Hotcha! Whoopee! Wedding!

When I was first approached by Broadway actress Dani Spieler to plan her wedding to naval officer Cory Pihl, I literally had no idea what I was in for.  The notes I took from our initial conversation included:

• She wanted a getaway weekend that was still easily accessible from New York City

• She wanted her hair done in a style that wouldn’t move after being set 

• She wanted to be heavily involved in all of the planning and decision making

This came at a time when I was evaluating my slate of upcoming weddings and realizing I needed to take on some help as my business was growing rapidly. After I officially went to contract with Dani, she sent me a spreadsheet of possible venues. It was gorgeous and perfectly organized. This spreadsheet would make any type A person swoon. So after Dani hired me, I hired her! Not only does she possess exceptional attention to detail, but she brought incredible insight to the entire roster of wedding plans as she was going through the process herself. I could go on and on about the value she has brought to the company. She became both a beloved colleague and friend. One of the highlights of my career will forever be our collaboration in creating one of the most personal, detail-oriented events when she played the role of a lifetime and went on for Bride.

Dani and Cory come from different backgrounds and telling their story both as individuals and as a couple was on full display at their wedding.  After reviewing the aforementioned spreadsheet, we landed on the Red Maple Vineyard in Hudson Valley.  We were also excited to be planning for what would be their first season featuring the glass enclosure of the main space.  With a late October date, we knew gorgeous foliage would be on full display for the mountaintop ceremony.

Dani learned from working with me how important it is to have a Plan B whenever a wedding involves outdoor portions of the event. The wedding day arrived and it was pouring buckets! Luckily, we had a solid plan. We used an alternate location for the first look, and the rain plan at Red Maple Vineyard left most guests without a clue it could have been done any differently.  

Upon entry to the ceremony guests were offered a pashmina displayed in an assortment of three colors.  As the processional began, everyone was able to take in Cory in full uniform and Dani rocking the gown she found by Enaura Bridal.  The ceremony was officiated to perfection by Curtis Holbrook who seamlessly weaved humor, insight and surprises.  During cocktail hour guests could enjoy the specialty cocktails and bites by Cornerstone Caterers or learn where they were sitting from the display of tables adorned to a door frame with greenery.  Tables were all named from stories meaningful to the couple and includes gems like “Bend and Snap” and “This Table is Rich.”

Upon entering the reception space, guests could appreciate Dani’s unique but stunning choice for a fall wedding to opt for a neutral palette with pops of mixed metallics and lots of greenery.  Above the head table was an installation of greenery with hanging candles that got the room nice and moody as the sun set outside.  The bride and groom had special chairs adorned with signage marking them as “Spiel” and “Pihl.”

For entertainment we hired the incredible 45 Riots but with the caveat they’d allow a few guest performances.  Dani and Cory’s first dance of “Coming Home” was sung by friend Dave Hull before the rousing Hora.  Later in the evening guests were treated to a special performance by Cory’s father Gary who was in the band Boston.  As he grabbed his guitar for “Foreplay and Long Time” the entire room was transformed into a rock concert.

A cake cutting could have underwhelming after, but the moment was met by slicing into the three-tiered beauty with Cory’s sword.  The dance floor remained packed after the bride and groom gave their gracious toast.  Nobody wanted the celebration to end.  Thankfully after the last dance of “Love on Top” guests immediately entered the after party that was complete with a wig bar.

 The event was beautiful and chic.  It also honored their families, friends and careers.  It was so Dani and Cory.

Start the Car,  I know a Wedding Spot Where the rain is cold but the dance floor is hot. It's just a navy Groom
Where there's a Broadway Bride
And all that WEDDING!

View the full gallery here

Venue: Red Maple Vineyard
Catering: Cornerstone Caterers 
Photography: Julia Jane Studios Florals: The Green Cottage
Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal 
Gown: Enaura Bridal
Shoes: Worldtone Dance 
Hair: Justin Bowen
Makeup: Danielle Arci
Band: 45 Riots
Video: Andrew Keenan Bolger
Paperie: Minted
Details: Type and Love Paperie
Hairpiece: Dareth Colburn
Jewelry: Tiadoro 
Tux: US Navy The Black Tux

"Couples, Start your Engines and May the Best Wedding Win!"

Some girls make wonderful jivers, some girls can hit a high "C", some girls make good taxi drivers, but what a genius is Alysha Umphress when she would finally play the role of bride.  For several years she had been Cody William’s ideal of a perfect meal, and she had a very clear vision of the wedding she wanted in this helluva town. When she needed a wedding planner, I said “Ya Got Me!” Okay that concludes my references of the show that was an integral part of their early dating years.

Friends and fans alike know that this diva has signature style.  Her bachelorette party included her closest friends dressing in their favorite looks of 4lysha.  My task at hand was to turn her glittery ideas into reality.  I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a save-the-date that more accurately set the tone for guests: “It’s Gonna Be Lit AF!”

