Brilliant Blog

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: 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.

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.

Multi-Purpose Program

December 21, 2010

How about this wonderful multi-purpose program idea that we discovered on Brides? A great way to give your guests a little snack and share the information about your ceremony. We can see this concept being used for all sorts of different foods or even as escort cards instead of programs!

Photos courtesy of Jeremy Lawson Photography.

Candy Bar Alternative

December 3, 2010

Don’t get us wrong, we love a good candy display at any event.  But, we also love the colors and creativity of this Old Fashioned Soda Bar that our friends at Project Wedding came up with! The color and unique design of each bottle really makes for a real eye-catcher and will transport your guests back to when they were kids. Perfect for a large event like a wedding to a smaller, more intimate baby or bridal shower!

We think this would be an amazing idea for escort cards! What guest wouldn’t want to sit at the Orange Crush table or the Dad’s Cream Soda table?

A Brilliant Wedding: Caroline & Donald, the Details

November 14, 2010

Since Donald proposed to Caroline on a romantic trip to Europe, they selected travel as a focus for their wedding concept. Using a color palette of persimmon and pink, we created a tremendously fresh and fun summer wedding design! We know you’re dying to see the gorgeous bride & groom, we are too…stay tuned!

Guests traveled from near and far to attend their wedding. In honor of their African heritage, they incorporated traditional rites into their day including the breaking of the kola nut. Many guests wore beautiful traditional dress to the wedding. The colors and patterns are so inspiring! To tie in their travel concept, the escort card table was created as a mosiac of color + travel elements such as vintage stamps and maps.

Photos by Jenny Boyle for Jennifer Davis Photography. Stationery by Kayleigh Jankowski. Florals by Posies.

A Brilliant Wedding: Brenda & Alvin, Reception

November 1, 2010

This chic NYC couple wanted to infuse their wedding with impeccable style, but also with their Chinese & Filipino heritage. The color red symbolizes good fortune and joy in Chinese culture so we incorporated it into the ceremony with little hints on their paperie, and then went all out with when it came to the escort cards and table arrangements. Brenda changed into a stunning traditional qipao for part of the reception. To pay homage to Alvin’s Filipino heritage, the couple performed a traditional money dance where they were showered with bills from well-wishing guests.

So in love and so happy!

Images via Alison Mayfield for Christian Oth Studios.  Flowers by Belle Fleur, Venue Tribeca Rooftop.