, performed during the ceremony; and a local florist built a jaw-dropping installation of blooms that covered the stoop. “We prioritized home-grown New Yorkers, and God bless New York because that meant diversity was backed in,” says Jeanine. “We wanted people who love this city as much as we do. People who would know not to try to make her something she isn’t. People who wanted to capture and illustrate and highlight her in all her glory.”

Ahead, see all of photos from Jeanine and Nick's stoop nuptials and post-ceremony dinner at Monkey Bar, all captured by John Dolan.

Jeannine describes her lace Naaem Khan wedding dress, with its cuffed sleeves and matching veil, as “the stuff my dreams are made of.” The gown checked every element on her wish list: “I wanted something unusual and this dress was ornate and bold while still being classic and romantic,” she says. “It’s not something I thought my five-foot-four self could ever pull off but the sheerness allowed my shape to come through.” 

When she tried it on, she knew right away it was perfect for every part of her day—no outfit change required. “It made me want to dance,” she says. “I felt like my best self in it. I loved how I looked from every angle. Plus, it was comfortable enough to wear all night. I did not want a second look; I wanted to wear my wedding dress for every second possible.”

Tin Can Studios provided Jeanine with a bouquet of English garden roses, ranunculus, and tulips in the lighter shades of the couple’s wedding palette, “all manipulated to their most open, dynamic shapes,” says the bride. “I originally thought I wanted a dark bouquet, like my sisters had at their weddings—we paid homage to that by including a dark red rose bouquet on our miniature wedding cake topper.”

The front stoop where the couple exchanged vows set the mood for their reception aesthetic. “The words ‘flower explosion’ and ‘dark decadence’ were used often,” says Jeanine. “We wanted the flowers to be dancing. Our neighbors were blown away and we kept the installation up for the rest of the week. So fun to see everyone on the block enjoying it.”

Nick, who serves as a major in the Army Reserves after years of active duty, wore his military dress uniform for the ceremony, and donned a suit from Whitcomb & Shaftesbury for dinner. “We are so proud of him and his service,” says Jeanine. “This was the perfect way to honor that.”

Though they hadn’t planned for a first look, their photographer suggested incorporating one at the last minute. “We weren’t honestly married to this idea, but we were running early and our photographer said, ‘Why not!’” says Jeanine. “And here we are. I’m so glad we did. We remember this moment so vividly.”

Jeanine and Nick didn’t invite anyone to formally hold the roles of bridesmaids or groomsmen. “We had such a small wedding that everyone was the wedding party,” she says. In lieu of a specific dress code, the couple made one request: “We did not want to require people to wear any specific shape or any color but we told them to do the MOST,” says Jeanine. “We encouraged them to look and feel fabulous. No holding back was the motto. And wow did they deliver! I’m my mother’s daughter and she never misses any opportunity to dress up.”

As flower girl, the couple’s niece embraced the spotlight. “Our niece was the star of the show. She took her flower girl duties very seriously and gave it a lot of pizzazz,” says Jeanine. “She got some height on those petals! I’m the only actor in the family but I wouldn’t be surprised if she finds her way to the artist life. She’s fearless in a way I’m so proud of.”

Jeanine and Nick asked their neighbor, Broadway violinist Suzy Perelman, to provide the music. “One day during the pandemic I was in the kitchen and heard music outside. It was Suzy playing a courtyard concert for our neighborhood just a few doors down,” says Jeanine. “Gathering for her courtyard concerts was the first semblance of normalcy at that point in time, and represented so much that we love about our lives in this city.”

They also personalized the text of their ceremony. “We wrote our own vows and we’re so grateful we did,” says Jeanine. “It’s always been my favorite part of a wedding. We’ll cherish them forever and can’t wait to go back and revisit them.”

Though Jeanine and Nick knew they would need to limit traffic and passersby on their street to make space for a seating area, they embraced the urban setting without trying to control every detail. “Shutting down our street was essential to our plan, but I didn’t realize that it’s next to impossible in this city. I will not share my secrets but in the end, we got it done—I’m still mind-blown it happened,” says Jeanine.

Cars may have been blocked, but foot traffic was encouraged. "We did not want to shy away from passersby or potential interactions during the ceremony. This is New York City. She is the main character of this wedding and we welcomed those odd interactions. You cannot have an outdoor wedding here and expect it to be tranquil," Jeanine says. "That being said, we were shocked by how peaceful the environment was. Even more shocked by the amount of neighbors and passersby that stopped to take in our ceremony. Looking out and seeing complete strangers holding their partners and joining us was more than I could have ever imagined.”

Taking inspiration from a friend’s wedding in New Orleans, Jeanine and Nick hired the Villagers Brass Band for a second line parade that led their guests to the reception (via the New York City subway). “We always knew we’d take the subway to the reception but this was the perfect way to start the party,” says Jeanine. “It was so fun seeing everyone’s excitement watching us come down the block. Everyone we encountered was so kind. We were getting well wishes yelled at us from all over. It was perfect.”

Jeanine and Nick had several requests for their reception venue: “A space that felt warm and intimate for this small of a group, but that also had plenty of dance floor space—that was a must,” says Jeanine. At the suggestion of their planners, they chose Monkey Bar. “They knew we wanted old-school New York. It’s a classic,” says the bride. 

At the restaurant, custom table linens featured built-in place mats embroidered in a rich crimson. “It was genius: Less fuss on the table but still all the elegance and drama,” says Jeanine. “We prioritized items we could take home and enjoy as wedding mementos for years to come, like napkins, ceramics, matchboxes, and illustrations. The courses were endless—every mouthwatering option from Monkey Bar was basically there.”

After dinner, the couple and their guests took to the dance floor while DJ Khalil and DJ LoveStory played a lot of “Miami music,” says Jeanine. “Music and dance is such a big part of Cuban weddings—hence needing a large dance floor. It was so important to us that everyone had a great time and that there was an equal mix of Spanish and English songs. Salsa dancing with my dad was the one thing I always knew I’d do at my wedding. It’s a huge part of our culture and the way we celebrate. I think we made the Cubans proud.”

Throughout their wedding, Jeanine and Nick focused on each other. “We got great advice to find moments throughout the day to be together alone, and to hold hands, so you move as a unit,” she says. “Our together moments taking it all in were the best. And our first dance—that was magic.”