Rachel Honig & Grad Conn

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Our Story

Rachel swiped right. Grad swiped right. Months passed with texting and missed dates (all Grad's fault). We finally met at the iconic 21 Club for a drink (Rachel a Negroni, Grad a Manhattan) followed by a screening of The West Wing at the Paley Center with a talkback by Aaron Sorkin himself, and then we closed The Modern. It was an evening of timeless classics to be sure. It was love at first sight for Grad. It was "hmm, interesting..." for Rachel. However, never underestimate the power of quarantining with a dog in a one-bedroom apartment. After endless conversations, Netflix, puzzles, long walks on deserted New York City streets, and many, many bottles of wine, Grachel was born!

The Proposals (Yes, there were two)

At midnight, under a perfect starlit sky on Squirrel Island in Maine Grad proposed to Rachel. We were on a bench looking into the Cove with boats gently bobbing in the bay, and it was a magical moment (accompanied of course by our dog Hester Prynne, and by another dog who came over to say hello to Hester). Grad asked Rachel if she would be interested in having breakfast with him for the rest of his life, and she said "yes." It was a wonderful coda to a year of beautiful music.

On the one-year anniversary of their first date, Grad took Rachel to Pennsylvania (we celebrate our anniversary every month, still) for a fabulous Mid-century Modern architecture tour, kicking off with a visit to Polymath Park, which is an architectural park devoted to honoring and preserving Frank Lloyd Wright’s design legacy.

Then we moved onto Fallingwater, where we got a private tour of the famous Kaufmann Family weekend retreat, also designed by FLW. With Fallingwater in the background, Grad proposed to Rachel again … just to make sure that she hadn’t changed her mind. Rachel said “yes,” again. Grad somehow arranged for a never-before and never-since dinner on the terrace of Fallingwater, accompanied by a violin serenade and poetry readings. It was truly magical, and according to Rachel, it was her "...favorite day ever."

now it's your turn...

We both believe that there is nothing more important than sharing our love and happiness with family and friends – some meeting for the first time after several very unusual years. It would mean the world to us both to have you witness our vows and to celebrate with us. We know it will be a night to remember. Black tie.

The TWA Hotel

In 1962, Eero Saarinen's TWA Flight Center opened at New York's Idlewild (now JFK) Airport. It functioned as an air terminal for 39 years until 2001. In 2019, it was re-opened and re-imagined as a hotel, but preserved in its landmark status with the terminal restored to how it looked on opening day.

We love how time seems to stand still at the hotel despite the hustle and bustle of the surrounding airport. It is the perfect venue for two mid-century modern lovers! We hope you love it too!

Easily accessible for both out of town and local guests, we hope that all of you will take advantage of the room block as events will go well into Saturday evening (or Sunday morning to be more specific!)

Guests at the Honig-Conn wedding have access to a special discounted ($249) rate (Group Code HCWCJ392).

Easily accessible via Terminal 5 and the JFK AirTrain, the TWA Hotel offers 512 brand-new rooms that feature views of JFK’s runways and the historic TWA Flight Center, plus authentic 1960s furnishings, custom amenities, and rotary phones!

Event Timeline

If you are arriving Friday, please stop by and join us for a cocktail, or two, at the Paris Café in the Main Terminal Building.
Attire: Casual

Explore the terminal with champagne and caviar as Rachel and Grad get ready to share their wedding vows.
Attire: Black tie.

Please bring an ornament which symbolizes your relationship to us. Or perhaps you just want to commemorate a memory of our time together. Whichever you choose, please affix the tag you received in your invitation (we have extras on hand) to the ornament and hang it on the Wedding Tree in the TWA lobby.
Attire: Black tie.

Vows, tears, a kiss, and the breaking of a glass will kick-off a new life for us as a married couple.
Attire: Black tie.

Rather than the traditional assigned tables, the reception will blend walk-around dining with dancing throughout the terminal. We’re working on our signature cocktail, and the band is rehearsing our song. Come well rested.
Attire: Black tie (& dancing shoes!)

Believe it or not, there's a noise ordinance at JFK after 11pm (tell us how that makes sense!?!). So, no afterparty would be complete without a silent DJ!
Attire: Black tie.

Before you leave, join us at the rooftop pool on top of the Howard Hughes wing of the TWA Hotel and enjoy an extravagant Bloody Mary bar, Mimosas, and genuine New York bagels, lox, and schmear.
Attire: Bathing suits (& faux furs!)

