Unique Wedding Venues - Winter Lounge

Looking back on our events, this one at Studio 450 was most definitely one of our coziest!

Studio 450 is another one of our FAVORITE loft venues. (And you might not know - I have a soft spot for this NYC loft because I was married there a little over 12 years ago)

SO many things I love about this loft space like its size, the room layouts and the fact that it has two floors and a really nice size deck. But most of all I love its shinny whiteness (yes I think I made that word up but it perfectly describes the space)

Studio 450 is on West 31st St at 9th avenue which I would best describe as a fairly non-descrpt (and kind of always gray) area of the West Side. There's usually scaffolding of some sort on one of the buildings in the vicinity. I know I'm not 'selling' why this 'great' venue is so great very well but honest, I'm getting to my point, which is this.

There's something wonderfully magical about going to this dingy gray part of New York City, riding up a huge metal freight sized elevator to the top floor, not knowing what in the world to expect from a party in a place like this. Having the elevator doors open and arriving into a truly lovely, bright, spacious, glossy white venue with sunny (or sunset) views of New York City in all four directions.

What I absolutely love about this space is that its a large open white pallet. Its urban chic. It's a space where you can truly create ANY type of environment.

I've been lucky to work in this venue dozens of times and have had the opportunity to do a lot of very creative themes. But since I first stepped into this venue, I have ALWAYS wanted to do a cozy 'ski lodge' event! I have done lots of other 'winter' environments but I finally got the chance to do my cozy ski lodge here at 450!

Looking forward to a cozy New Year!!!

Cheers to your next event

xoxo Maya

Non Floral Wedding Centerpiece

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against flowers! LOL

- some of my best friends are florists!

BUT I DO LOVE non floral wedding centerpieces

because it shows a real desire to be different (and sometimes quite budget friendly)

(and I say 'sometimes' because not always will flowers be less than some of the non floral centerpiece ideas we've come up with!)

One of my favorite non floral wedding centerpiece ideas is the Candelabra.

They can be purchased or rented. You can find them is all different shapes, sizes, materials and finishes. And like the ones we used for this wedding at The Edison Ballroom they can be painted any color that goes with your decor vision!

(these were a strange chipped antique gold so we sprayed them high gloss black)

This one is a particularly fun DIY centerpiece because the bride is a jewelry buyer for a popular chain store and so we used the necklaces she sells as embellishments on all the centerpieces! (which some of the guests that worked with her realized as they were complimenting us on the decor -too funny!)

While this particular wedding was very much a black & white theme

(as well as feathers - which will be another non floral centerpiece blog) :)

We used white taper candles (make sure to ask your venue about flame rules) BUT in the past to really jazz things up you can buy (or even spay paint!) taper candles any color you want! (with non flammable paint)

Picture sunshine yellow, a soft violet....any color or combo of colors that you may find hard to buy. OR if you wanted to get really crafty and ombre would be outrageous!

Whatever you decide, just know that centerpieces do not have to include any flowers and can still be magical and elegant.

And as always, your wedding decor should be an expression of YOU!.... so be chic, be sassy, be be bold...be YOU.

Cheers to getting married in NY!

~Maya

Photos & Video by the awesome and talented Jorg Windau

Planning, Design & Production by Swank Productions

Winter Wedding Wonderland in NYC

Winter Weddings have always had a magical mystic to me.

I'll admit that I'm always slightly impressed when I sit down with a bride and she tells me she wants to have a Winter Wedding. It's living life a little on the edge...knowing somewhere inside that the weather 'could' literally make the event not happen. BUT I completely understand why they take the risk! Because when you step back and look at it, Winter is a truly beautiful, magical and romantic season. From the white piles of snow, to the ever changing snowflakes, to ice, furry things and fire...you get the picture. Design inspirations are abound!

All of these elements were inspirations we used in this

Winter Weddingat one of my favorite venues Angel Orensanz.

(and all things that you can adapt into your own wedding)

We brought in iron gates which created a dramatic entryway for

the Brides arrival into the ceremony.

Hundred of hanging votive candles & icy blue lighting created the ambiance and feel of being outdoors

looking up at the twinkling nighttime stars.

*And if you look closely towards the chuppah

you'll see that its snowing inside!

(we had snow machines on the balcony creating a light dusting of snow over the entire ceremony

- a little splurge well worth the wow factor!)

