Wedding Planners
Always a Bridesmaid
265 Canal St., nr. Lafayette St., Ste. 206; 212-334-0005 ; alwaysabridesmaid.usXochitl (pronounced “Socheel”) Gonzalez and Mayra Castillo have five years of experience designing personalized weddings, often held in loft spaces such as Ramscale Studios in the Village. Typically working with clients from creative industries, the duo likes to help couples showcase their individuality. A basic package costs $6,500; more comprehensive coverage is $13,000; or, for couples who only need limited help, $1,000 buys ten hours of services.
Anderson Green Events
646-827-4705; andersongreenevents.comFounder Lisa Green believes that to employ a planner is to gain a friend, which is why she takes on only eight to ten weddings a year. Down-to-earth couples will enjoy her whimsical touches, such as using centerpieces made entirely of candy, cupcakes, and cookies or tables named after famous ski resorts the couple had visited. Prices upon request.
BFF Bridal
511 E. 80th St., nr. York Ave., Ste. 10A; bffbridal.comWhen trend forecaster Meredith Levy teamed up with Tara Mandy (a longtime New York contributor) to create a wedding-planning service, they decided to take an innovative online approach: provide a host of bridal discounts and deals for subscribers and then give more personalized attention in the form of an online “taste” consultancy, where they offer guidance in everything from wedding wardrobes to reception table-settings. Clients pay a one-time fee ($9,500) for access (mostly via email along with a monthly lunch date) to all the insider knowledge and impressive connections the two women have cultivated over the years.
Bryan Jacobson
250 Mercer St., nr. W. 4th St., Ste. 1404B; 917-721-0683For years Bryan Jacobson, owner of Corporate Events Manhattan, produced company blowouts in trendy loft spaces while indulging in the ethereal details of his socialite friends’ estate weddings on the side. A few years ago, he legitimized his matrimonial hobby by creating a high-end private event division under his own name. Prices upon request.
C & G Weddings, LLC
372 Central Park West, nr. 97th St., Ste. 8K; 212-961-1528; candgweddings.comC & G Weddings has the versatility and creativity to accommodate meticulous corporate types while still having lots of fun. Their business acumen is available 24/7 through planners, unlimited meetings, and as many Excel spreadsheets as a person can handle. But their creative ventures—like hiring hot dog carts to line the steps of the New York Public Library as guests exit—add amusement to a flawless day. Prices upon request.
Cheryl J. Weddings and Events
917-254-0514; cheryljweddingsandevents.comFor couples overwhelmed by planning a wedding on their own, Cheryl Fielding-LoPalo is available as an understanding mentor and friend during the planning process. Her goal is to make each wedding unique—and stress-free.
Cristina Verger
212-715-0590; tastythoughts.comThis full-service planner, who knows almost everyone in the biz, works with her clients from the first decision to the last detail. Though based in New York, Verger specializes in destination weddings—especially Italy. Family connections in Rome give her access to a broad-reaching network of Italian vendors unknown to other New York Planners. Prices from $20,000.
Colin Cowie Lifestyle
568 Broadway, nr. Prince St., Ste. 705; 212-396-9007; colincowie.comThis internationally-known event-planning guru, who is sought out by couples on both coasts and abroad, has penned six books on parties and entertainment. He has thrown lavish blowouts for everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Tom Cruise. But Cowie doesn’t require a celebrity budget for his services. Expect detail-oriented elegance with an edge—and plenty of chilled bubbly. Prices upon request.
David E. Monn, LLC
135 W. 27th St., nr. Seventh Ave., second fl.; 212-242-2009; davidmonn.comTransforming the Met into an English garden party complete with espaliered apple trees and moss-covered stairs—as Monn did for the Costume Institute Gala in 2006—is just one of the reasons many call this dapper society planner the “Architect of Style.” Prices upon request.
