BRIDAL

Bridal life has certainly taken me for a loop. I cannot believe the amount of strategic planning and careful considerations that must be made for one day. It sometimes feels like a full time job! While working on wedding plans, I thought I would use my blog as a source to journal my many wedding adventures and decisions leading up to the big reveal. As time progresses, I will be sharing all my decision making details like venue, invitations, music, cake, flowers and everything in between. For now, my Pinterest page has been my main source of inspiration. Follow me on Pinterest to discover all my bridal hopes and dreams as I embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Originally taken from Post Bridal Gown Preview

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                                      Invitation Inspiration

It is invitation time! Now, to be clear I have already had a brainstorm session with the stationery team designing all the details of my carefully curated invites. I have heard from everyone that invitations are the one place to cut corners when it comes to budget, but I can’t help but think an invitation is a first impression to the wedding. If you are putting all your efforts to your party planning, invitations should not be scoffed to the side. At least look at your invites as an introduction to your wedding. They can be used as a hint to the overall look and feel of your special day and the reception you so carefully plan. I have been given lots of advice on invitations. Some people believe they should reflect the theme of your wedding or the color scheme of your floral arrangements. When working with the designer I chose to remain sophisticated and fun while creating my invite. These are some of the styles I drew inspiration from while designing my once-in-a-lifetime wedding invite.

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Floral Inspiration

Hydrangeas, orchids, lilies, roses, hibiscus, cherry blossoms, baby’s breath…the list goes on forever! Flowers are generally one of the last to-dos when planning for a wedding, but I couldn’t help but scroll through Pinterest for wedding floral inspiration after my engagement. I always wanted a wedding filled with arrangements that would reflect the romanticism of my wedding theme. Wedding planners will tell you it is best to begin planning décor after you find your gown, so not to overpower the room with flowers and underwhelm your dress. Now that I have my dress, I can forge full steam ahead for flowers! I am lucky to be working with Bride & Blossom, a top notch floral service that has created floral décor t for the most beautiful weddings. While I have plenty of time to brainstorm, I was quick to create a Pinterest board solely dedicated to floral arrangements. My style tends to lean toward ivory, white, green and blush hues that reflect a more natural feel. I am always jealous of bright, colorful weddings that take risks and feel joyous in celebration. My style overall tends to be more minimal with a pop, so I am most likely sticking with my original inspiration. Below are some prime examples directly taken from my Pinterest board, any good suggestions or ideas???

For more floral inspiration, check out my Pinterst board Wedding Flowers

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The Venue

Initial wedding planning is incredibly overwhelming. The to-do list is endless and there is always another task on the horizon. Knowing just where to start is the hard part! Before we embarked on any of the small details, my fiancé and I directed our attention to the one place you must know before doing just about anything- the venue! The venue sets the date, tone and eventual theme for the entire wedding. There is a large discrepancy between a hotel, banquet hall and restaurant. Each has its own atmosphere, environment and overall feeling.  We knew we wanted a more intimate space, but something that possessed a chic, city-like quality set in a hotel. We wanted views and we knew we wanted it in New York City. There are several options that fit the bill, but we happily narrowed our search down to several major midtown hotels that offered just what we were looking for. These are just some of the options we ultimately chose between when searching for the “right” wedding space:

The Mandarin Oriental offered a large, spacious reception area with sweeping views of Columbus Circle. High above the skyscrapers, guests would be able to take in Central Park through the expansive windows set against the backdrop of the dance floor. I was immediately taken aback by the vaulted ceilings and natural light that swept through the entire space. It is quintessential New York in all its offerings. A classic NYC hotel, situated in midtown Manhattan, city views and a stage to fit our amazing band- this checked off all our venue boxes.

The Lotte Palace hotel is just that- a stunning palace. Entering this space transmits you back to days of yore with gold plated crown molding, renaissance frescoes and gilded chandeliers. The oval reception room is perfect for late night dancing and loud song singing while celebrating your nuptials. While this space did not offer city views, the outdoor area allowed guests to mingle among the gardens and take in New York City at its finest. I loved the French details of the room and the opulence of the venue. Best of all, decorations would be needed at a minimum thanks to the stunning interior design and décor. That’s a check-check for anyone watching that floral budget!

Le Parker Meridien is situated in midtown-Manhattan, just a block away from Central Park. A contemporary hotel that houses two of the most famed fooderies in the city- Norma’s and The Burger Joint. A more intimate space than the other options we visited, the views are nothing short than outstanding. Miles upon miles of panoramic Central Park views sit beneath the penthouse floor of the hotel’s reception hall. I can’t imagine one person who would not be amazed by the sight.  We loved the space and the overall feel of the hotel which houses a nail salon, Drybar, makeup salon and barber shop-tons of amenities for guests and lots to love about the space.

Overall, the decision was not so simple. We opted for the hotel that offered both our guests the ultimate in New York City hotels and a place where we felt was “right” for the event. Until Fall 2017, you will just have to keep waiting….

Wedding Flowers