Breathtaking dress with platinum detailing (that looked like delicate snowflakes) by Reem Acra

The couples elegant silhouette was incorporated into a cameo that we used on the ketubah and the cake (cake by the very talented Cheryl Kleinman)

We incorporated ice into the bars, buffet areas and vases to create unexpected surfaces and containers, while chairs and seating area had fur pillows and throws to balance the ambiance.

Lambs ears are a fun (and fuzzy) element to add to all white flowers in frosted ice vases.

While the couple had a beautiful cake to cut, they also loved cotton candy

which they shared with (themselves) and all the guests

*a note from me to you!*- Remember do whatever is YOU!

There are no rules to wedding decor...

just what is beautiful, chic and makes you happy!

Cheers to getting married in NYC!
~Maya

Photos by the lovely and talented Sharon Schuster
Planning & Design by Swank Productions

Secret Serenity In New York City?

Tomorrow I'm showing a wedding client one of my favorite little secret venues for their upcoming Summer wedding. On a fairly nondescript area of 10th Ave. between 20th & 21st St. is The Desmond Tutu Center a true oasis of serenity. For a client who is looking for a venue that has magnificent lawns (yes two huge lawns!) and a Gothic-Castle-type of feel this event venue is a true gem. Things I love about it.

The lawns!

The two lawns are really nice sized and fairly level. Perfect for outdoor ceremony's and cocktail hours. There's a wonderful serenity to the outdoor space that makes you immediately forget that you could possibly be in New York City. The trees are big and bushy and beautiful and when you're there in the spring or summer time you hear birds chirping and see the butterflies in the flowers!...its sublime and very romantic! (can you tell I like this place!) The space is both a hotel and a seminary so there are rules that need to be followed, but with enough notice they are very reasonable with requests. Oh and there is also a tennis court which you can also tent if needed (which is always a great option because you've got a built in floor!)

My other favorite part of the venue is the reception hall!(the Refectory)

This room is just breathtaking. There's a regal feel you get when walking up the stairs and entering the heavy doors to this long beautiful room. I have to admit that scene in Harry Potter is exactly what I thought of the very first time I saw it. The length of the room. The two giant fireplaces at either end. The Gothic wooden chairs. The chandeliers. All amazing! Very cool and very chic! There's a lot that can be done to this venue to create some amazingly breathtaking design moments. (by the way, there are a bunch of large paintings hanging in the room, but again, with prior notice they are really great and will take them all down if you'd like)

The venue is also a hotel, which for a wedding venue can be another added nicety. The rooms and suites are all quite large and designed with what I would call handsome, modern and chic details. The rates are really reasonable and can give your guests the ability to have a little NYC vacation weekend in Chelsea!

As as wedding planner, if I'm going to rave about the place I have to also tell you the things you might not love (but honestly you can get past)

The entrance,while very nice, clean and neat is a functioning hotel front desk - and thus does feel just like one. Its small and fairly neutral, maybe even a bit dry. So to a bride thinking about a venue I can see how that might be a small concern. BUT, I think it's a minimal issue and is definitely something you can glaze over and solve in creative design ways. (I would say lets chalk it up to another one of those 'NYC wedding venue' experiences).

*I have theories you'll start to get to know as you get to know me!

In order to help my clients find the best venue, I try to get them to understand and accept this theory. Most NYC venue entrances (other than hotels) are 'gritty' and 'urban' to say the least. Not what a stylish bride might normally think of as a beautiful, cool or chic wedding entrance to her wedding venue. BUT, when you enter the venue and the event itself! - That's when the WOW moment happens! That's a huge part of what makes a NYC wedding unique for you and your guests! So, in order to really be happy with picking a NYC venue for your wedding - I think you have to be open to this theory and make the decisions based on the wow factors to come, not necessarily what the outside of the building or the area looks like.

Anyway, I digress. The other thing you may be concerned with while walking around the property is the playground. Yes, there is a playground. (again, it's a hotel and a seminary that has a nursery school. No big deal, it wont effect your event at all). If you feel the need, screens will make it disappear on the day of your event, so don't event think about it twice!

All of that being said, as a wedding designer I love the bones of this venue! Its a beautiful, peaceful, and very cool space where truly magical moment can be created. Now after writing about it, I'm even more excited to show it to my clients tomorrow! I will certainly keep you posted on the details of the visit and of course the wedding planning to come. If you have any great stories or details of events from this venue you want to share I'd love to see them!

Cheers to getting married in New York City!

~Maya