After exploring several venue options, we landed at the Green Building in Brooklyn to be the canvas for stars, moons and neon.  We designed a floor plan suited for this cocktail-style reception, and booked Korilla BBQ and Chick N Cone as the two food truck offerings.  Celebrity chef Zac Young would provide the cake and other desserts, in addition to dole whip by Pineapple Express.  We curated a bar menu featuring a take on an Aviation named “4Lysha’s Flight.” Name Glo provided the various neon signs, and we added string lights and hanging stars to the Color Condition from Patina Rentals to give the ceiling it’s texture. Dirty Sugar provided an interactive photo-booth with clouds and a giant moon.  Jake Wilson curated a video of campy content and crowd favorites that projected over the dance floor. Star magnets made from recycled LaCroix cans served as the take-home favor.

These details all came together to create the “4Lysha Look,” and luckily David Pearlman Photography was there to document it all.  But it was programming of the night that caused it to truly take flight.  The ceremony began with music performed by John Gallaher Jr. and Libby Winters. Then Cody entered with the flower girl, their dog Dizzy.  When Alysha appeared at the back of the aisle in her silver Hailey Paige gown, she literally got entrance applause.  Jeff Blumenkrantz officiated a funny and sentimental ceremony which reminded everyone in attendance that Monday on the tangibility of real love.

Part of the fun of my job on site is executing successful surprise moments, and this reception had no shortage of them.  Alysha and Cody choreographed their first dance to Des’ree’s “Life,” a crowd favorite amongst several friends.  Rightor Doyle began his toast as a best friend, and mentioned Alysha’s often requested to sing at other weddings, which led him to beginning “For Good.” He then introduced Adele Nazeem, and Matt Risch appeared in full drag as Elphaba while Rightor made a quick change into Glinda.  And what Broadway wedding would be complete without an 11 O’clock number?  As Alysha tossed her bouquet to all the single gals and gays, none other than Busted the Drag Queen appeared to begin a set that had everyone in stitches.  Alysha and Cody were my final wedding of 2017, and I couldn’t have asked to conclude the year with a bigger bang.  I think it was RuPaul who famously asked, “Why have just one drag reveal at a wedding when you can have three?”

View the full gallery here

Venue: The Green Building

Officiant: Jeff Blumenkrantz

Ceremony Musicians: John Gallagher Jr. & Libby Winters

Photographer: David Pearlman Photography

Videographer: Fine by Media

DJ: Brian Fitzsimmons

Catering: Korilla BBQ and Chik ’n Cone

Cake: Zac Young

Dole Whip: Pineapple Express

Neon: Name Glo

Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals

Color Condition: Rent Patina

Photo Booth: Dirty Sugar

Make-Up: Bryan Campbell-Leavitt

Hair: Billy Aken-Tyers

"Greens, Green and Nothing but Green"

Kermit the Frog famously declared “it’s not easy bein’ green,” but Phillipa Soo and Steve Pasquale sure proved otherwise in their nuptials.  When this beloved Broadway couple first met with me to plan their wedding, their top request was that it wouldn’t feel like an opening night.  They are foodies, so they wanted a delicious menu and for the overall vibe to be relaxed enough that they could enjoy each moment with their guests.  They got engaged under the Brooklyn Bridge and were in the process of moving to that borough together, so we landed at the Wythe Hotel for their celebration.

There was more to defining their style as bride and groom besides tantalizing the taste buds and being environmentally conscious. Many traditional wedding moments, including the processional down the aisle, did not speak to them.  Every decision was still made with tremendous specificity to personalize the evening and give it a bit of theatricality.  Once guests were seated for the ceremony, their officiant and I played a little scene that Pippa and Steve were nowhere to be found.  After we vamped this bit the familiar sound of a horn was heard and in rode Pippa and Steve on a vintage tandem bicycle.  Not only did this inspire the wedding’s hashtag, but the tone of fun was immediately established.

During their ceremony they were framed by hanging garland of verdant greens and Edison bulbs designed by Gatherings NY.  Once cocktail hour kicked off, we parked the tandem bike in front of this installation to serve as the backdrop for the photo booth.   As guests entered the reception space they were sat at tables named after meaningful locations in the lives of Phillipa and Steve, and these were beautifully written by Letters by Susanne.  The wooden tables were lined with white potted herb gardens rather than flowers, and cylinders of candles in varying heights to add a touch of drama.  This allowed the food and conversation to truly be the stars of the dinner. 

A traditional wedding cake wasn’t even an option.   Instead, a buffet of assorted Schmackary’s paired with an ice-cream cart served as dessert.  And for take-home favors, guests could choose from four different herbs offered in the “Garden in a Can.”  Whether they chose basil, dill, cilantro or sage, they were supporting Back to the Roots, a company whose proceeds support making gardening and food education part of every school curriculum.  The night was magical, chill, and very much Pippa and Steve.

“So there’s no more fuss and there’s no more scenes and the marriage thrives. You should see the gallery!”

Officiant: Jonathan Groff
Photographer: Laura Marie Duncan
Videographer: Andrew Keenan Bolger
Floral: Gatherings NYC
Lighting: Universal Light and Sound
Ceremony Musician: Justin Levine
DJ: Steven Paul
Calligraphy: Letters by Susanne
Dessert: Schmackarys 

Favors: Back to the Roots