David Reinhard Events, LLC
212-535-1520; davidreinhard.comFor the past eight years, Ann David and Nicky Reinhard have tag-teamed to create a hands-on boutique approach to planning weddings. Their limit of two events per month allows the pair to spend most of the year planning a variety of celebrations—from urban receptions to tent weddings in the Hamptons, to the occasional destination wedding in Hawaii. Prices upon request.
David Stark Design and Production
87 Luquer St., nr. Clinton St., Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-534-6777; davidstarkdesign.comThis studio approaches event design as if it were a gallery installation—covering an entire wall with candles or filling a room with hanging garlands of paper flowers. Stark handles all of the event’s aesthetic elements, including furniture, lighting, and invitations. Prices upon request.
David Tutera
470 Seventh Ave., nr. 35th St., eleventh floor; 212-229-9280; davidtutera.comKnown more for his A-list parties than for weddings, Tutera can still provide a couple with the ultimate in luxury and couture style. Clients can hire him as a personal wedding planner (to cover all the details and logistics of the event), an event designer (to handle decor-related aspects) or both. Be sure to call nine to twelve months in advance and expect to pay about $250,000 for 175 guests.
Delaney T. Bagwell Associates, LLC
421 E. 50th St., nr. First Ave.; 212-223-7362; delaneytbagwellassociates.comTodd Bagwell has been planning weddings, society events, fund-raisers, and corporate shindigs since 1989. Though based in Manhattan, he specializes in destination weddings, and his all-inclusive services cover everything from save-the-dates to party favors. Client references and prices upon request.
The Designer's Co-Op
252 W. 73rd St., nr. Broadway, Ste. 1A 212-721-2188; thedesignersco-op.comThe Designer’s Co-op exudes modern romance without being over the top. Brides come to owner Bridget Vizoso for her custom prop-building and signature “carpets of flowers.” For an event at the Foundry, she reworked the industrial space into a stunning organic environment with dense curtains of orchids and a canopy of branches laden with candlelight. Prices upon request.
Elegant Occasions
100 Park Ave., nr. 41st St., Ste. 1600; 212-704-0048; elegantoccasions.comElegant Occasions specializes in comprehensive planning for both domestic and destination weddings, especially those in Italy. Each wedding is customized, but the company is particularly adept at overseeing multi-day wedding events, such as those on long weekends. Prices upon request.
Fête
419 Park Ave. S., at 29th St., fourth fl.; 212-725-7268; feteny.comJung Lee heads up this stylish, in-the-know planning and design boutique; her Wharton-grad partner, Josh Brooks, provides the business acumen. Together, they come up with seriously detail-oriented weddings. For couples planning their own, they’ve written the manifesto, Fête: The Wedding Experience. Prices upon request.
Francesca Events
5 Tudor City Pl., nr. E. 40th St., Ste. 630; 646-227-9474; francescaevents.comThe hand-holding approach of Francesca Events is ideal for busy clients with full-time careers who still want a flawless wedding. Although she focuses on logistics and production, owner Francesca Abbracciamento also has extensive contacts in the New York haute cuisine scene for foodie couples. She plans many destination weddings, having done several in trendy Tulum, Mexico. She suggests that couples contact her four to six months in advance. Prices upon request.
Frank Alexander NYC
212-677-5176; frankalexandernyc.comFrank Alexander and his colleagues create entire environments for weddings—from draping the Pierre Ballroom in fabric to crafting indoor Moroccan tents. The team designs custom furniture, reception tabletops, and makes exquisite floral arrangements. Prices upon request.
Harriette Rose Katz Events/Gourmet Advisory Services
212-535-0005; gourmetadvisory.comKatz has been lauded as one of New York’s most in-demand wedding planners, and her business, with its growing team of experts, has been around for almost 30 years. Her events are usually held at venues like the Plaza Hotel or the Waldorf-Astoria, and tend toward the spectacular. Prices upon request.
