Brilliant Blog

Aisle Runner Alternatives

January 18, 2012

If you like the idea of an aisle runner but want something a little more unique, get inspired by the overall look and feel of your wedding. If you’re having a fall wedding, work with your florist to create a carpet of leaves in gorgeous reds and oranges. A glamorous indoor wedding? Scatter sequins down the aisle to add just the right amount of glitz.  Or, if you’re sold on rose petals but want a different interpretation, try doing a geometric pattern. The aisle’s the limit!

Photos courtesy of Zoom Photography via Style Me Pretty,

KT Merry and Rock Paper Scissors Event Design via Style Me Pretty, and Sedona Bride.

A Brilliant Marriage Proposal: Matt & Missy’s Video

January 3, 2012

Enjoy the video from Matt & Missy’s engagement that I designed and planned as The Proposal Planner.  Video courtesy of our friends at Pap the Question. Check out all the photos from their amazing day here.  Want a marriage proposal like this?  Call us at 917.974.4729 or email at sarah@brillianteventplanning.com.

A Brilliant Marriage Proposal: Matt & Missy

December 29, 2011

Matt wanted to propose to Missy, who loves everything vintage and French so I designed their marriage proposal to reflect her taste for le francais but also their future together. We shut down a local french bistro and filled it with singers posing as regular patrons. Our friends from Pap the Question took paparazzi-style photos while the couple enjoyed a cup of tea.  They were transported back to 1920′s France – a large iron structure decorated the private room with crystal chandeliers and fresh florals.  Tiny hang tags from each corner of the structure had a reason why Matt loves Missy.

Underneath the structure was a 5-tier cake by Elegantly Iced and a custom-crafted wooden wine box with their names. Inside was a bottle of 2008 Pinot Noir – a vintage from the year they met. They plan to use the box as a time capsule and open it on their 10 year anniversary. Missy said YES and the vintage fun continued with a 1920′s limousine chauffering them to a private dinner at one of NYC’s best restaurants.  Their proposal was featured in the New York Times and in USA Today. Special thanks to Pap the Question for the amazing photo & video.  Congratulations to Matt & Missy and stay tuned for the video…coming soon!

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.

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.

Pier 1 Imports: Party Protege

November 16, 2011

I recently partnered with Pier 1 Imports to help transform a bland Brooklyn loft apartment into a party paradise! With food and drinks by chef/mixologist Yvan Lemoine, these three lucky ladies had an amazing home makeover and transformation. Watch episodes 1-4 below and see what tips and tricks you can learn for hosting a fabulous party in your own home this holiday season.

Hydrangea Table Runner

November 2, 2011

Take a table runner, mix it with a hydrangea centerpiece and you get this spectacular idea.  Clean and simple but has a huge visual impact without obstructing the view across the table.  Genius!

Photo by Brian Fitzsimmons via Simple Song and Caplan Miller.

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.

A Brilliant Proposal, Danny & Tanvi, Part 2

April 6, 2011

Now that you’ve viewed the photos from their proposal, grab some kleenex and watch this heartwarming video of Danny & Tanvi’s travel-inspired engagement. Thanks to Love in Progress for this fantastic video!