As I patiently wait for spring to spring, I force some paper white bulbs and enjoy the sweet fragrance and winter whites. These quieter months allow a clear space for processing and closure as I make room for the new events and tracking forward. I find it deeply gratifying and introspective work that not only feeds my soul but energizes me with a renewed focus. Reflecting on how we performed last year and how I felt about the many parts and the bigger picture is the final piece to my planning puzzle. We learn so much in looking back. And even with new lessons learned and implementation of new processes, there is so much that is a constant and a reinforcement of my good intentions and purposeful planning. Pausing to take in the fullness and richness of these most recent celebrations and those folks we spent time with to get there is so powerful and rewarding. This final viewing feels a bit like a firework show for me. I just love fireworks! With less demands, my focus in January (despite already having already completed our 1st wedding of the year), has been in culling through the many photo galleries for feature picks, updating our website, planning marketing strategies for social and email outreach, debriefing with our team with new goals for 2026, sharing thanks with our vendor teams and last but not least, expressing my deepest gratitude to our 2024 clients who allowed us to shine and successfully complete a year of proud events, which included welcome nights, weddings, after parties, brunches, and a variety of family dinners and corporate events. There is centering pride in knowing that all of these heartfelt efforts resulted in exceptional and life-changing experiences for our clients and that memories were made that will endure on and on. I simply love taking care of our people! My exponential reward is being able to witness these milestone celebrations first hand. Even when our work is done, the effect of our personal and caring work lives on, for our clients, their families and their guests. I'm reminded that what makes the hard work, work for me, is my ability to serve our clients with my heart. My gratitude to our clients is also a constant. To be trusted to take hold of their vision and to bring it to fruition is no small feat. If I think about this responsibility too deeply, it can be intimidating. But I don’t focus my energy there, ever. What I do focus on is knowing myself and knowing that I follow my heart in my work (I can’t do it any other way) and this is what leads to ultimate success. I never get bogged down wrestling with options and decisions, I do what I know is best for my clients and the team. My clients realize this by the time we are done and it confirms that this aspect of my process is my super power. Another constant has been our awards and the many referrals that come from our kind and thoughtful fan club of clientele. We are so proud and grateful to our 2024 couples, parents, clients and vendors who shared their experience in 5-star reviews that awarded us (yet again!) both The Knot Best of Weddings and Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Awards. This acknowledgement and validation mean so very much to us. Their words of gratitude expressing specifically what stood out for them are a gold seal on my heart and confirm that choosing to run my business WITH heart matters. Thanking each of you for taking time in your busy lives to share so openly and positively. Truly such gifts. As we look onto the next event horizon, I’d love to share a peek at each of the celebrations that filled our 2024 year and our hearts. From January through the end of October, I continue to smile wide as I recall it all. We hope you will too! [ Please click on each title to view the full light box on our website ] Photography: Matthew Sussman Game On Bar Mitzvah | Sasha's Bar Mitzvah Weekend | 1.2024 A joy-filled and proud weekend for our Bar Mitzvah who worked and studied so hard to prepare for "the longest Hebrew reading" of the year. His vision from our very first meeting was clearly focused on fun and games and making sure “his guests could do whatever they wanted to do and were not told what to do”. I loved his clarity and focus on the guest experience as well as how he embraced his celebration with deep appreciation and so fully engaged with his fan club. Photography: Quentin Bacon An Evening in the Garden | Innisfree Benefit Cocktail | 6.2024 A Hudson Valley gem of a setting like no other for this annual benefit that focused this year on Chinese art and culture in the landscape. Every year we feel so blessed to be invited back to create, honoring these gardens, its rich history and the generous donors that support its existence, growth and community programs. Photography: Brian David Photography A Family Treasure | Andrea + Juan’s Wedding Weekend | 5.2024 Hosting their guests for four magical and unique days in Millbrook was an epic and whirlwind celebration, to say the least. Two beautiful families coming together from around the globe to this treasured property filled with so much history and natural beauty, was a feast for all the senses and simply a fairy tale come true for our couple. If