Brilliant Blog

A Brilliant Wedding: Annie & Dan

March 7, 2012

It’s not every day that you get an email from a prospective client asking for help planning their entire wedding in six weeks. But, Annie did just that and through lots of decisiveness and hard work, we pulled it off!  The challenges for their wedding didn’t end with the short planning timeline. Annie is a Texas sweetheart based out of London and her husband, Dan is a Jersey boy turned military commander and professional triathlete who was stationed in Afghanistan. Despite all this, they were married on a perfect summer day on one of NYC’s best rooftops.

Annie allowed me to take some chances with design (most brides immediately shy away when the words “turquoise table linens” come out of my mouth) and I have to admit, their wedding design turned out to be a personal favorite of mine. Thank you to Mariann from Blue Daisy for these drop-dead gorgeous photos and for capturing Annie & Dan’s vivacious and fun approach to life, love and their wedding.

A Brilliant Wedding: Marina & Tony

February 22, 2012

Marina & Tony got married on Memorial Day weekend of 2011 and truly lucked out with the best possible weather!  It was sunny and downright warm, perfect May weather for this genuinely happy, light-hearted couple.  They exchanged “I Do’s” during a gorgeous Greek Orthodox ceremony, complete with all of the special traditions of the faith – including my favorite, the crowns.  Food, dancing and a fabulous party followed at the Mandarin Oriental, with Columbus Circle and the Central Park skyline as their backdrop.  Their guests enjoyed a delectable cake from Kakes and dined among lush arrangements from Ariston Floral with lighting by JB Lighting.  Thanks to Karin Von Voigtlander for the lovely photos.

Since their amazing wedding, they’ve both graduated with Masters degrees and moved to far-away Texas, but these two lovebirds were nothing but an absolute dream to work with and I’m so proud to have been part of their special day!

A Brilliant Wedding: Vanessa & Nicole

February 8, 2012

I remember when Vanessa & Nicole sent me their list of formal photos…it included a note that said “We’d like photos of us laughing, we do that a lot.” As you can tell by these fantastic photos, they were certainly right.  These two lovebirds met as roommates and tried to remain only friends but alas, love got the better of them and they fell head-over-heels for each other. Their intimate, spring wedding was filled with smiles, merriment, hugs, kisses …and, you guessed it, a ton of laughter.  They encouraged their guests to “Remember to Live” and enjoyed every last bit of their big day. I’m pleased to announce that their photos were recently featured on Style Me Pretty.  I was privileged to be part of their amazing day and am so grateful to have met them.

Lovely photos courtesy of Kate Triano Photography.

A Brilliant Wedding: Ashley & Lee

January 26, 2012

It’s not every day that you move halfway across the country, only to meet and fall in love with someone who went to the same college!  Ashley & Lee did just that. These two wanted to combine their southern hospitality with their cosmopolitan life here in NYC so I designed their wedding in hues of purple with magenta and gold accents.  The ballroom at the brand new Eventi Hotel proved to be the ideal space with its expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and chic lounge furniture.

Their centerpieces from Starbright Floral reflected the young, fresh vibe of their wedding – three distinct arrangements, each with a different flower choice created a pop against the plum textured tablecloth.  A black lacquer dance floor and white calligraphy on their escort cards rounded out this beautiful May wedding.  Congratulations to this happy couple – I was so honored to be part of your big day!

Lovely photos courtesy of Moss Creation.

A Brilliant Wedding: Jacob & Dina

December 7, 2011

Jacob hails from Canada and his California bride, Dina, were brave souls selecting their wedding date in February! As luck would have it, the weather held out and it was a snowy, yet clear day.  Their beautiful wedding was held in the library at the New York Academy of Medicine and was the perfect mix of their shared intellectual flair, Jewish Orthodox faith, and their genuine warmth and love for each other, their families and friends.  It was a true pleasure to kick off our 2011 season with these two and an absolute honor to be a part of their big day!

Flowers by Blossom and Branch, Hair by Stacy Pitt, Makeup by Sally Duvall, Venue NYAM, Kosher Catering Esprit Events, Band Simcha All-Stars, Non-Kosher Catering Sterling Affair, Photos by Karin VonVoigtlander.

A Brilliant Wedding: Julie & Gary, The Reception

April 5, 2011

This autumn wedding needed a little twist of the theater for our Broadway-loving bride & groom. With stationery designed by Kayleigh Jankowski and the help of the DJ, we slipped it into the table names and to the dinner music without going overboard. The perfect combination for this perfect couple! To honor Gary’s mother who passed away from Lupus, the couple selected wristbands with specially-designed tags as a symbol of their donation to the Lupus Foundation.

At the end of the evening, after all of the groom’s Johnnie Walker had been consumed, the cake was cut and the candles blown out, we felt so privileged to have been a part of such an important day in their lives. Congratulations!

Thank you to Jenny Boyle of Jennifer Davis Photography for the amazing photos!

A Brilliant Wedding: Julie & Gary, The Ceremony

April 5, 2011

Julie & Gary got married on a chilly day in early November at the chapel at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Their dream wedding had an autumnal feel with a flair for the colors of cranberry and burnt orange. With that in mind, we designed an elegant yet approachable day for them to share with their loved ones. They both got ready at the Wall Street Inn in downtown Manhattan and I have to say that Julie was one of the most beautiful brides I’ve ever seen! She rocked her Louboutins all evening and together they made a perfect Mr. and Mrs. Stay tuned for more photos from their spectacular day!

Amazing photos thanks to Jenny Boyle for Jennifer Davis Photography.

A Brilliant Wedding: Jennifer & Rob

February 22, 2011

Jennifer & Rob were married on the perfect fall day in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. These two came to us wanting nothing but the chance to enjoy their friends and family while basking in the glow of their wedding day. The Picnic House created a simply elegant backdrop, with florals from Blossom & Branch and photos from Jenny Kim, their nuptials were nothing less than picture perfect!

I love this sweet moment between the adorable bride & groom, so carefree and happy as they enjoy their wedding day! We were so honored to be part of such an amazing occasion, thank you!

A Brilliant Wedding: Sandra & Jon

February 22, 2011

Sandra & Jon were married at the New York Botanical Gardens on a gorgeous fall day. Their guests were greeted with apothecary glasses filled with hot apple cider as they awaited the start of the sunset ceremony. After they exchanged their “I Do’s,” the couple hosted a fun-filled party complete with a packed dancefloor thanks to Around Town Entertainment, a photobooth and a spectacular candy bar. A special thank you to Jonathan Young for these beautiful photos. From the truly wonderful bride & groom to their darling family and friends, we were thrilled to be a part of their special day!

A Brilliant Wedding: Michael & Christine, the Reception

February 15, 2011

We designed Michael & Christine’s reception around a 1920s supper club. With cabaret-style seating, vintage lamps accented the florals from Belle Fleur on each table and tickets directing each guest to their seat, the entire evening was reminiscent of the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem. The 15-piece band was led by none other than the famous Tony DeSare and captivated the guests all evening from the stage of the Hudson Theater.

It was truly our honor to have been part of Michael & Christine’s amazing day!

Photos courtesy of Karin VonVoigtlander.