Brilliant Blog

A Brilliant Destination Wedding: Newport, Rhode Island

September 18, 2012

I was lucky enough to visit Forty 1° North, a hotel and marina resort located in the heart of Newport, Rhode Island as part of a recent press trip. It’s the perfect getaway for couples searching for a wedding location that’s like the Hamptons, but not the Hamptons.  A quick, relaxing train ride – free of the chaos of airport security and terrible traffic snarls – to Newport and you’re at the perfect waterfront destination wedding location in flash.

The vibe of this resort mixes the caliber of a New York City wedding – a sophisticated setting and impeccable food & service – with the backdrop of charming Newport. It is posh, yet totally approachable. The boutique hotel is located right on the marina and has 24 rooms and suites, as well as 2 lofts and 2 cottages. Each room has its own Dr. Seuss book, for a touch of whimsy, and Malin + Goetz amenities to make sure you are properly pampered.

When it comes to wedding venue locations, Forty 1° North has both indoor and outdoor space, including the waterfront marina and two restaurants with totally distinct vibes. Whether you use their in-house sommelier for rehearsal dinners in the private dining room, their roundtable bar for a beer tasting, the library for a welcome cocktail reception or your ceremony in the open-air seafront reception area, it’s perfect for a summer evening wedding or a cozy, intimate winter nuptials!

During my stay, I was lucky enough to experience a boat ride around the harbor with a luxury picnic of lobster rolls, caviar and perfectly chilled rosé – a super chic alternative to the typical rehearsal dinner.  We also were treated to a cooking class cooking class with their classically trained head chef, where we made an inventive, but surprisingly easy, Thai soup!  A fun way to do a group activity for foodie brides and their ladies, or foodie grooms and their entourage.

Oh, and if all that wasn’t enough to tempt you, their Lavender Crème Brulee is out of this world!

Dreaming of a wedding like this? Contact us today at 917.974.4729 or sarah@brillianteventplanning.com

Photos courtesy of Forty 1° North,  Meghan Sepe Weddings, Couture Parties and Connerton Photography.

Featured on Fox for Jennifer Aniston’s Wedding

August 16, 2012

I was thrilled to have my advice featured by Fox on Jennifer Aniston’s recent engagement and potential wedding plans!  Read the article here or view the video here.

Beware of Sunsets

March 15, 2012

Every bride and groom dream of a great party at their wedding reception, and in most cases, that dream includes a packed dancefloor.  Keep the dancefloor full by planning your reception start time with sunset in mind – this is especially important in the summer months when the sun doesn’t go down until around 8:30pm.

Think about it: your favorite club doesn’t have fluorescent lightbulbs or natural light streaming in because people prefer to dance in darker, ambient atmospheres.  Too much light makes people self conscious and shy, and your dancefloor will be anemic as a result.  Also, any candlelight you’ve used in your decor won’t have any impact if your reception space is flooded with natural light.  If your venue has any kind of windows, use this sunset calculator to determine when the sun will go down and schedule your reception accordingly.

Photo courtesy of Italian Weddings.

Non-Traditional Chuppah

February 20, 2012

I was pretty sure this would always be my favorite chuppah (or mandap, or canopy depending on your religious affiliation). But when I saw this little gem on Style Me Pretty today, I thought it was the prettiest non-traditional chuppah ever and had to share.

Photo by Elizabeth Lloyd.

A Brilliant Destination Wedding: Round Hill Resort

December 15, 2011

There’s really nothing like a little bit of paradise during the holiday season!  I was lucky enough to visit Round Hill Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica earlier this month for a press trip. Nestled on a quiet cove, this tropical destination wedding venue is a great escape to the days of Fred Astaire, Oscar Hammerstein and John & Jackie Kennedy.

For couples searching for a private villa to host their wedding but don’t want to sacrifice platinum service and amenities, Round Hill is the perfect hybrid. They have 27 unique villas (ranging from 2-bedrooms to 6-bedrooms) with dedicated staff plus the pristine oceanfront hotel rooms of the Ralph Lauren-designed Pineapple House.

As the staff will tell you, “everything is possible” when it comes to your wedding. Whether it’s a barefoot beach ceremony, welcome drinks at the infinity pool or an open-air dinner on the oceanfront lawn – the only difficult part of your wedding planning will be choosing just one location for each event.

Dreaming of a wedding like this? Contact us today at 917.974.4729 or sarah@brillianteventplanning.com

Photos courtesy of Round Hill.

Flip for your Wedding Shoes

September 26, 2011

Every girl knows that no matter how comfortable, after ten to twelve hours in heels, your feet will be in pain! Your wedding day is no exception. If you plan to change into some foot-friendly kicks, a great option is thick soled flip flops.   With the high platform replacing your heels, you don’t have to worry about tripping over your dress and the hem of your gown will stay clean.

Photo courtesy of Wedding Splendor.

Canopy Dreams

August 10, 2011

Call it a chuppah, call it a mandap, call it a canopy or an arch…this is downright dreamy!

Photo by James Christianson via Style Me Pretty.

Chair Choice Matters

June 29, 2011

The color of your chairs may be the last thing you are thinking about when deciding on the color palette of your reception, but your chairs can make (or break) your entire look.

In the examples below, you can see that choosing a fruitwood chair for this ceremony creates such a different look than the standard white chair. A red or turquoise chair coupled with a simple tablescape make a strong and immediate impact. Whether it’s selecting the right contrasting chair pad, a neutral wood over a standard white, or accenting the overall look with a specialty colored chair, chair selection makes a huge statement in your event decor.

Please click on photos for source.

Late Night Snacks

January 24, 2011

Late-night snacks are the perfect way to treat your guests after a long night of dancing! They can be a sweet nightcap like churros, or milk and cookies – a crunchy antidote to all the alcohol. Or, send them home with coffee and donuts for breakfast the next morning. Prefer something savory? How about mini grilled-cheese sandwiches with tomato soup shooters, bagels and cream cheese or a hot dog cart with all the fixings!

Photos courtesy of the Knot via Wish and Martha Stewart.

Wind + Rose Petals

December 16, 2010

Rose petals are a beautiful way to add some color and interest to your event. Keep in mind that when used outdoors, they can blow away VERY easily. Whether used as accents on your cocktail tables or in an elaborate design down the aisle, talk to your florist about what the plan will be when the wind kicks up.

Photo courtesy of Maharani Weddings and by TripleCord.