Brilliant Blog

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!

Featured in the New York Times!

December 27, 2011

I’m so honored to be featured in the Christmas Day Sunday Styles section of the New York Times! Stay tuned for more photos, video and details from Matt & Missy’s engagement and click here to read the article.

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.

Featured in Metro New York

November 30, 2011

Are holiday parties making a comeback? Click here to read my take on whether workplace soirees are on their way up…or down.

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.

A Brilliant Proposal: Rodrigo & Gabriela

August 17, 2011

When Rodrigo contacted me from Brazil, he wanted a simple, rooftop marriage proposal with a view of the most iconic building in NYC: the Empire State Building. Not an easy task to find on short notice! His romantic and elegant proposal to Gabriela was a huge hit and she said YES (make that “Sim!” in Portuguese).  Thanks to Chef Ashton Keefe for their delectable dinner, Juan Villanueva for flowers and Sofia Negron for the fantastic photos!

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!