Jennifer Brisman
128 E. 62nd St., nr. Lexington Ave., Ste. 1.; 212-588-0007; 212-643-6880; theweddingplanner.comFeatured in various publications and on television, over the course of her ten years in the business, Jennifer Brisman specializes in grand-scale event managing. She works with vendors all over the world to create memorable weddings in New York and destinations around the globe. With budgets from $150,000 to those in excess of $1 million, Brisman designs for diverse tastes, from vintage, to contemporary, to traditional.
Jill Gordon Celebrate
631-324-2422; jillgordoncelebrate.comThis shop will plan every element of a Hamptons wedding—from the music and food to the tents and lighting. Gordon’s team knows the best vineyards, beaches, and farms in the area, and prides itself on collaborating with the couple to create an individually-tailored wedding experience and to make sure the big day is as glitch-free as possible.
Karen Bussen
336 W. 37th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-643-6880; karenbussen.comPlanning by Bussen transcends mere logistics to include top-notch design and décor—her specialty. (Bussen is the author of the Simple Stunning Weddings series.) Her relationships with vendors can also yield discounts—she aims to earn back her fee in savings for the couple—and she works with all budgets. Prices upon request. .
Loulie Walker Events
200 W. 79th St., nr. Amsterdam Ave., Apt. 4/5M; 212-316-6135; louliewalkerevents.comThis planner is overflowing with sophisticated ideas for personalized, of-the-moment events. She’s skilled at producing lavish affairs of a more traditional nature, having done weddings at the New York Public Library and the Frick. Prices upon request.
Lyndsey Hamilton Events, LLC
156 Franklin St., nr. Hudson St., third fl.; 212-274-0074; lyndseyhamiltonevents.comThroughout the process, Hamilton and her staff remain attentive, working with each couple from the minute they’re contacted to the moment the newlyweds head for their honeymoon. They offer full or partial planning packages with three different tiers available: senior planners, manager planners, and Hamilton herself. Prices upon request.
Manhattan Occasions
446 E. 76th St., nr. York Ave., Ste. 3C; 646-707-3470; manhattanoccasions.comThough their New York branch just opened this past July, they’ve been putting together events since 2002 in Florida, Massachusetts, and New Mexico. To up the uniqueness factor, one of their tricks is to borrow from the other offices—like flying up a Florida-based soul band to give a Southern-born bride a little hint of home. Prices start at $1,500 for a small wedding.
Marc Wilson Design
51-02 21st St., nr. Borden Ave., seventh fl., Long Island City; 212-749-2266; marcwilsondesign.comThis full-scale design and production studio supplies its own line of furniture—backed by Wilson’s expertise from eight years in textiles—to decorate the ceremony and reception. For budget-conscious couples who still want professional event and floral design, the firm’s seasonal packages, aptly called Wedding in a Box—will give a head start. Prices upon request.
Marcy Blum
133 W. 19th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-929-9814; marcyblum.comMarcy Blum’s hands-on approach and trademark whimsical elegance make the planning process more fun for couples, filling in their vision with ideas they might not have come up with on their own. From Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s nuptials, twenty years ago, to the upscale weddings they currently handle, the boutique company devotes personal attention to its weddings. Prices upon request.
MD Events
95 Horatio St., nr. Washington St., Ste. 605; 917-612-4724; mdeventsny.comHusband-and-wife team Alison and Michael Dalewitz apply the experience of planning their own wedding to their business. Michael Dalewitz, a contract lawyer, approaches the organization and negotiation of a wedding with an eagle eye, and Alison uses her background in art design and fashion. Prices upon request.
Meghan Walls Events, Inc.
917-621-5354; meghanwallsevents.comThis new-to-the-scene planner (her business began because of positive word of mouth) targets couples on a budget. Walls reportedly knows how to achieve a look for less. She’s respectful toward vendors, and has a calming presence throughout the whole the process. Prices upon request.
