Plaza Party Pics

The Martha Stewart Weddings 15th Anniversary was a Who's Who of the wedding industry. It felt like a party thrown for my favorite people in the industry -- so here's a little peek at some of the luminaries in attendance.

Amsale Aberra, our favorite bridesmaid (and bridal) designer, sporting a pipecleaner ring with host for the evening, Darcy Miller.

Floral designer extraordinaire Preston Bailey looking dapper.

Cake diva Sylvia Weinstock eating -- sushi!

Me, band leader Greg Denard, Jennifer and Darcy in a group hug just before the party began.

Francesca Abbracciamento of Francesca Events posing with me.

Eventiste and friend Marcy Blum sporting the high heels at the Step-and-Repeat.

Delish passed hors d'oeuvres were passed all night by Peter Callahan's team at
Callahan Catering.

Couldn't resist this image of Matthew Robbins and me! Love him.

Darcy, Jennifer and me before the crowds arrived.

Jillian from 100 Layer Cake and the amazing Mel Barlow, the talent behind the photos.

Plaza Party Sweet Buffet

The wonderful Amy Atlas created a dreamy table of sweets for Martha Stewart Wedding's 15th Anniversary Party. The only direction we gave her was "soft pink and warm gold". She was off and running, running around that is. Sweets came from around the world and down the street -- here is a little re-cap of the generous vendors who helped to create the vision.

Our friends at Economy Candy provided rock candy, m&ms and jordan almonds. Groovy Candies went all out with pink grapefruit slices, Gummies, gold foiled chocolates and more. Baked by Melissa was generous with their mini buttercream cupcakes and Gail Watson provided the delicate petite fours. Love Street Cakes baked up mini fondant cupcakes, Papabubble made addictive, custom colored hard candies, and Hammonds Candies provided straws and pillow mints.

Juliska generously donated the gorgeous glassware in which the candy was displayed.

What do you think?

Plaza Party for 1,000?

Well, there's much to tell about the blockbuster Martha Stewart Wedding's party last night -- but for the moment suffice it to say that I think we reached the thousand mark with an expectation of 600! Keep checking our blog and the Bride's Guide by Darcy Miller for more information on this spectacular event! Here's a picture Darcy took while my friend Matthew Robbins and I are preparing for the event!

We're Giving It Away!

The Wedding Library is planning the Martha Stewart Weddings 15th Anniversary Party at the Plaza! What a treat!! I will definitely be posting about the creative process, all the amazing vendors involved, and the logistics involved with organizing a little cocktail party for 700 of our closest wedding professional friends.

But for now we're giving away two tickets to the event for you and a guest. Post a comment for the chance to win, but tomorrow's the deadline. Join Editorial Director Darcy Miller and leading experts from the wedding industry on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 at 6pm at New York City's Plaza Hotel to mark this milestone in the magazine's history.

Experience the Plaza's Grand Ballroom with floral designs by Matthew Robbins and event production by the Wedding Library. Taste treats and culinary creations from Peter Callahan, Morimoto, and Great Performances. Oh, it's being talked about. Check it out on Style Me Pretty, too! And check out Amy Atlas' posting on the event, she'll be creating the candy table -- lucky guests!!

Charming Interfaith

So many of the weddings we coordinate are between couples from different faiths. They often find it a challenge to meld the two religions -- I see it as a way to celebrate both traditions to form stronger ties to both. My friend Dana was inspired by this challenge too. The result is a cross and a Star of David in one 14K yellow gold pendant set with a star-shaped moonstone and diamonds. Aptly named Connect Your Faith. What a perfect symbol for an occasion where two people, two families and two faiths are melded!

Image courtesy of Dana Michele Jewelry & Accessories.

A 100 Percent Chance of an Outdoor Wedding

We're in the New York Times today! Check out the great article on tips for a wet wedding. Note, we carry great white umbrellas and the Sole Mates heel protectors that are mentioned in the article.

Wedding Salon, Compliments of Us!

Trunk Show Extravaganza

Our good friends at Amsale have done it again. This weekend and week we've got three new colors of their best-seller chiffon styles: vanilla, blush and charcoal. We'll also be the first store to show four new promotional chiffon styles and four promotional colors which will retail for a new lower price point of $280. So rush to the Wedding Library to check it out -- order placed before October 17 will receive our 15% trunk show discount.

This weekend, the amazing Lily of BridalGal will be offering mini-makeovers, gratis!

For those of you planning a wedding elopement or Italian honeymoon, our friends at Bric's Luggage are offering Wedding Library friends a 20% discount on purchases over $250 until November 30. Love it!

One of my favorite things about Bric's is their fabulous colors -- come by this weekend to see for yourself.

