Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Love Actually – Abby and Marty

This lovely bride and groom, so very in love, is courtesy of our StrictlyWeddings.com New York City partner Gruber Photographers. After choosing the magical Angel Orensanz as their New York wedding venue, Abby and Marty, with the help of Chlo Events + Production, began creating a night that truly reflected their personalities, style and love for one another. The couple wanted romance and glamour to shine through, so the space was bathed in the glow of candlelight while the abundance of crystals lent an additional sparkle. Gruber’s New York wedding photographer, Maike Schulz, was there to capture every moment.

Just as the couple was about to begin the processional, Marty had a surprise for his new wife! Being that Love Actually is their favorite movie, he surprised her with a gospel choir during the processional and an acoustic guitar version of their wedding song (Jason Mraz “I’m Yours”). Cue the tears!

Abby and Marty are such a social couple, for their reception they decided upon a chic cocktail reception event complete with various lounge areas that allowed the drinks and dancing to flow all night!

Romantic Aussie Elopement – Mad Men Style in New York City

Brian Dorsey, one of our StrictlyWeddings.com photographer’s from New York sent us this very cool shoot. Here’s what he had to say …

“I love shooting people from other countries here in my hometown of Manhattan. After awhile, we New Yorkers do get a bit jaded, it’s true – but through the eyes of out-of-towners, we can re-experience the awesomeness of this great city.

And with that introduction we meet Alison and Nick – a couple of Aussies who came to the big apple to tie the knot and experience some of the coldest temps ever in December…”

From Pigs in a Blanket to White Rose Chandeliers – New York Wedding Vendors

For our New York brides, here are three new StrictlyWeddings.com partners to consider. We love the whimsy of Peter Callahan‘s “pigs in a blanket.” The style of Gotham Hall and the beautiful design of Gourmet Advisory.

Peter Callahan – Catering

Gotham Hall – Wedding Ceremony or Reception

Gourmet Advisory – Wedding Planners

The Crosby Street Hotel: New York City Out of Town Wedding Guest Accommodations

Whether your visiting New York City for the weekend, or planning accommodations for your Manhattan wedding, one thing is for certain- New York’s hotel scene is hot these days.

All of a sudden, a fresh crop of hotels have sprung from the city streets, offering chic refuge by way of every aesthetic.  From modern, to classic to downtown chic- New York’s latest hotels have become hot haunts for tourists and locals alike.

While it’s almost too hard to pick just one, I’m partial to one little newbie, quietly nestled in the heart of Soho.  It’s a lovely boutique spot mastering the art of chic eclecticism and fabulous downtown style.  The Crosby Street Hotel.  Take a peek.

The Crosby Street Hotel is situated between Spring and Prince Streets in the center of Soho. As the first stateside outpost from London-based Firmdale Hotels, owner-designer Kit Kemp maintains a fresh, contemporary and sometimes quirky look throughout the hotel’s 86 individually designed rooms. Her emphasis on color, texture and unique art truly makes the Crosby Hotel a perfect locale for any wedding-related fete.

The “Spring” room is one of three private event spaces at the hotel {and my favorite for chic rehearsal dinners}. The space is so perfectly designed, only a few simple flowers and candles are needed to personalize an event.

A “Crosby Suite.” High ceilings and full length windows with spectacular views of downtown New York make these high line suites perfect for pre-wedding pampering. Paparazzi take note: This one overlook’s Kelly Ripa’s {shrub-obstructed} abode.

The lobby is dominated by soaring glass windows and a dramatic 10 foot high Jaume Plensa steel sculpture of a human head created from letters of the alphabet. How’s that for editorial?

The Crosby Bar is a vast space with a long pewter bar and a multitude of colorful 50′s ceiling lights. It’s perfectly upbeat and wildly colorful.

Jacqueline Weppner writes weekly for StrictlyWeddings.com and is the owner of Merci New York; a wedding blog and styling service for the New York City bride. One of Merci New York specialties is chic out of town guest gifts delivered directly to Manhattan hotels.  For more information, click here.

Doubles from $495.  79 Crosby Street; 212-226-6400

Photos courtesy of the Crosby Street Hotel