Preston Bailey
147 W. 25th St., nr. Sixth Ave., eleventh fl.; 212-741-9300; prestonbailey.comFor couples who want their wedding to be nothing short of spectacular—in every sense of the word—Bailey is the go-to planner. His drama-laden events are replete with decadent décor (like pools of water strewn with rose petals, larger-than-life daisy-covered poodle sculptures, and enormous crystal candelabras). He prioritizes customer service while still engineering events that most people can dream up but not pull off. Services start at $100,000.
Save the Date
18 Harrison St., nr. Hudson St., PH; 212-333-3283; savethedate.comAward-winning entrepreneur and founder Jennifer Gilbert has fourteen years of experience planning events for Fortune 500 companies, celebrities, and brides alike. From an elegant vineyard affair to a ceremony in a vacated bank, Save the Date specializes in finding the perfect locale. For couples who don’t need a planner but want a unique space? Save the Date has a division that plays matchmaker—for free. Consultants run from $7,500 to $35,000.
Save the Date Event Consulting
31 E. 32nd St., nr. Park Ave., Ste. 601; 917-742-7449; savethedatenyc.comSpecializing in Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern weddings, Sonal Shah knows where to find the right Bollywood-style choreographers for the sangeet, henna artists for the mehendi party, and the groom’s horse or elephant for the barat—not to mention how to combine all three ceremonies into one. Prices range from $15,000 to $45,000.
Sidekick Events
31 Jane St., nr. Eighth Ave., Ste. 16E; 917-226-2609; sidekickevents.comFull-service event planner extraordinaire Ellen Kostman has all the credentials to make sure her events happen precisely to specifications. She’s done everything from well-appointed garden parties to high-drama, black-tie galas at the Rainbow Room, and she supplies day-of services for those worried about last-minute snafus. Prices upon request.
Sofia Crokos Events
180 W. 20th St., nr. Seventh Ave., Ste. 9U.; 212-929-1076; sofiacrokos.comThis highly sought-after boutique firm offers a variety of services, including floral design and décor, photography and videography, transportation, and destination wedding planning. Crokos started the firm in 1998 and has since done weddings all over the world, using her fashion background and passion for food, design, and travel to make each event unique. Prices upon request.
Soraya Weddings & Celebrations
275 Conover St., nr. Reed St., Red Hook, Brooklyn; 646-256-3816; sorayajollon.comSoraya Jollon, revels in the quirky and unconventional as she provides her wedding planning services to couples seeking something really out of the ordinary. For one couple getting married in the recreation hall of the groom’s childhood camp, Soraya covered the walls in burlap to create a rustic feel. She is fluent in Spanish and conversant in French. Prices upon request.
State of the Art Enterprises
655 Madison Ave, 25th Floor, nr. 60th st.; 212-317-1421; stateoftheartnyc.comOne of New York’s premier event planners, State of the Art works with high-end, reliable vendors to produce spectacular weddings. For a Sundance destination wedding, they branded the couple’s initials onto steaks, which were served from an authentic barbecue chuck wagon. Prices start at $20,000.
The Stern Group
646-861-2002; thesterngroup.netThe work of Michael and Dean Stern, a father-son team with an impressive client roster, has included spectacular events around the world. Whether staged in actual archaeological sites, historic buildings, reconstructed gardens, or places of pure fantasy, their concoctions of furniture, flowers, lighting, and space are extraordinary feats of scene-setting. Prices upon request.
Swank Productions, Inc.
231 W. 29th St., nr. Seventh Ave., Ste. 605; 212-643-3211; swankproductions.comMaya Kalman started Swank Productions after she planned her own wedding, which was televised on the Food Network. After the show aired, Kalman was contacted by friends and strangers with requests for her services. Now expanded, Swank Productions is a popular choice for those wishing to have fabulous, custom-tailored weddings. Prices start at $9,500.