Location Details

Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport has been brought back to life as a first-class hotel. Two hotel wings contain guestrooms (and a pool with bar on the roof) with views of JFK’s runways and the historic Flight Center. Book your room(s) directly on the TWA Hotel site. ($249) (Group Code HCWCJ392).

The TWA Hotel is accessible via JetBlue’s Terminal 5 baggage claim level if you’re inside the airport, or drive directly to the TWA Hotel at One Idlewild Drive, JFK International Airport, New York, NY 11430 (valet parking available).

Donations

If you feel you must do more, please donate to the New York Public Library. Rachel's mother, Pat, was a librarian and this is one way we can honor her memory on our special day.

Donate to the NYPL In Honor of Patricia Honig

Since we posted the NYPL donation link above, a number of people have requested that we also provide a gift registry as well. So, if you absolutely INSIST, we've curated some things which we love. Thank you.

Visit the Grachel registry at myregistry.com

Where to eat

Within the hotel is a late-night food hall and the famed Paris Café by Jean-Georges, open every day from 7am to 10pm. Plus, you're in one of the world's largest airports, in the heart of Queens, and only 30 minutes from the world's greatest city via AirTrain and subway.

Open every day 7am to 11am for breakfast and from noon to 10pm for lunch & dinner

The Paris Café is run by celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten who has been awarded Michelin stars for 14 consecutive years. He operates 36 restaurants around the world, including ABC Kitchen and Mercato.

Open 11am to Midnight

Locally-made, quick meals are dished up in the historic Food Hall, where Trans World Airlines travelers once checked in for flights. There are plenty of tables in case you want to stay a while! Classic automobiles create a great mid-century feel in this area of the terminal.

Terminal 5 at JFK is the airport's newest, and as a result it is spacious, sunlit, and stacked with many varied and beloved dining options, such as Japanese outpost Deep Blue, near Gate 22. Deep Blue is not airport sushi — it's sushi at the airport, and Rachel has missed many flights enjoying it. "It's damn good..." says Traveler editor David Jeffreys.

Traditions Eatery is under the Vaad of the 5 Towns and Far Rockaway, supervised by Rabbi Yussie Eisen. They hold to the highest standards of Kashrus. All products are Pas Yisroel and Yoshon, all vegetables are checked for bugs and all meats are Glatt Kosher and Chasidush Shichitah. We've never been, but it's highly rated, and minutes from JFK.

I think we can all agree — especially Rachel's cousins Marc and Steve — that Bigelow's Fried Clams is the most exceptional fried clam on Long Island and certainly there is no other reasonable comparison. Founded in 1939, Bigelow's secret is that they change their oil every day for the freshest, cleanest tasting fried clams! 30 minutes from JFK.

Ice cream for dinner! Ice cream for breakfast! Ice cream for lunch! All kidding aside, they serve sandwiches and other food items too! Itgen's has been a Long Island institution since 1936. It's one of those amazing places where you go to hang out with your friends, and with so many friends at this wedding I think we'll do a good job of keeping them busy.

It’s both the simplest and most difficult question to answer, whether it’s coming from a lifelong New Yorker or an out-of-town visitor: “Which restaurant should I check out in NYC?” The type of cuisine, price point, availability of outdoor dining options, the neighborhood, and occasion are just a few factors to consider. Luckily, there are countless options in the five boroughs — and on Eater New York’s map of 38 stellar restaurants, which is updated quarterly.

Some of our high-end favorites include Gotham, The Modern (where we met!), The Leopard, Per Se (you won't be able to get a reservation but get on the waitlist and you'll be surprised what opens up), L'Artusi, Don Angie, Sugarfish, Il Tinello, Marea, Gallaghers Steakhouse, Locanda Verde, Union Square Café, and Gramercy Tavern.

This is our favorite new restaurant in New York City, situated in the heart of East Harlem. Named a New York Times Top 10 Restaurant of 2021, Contento creates an unforgettable dining experience which combines extraordinary food, the best wine service in the city, world-class hospitality, and a philosophy of inclusivity and accessibility which attracts a more diverse and interesting clientele and reminds people to "make sure you leave the doors open behind you, so you won’t be the last."

Other accomplishments include:
Yannick Benjamin named Sommelier/Beverage Director of the Year, 2021;
Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America, 2021;
The Infatuation New York City’s Best New Restaurants, 2021;
Wine Enthusiast Best Micro Wine List in the World, 2021.