you are a disco ball fan, this wedding took the cake. Just see how they spun! Photography: Coral Dove Studio The Dollhouse Wedding | Molly + Matt’s Wedding Weekend | 6.2024 A non-stop weekend that truly rocked and rolled in rhythm with this super hip couple! Fun-filled, love-filled and action-packed in every way. Poetry in fast-forward motion. Beauty abounded with sun-filled blue skies, laughter and dancing that went on and on and on. Fast Fact: The only time Molly and Matt stood still was when they were wrapped in the tallit flanked by their adoring parents (and Rabbi Herman!). I sure wish I had my step counter on that day. Photography: Forged in the North Naturally Elegant | Ari + Peter’s Wedding Day | 7.2024 Nature. Grace. Depth. Each moment so clearly poised, purposeful and refined. Tranquility jarred only by the sunrise kickoff with a super intense HIIT workout. BTW which did not deplete the energy that grew steadily well into the night. I loved the remarkable relaxed undertone to this full-on day. A storm finally ripped through in the early evening but it never damped the spirit or the guests insulated within this classic white masterpiece of a space. A gorgeous celebration! Photography: Quentin Bacon A Perfect Pear Wedding | Michelle + Michael’s Wedding Day | 8.2024 Honoring culture and their foodie-nature, this day was a true reflection of this perfect “pear”. Artistry in all the subtle details. Whimsy in the air and in the tablescapes. A most relaxed and yet high energy night that culminated with an end of night silent DJ, high octane energy with no noise. An epiphany. Photography: Olya Vysotskaya Photography A Wedding Feast | Caroline + Justin’s Wedding Weekend | 9.2024 Soulful warmth and feasting. Honoring their guests with love notes and in the comfort of places near and dear to their hearts. There was a snuggly and heartwarming vib throughout the weekend by nature of how this couple radiated their ease, gratitude and deep love of friends and family. Friend DJ rocked the dance party indoors and out. Truly, oh what a night it was! Photography: Olive + Rye Creative Gather Greene in the Fall | Rima + Romit’s Wedding Weekend | 10.2024 Ceremony, culture, traditions, respect, warmth and so so so much love and beauty. Mindful rituals that added purposeful moments to pause and look deeper within, to honor family members present and those that watched from above. When it was time to fully let loose, our couple performed a choreographed first dance that took our breath away and welcomed on the wild and playfulness of the night. Truly magical. Photography: Calen Rose Photography An Artful Wedding | Rose + Connor’s Wedding Day | 10.2024 Impeccable and gorgeous, this day was crafted with our bride’s artistic eye. Formal yet fun, sprinkled with whimsy. Set in the warm character of the Stissing House, with every nook and cranny filled with gracious guests and to die for florals. A celebration built on details and traditions. Topped off at the end of night by a full-on costume karaoke after party, lots of laughs and letting go. Photography: Jen Steele Photography A Wedding March | Megan + Trevor’s Wedding Day | 10.2024 The wedding was kicked off by a parade through town with guests right up the stairs of the Stissing House to say their ceremony space to say "I do!" Megan and Trevor strolled and rocked through their day with such ease, comfort and highly energic joy. Their beloved dog, Doc and the dearly loved officiant and dance extraordinaire sister, where both bright stars of the day, only outshined by the glow of our couples. Their adoring fan club rocked well into the night and through the next day at their house party without missing a beat. A Love Marathon indeed! Photography: Steph Smith Photography You+Me+Baby Makes 3 | Kathleen + Sean’s Wedding Day | 10.2024 To our delight, a gender reveal wedding cake! This day was filled with so much to celebrate even beyond a marriage day. Intimate and warm, with lovely details and a glowing bride and groom, sharing their blessed news with all that love them so dearly. A day that celebrated two families coming together and a soon addition to their family tree, a precious little girl. We loved ending our season, with a Part 2 in the oven! CONGRATULATIONS & CHEERS Photography: Calen Rose Photography | Venue: The Stissing House To our couples and their first year of firsts! May 2025 be the first of many vibrant and wonderful years for you as husband and wife. • To our families as they embrace now joined families and all the blessings of share cultures and traditions and perhaps even welcoming new little ones into their lives. • To our corporate clients for continued success and growth in all ventures. • To Sascha, our bar mitzvah, as he embarks on his next chapter with high school acceptances and sharing his amazing self with the world. You are a true prince! To our 2025 + 2026 Couples on your engagements! We are so honored and excited to get to know you and get you to your big day! PLEASE FOLLOW US + STAY IN TOUCH
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AuthorEvent Planner & Designer Archives
February 2025
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