Style Me Pretty: Classic NYC Wedding With A Whimsical Twist

I am delighted to share Emily and Leon's elegant and whimsical wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel New York on Style Me Pretty New York!  Click on the image below to read more about the wedding from the couple and see how Brian Hatton and McKenzie Miller captured their lovely day.  

 
 

New York Public Library Wedding

There is nothing quite like a New York Public Library wedding.  The majestic building is simply breathtaking.  Marti looked a vision in a custom Ulla Maija Anna Maier gown holding a striking bouquet of only deep red peonies as she married Rod in the dramatic Astor Hall.  We used ghost chairs for the ceremony.  With beautiful lighting from Levy Lighting, it really let the room and architectural details shine.  The corridor was lined with glass globes filled with tea lights to lead guests to Celeste Bartos where they dined and danced under a starry night.  

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Video: Emily and Leon at the Four Seasons Hotel

Emily and Leon were married at an intimate ceremony at Fifty7 in the Four Seasons Hotel on a beautiful spring day in May.  What really struck me about this couple was how loving and supportive they were of each other.  When I met their families later on, it was clear who they had learned that from.  It was truly a delight to work with such a sweet couple and I wish them so much happiness in years ahead.  Thanks to McKenzie Miller for sharing this film of their day.  

The Knot New York: Rachel and Michael

I am so excited to see Rachel and Michael's wedding at Gotham Hall published in The Knot New York!  It is such an honour to see their beautiful day kicking off the section on real New York weddings.  We worked with an incredible team on this and I couldn't have asked for a happier day for Rachel and Mike!  Evidenced by those dazzling smiles I see in so many of the photos from Roey Yohai.  

 
 

Stephanie & David at Blue Hill at Stone Barns

Stephanie knew she wanted to get married at Blue Hill at Stone Barns before she had even seen it in person. When she visited with her then fiance David, they knew it was the perfect spot for them to say their vows and celebrate with their friends and family. It is such a romantic and beautiful place. Treating your guests to a gastronomic experience like this makes it really special!

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Cristina & Jason at The Foundry

Martha Stewart Weddings described Cristina and Jason's celebration as simply chic and I could not agree more. There is beauty in simplicity and this elegant day exuded it with such grace.

I love the flowers in May. Poppies and Posies created lush romantic garden arrangements, and a bouquet so dreamy that the bride never wanted to put it down. It was important to the couple to make it feel intimate and inclusive of their families. Jason's dad officiated the ceremony, grandma embroidered the cloth covering the chuppah and they displayed old family photos on a gold bookshelf from Patina Rentals. Cristina is the talented owner of Riles and Co. and she hand poured 132 candles for wedding favours. I had a really hard time editing down these pretty images from Mademoiselle Fiona!

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Style Me Pretty: Modern and Elegant Jewish New York City Wedding

This was one of my all time favourite weddings and I'm so happy to see it up on Style Me Pretty!  Not only because it involved the best wedding team, but because this is hands down one of the sweetest couples I've worked with.  Click on the image below to see more of Cristina and Jason's chic wedding at The Foundry.  

 

 

Photography by Mademoiselle Fiona

Garden Glam Wedding at NOMO SOHO Hotel

This is how you throw a wedding celebration with that outdoor feel, but right in the middle of Manhattan.  The bride and groom said their vows on the rooftop at NOMO SOHO and watched the sun set as they sipped on cocktails with their guests.  The party progressed downstairs to Isola for a delicious family style dinner.  The room was jaw dropping, with glamorous chandeliers hanging overhead, lush blooms by Blossom and Branch, an eclectic mix of different tables and chairs, and romantic calligraphy on blush watercolour brushstrokes by Julie Song Ink.  So many guests stopped at the entrance of the room to take a photograph!  The evening ended with a decadent dessert table including Dominique Ansel Cronuts, Magnolia Bakery banana pudding, Molly's Cupcakes, Citarella pies and a wedding cake from Nine Cakes.  All of the couple's favourite desserts from New York City.   

