Now this is how you plan the perfect NYC wedding. Step 1: make sure the incredibly talented Clary Pfeiffer Photography is behind the lens. Step 2: Marry in a stunning church that has sentimental meaning to you. Step 3: Plan one blowout party at the famous St. Regis Hotel. The results? PERFECTION! We’ll let you see for yourself in The Vault.
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From the Bride… Being an artist and designer myself I had a clear vision for the esthetic design of the wedding that all evolved from a beautiful Marie Antoinette inspired greeting card designed by the artist Paulette Kinney. Years before my wedding was even a glimmer on the horizon I happened across this enchanting gilded greeting card on Etsy and instantly fell in love with the whimsy and beauty of the design. Years later, soon after I was engaged, Paulette was the very first vendor I contacted to commission her to rework the design into a custom wedding monogram and entire wedding paperie suite. This image became the cornerstone of the visual esthetic of the event and was laced throughout the entire look of the day becoming the single most standout element branding our wedding. The custom baroque and pink rose encrusted crest was hand painted on a custom runner in the church, used on the favor boxes and escort cards, as well as hand painted on the most prominent tier of our wedding cake. The single most stunning use of this image was the large-scale reproduction that was printed on a 33’x15’ custom dance floor wrap. This piece was an absolute showstopper for guests when they entered the ballroom. The colors also complimented the overhead sky mural so wonderfully that the two looked as if they were made for each other. Having this one piece of inspiration to generate all of my ideas from made choosing the other elements in the room a breeze, including the vintage crystal napkin rings, dupioni silk blush pink napkins and the divinely light and airy ruffled table linens from La Tavola.
My something old was my great grandmother’s handkerchief given to me by my grandmother, as well as a vintage six pence coin presented to me by my mother and 4 sisters. We observed the age-old tradition of placing a six pence coin in the bride’s shoe to wish her prosperity, love and happiness in her marriage. Something borrowed was a crystal and silver rosary acquired by my sister and maid of honor, Alana, during her studies abroad in Italy. It was purchased at vintage shop in Rome, and blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during a mass she attended at the Vatican. On my wedding day it was wrapped around the stem of my bouquet as I walked down the aisle. If Jesse and I are blessed with a daughter one day this same rosary will be gifted to her from Alana on her first holy communion. Since the accent color for my wedding was pale aqua blue, my something blue was a custom made aqua silk tulle crystal beaded garter. Finally my something new was a gorgeous Alencon lace cathedral length mantilla veil designed by Homa, which I absolutely fell in love with the moment I tried it on and was purchased by my mother. Hopefully this beautiful heirloom quality piece can also be passed down for generations to come.
The Ceremony was held at a church in Brooklyn Jesse grew up attending as young boy. He spent many Sundays there as an alter boy and we both quickly agreed it would be a sweet sentiment knowing the same aisle he walked down as a young boy on many a Sundays was the same aisle he would be walking down as an adult on our wedding day. A Custom aisle runner was hand painted with the monogram crest from our wedding invitations, and gorgeous letterpress wedding programs were custom designed by the talented Barbara Stanaitis of Bella Baroque Studio.
Jesse and I love historic locales. On many weekends during the fall and winter you can find us traveling to quaint New England towns in search of historic landmarks, mansions, or homes to explore. We definitely knew we both wanted to get married in a historic space. We visited every historic locale within an hour of NYC, from the sprawling grounds of Oheka Castle, to the baroque ballroom of Sleepy Hollow Country, to the stonewalls of Hempstead house in Long Island. Each one was beautiful in its own rite but not the right fit for us. Disappointed Jesse and I felt like we had left no stone unturned and were about to settle on one of the many properties we had already visited, until my sister and maid of honor Alana recommended we look at the ballroom on the top floor of the famous St. Regis Hotel in NYC. Given that she is my sister and knows my absolute love of baroque details she knew it was the place. One quick Internet search later and I knew I had found the one! Jesse and I quickly booked an appointment with the catering manager to view the space. Between the expansive views of Fifth Avenue and Central Park, the elegant details of the gilded ballroom, sparkling baroque chandeliers, and pale aqua sky mural painted on the ceiling, we knew it was the perfect locale for our classic New York affair. The bygone era esthetic of the space was the perfect backdrop for the Marie Antoinette inspired design ideas I had for the rest of the wedding. The ballroom was also the perfect size for our 160+ head count, and offered us a space that was big enough for all our guests to enjoy dinner and dancing comfortably, yet small enough that the party still felt intimate and romantic. I’m definitely not a bride who likes the feel of large sprawling event venues or halls and this event space was completely the opposite.
Some of my favorite moments of the day captured by Clary Pfeiffer were the photos taken of Jesse and myself when we were first able to view the ballroom before our guests. I had spent countless months and many late nights agonizing over all of the details of this room, and when I saw it for the first time I felt like I had entered into a dream world filled with all of my favorite things. I remember in this moment twirling around in the center of the dance floor staring up at the glittering chandeliers, admiring the overwhelmingly gorgeous rendition of our monogram on the dance floor and basking in the warm glow of the candlelight emanating from the candelabras, and saying to Jesse and Marie Danielle “Can I live here!” It was nothing short of breathtaking.
Photography: Clary Pfeiffer Photography | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Wedding dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Ana Parzych Cakes | Ceremony Venue: St. Anselm Church | Reception Venue: Saint Regis Hotel | Entertainment: POSH Entertainment | Bride's Headpiece + Bracelet + Earrings: Bridal Styles Boutique | Bridesmaids dress: White Runway | Bride’s Robe: GirlandaSeriousDream | Bride’s shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Chiavari Chairs + Glass Top Tables: Luxe Event Rentals | Church Programs + Menus: Bella Baroque Design | Custom Aisle Runner: The Original Aisle Runner Company | Custom Garter + Ring Pillow: Millie Icaro | Event Coordination + Floral Design: A Votre Service Events | Flower Girl Dress: Custom Gavella | Groom’s tuxedo: Michael Andrews Bespoke | Invitations + Escort Cards: Paper Nosh | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Veil: Homa Bridal | Velvet Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Wedding Clutch: BHLDN
