{wedding favors} sealed with new york city

Welcome to Week Four (!!) of the local New Jersey & New York wedding series!  Each Wedding Wednesday features a local New Jersey or New York wedding & other days present details from local weddings that I love, like subway seating chart & subway wedding photos from last week.  Today, we're back to local details that I adore- sweets & the New York City skyline.

Black & white cookies are a delicious staple at every tri-state area bakery.  Yummy.  I've enjoyed countless black & white cookies in my lifetime!  They are simply classic New York.  Black & white cookie favors are a perfect choice for a New York City wedding.  The wedding guests walk away with a little taste & flair of the city.  & just to seal the local deal- the treats were sealed with a New York City skyline label.  Two thumbs up!

While I may be blogging about New York City, my heart & prayers are with the strong people of Boston!  I wish those affected by the tragedy much strength & comfort.
    
Photo: Charlotte Jens Lewis Photography via

next stop, wedding!

Between the MetroCard escort cards & the NYC Subway Map seating chart, there has been a lot of chatter about the subway around here.  But did you know some Brides & Grooms ride the subway on their New York City wedding days?  It's true, take a look:

Can you imagine?  Next stop: your wedding!

Photo 1: Diana Garcia Photography via; Photo 2: Christina Szczupak via

skyline shots

Living in Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, I count myself pretty lucky to see the New York City skyline every day.  Day or night, it is a spectacular sight.  It comes as no surprise to me that many New Jersey & New York couples take pause in their wedding day to pose with the New York City skyline.  No doubt that a little skyline adds some magic to wedding photos!

Nothing puts a stamp on a New Jersey or New York wedding like the Manhattan skyline!

Photo 1: Shira Weinberger via; Photo 2: Ryan Brenizer Photography via; Photo 3: Kay English Photography via; Photo 4: Heather Waraksa Photography via; Photo 5: Carla Ten Eyck Photography via

{save-the-date invitations} bright skyline

Welcome to Week Two of the local New Jersey & New York wedding series!  Each Wedding Wednesday features a local New Jersey or New York wedding & other days present details from local weddings that I love, like MetroCard escort cards & vintage Checker taxicabs from last week.  Today, we're turning towards the skyline. 

The amazing, one-of-a-kind New York City skyline, of course!  Why not feature the skyline in a save-the-date for a Manhattan wedding?  The grainy, vintage postcard image combined with the bright, modern letters really makes a statement.  I'm imaging a hip & fun loft wedding, perhaps a loft offering city views.  Fun must have been had!            

Photo: via

{escort cards} metro

Since we are diving into New York & New Jersey weddings for the next few weeks, I will bringing you a steady diet of New York & New Jersey details that I adore.  Our first contender is the MetroCard escort card!   

If there is one item that resides in the wallet of every New Yorker, it's a MetroCard.  A MetroCard is a bit like a Manhattan passport.  It is accepted on city subways & buses; it can take you anywhere & everywhere!  As such, MetroCard escort cards are an absolutely perfect detail for a New York City wedding.  Or for a New York City couple getting married elsewhere.  

MetroCard escort cards bring local flavor & charm to the special occasion!  

Photo: Sarah Postma Photography via  

{Holidays 2012} Holiday Date Night

The very first year RZ & I were dating, we had December date in Manhattan, admiring the city in its holiday finest.  We've done it every year since, a holiday tradition now known as our Holiday Date Night.  This year, we did things a bit different.  We started with drinks in the World Financial District & stopped to pose by the Christmas tree afterwards:

My picture isn't the greatest but we paused to admire the still-in-progress Freedom Tower that reaches well into the dark sky:

We enjoyed a delicious dinner in Wolfgang's in Tribeca:

Then we headed to midtown for a short tour of Manhattan's holiday sites.  First, we stumbled upon Radio City Music Hall, looking a little extra special as they celebrate 85 years of the Rockettes:

The red Christmas ornaments on Sixth Avenue are always a holiday favorite:

And then the always stunning, the always beautiful Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center:

Every year, we search the crowd until we find another couple trying to take a self-portrait with the tree & we strike the "I'll take your photo with the tree, if you take our photo with the tree" deal:

My husband & I have witnessed many things at the tree (an engagement once!) but this year was unlike any other.  Many, many people were openly praying & beautifully singing prayers for the 27 angels gone too soon in the Newtown, CT tragedy that had just taken place earlier that day.  We will continue to keep those souls, their family & their friends close in our hearts & prayers this holiday season.  It's fitting that my last photo in this post is one of the beautiful angels at Rockefeller Center:

May everyone find peace & comfort this holiday season!

only in ny

Only in New York City!  That's all I've got to say about this one, folks.  It's pretty safe to bet an amazing wedding kiss against the regal backdrop of the Empire State Building in Manhattan says it all.

Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography via

City Lovin'

"I am about to make a brand new start of it, right here in old New York"

You can't argue with Frank Sinatra: New York is a great place for new beginnings, like weddings.  For lucky couples tying the knot in the Big Apple, consider letting the magnificent city influence your wedding invitation suite.  

I'm ready to bust out my party dress & attend this fabulous city affair!  The Empire State Building featuring a sweet pink heart?  Oh yes, I consider that NYC save-the-date perfection.  The wedding invitation doesn't bother with the traditional NYC skyline design.  Instead, the modern, calligraphy invitation & its coordinating pieces are a perfect compliment to the city lovin' save-the-date.  The oh so popular gray color maintains a sense of cohesion throughout the invitation suite.  LOVE!!  

Are you getting married in a town or city that is important to you?  Will you let the city influence your design decisions?


Photo via

Holiday Date Night, Take Two

My hubs & I made a very important decision: 2011 could not be the year of No Lights at Rock Center.  We wouldn't let this happen.  Holiday Date Night, Take Two became a reality with one critical change in our game plan: the tree first, dinner second.  You can't accuse us of not learning from our mistakes!

Last Friday night, like the holiday troopers we are, we made our way to crowded Rockefeller Center & breathed a sigh of relief when we were greeted by this familiar, beautiful sight:

LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!  Camera!  Action!

We paused for a bit to admire the graceful ice skaters:

We can't leave well enough alone so we posed for one more holiday photo with the LIT tree:

Seconds after this photo was snapped, we witnessed a man propose to his surprised girlfriend.  (I stopped myself from handing them my business card, ha!)  I felt like we were on a movie set for a moment.  Pure holiday magic!

Our Holiday Date Night, Take Two got even better, continuing with a delicious dinner in the West Village.  But dinner wasn't the best part.  As we strolled through the charming, decorated streets, we were delighted to stumble upon Christmas carolers singing holiday tunes.  I've never seen & heard Christmas carolers in real life.  Let me tell you, it was quite cool.  More holiday magic!!


Now our Newlywed Holiday Date Night will be remembered as The Year of No Lights at Rock Center, followed by Lights & Pure Holiday Magic.  ♡  XOXO   ♥ 

Sweet NYC

The best NYC-theme wedding cake ever!


Maybe it's the darling Empire State Building & Chrysler Building perched on top.  Maybe it's the purple, delicate NYC skyline.  Maybe it's the extra touches of the pearl piping & purple ribbon.  Maybe it's the overall clean, pretty design. 

Whatever it may be, I feel perfectly comfortable declaring this lovely cake the top prize for NYC-theme cakes.  & let me tell you, as a NYC-area wedding planner & wedding guest, I have seen my fair share of NYC-theme wedding cakes.  This baby takes the cake!!

Photo by Our Labor of Love via A Practical Wedding

Centerpiece, You are Beautiful

Besides planning & coordinating a wedding, there is little I enjoy more than attending a wedding as a guest. Oh, the pure & simple joy of eating, drinking & being merry to celebrate a happy couple's positive new beginning!

Now the wedding planner in me is always there. This part of me likes exploring new venues, enjoying good food & admiring pretty decor.

Historic & Beautiful Edison Ballroom

I had the golden opportunity to be a guest at an Edison Ballroom wedding last Summer (why has it taken me so long to blog about it?!). This stunning, art deco ballroom has served as a grand ballroom for Hotel Edison & as a theater for Broadway. It's sleek & swanky, yet you can feel its history. Clearly a win-win if you ask me!

Centerpieces, you have my Heart

Now I crushed hard on the amazing centerpieces. Everyone around me was snapping photos of the Bride & Groom or their dressed up friends & my camera was aimed at the centerpieces. RZ may or may not have been embarrassed. The crystal candelabras held dark purple, almost black, candles & dripped with additional crystals. Then four dark purple, cut crystal wine glasses filled with various purple orchids surrounded the candelabras. GORGEOUS!

Yup, I'm still drooling

I haven't looked at these photos in awhile & my love affair with the centerpieces is renewed! Have you fallen for fabulous details at your friends' & families' weddings? It's not just me, is it?!

One Moment

Continuing the photo theme this week . . . Another Sweetheart Table Photo! (Photo by Friend)

Weddings pass quickly, like a shooting star in the night sky. There is nothing you can do about it. The best advice I received from married ladies was to be present & enjoy every moment.