No, she's not smoking a cigar. This is magical makeup airbrushing -- flawless. See for yourself at the Wedding Library this weekend. Don't forget to call for an appointment 212.327.0100. (Buzz bonus: Just checked the calendar and it looks like we are all sold out for the weekend -- call to coming in weekday evenings or to get on the wait list. Don't want you to miss out!)

This Made Me Smile

How about you?

Made by Lollipop Workshop.

Pop Up in the Press

We've had lots of questions about our Pop Up Wedding Chapel over the months. A superb stationery industry magazine, Stationery Trends, loved the paperie aspect of the Pop Up and wrote a wonderful article about our experience. The photos were the best, and can only be seen in the hard copy, but the text is pretty great too. Check it out!

From the above link you can subscribe to the magazine if, like me, you have an unnatural love for beautiful paper.

Darcy's Family Show

As promised, more about the Family show by Darcy Miller, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

So Darcy told me she was putting on a show at Andy Spade's new space, Partners & Spade, and could I help? She was planning a section of the show to be interactive -- each guest who donated to Mt. Sinai hospital would receive a family photo, taken on the spot, an illustration of the family drawn by Darcy and a caption by master calligrapher Bernard Maisner. An instant shadow box for all! My job was to coordinate the "assembly line" and production of the process.

I went over to Darcy's home one night to get a better idea of the project. As I entered her lovely apartment I encountered a sea of scrapbooks, images, drawings, shadow boxes and momentos that Darcy was collecting for the show. My jaw dropped at the enormity of the project and the ambition of the work -- incredible. Darcy's dedication to memorializing her family life is impressive, and her illustrations, charming and precious.

Hundreds of guests came to the show, and thousands were raised for pediatric endocrinology and diabetes by Darcy's clever keepsakes. Everyone was bowled over -- the show was a hit! So if you weren't incredulous over her enormous role in shaping the wedding world -- now you can be impressed by her artistic talent, her loving parenting and prolific artwork.

The Partners & Spade gallery is filled with esoteric and personal collections.

A photograph of my Partner, Jennifer, and her son, Beckett. Darcy's sketch is posted nearby. A charming cake topper from the show.

Lucky guests received stunning images by the extremely talented Donna Newman and her technologically significant other, Ian.

Some of the shadow-box keepsakes in the show.

The famous wedding scrapbook, every wedding nuance, captured!

Darcy's darling daughters and images under glass.

Guests received buttons stating, "Mom Rules", "I look like my dog", "Favorite Child" and "Problem Child." Guess which one I took?

Full size illustrated blow ups greet guests.

Guests received cute boxes topped with fashionable families -- there were lots of those attending the show!

Chocolate lollipops with The Kate & Andy Spade family and Darcy & Andy Nussbaum family smoothed small visitors waiting to have their photo taken.

Just in case you forget...

Martha and me -- lots of the Martha Stewart Weddings and Living family were there to enjoy the show.

Designer Preston Bailey

I saw our friend Preston Bailey at a party the other night and he reminded me of a wedding we worked on together which is one of my favorites. It got a lot of press (including in his own book) but here's an eye-popping image that captures the look.

It's at the now-no-more Peter White Studio in the Starret Lehigh Building but the look would work in any clean, white space.

Aquamare: A Wedding Library Caribbean Destination

We were recently invited to partner with Aquamare, an amazing property for weddings in Virgin Gorda owned by our friend Guillermo Paz and his partners. I spent a week on property interviewing floral designers, photographers, local coordinators, hair stylists, massage therapists, bakers and coordinators. I was impressed by what a small island of only 3,500 inhabitants can offer. But I was most impressed by this incredibly luxurious and personal trio of villas and their amenities.

We left the trip with a plan to offer turnkey wedding planning coordination for the property, with all the leg-work complete. Stay tuned for our recommended local vendor information, special excursions, customized services and products designed especially for Aquamare.

Aquamare is nestled on the beach, secluded, and private. Each of the 3 villas is 8,000 square-feet, with 5 bedrooms each. 36 guests can be accommodated on property, with up to 50 more in nearby walking distance in adjacent villas.

Each villa has breathtaking views, and large open living room plans, great for group cocktails or dinners.

From this bedroom terrace you can see the totally private and groomed Beach Park. Ceremonies, dinners,cocktails, barbecues and after-parties for up to 100+ fit perfectly. Aquamare has thought of everything -- the beach is equipped with electricity, water, easy service access and is ready for a tent if the weather requires one. Here's a long shot of the beach park.
A view to Villa I from Villa III.

Here's an overview of the villas' layout.
Town & Country got a sneak peek at the property -- you can read about their thoughts on Aquamare as a destination venue in the current Town & Country Weddings: Fall/Winter 2009.