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Chinese Indian Gotham Hall Wedding

Kathryn and Chas' wedding had two ceremonies!  With both ceremonies and dinner taking place in the same room at Gotham Hall, it took a team of the best creative professionals to execute it all so smoothly and beautifully.  Coming from very different backgrounds, it was important to the couple to pay proper tribute to their Indian and Chinese cultures and religions.  We started the day with their Hindu ceremony.  By Yena Designs created a striking gold chiffon mandap with bright pops of orange dahlia and magenta phalaenopsis orchids draped elegantly from the corners.  The aisle was artfully decorated with petals inspired by rangoli designs.  The bride was so happy when she saw the room, she shed a tear!  With the conclusion of the first ceremony, guests were ushered upstairs for coffee, tea and dessert, as the room was changed for the Catholic ceremony.  The floral palette was a clean white with a few subtle touches of pink.  To honour Kathryn's grandmother, Yena placed a few pale pink lilies, her favourite flower, into her bouquet.

One of my favourite personal touches was the Indian rangoli vine surrounding the Chinese "double happiness" character.  Both elements were used separately on the invitation suite, but on the wedding day they were combined and used on the menus.  I loved the symbolism of bringing both families together that day.  Guests dined under the grand dome at tables dripping with orchids from Yena.  With romantic draping from Dazian and dramatic lighting from Bentley Meeker, the room was breathtaking!  They partied the night away to the incredible sounds of the Blaire Reinhard Band.  I am so proud of how everything came together for Kathryn and Chas that day and could not have done it without the amazing team involved!  

Published on MOD Wedding

Photography: Brian Hatton Photography / Event Planning and Design: Ang Weddings and Events / Floral and Event Design: By Yena Designs / Venue: Gotham Hall / Catering: Thomas Preti / Band: Blaire Reinhard Band | Draping: Dazian / Lighting: Bentley Meeker / Audio and Staging: Eastern Stage Productions / String Quartet: Sun Nectar / Hair and Makeup: Face Time Beauty / Hindu Ceremony Chairs: Mandap Design / Invitations: Kate’s Paperie / Gown: Monique Lhuillier via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bridesmaid Dress: Donna Morgan

 
 

Cipriani Wall Street Wedding

Cipriani Wall Street has seen a lot of black tie weddings, but not often is it transformed like this.  Saipua brought to life the ethereal and diaphanous feeling that Francesca wanted for the wedding and created a midsummer night's dream.  There was so much I loved about this day.  The towering flowering branches with romantic hanging votives, the lush flower wall at the entrance, the engraved invitation suite with gold edging and the vintage cake topper from Francesca's grandparents' wedding.  

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Top Wedding Planner by Martha Stewart Weddings

Ang Weddings and Events has been named a Top Wedding Planner by Martha Stewart Weddings in their 20th Anniversary Issue!  I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been chosen to be listed among such esteemed colleagues across the country, who I admire so much.  Christmas has certainly come early this year!  I am still sitting here pinching myself.  When I started this business, I would never have guessed that in five years I would see my name on the pages of this beautiful magazine.  Being on any top list is always flattering.  Being on a top list by the best of the best is beyond exciting.  I am so thankful for my family, friends, clients, assistants, wedding professionals and wedding editors who have encouraged, supported and advised me over the years.  Martha Stewart Weddings Winter 2015 will be out on the newsstands in a few days and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy (or let's be honest....more like 5 copies).  

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Wave Hill Wedding: Emily and Marco

The details in Emily and Marco's September Wave Hill wedding were a sight to behold that day.  The one and only Saipua created a floral dream that brought Wave Hill to a whole other level.  I loved the four lush urn arrangements and the white benches for their ceremony at the romantic pergola overlooking the Hudson.  At Wave Hill House, they brought the garden inside with lush garlands, gorgeous flowers, towering trees on the tables and glowing candlelight everywhere.  

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Working Odd Hours

I did a fun interview with cosmopolitan magazine last year about working weird hours as a wedding planner, which was published in their September 2013 issue.  They also interviewed a chef, reporter, ER nurse and broadway performer.  My method of recovering from a big wedding day is drinking huge quantities of water.  I never drink enough water on a wedding day.  Yoga is a huge part of my life as well.  My favourite studio in the city being Yogamaya in Chelsea.  When I can't get to a studio class, there is always Yogaglo, which can be done any time of day.  Perfect for me!   

Tips on Choosing a Wedding Planner

A wedding planner may be assisting you right from the beginning of the planning process and involved in finding your location, choosing your vendors and helping you create a wedding that reflects you as a couple.  Or they may be working with you later in the planning process and handling coordination of the wedding day.  Either way, you end up working very closely with them, so trying to find the right person is very important.  In my opinion a great wedding planner is organized, diligent, detail oriented, very personable, great at multi-tasking, tasteful and has the ability to remain calm and excel under pressure.Aside looking through wedding blogs and magazines, ask for referrals from friends, family, your venue or your wedding vendors.  Your wedding photographer or floral designer may have worked with wedding planners in the past that they think highly of that they can recommend to you.  If a wedding planner is not available for your date, you could ask them for recommendations of others.