I rocked that gem of advice like it was my job. I didn't worry about how fast our wedding went or panic about how little time we had left. I stayed in the moment, focused on the joy & love present.

One of my favorite parts of our Reception was when RZ & I paused & appreciated a special moment together. I believe this happened during the First Course, perhaps the second. We were seated at our sweetheart table with its expansive view of our Reception. Our friends & families were seated around us at the simple, pretty tables with twinkling candlelight. Our awesome band played soft, dinner music. NYC glittered across the river as the ultimate backdrop to our evening.

This was our Reception. This was our positive new beginning. This was all we'd dreamed of for eleven months & it was beyond perfect.

We breathed it in, every last detail washing over our grateful hearts. We counted our blessings & voiced our gratitude.

Then the action started again & we were swept away into the night. But that little pause, that little moment to appreciate our celebration? It's one of my biggest memories.

Photo Session, Parts Two & Three

The action at the Bridal Party Photo Session

And then there were two . . .

After the fun & games of family photos at the church, we headed to the Hoboken Train Station Waiting Room for photos with the bridal party. We chose the Waiting Room for its beauty, convenience & comfort. The Waiting Room is an architectural wonder listed with the New Jersey & United States Register of Historical Places. Do remember the scene in the movie Julia & Julia when Julia Child's sister arrives at that gorgeous Paris train station? Well, that is actually the Hoboken Train Station Waiting Room. Now the fact that this beautiful place is a short, five minute drive from our church made it feasible to transport our bridal party there without too much hassle. Last but not least, the Waiting Room is a warm, indoor spot, perfect for a Winter wedding photo session.

As expected, the bridal party photo session went quickly & smoothly. RZ & I arrived at the train station first so we took photos on the Hoboken street with our vintage taxi. The bridal party came shortly thereafter &, being such troopers, joined us for a few, cold outdoor shots before we moved inside to the Waiting Room. Tim, the TGP crew & Eileen made the experience short & painless by directing us & assisting us. With a small bridal party of nine, it was quite easy to keep everyone's attention & keep the session flowing. Before we knew it, the bridal party was headed back to the hotel in their limo.

Then it was just us: the Bride & Groom. Snap, snap- a few more photos in the Waiting Room. Then we went to Hyatt on the Hudson where we planned on taking photos on the pier overlooking the New York City skyline that we adore. While we admire sunny, airy wedding photos, we were hoping for something more dramatic with the night sky & city lights. The next part of our photo session contains an important lesson. No matter how carefully you plan your wedding day, be open to changes!

As we pulled up to the hotel entrance, RZ, Tim & I were reluctant to release the vintage taxi without taking more photos because we loved it so much. I remembered that two blocks away from the hotel is a dead-end street that overlooks downtown Manhattan. We drove there & the location was beyond perfect. The vintage taxi parked on the cobblestone street piled high with dirty, city snow & NYC lights shining in the background. It was such a cool sight. I didn't care that it was freezing cold or that the wind was biting; we happily posed for photos. Just look at that original photo on the header of this blog: it was worth it!

Photos- done! Now it's time to party!!

Merry Christmas!

Festive parols on display in NYC

Christmas Filipino-style

The parols are the Stars of Hope on Fifth

On Christmas eve, I bring you just a few simple, beautiful images of the Stars of Hope on Fifth from our holiday night. Our trip always includes passing the Consulate General of the Philippines to honor RZ's Filipino heritage & to admire their gorgeous holiday display. This year, the display included parols. The bright, merry parols are Christmas lanterns in the Philippines & there is no greater symbol of the Filipino Christmas spirit. RZ remembers that his parents used to hang one in the doorway of their home but they don't have one anymore. I thought they parols were so festive & I want one for our home asap.

I want to wish you & yours the joy, peace & hope of the holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Christmastime in the City

RZ & I have a holiday tradition: we spend one winter night in New York City admiring the Christmas decorations. There is nothing like Manhattan during the holidays! The night includes dinner, holiday sightseeing & window shopping. Our wanderings include the Lord & Taylor windows, the Bryant Park shops & ice rink, the Fifth Avenue star, the Saks Fifth Avenue snowflakes & windows &, of course, the Rockefeller Center tree. Hands down, it's one of my favorite nights of the year.


Here are a few highlights from our 2010 Holiday Night:

Empire State Building in the Holiday Spirit

The Glorious Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Ice Rink

Our holiday smiles

The Angels & Snowflakes are My Favorite Things

Happy Holidays!