Brilliant Blog

A Brilliant Wedding: Megan and Jorge

January 10, 2013

On a perfect fall day, Megan and Jorge had a gorgeous sunset ceremony at The Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY. Megan’s sister sang a touching song that had both girls in tears.

After these two lovebirds said their “I Do’s,” they proceeded to cocktail hour, where a fun, vintage inspired band provided entertainment. They then led a processional from cocktails to the reception.

Guests were stunned by the decor! From the rustic wooden tables to the elegant centerpieces by Denise Fasanello, to the Edison bulb lights strung from the tent ceiling, each detail was better than the last.

It was a true pleasure to be a part of this wedding. Congratulations Megan and Jorge!

Photography courtesy of Weddings by Two 

A Brilliant Wedding: Gemma & Scott

September 5, 2012

Gemma and Scott originally hail from England and Australia, but wanted a New York wedding to show their out-of-town family and friends what the Big Apple is all about. They exchanged their vows at Calvary-St. George’s Church before hopping into a vintage taxi that took them to meet their closest friends and family at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Upon entering the terrace, guests stepped into an enchanted garden. Beneath the romantic lights and greenery, pastel blooms were dispersed along the tables. But, even in this dream-like setting, the city was ever present. Traditional table numbers were replaced by pictures of places in NYC that were special to Gemma and Scott and guests soon danced to classic NY songs, as boas and beads were brought to the dance floor. Even the top tier of their cake was elegantly decorated with the city skyline!

Despite all the big city details, Gemma and Scott did not forget where they came from. Their wedding color, violet, was chosen to honor a grandmother who couldn’t make the journey to New York, while the roses in Gemma’s bouquet honored another grandparent. The British and Australian flags on the front of their taxi were yet another cute way to remember their roots.

At the end of the night, guests took home violet boxes of chocolate from Vosges, the couples’ favorite SoHo chocolate shop. Gemma and Scott’s wedding so perfectly used cute details to blend past and present, that we can’t help but love it. Congratulations Gemma and Scott!

Beautiful photos courtesy of Maggie Harkov.

Alternative Centerpieces: Vegetables

August 29, 2012

Does your vision for your wedding include non-floral centerpieces? Vegetables have been receiving a lot of attention lately as a unique alternative to floral centerpieces.

Stumped about where to start? Artichokes are the most versatile. They work well as candleholders, but when ripe, their deep purple color compliments floral centerpieces beautifully. Longer stemmed vegetables can be used to create unique vases for a fresh spin on bouquets. Even simple baskets of ripe vegetables make eye-catching centerpieces. Check out the photos below for inspiration!

Photo credit: 1. Better Homes and Gardens, 2. Better Homes and Gardens, 3. Weddings by Lilly and 1. Jonathan Kantor via Martha Stewart, 2. Better Homes and Gardens, 3. Martha Stewart.

Featured Expert in Metro New York

August 23, 2012

I was delighted to be quoted in the Metro New York newspaper on August 20th regarding the new trend of dinner party apps.  Read the full article here!

A Brilliant Wedding: John & Lauren

April 25, 2012

John and Lauren were married on a very hot July day at the incredible Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and were one of the most fun, laid-back and in-love couples I’ve ever worked with.  Not to be thrown off by the warm weather, Lauren was absolutely stunning in her Vera Wang gown and throughout the day, I could see they were so in tune with each other, just genuinely happy to be together. Their outdoor ceremony was simple and refreshingly sweet, with the bride walking down the aisle to Tango from Scent of a Woman.

When it came to the reception, their fun-loving personalities came out – a bourbon bar with spiced nuts showcased John’s love for a great bottle of whiskey and their introduction song of Big Pimpin by Jay-Z showcased their lighter side.  A great dance party followed as the new Mr. and Mrs. partied the night away under the glasshouse atrium.  Congratulations to John & Lauren, it was such an honor to be part of your day!

Photos courtesy of Daniel Krieger.

A Brilliant Wedding: Laura & Bryan

April 11, 2012

There are so many things that I loved about Laura & Bryan’s wedding day.  From the contemporary reception setting of The Glasshouses, to the juxtaposition of the romantic florals by Blossom & Branch, their choice of chameleon chairs, the tiny but meaningful details that appeared at every turn throughout the day – everything came together to be perfectly ‘them.’

My favorite part was their choice of cocktail hour music.  Laura & Bryan decided on an acoustic set by their band, The Benjamins.  Tunes from the early 90s were the musical backdrop – music that the bride and groom actually listened to when they met in college and still have on their iPods to this day.  It created an environment that was relaxed but elegant, approachable yet refined – just like the lovely bride and groom.

I’m also proud to share that their wedding was recently a feature on Style Me Pretty! Thank you to this wonderful couple for letting me be part of their day, it was truly an honor.

Photos by Four Eyes Photography.

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!

Food Trucks at Your Wedding

June 27, 2011

As a huge fan of the Red Hook contingent, I think food trucks are a fun alternative to traditional sit-down dinners. They are great for outdoor venues where your guests can walk right up to the truck and are in keeping with a relaxed, chill atmosphere that some couples crave. Worried about long lines at the trucks? Try hiring a few different trucks to help with wait time and give your guests many cuisine options.

Get that “platinum wedding” touch with customized food containers (foil wrappers, pizza boxes, sleeves) with your wedding logo and a graphic wrapper on the food truck itself.

Photo of Wafles and Dinges courtesy of The Chic Brulee.

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: Denise & Adam, the Reception

January 21, 2011

A gorgeous winery just outside of Manhattan was the idyllic setting for Denise & Adam’s reception. Laurita Winery was the perfect combination of rustic and elegant, built of reclaimed pieces from all over the Northeast. This lucky couple had their logo designed by a close friend of the groom’s – a play on their initials and the double helix of DNA, and Kayleigh Jankowski helped to incorporate it into their wedding day stationery.

The head table was a farm table with legs made from reclaimed church pews.

Using the logo as inspiration, and with florals from Rountree Flowers, we designed a tablescape featuring shades of purple with green accents.

An intimate moment in the vineyards.

Thank you, Denise & Adam, for letting us be part of your spectacular day. It was truly an honor!

All photos courtesy of the fantastic Jeff Tisman.