"All My Wildest Dreams Multiplied by Two. They Were You."

Jordan and Robert first reached out to me at the end of February to plan their New York wedding for an expected guest count of two hundred. The one catch was it needed to be on a specific Saturday in June.  Some life events had occurred that made their desired date significant.  Even though the task included finding a suitable venue on short notice during one of the most popular months for weddings and pulling this off in under four months, I felt up to the challenge.  This was due to my immediate fondness of the grooms; the story of why they wanted to wed on this date; and quickly realizing they had different wish-list of wedding priorities.

 We landed at Second, giving us just enough of a blank canvas for Jordan’s décor dreams.  Mimosa created long rows of hydrangeas alternating with mirrored candles that reflected everywhere in the dining room.  The look was complete with the cloud-inspired installation above the head table, specialty chairs in smoke, and stationery by Nancy/Reed Cohen Paper & Events.

 Fulfilling Robert’s wish to decorate the night with music, The Best Wedding Band kept the dance floor busy all night and worked with a wide array of talented friends in attendance who made sections of the ceremony and moments like the first dance all the more personal.  This also included a performance by the Robert’s college acapella group the Tigertones. 

 The night had many other personal touches, such as the fireworks and photos that went off after the ceremony, their Bar Mitzvah inspired sign-in board and photo cookies as a take-home favor.  Seeing Jordan and Robert be so present with one another at the wedding and enjoying the pay-off of our accelerated planning really made the lyrics of one of their ceremony songs resonate.

 “When the dance was done,
When I went my way,
When I tried to find rainbows far away,
All the lovely lights
Seemed to fade from view:
They were you.”

View the full gallery here

Venue: Second

Photographer: Tonhya Kae

Videographer: GT Modern Creations

Band: The Best Wedding Band

Floral: Mimosa

Stationery: Nancy/Reed Cohen Paper & Events

Lighting: Universal Light & Sound

Cake: Empire Cake

Chairs: ABC Fabulous Events

Rentals: Party Rental LTD

Favors: Eleni’s

Make-Up: Creating Faces NY

Cocktail Hour Video Display: Big Screen Plaza

"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

“Your Wed’s Got Me Looking So Crazy in Love”

When former musical-theatre major turned power Manhattan real estate broker Jessica Waxman got engaged to fellow Corcoran group member Bryan Cloonan, I was honored to accept their best offer and plan the wedding.  While many in the business of Million Dollar Listings can be associated with a ruthless, no-nonsense grit, these two proved quite the opposite.  The love they have for one another was so evident it would pass the toughest of  co-op board interviews.

As living and working together in the city is an integral part of their life, they settled on the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers for it’s incredible Hudson River views and in-house catering by Abigail Kirsch.  For this late fall wedding, the simple and chic color palette was composed of black, white and gold.  Bride and Blossom created a romantic installation of a tree behind their sweetheart table who’s branches reached over the entire ceiling of the dance floor, and were adorned with hanging lanterns and Edison bulbs.  The tabletops elevated each centerpiece on raised mirrored boxes with square votives around the perimeter, causing the candlelight to be reflected throughout the room.

Several personal touches that were distinctly Jess and Bryan made this wedding exclusively theirs. The ceremony program was designed after a Playbill as a nod to the bride’s theatrical background.  Her father also has cultural roots from Ireland, so it was great fun when a professional bagpiper made a surprise entrance at the end of the ceremony to play the recessional while guests traveled to cocktail hour.  Shindig Bespoke created an interlocking display of escort cards that created one big circular puzzle.  The father/daughter dance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was performed by friends/Broadway vocalists Zak Resnick & Alysha Umphress. And in honor of Jess’s grandmother Ruby who is no longer with us, the entire candy bar was created in her namesake color.

It was clear the guests at this wedding were having a wonderful time.  But even more apparent was how much fun Jess and Bryan were able to have, especially by live music provided by the Sugar Lane Band with lead singer Chioma.  One song after the next had this bride and groom throwing down on the dance floor, and stage at times, like any two people experiencing the best night of their lives.

“You got me sprung and I don't care who sees
'Cause, baby, you got me, you got me so crazy, baby

I'm looking so crazy in love!”

View the full gallery here

View the video highlight here

Hair: MG Hair and Make-Up

Make-Up: Sarah Bellagamba

Photography: Eivan’s Photography

Videography: Arthur Pope

Stationary: Shindig Bespoke

Band: The Sugar Lane Band

Floral Design: Bride and Blossom

Photo Booth: Happy Box Studios

"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

"Here's Your One Chance Fancy"

Josh and Brian first came to me with a very different vision of what their wedding ended up being.  We toured several venues together, and eventually signed a contract.  These gentlemen are just as organized as they are dapper, so this was well over a year in advance of the wedding.  While I learned more about their style of entertaining and Josh’s desire for an elaborate dessert bar, we as a community were all cheering on an expected and monumental win of a presidential campaign.  We all know what the outcome was.