Toby Ellen Sarna Ltd. Special Events
305 Fairview Ave., Upper Nyack, N.Y.; 845-348-1957; tobyellensarna.comSarna is a serious, hands-on planner who will be personally involved. While the company specializes in large-scale, big-budget blowouts, it aims to evoke quiet sophistication with a fresh take on tradition during a highly personalized ceremony. Although most events take place in Manhattan, Sarna also coordinates destination weddings. Prices vary.
Van Vliet & Trap Event Design
158 W. 28th St., nr. Seventh Ave; 212-352-3385 ; vanvlietandtrap.comAs the Met’s in-house designers, this firm specializes in grand-scale creations befitting the museum’s Great Hall. Remco van Vliet and his stepbrother, Cas Trap, are third-generation florists from Holland whose experience in Europe and America manifest in a vast range of style and technique. Prices upon request.
Van Wyck & Van Wyck
224 W. 30th St., nr. Seventh Ave., Ste. 1300; 212-675-8601; vanwyck.netBronson van Wyck honed his party-hosting skills while coordinating receptions for diplomats at the American embassy in Paris. Before long, he went into business with his mother, Mary Lynn and began hosting parties for the likes of the Clintons, Gores, and Bushes. Prices upon request.
The Wedding Library by Claudia Hanlin and Jennifer Zabinski
43 E. 78th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-327-0100; theweddinglibrary.comTheir invitation-only referral list of roughly 80 vendors offers a reliable list of top-notch bands, florists, videographers, photographers, D.J.’s, and more. The full planning service includes everything from the necessities (staff, etiquette advice, and vendor relations) to the extraneous. The basic day-of package is perfect to ensure a scheduled, snag-free event without the extras. Prices upon request.
The Wedding Salon
333 W. 39th St., nr. Eighth Ave., 15th floor, Penthouse; 212-631-7777; weddingsalon.comThis luxury wedding showcase produced by 4PM Events is “one-stop shopping” for 70 different vendors, from cake designers and caterers to honeymoon destinations. Those looking for personalized wedding planning should expect to spend big (from $500,000, with a planning fee that runs typically 10 to 15 percent of the total budget).
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PrintFrom the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide
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- Cheryl J. Weddings and Events
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New York NY; 917-254-0514; www.cheryljweddingsandevents.com
Cheryl J. Weddings and Events is a comprehensive planning and consultancy service that helps brides to create the wedding of their dreams. Call us, and let the dream begin.
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- Christopher La Cass Design, Inc
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New York NY; 646-703-0002; www.christopherlacass
I help make your dream a reality. Together we can trust the most important moments of your life into your most spectacular memories. Available for consultation by appointment only.
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- The Elegant Egg Cup
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42 East 76th Street New York NY 10021; 212-288-2660; www.theeleganteggcup.com
Offering an exquisite collection of tableware from the worlds finest, as well as estate pieces which allow the prospective couple to create a setting which is unique & personal.
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- Manhattan Occasions
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446 East 76th Street, #3C New York NY 10021; 212-707-3470; www.manhattanoccasions.com
Manhattan Occasions, New York’s newest wedding planning company with offices in Boston, Santa Fe, and Florida. Specializing in Multi-Day affairs, let us help you plan the event of your dreams.
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- Preferred Social Planning
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250 West 93rd Street, Ste. 18D New York NY 10025; 917-817-5879; www.pspnyc.com
Elegant wedding and party planning with a caring and organized approach that lets you enjoy the most important day of your lives. Advisory and Full Service Planning.
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- Spotlight Style
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New York NY ; 917-655-2837; www.spotlightstyle.com
Spotlight Style is a full-service event planning salon based in New York. Found member Preeti Shah intertwines her passions for style, design into your perfect day.
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- Sterling Affair
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575 Madison Avenue, nr. 56th St. New York NY 10022; 212-686-4075; www.sterlingaffair.com
For over 18 years, Sterling has provided New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut with full service catering and event management. We strive to exceed expectations so that every event is a Sterling experience.
