A Grand wedding at the Station

Recently I was presented with a wedding challenge that was most unexpected but that I also saw as an opportunity to do something that had not been done before.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy there were numerous challenges as many event venues were damaged or not able to open as a result of the Hurricane.  I was fortunate in that most of my clients handled the challenge gracefully and went on to have tremendous events, despite any adversity.

My most recent Hurricane Sandy challenge was to turn Michael Jordan's Steakhouse inside Grand Central Station into a venue for a wonderful client's wedding ceremony and reception.  If you have been to Grand Central you know what a stunning setting it is with many Brides and Grooms using it as a backdrop for photos.  However, to hold the actual wedding inside of an active train hub is very different from just using the Station for photos.   I mean, imagine saying your vows as the overhead speaker is calling the 5:15 train to New Haven.

The other challenge was how to turn this vast space into an intimate setting for not only the reception but also for the ceremony.  We accomplished this by sectioning off one area of the restaurant for the ceremony and used large urns on pedestals to frame the ceremony area.  When set against the backdrop of the Station, it was pretty spectacular.

Following the ceremony guests were escorted into the bar area of the restaurant for cocktails while we transformed the main room for the seated reception.  The client wanted a clean, sleek look so I used simple glass containers and floral in her colors of blue and white.  As guests came back into the main room they first saw a long, sleek escort card table with square glass containers in varying heights, each holding a different bouquet of a single flower type and color. A nice touch was that each escort card was actually a frame that the guests could keep as a favor.

For the tables we continued the sleek look with a runner of glass containers in the same color scheme. It was a perfect compliment to the grand space without trying to overpower it.

The clean sleek look was carried through all elements, even the cake which was simply adorned with the same flowers that I used throughout the wedding.

While a wedding in Grand Central Station was not part of the couple's original vision, the end result was a beautiful wedding shared by family and friends.  Everyone had a great time and the couple was very happy which is the most important part.

Here's hoping we do not have a repeat of Sandy and the challenges it created.

Cheers!