Architectual Love in Brooklyn's Smackmellon

I love Brooklyn. Actually I love the city but then again having been born and raised in Astoria, Queens that goes without saying. So I always jump at the chance to work in the city. Not that I don't love New Jersey. But the city generally offers the opportunity for interesting spaces both aesthetically and architecturally. So it was only appropriate that architects would pick the fabulous and eclectic art space that is SmackMellon. It is a raw space with huge windows overlooking the Manhattan Bridge.

Without a doubt, it is absolutely stunning. Being a raw space, though, it requires all variables to be brought into it. So I was excited when after meeting James & Vivian in the park in DUMBO they decided to use me as their coordinator. They had very particular designs of the space and even used Auto Cad to draw up seating plans and table decoration plans. With the assistance of their friends, Maggie (my assistant) and I took the raw space and made it a warm and beautiful wedding reception venue. And although there were a few hiccups along the way (lots of rain and a table and chair rental delivery that arrived 2 hours late) at the end of it all, it was absolute perfection.






The details of the day were exceptionally thought out. All the decor was bought and arranged by James, Vivian and their families. Including hand written table number/menu cards, the use of NY Skyline blocks as decoration, and individually selected wine (red and white) and Cava and Taiwan tea favors hanging from the seat backs.







I also had the opportunity of working with Jacob Pritchard of JP Wedding Photo which you can see me standing next to here as he took pictures.


He blogged about the wedding himself so please visit it to see more stunning pictures of the space and the event (and a smattering of pictures of me in the background!

But not only was the wedding itself beautiful by looks alone but also by the people in attendance. The absolute warmth and love that permeated is hard to describe. The toasts were endearing and to hear James who is clearly NOT Chinese speak perfect mandarin and give homage to Vivian's parents was heart warming. They truly evoked what marriage is about with their absolute adoration for one another. Not to mention how wonderful they looked. James in his bow tie and Vivian in her Vera Wang gown.

It was absolute bliss and I'm grateful to have been able to work for them and help to make it that way.

Cultural Display - Chinese Double Happiness and Colombian Alegria comes to NJ from CA

Imagine planning your wedding from one coast while the event happens on an entirely other coast. Imagine on top of this personalizing everything to such detail that even the littlest of things reflect you personally.

No need to imagine it. Yeimy & Ronald, two scientists who reside in California brought friends and family from around the U.S. and as far as Colombia to celebrate their union in her home state of New Jersey at the Tides Estate in North Haledon. With a streamlined color and theme, and such personal touches including one of the groomsmen serving as officiant, their wedding was personal, beautiful and above all joyous!

I was lucky enough to coordinate this amazing wedding and ensure that the details they worked so hard on came together to be just what they wanted them to be while Rob dj'd it. I also have pictures of me in action which is a rarity!

You can read the fabulous review Yeimy gave us as well as the reviews of all her other vendors here!

Cultural Display - The Korean Wedding

One of the advantages of being in the New York Metropolitan Area is the abundance of cultural displays. I think it is especially fun to see these different displays of cultures and even more so to explain them to those who would otherwise be clueless as to what was going on.

We've done several Korean weddings where their display of culture could be as simple as wearing a Hanbok or Chosŏn-ot which is the traditional Korean dress,

to participating in a form of the Pae Baek 폐백 (the Korean bowing ceremony) be it just acknowledgment or with the use of the tables, foods and panels.

Having experience in this I have in the past played master of ceremonies for those who 1. were not Korean and 2. needed explanation of the ceremony. The outfits significance,


the offering of rice wine (soju) and the symbolic foods and their positions on the east and west side of the tables.

I especially enjoy explaining the reason for the dates being thrown to help in the fertility of the couple.

And it all ends with the piggyback ride - symbolic of the groom supporting his bride which is always much fun.

and then there are the Korean wedding ducks that represent a peaceful marriage with many children and no separations. They are especially significant after the wedding at the home. If the ducks are facing each other, nose to nose, then the marriage is happy. If the ducks are facing away from each other, tail to tail, then the couple is fighting. If a couple is fighting, then one of them will often point to the Wedding Ducks, reminding them both of their peaceful Wedding, and they will stop fighting.


At this wedding at the Hamlet Wind Watch Country Club, they chose to give the ducks out as favors to their guest.

And just because the set up pictures look good - there's rob behind his booth decorated by roses.