“And There is Something About the Way you Love me That Finally Feels Like Home”

S and J live in Dumbo.  The neighborhood and the apartment they share in it are true reflections of who they are. They have breathtaking views in a chic building. Upon entering their home it’s apparent they have great taste, but also a warmth and relaxed vibe that makes you want to take your shoes off.   This feeling was something they wanted at their wedding.

 Even though other venues were considered, the fabulous 26 Bridge just a few blocks away from their apartment became the obvious choice.  There were several wedding traditions that did not appeal to them. They didn’t want a plated meal, fussy flowers, or a night where they wouldn’t be able to interact with every single guest. They did want a curated bar, food stations open throughout the party, flowers and lighting that enhanced the character of the venue, and most importantly, amazing music.

 This type of specificity made it easy to find the ideal vendors. What S & J provided was a portrait of two people so ready to embark on marriage together. After their first look on the crowded cobblestone streets of Dumbo, they shared the rest of wedding journey equally and together. This was solidified by a beautiful ceremony witnessed by their family and friends, and after they spent the entire evening side by side relishing in the continuation of their adventure together.

“I've been looking for you baby
In every face that I've ever known
And there is something about the way you love me
That finally feels like home
You're my light you're my darkness
You're the right kind of madness
You're my hope you're my despair
You're my scope of everything everywhere”

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Venue:26 Bridge

Photographer: Stephen Govel

Videographer: LeImage

Caterer: Real Food

Band: The Hudson Project

Florist: Mimosa 

Lighting: Universal Light and Sound

Rentals: Party Rental LTD

Cake: One Girl Cookies

"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?”

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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

"Look into your eyes, and the sky’s the limit!"

When Marc and Daniel got engaged and realized they wanted a wedding planner I was thrilled to get the call.  While the legality of same-sex marriage doesn’t seem to be threatened and gay weddings are a common occurrence, we all must remember that wasn’t always the case.  And Marc Solomon is one of the reasons why.  He was one of the driving forces behind the organization Freedom to Marry, and he also authored Winning Marriage which outlines the entire movement.  Personally, I know that I wouldn’t have my current career without people like him.

In searching for venues together, they told me they were “chillaxed homosexuals” who wanted to celebrate the life they were now sharing in the borough of Brooklyn.  This wedding was going to be less about centerpieces and more about them, the movement they had been a part of, and the guests who would be on hand to celebrate.  We landed on having the ceremony at the Wythe Hotel and reception at the Brooklyn Winery.

This wasn’t just any ceremony.  Not only did their dog Salvy walk down the aisle as ring bearer, but It was almost a who’s who of the marriage equality movement.  It was officiated by Evan Wolfson, the founder and president of Freedom to Marry.  Their friend Mary Bonauto, read passages from two major court cases affirming the freedom to marry, both of which she argued.  These were Goodridge v. Department of Public Health in 2003 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. Adding to this was the incredible live clarinet played by Eric Umble.

As guests departed the ceremony and arrived at the reception, they were instantly greeted with the made-in-house varietals that make the Brooklyn Winery so special.  As Marc and Dan were introduced to their guests they executed a choreographed dance by Josh Green to “I Got Lost in His Arms” by Jonathan Groff. After DJ Lady Crumbcake of Sugartown Industries kept the crowd moving for this cocktail-style reception, and when the winery put out their multiple food stations they did not disappoint.  Nine Cakes provided three tiers of deliciousness, and upon cutting the grooms had requested “Helpless” from Hamilton.  I had just worked with the singers of their first dance and cake-cutting choices, so it was thrilling for me to surprise them with a congratulatory video message from Phillipa Soo and Jonathan Groff. 

"If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it.” 

View the full gallery here.

View video highlight here.

View the story in the Advocate here.

Ceremony Venue: The Wythe Hotel

Reception Venue: The Brooklyn Winery

Ceremony Musician: Eric Umble

DJ: Sugartown Industries

Photographer: Justin McCallum

Videographer: Daniel Robinson

Choreographer: Josh Green

Cake: Nine Cakes

Floral: L’Oasis

Lighting: Universal Light and Sound

Favors: NuNu Chocolates

"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

"I'm with Her, Her and the Babka"

Di and Risa wanted their wedding to be one of new traditions and celebrate not only their love of art, but also some of the incredibly talented people they knew who would create custom pieces for this occasion.  Every decision to be made was done with the consciousness, political awareness and sense of humor that is this incredible couple.

It didn’t hurt that Mother Nature was clearly smiling down this day, presenting one of the most gorgeous backdrops at the Liberty Warehouse for this indoor/outdoor affair.  The ceremony included a custom chuppah by Ryan Frank with an image of their home on the canopy.  The tears and laughter were inevitable for all by personal touches such as the beautiful words of their officiant Lucien Zeyen; a troupe of flowers girls walking down the aisle to Beyoncé’s “Run the World” and Risa escorting her 98-year old Grandmother.  Referencing how they got engaged thinking they would wed with the first female president in office elevated how important it is to celebrate love even in tough times.  Or as the back of their wedding program stated: “Time is the only luxury.”

After a phenomenal cocktail hour of in-house catering including a raw bar, Mediterranean station and mouth-watering passed canapes, guests were invited to find their table by a custom-wall installation of escort cards by Shannon Finnegan.  Upon entering the main space, the genius that is Mimosa Floral was on full-display.  From the vines that encompassed the dance floor to the vintage brass candlesticks with small jewel tone arrangements, it truly felt like everyone was basking in the final days of summer.  All of this was enhanced by the lighting design of Robert Bloom, including the multiple disco ball installation that anchored the dance floor.

For entertainment, Pig Pen kicked off the evening and more than delivered their final request of an “epic” hora. Then DJ Lili Dirks-Goodman kept the crowd moving if they weren’t visiting the multiple food and dessert stations that the Liberty Warehouse executed to perfection.  All of these details were captured masterfully by Maria Baranova-Suzuki.

But the true stars of the night were Di & Risa.  Not only did their Broadway-choreographed first dance have multiple confetti cues, but they led their wedding with intention. As they said in their toast, they are dedicated to the importance of ritual. They took this opportunity to create a new ritual: the breaking of the Babka.  The traditional cake cutting didn’t represent them. But they found various qualities in a Babka that they hope to nourish in their family for years to come. To quote a few of them:

“It’s both light and dense. We treasure having lots of laughter but also rich conversation and deep dialogue.”

“It’s an all-day snack. Like our love, babka is perfect for any time.”

“Babka is only better after a quick zap in the microwave, so let it serve as a reminder to always warm each other’s hearts.”

As they had their guests in stiches explaining this, they also inspired everyone who was present to witness their wedding.

View the full gallery here.

Venue: The Liberty Warehouse

Photographer: Maria Baranova
Officiant: Lucien Zayan
Florist: Mimosa Floral Design
Band: Pig Pen Theatre Co.
DJ: Lilliana Dirks- Goodman
Lighting: RBB Designs
Chuppah: Ryan Frank
Stationery: Shannon Finnegan
Ketubah: Danielle Durchslag 

Babka: Breads Bakery