Brilliant Blog

A Brilliant Wedding: Marina & Tony

February 22, 2012

Marina & Tony got married on Memorial Day weekend of 2011 and truly lucked out with the best possible weather!  It was sunny and downright warm, perfect May weather for this genuinely happy, light-hearted couple.  They exchanged “I Do’s” during a gorgeous Greek Orthodox ceremony, complete with all of the special traditions of the faith – including my favorite, the crowns.  Food, dancing and a fabulous party followed at the Mandarin Oriental, with Columbus Circle and the Central Park skyline as their backdrop.  Their guests enjoyed a delectable cake from Kakes and dined among lush arrangements from Ariston Floral with lighting by JB Lighting.  Thanks to Karin Von Voigtlander for the lovely photos.

Since their amazing wedding, they’ve both graduated with Masters degrees and moved to far-away Texas, but these two lovebirds were nothing but an absolute dream to work with and I’m so proud to have been part of their special day!

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 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.

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.

Side Buns: Timeless or Trendy?

January 12, 2012

The 1980s were the times of banana clips, mini skirts and classic Madonna, when most brides were of the mindset that bigger was better – especially when it came to wedding hair! Giant mall bangs, huge tendrils and perms were what every bride dreamed of. One of the hottest wedding hairstyle trends of the past few years is the side bun, a modern twist on the classic bun.

Will the side bun prove to be timeless or will it be an indication of the decade, like big eighties hair? What do you think?

Bothersome Bouquets

December 21, 2011

Notice a difference between the two brides in the first row and the brides in the second? The top two brides have perfectly placed bouquets as they walk down the aisle: at or below their waist. The ladies in the bottom row are holding their bouquets so high that it obstructs their face as they walk down the aisle. Don’t let this happen to you!

Photos credit to one, two, three and four.

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.

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.