Prayer Flags
Highlight your ceremony spot in a personal way by borrowing an idea from the Tibetans. For centuries, they’ve hung prayer flags, inscribed with symbols and messages, outside of their homes and places of worship to bring good luck. Gail Brill, of Gail Brill Design, makes custom doupioni silk and antique linen wedding banners, with beautiful illustrations, monograms and words like "love" and "warmth" hand-painted on them. Hang several along the path to your ceremony, or use one as a backdrop where you exchange your vows—the perfect way to designate your ceremony spot in a big open space. Gail’s Blessing Banners start at $15, blank, or $30, painted, and are available at The Wedding Library, 212-327-0100, theweddinglibrary.com.
Lighting Effects
Hiring a lighting designer may not rank as highly on your list of priorities as, say, hiring a baker, but it should. Though lighting a reception space might cost $3,000 and up, dynamic lighting can enhance the beauty of your site and decor significantly. For a wedding at the Metropolitan Club, Bentley Meeker of Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging, 212-722-3349, bentleymeeker.com, flooded the room with an amber glow, a shade that’s flattering and romantic.
A Landmark Wedding
Besides being quintessentially "New York," Grand Central, with its celestial ceiling, vintage clocks and marble columns, is also one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. But did you know you could get married here? We’re not talking about a cheesy stunt wedding, but an incredible event at Charlie Palmer’s Métrazur, 212-687-4600, charliepalmer.com/metrazur, a nouveau American restaurant on the terminal’s East Balcony. Ceremonies take place for a $2,000 fee. (A great deal, considering it costs $5,000 to book the same space through the MTA.) After your vows, host a lively, dramatic reception in Métrazur itself. Catering: In-house only. Capacity: 225, seated, with a dance floor. Cost: Catered receptions start at $125 per person.
Tasteful Tater Tots
Pigs-in-blankets and mac-and-cheese cups have managed to transcend their lowbrow status—these comfort food hors d’oeuvres show up at casual and fancy affairs alike. We’re happy to announce that tater tots may be next on the A-list, thanks to Shiraz NYC’s, 212-255-7001, shiraznyc.com, latest innovation. The Manhattan catering company’s "potato lollipops" are only slightly reminiscent of the school cafeteria favorite (these are more gastronomically complex and cleverly presented). Sweet and Yukon potatoes are battered and either baked or fried (whichever you prefer), and served with a variety of dipping sauces, including sundried tomato ketchup, dill pesto and horseradish crème fraîche. "They bring back good childhood memories," says Shiraz NYC’s president, Shai Tertner, "but are much more elegant."
Bringing Sweets to the Sweet
Offering a lavish dessert buffet is a huge expense. Instead, give your guests a variety of treats without breaking the bank. Financier Patisserie, financierpastries.com, the bakery of choice in Manhattan’s Financial District, makes mini desserts that can be passed like traditional hors d’oeuvres. Miniature versions of the bakery’s cakes, tarts and pastries—like coffee eclairs, raspberry white chocolate mousse cake and Napoleons, to name a few—make their way around the room, keeping guests mingling and moving on the dance floor. Your catering staff can take care of the passing, or you can hire Financier’s staff to set up, pass and clean up for $25 per person, per hour. Delivery is free in Manhattan, with a minimum order of $50. Pastries start at $1.25 per piece; three pieces per guest are recommended.
Perfectly Imperfect
You know how crumpled, handwritten letters seem so much more special since the worldwide adoption of e-mail? This is kind of the same thing. The flaws, color and grainy format of Super 8 film all now seem charming in light of the too-real HD. By shooting portions of your event on Super 8 film, the format on which most home movies from the ’60s and ’70s were captured, videographers can combine the aesthetic of simpler times with modern video technology. "Super 8 has more imperfections than digital film, but there’s an appeal and timelessness to the unpredictable, uneven flicker of the film," says Jenny Vogelsang, who, along with Ellie Galligano, owns Blueshoe Production, 917-689-6871, blueshoeproduction.com. The company offers Super 8 footage for an additional $300 on their $3,500 wedding package.
Over the Bridge
If it’s gonna be Brooklyn, it’s gotta be the Brooklyn Bridge. Try as we might to find an alternative icon for weddings in this fair borough, there is no getting around the fact that this overexposed landmark is instantly—and universally—recognized. Fortunately, this beloved bridge can be rendered to suit a variety of styles. This nostalgic invitation (top left) by Vivian Pastuovich for ARTHUR’s Invitations, 212-807-6502, arthursinvitations.com, is more stylish than an actually vintage photograph, yet the colors and skyline background are true-to-life. A hipster approach by Lion in the Sun (bottom left) with custom artwork by Alison McCauliff, 718-369-4006, lioninthesunps.com, yields this avant-garde design that has the same feel as an abstract painting hanging in a Dumbo gallery.
Do Good, Eat Well
We found a caterer who appeals to our desire to support sustainability and dine indulgently. Not only does the "farm to table" ethos of Fancy Girl Catering, 718-422-9151, fancygirlcatering.com, result in socially conscious vegan and organic wedding meals, but it also appeals to foodie couples longing for completely custom menus. As partner Heather Umlah says, "nothing is standard." Umlah and owner Jeanette Maier began catering for fashion and beauty corporate clients, then expanded into weddings. Some favorite foods include flat bread pizzettes with smoked pear, duck bacon, fig puree and Italian mountain gorgonzola, and a salad with caramelized pumpkin, edible nasturtium flowers and shaved manchego cheese in a champagne quince vinaigrette.
Berry Dramatic
Take your bouquet from pretty to exquisite by adding some tasty goodness. Red hypericum berries intensify the celosia’s vibrant red hue, while the dark tones of the black ligustrum berries and croton leaves create a striking contrast. Bouquet by Felipe Sastre, felipesastre.com; and Sherri Sossen-Williams, williams-sossenevents.com.
Couture Maps
A map depicting your ceremony and reception locations is a must. But adding the fun places out-of-towners should visit, and spots with sentimental value, like where you and your fiancé went on your first date or where he proposed, is a treat. You can send the maps with your invitations, send them later or include them in welcome baskets. If you’re artistic, try drawing them yourself, but we like the work of Stephannie Barba, couturemaps.com, who created this save-the-date map for a New York couple (design fee: $350; printed maps start at $105 for 100). Available at The Wedding Library in Manhattan, 212-327-0100, theweddinglibrary.com.
Giving Good Gifts
Our favorite kind of bridesmaid gift? One that’s not about your wedding. "I wanted my bridesmaids to be able to wear what I bought them every day," says Danielle Rosen, 29, a Manhattan publicist. Rosen decided on pendant necklaces, with engraved charms, tiny diamonds and clusters of gems like sapphires, citrines and rubies, by Westchester designer (and celeb favorite) Mauri Pioppo. "The charms are classic and will never go out of style," says the bride. Plus, you can customize each pendant with your choice of 14 different colored stones and a variety of diamonds. Love Letter pendants in white or yellow gold, $390 and up, available at Fragments, fragments.com.
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