As all of us slowly came out mourning, (although- I don’t know if we ever will), the grooms had a heart to heart with me.  Up until this moment in time, their wedding was one designed to please many types of guests who would be attending.  Not only did this election change American politics, but it empowered Josh and Brian to truly make the wedding be on their terms.  As they knew there were several family members who didn’t align with them politically, they downsized their guest-count.  They only wanted friends and family there who supported them entering into a legal, same-sex marriage.

The first order of business was to change venues, and they ended up at The Skylark.  This has always been a personal favorite of mine from the extraordinary views and in-house catering by Abigail Kirsch.  Terrariums became a big part of enhancing the space, from escort-cards to the centerpieces designed by Gatherings NYC.  The chic furniture of the venue paired well with the black linen and gold flatware we brought in.  All of these details were captured by Jacquelyne Pierson.

The real fun came from the entertainment.  Bellatonic provided live music for the ceremony and dinner, and afterward DJ Vito Fun kept the entire crowd on the dance floor.  Paige Turner was hired as the emcee of the night.  Originally dressed as a girl working the front door, she greeted all guests as they walked into the dark, warehouse-like entry.  While the crowd was enjoying the pre-ceremony cocktail hour on the roof, Paige made a costume and wig-change.  She re-appeared right after the ceremony as the Queen who finally got her way into the party, and the tone was set that the rest of the night would be nothing but fun.

Josh and Brian looked sharp as could be decked out in Suit Supply…I might even describe them as fancy.  It didn’t stop them from tearing up the dance floor surrounded by everyone they love most. Every wedding decision was completed on their terms, including the take-home favors of kits to make a vodka-soda. They walked down the aisle to Josh’s favorite diva Reba McEntire where she sings “To Thine Own Self Be True.” These grooms listened to the lyric, but also a surprise message from Reba right before their first dance. They were not let down.

View the full gallery here.

Listen to Reba's message below.

Photographer: Jacquelyne Pierson

Floral: Gatherings NYC
Band: The Bellatonics
DJ: Vito Fun
Emcee: Paige Turner
Rentals: Party Rental LTD

“In our perfect park, made of flecks of light and dark.”

Two creative grooms and a strong desire to boldly paint their love story for their guests?  I couldn’t have asked for a better couple than Ryan and Alek to be the first official wedding of Jason Mitchell Kahn and Co.  After touring several venues, we landed at the newly renovated Second Floor in Midtown.  With exposed brick, industrial ceilings, a retractable roof and phenomenal in-house catering, it’s only a matter of time before this place develops a waiting list.

The design inspiration came from their love of the arts, travel and the era of the Speakeasy.  On the long wooden dining tables, we created table runners out of old sheet music, and then topped them with a mix-matched spread of apothecary bottles in varying heights and colors that each held taper candles; arrangements in bud vases by The Arrangement NYC; and a fun mix of all the rental props I could get my hands on such as vintage cameras, trophies and books.  Above every table we installed Edison bulbs to dangle at different lengths.

The escort card table was composed of individual telegrams informing guests which significant location in Ryan and Alek’s life they’d be sitting at.  There was also a vintage typewriter so guests could leave a wish for the grooms.  The wall of windows at the venue overlooks a courtyard with a giant screen. When Ryan and Alek recessed after saying “I do,” the screen activated with a firework display and a message of congratulations in both English and Spanish.  All of this fun was accentuated by the live music of the Melanie and the Bianco Martinis, the spinning of DJ Steven Paul, and captured by GT Modern Creations on video and one of my favorite photographers Laura Marie Duncan.

It was a true joy to see all the planning details come to life. But what was more fulfilling was helping them navigate the emotional journey of this wedding.  Alek’s parents are divorced, and not long before the date, his father expressed he would not attend as he doesn’t support same-sex marriage.  But his step-mom did come, and we figured out a way to include her alongside Alek’s mom and grandmother in the processional and have a mother-son dance with all three.  The ceremony also included a group sing-a-long of The Rainbow Connection.  I think all the lovers and dreamers had chills.

The best part of night was facilitating the separate surprises they planned for one another.   Ryan compiled a video of wishes from all of Alek’s relatives in Mexico who couldn’t attend, and after it played he transitioned into a choreographed flash-mob with his groomsmen.  Alek led a group number from Ryan’s favorite musical Sunday in the Park with George.  As he lined up their closest friends and family with parasols to recreate the famous Seurat painting, I was overcome with how fitting the lyrics represented their wedding journey.

“White. A blank page of canvas. His favorite. So many Possibilities.”

View the full gallery here.