Brilliant Blog

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: 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.

A Brilliant Wedding: Lorraine & Dave, Reception

May 7, 2010

Lorraine & Dave’s reception was a dramatic Spring Soiree filled with shades of salmon and green at the Millennium Broadway’s Hudson Theater.  The garden-inspired centerpieces from Rountree Flowers highlighted blush-colored peonies – an ideal bloom for this spring wedding design!  The escort cards were on a show-stopping bed of pave flowers – a mixture of spider mums, hydrangea and roses. Guests enjoyed a caramel apple favor for their “Big Apple” wedding symbolizing a donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering foundation made by the couple. The entire stationery suite was designed by the talented Kayleigh Jankowski and printed by Cards and Pockets and included a hand-drawn rendition of the cathedral and NYC skyline.

We still have one more set of amazing images from this special day, stay tuned!

Photos courtesy of Jenny Boyle for Jennifer Davis Photography.

Library Wedding: Part 2 of 3

November 10, 2009

The reception of Molly & Mark’s gorgeous library wedding took place at 91 with delicious catering by the Upper Crust. Custom stationery was created exclusively for the bride & groom by Megan Guerin and appeared on everything from the escort cards to the menus to the drink coasters.  Crystal chandeliers courtesy of Jersey Street Furniture framed the space and created the “family dinner” ambiance that the thoughtful bride & groom envisioned.

A single orchid was placed on each placesetting and the centerpieces were elegant, highly-textured florals by Rountree Flowers.  Cocktail centerpieces were a nod to the vintage aspect of the wedding and were an assortment of letterpress blocks. The linens, chairs and chargers are courtesy of Party Rental Ltd.  

All of these great shots are from Zlatko Batistich, photographer extraordinaire!We have one more set of photos from this marvelous wedding so stay tuned!

Got a light?

October 28, 2009

Here’s a pretty striking “before” and “after” shot from Kyla & Jordan’s wedding at Le Parker Meridien.  What a difference the lighting makes!  Photo by KC Gunn and lighting by Prestige Lighting. Even more gorgeous photos coming soon!

Inspiration Board: Kyla & Jordan's Chic Wedding

June 29, 2009

This lovely couple is planning a gorgeous wedding this fall in New York City at Le Parker Meridien. The color palette is a progression of pure white for the ceremony to an ice blue for the cocktail hour and a bold navy/midnight blue for the reception accented with metallic touches. We’re focusing on texture and color saturations to make things really stand out. Enjoy!

A Brilliant Event: Havana Nights

March 22, 2009

We designed a festive holiday party for Reval, a financial software company here in New York, where a ”Havana Nights” Cuban theme spiced up the frosty December evening. 

Guests arrived at the Harbor Room of Battery Gardens Restaurant and were greeted by butler-passed mojitos and festive music by DJ Medina, Manhattan’s hottest latin music DJ.  The room was illuminated with vibrant pinks and greens thanks to Prestige Lighting and tables boasted centerpieces of tall cylinder vases filled with limes and monstera leaves.  

Bright pink table runners combined with lime napkins from Cloth Connection created a sizzling contrast to the centerpieces and a perfect replica of a 1950s Cadillac was made by TracyCakes for all to enjoy.  La Rosa Cubana provided hand-rolled cigars throughout the evening while guests dined on traditional Cuban fare. After dinner all were entertained by Fuákata, a Cuban Salsa-Casino dance performance group directed by Christopher Rogicki. 

Immediately following the performance, guests were invited to learn salsa from the experts with a mini dance lesson and put their new-found skills to the test the rest of the evening!  At the end of the evening, each guest was given a Cuban music CD so they could continue their salsa dancing at home!

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane…It’s a Sky Feature!

September 4, 2008

A fireworks display is unique idea that’s becoming more and more popular these days.  We love the idea of the guests walking out of the reception after having an amazing time and being greeted with a gorgeous fireworks display. 

Another option is using Chinese flying lanterns.  There are many different legends behind the use of Chinese flying lanterns: a high-flying lantern brings prosperity and good luck, or it brings good fortune in the future.  On thing is certain: the picture below is captivating!  It’s a beautiful way to get your guests involved in your day as well by having each person send a lantern as they leave.  Whether it’s fireworks, flying lanterns or something else in the sky…what a great way to send off your guests!

Chandeliers in the Outdoors

August 18, 2008

One of my favorite ways to create a touch of elegance for outdoor weddings is the use of chandeliers.  You can hang them in trees for the ceremony, under a rustic overhang for cocktail hour or inside a restored barn for the reception.

They add just a bit of elegance without being too stuffy, add interest to the ceiling and improve the ambiance with their soft lighting.  For couples on a budget or wanting a non-traditional feel, there are all types for all price ranges, tastes and colors!  For inexpensive ones try Ikea or Shop Wild Things.  Here are a few pictures to inspire you…