Read reviews of the wedding planner from previous clients.  You can find these on independent websites like WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and Yelp.com.  Alternatively ask for contact details of past clients that you can speak with to learn about their experiences.

Take a look at their body of work on their website, blog and Facebook page.  If they have a similar aesthetic to you, it will help the process when they are recommending vendors like floral designers, photographers, rental companies and invitation designers.  I feel you can learn a lot about a person from reading their blog, Facebook pages or Tweets.  If they are actively using these platforms, their personality and style easily show through.  See whether they have any notable press or accolades.  Some vendor lists are more like advertising, where vendors pay to be on them.  There is nothing wrong with this at all.  Many wonderful vendors use different platforms to advertise.  There are also some vendor lists, which are hand picked and invitation only.  This is just something to consider if you are looking through vendor lists.

Most importantly meet with the wedding planner.  If you do not live in the same city as the planner, set up a call or a Skype video chat with them.  I have had Skype video chats with clients that live on the west coast, but are planning their wedding in New York, and looking for a New York based wedding planner.  You likely end up talking to your planner more than any of your other wedding vendors.  They are so involved in every step of planning your wedding.  It still feels strange to me after the wedding when the emails and calls stop.  I get so used to speaking with my clients weekly or even daily leading up to the wedding.  You need to make sure that you get along well with them personally, that they understand your vision for the wedding and that you can see this person working intimately with you.  Essentially you need to be able to trust this person to execute your wedding, so that all you need to do is enjoy your wedding day, and not have to worry about any of the nitty gritty details.  Let them deal with all that.

Ask plenty of questions during the meeting.  You should find out whom you will be communicating with during the planning process up to the wedding day.  Who is in charge of planning your wedding and who will be managing everything the actual day of the wedding?  Ask them if they take more than one wedding on a single day, and if so, who will be working on yours.  If you have a large wedding or multiple locations, discuss how many team members will be present that day.  Will the planner be running the ceremony rehearsal, which is sometimes the day before the wedding?  If you are planning a breakfast or brunch after the wedding, and you want them to assist in setting up, will they be available?  On the wedding day when will they start and when will they leave?  Find out how much experience they have in planning weddings and their professional background.  Request a detailed list of services and if they do not include something that you are looking for, ask if it can be added.

At the end of the day you want to find someone that speaks your language and gets you.  That will be the right person to have beside you on your wedding day.

Put Away the Camera Phones

At one of our recent wedding ceremonies, the church requested that guests refrain from photography during the service.  I was pleased to comply with this request.  The ushers mentioned this quietly to guests on arrival.  

The bride and grooom spend thousands of dollars on hiring a professional wedding photographer.  Someone who is experienced in capturing this special moment and will know how to deal with lighting and positioning.  It makes me sad when wedding photographers are prevented from creating their best work when guests pull out their iphones, androids, blackberries, point and shoot cameras and start snapping away.  This is not a moment that can be recreated.  Isn't the wedding photographer with their fancy slr equipment going to take much better pictures than a smartphone?  Facebook can wait.  I have seen pictures of the bride walking down the aisle and almost every person sitting next to the aisle pointing a camera at her.  They get in the way of the photographer's frame and all you see is a sea of cameras.  I am sure the bride and groom would prefer a sea of smiling faces of their loved ones on their special day.  

A wedding ceremony is often a sacred and spiritual event.  Live in the moment, put the camera phones away and leave the pictures to the wedding photographer.  

Featured in New York Magazine Weddings Winter 2012

I am so thrilled to have Ang Weddings and Events featured in New York Magazine Weddings Winter 2012!  The New York bride's guide to everything.  This issue will be available on the newsstands tomorrow.  Check us out under the listings for planners and event designers on page 174:

"Formerly a VP at a major investment bank, Tzo Ai Ang makes herself available practically around the clock.  She enjoys working with cross-cultural couples, which allows her to draw from her experience living in four countries across three continents.  Initial consultations are free with month-of coordination starting at $2,800.  Full packages also available."

Image via New York Magazine Weddings