Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Choosing the city

On Sunday, July 22nd at about 3:00pm my partner Michael and I were sipping our favorite Spanish Cava on the patio of Ardesia Wine Bar in Hell's Kitchen.  We had just called our dear friends Roger and Brad to congratulate them on their one year wedding anniversary.  Over the course of the past year we have proudly witnessed three couples say "I Do" to each other.  And after talking to Roger and Brad we decided we needed to have a heart to heart on what we wanted to do.

You see, up until this point we've put our wedding on the back burner.  Mainly because we've been busy, but secretly because neither of us had any clue as to what we wanted.

When I meet with couples it's so easy for me to objectively impart my "wedding wisdom" (I use that phrase loosely); mainly because I listen to the couple(s) to truly dissect what it is they want.  This my friends is not an easy process when you're trying to listen to yourself.  I mean have you ever really taken your own advice?  Think about it…

What's great about Michael and I is that we have already been together for over 10 years.  We know each other, we know our families and we know what's important to us.  The knowing is the best part.  But we are two different people and we want different things and rightly so!  It was the not knowing that drove me crazy.  What did he want? What did he not want?  So both set out and outlined what was important to us both as a couple and as individuals.  It's like I always tell my clients prioritize your priorities.  And that's just what we did.

While we both wanted a wedding outside of New York City overlooking a lake or a winery we both knew in our heart of hearts that this is the place we call home.  New York is where we met and New York holds that special place in our heart.  After much discussion we both realized it would be best for our families because it's the easiest place to travel to.  And if we were to do a New York State destination wedding why not do it in our own back yard?  You see, Michael's family is from Wisconsin and mine is from Western and Upstate New York as well as Vermont.

So after much talking we decided on the city, that choice was an easy one - check that off the list!  But what about the guest list?  Having done this for almost 14 years I knew the guest list would have a huge impact on what venue's we gravitated toward.  Stay tuned because I truly never knew how hard it would be to create a wedding guest list…especially for ourselves!

Until next time!
Cheers!


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Update on my own wedding planning!

About a year ago I wrote a blog "How is a wedding planner to plan his own wedding" and said I would chronicle how I am going to plan my (our) own wedding. Since then little has been written or documented largely in part to the fact that my partner and I truly did not know what we wanted to do for our wedding.  You know the saying "doctors make the worse patients"?  Well that's us!  We’ve been so focused on everyone else that we put our wedding on the back burner.

Until Sunday when we finally sat down and discussed the what, the when and the where!  Kids, we have a break through!  Michael and I have set a date!

We know where we want to have the wedding, we know when we want to have the wedding and like ripping a band aid off we took to our guest list like a birthday kid to cake!

So now that we've made this huge step we will continue to keep you up to date over the course of our planning the wedding.

Stay tuned because this wedding planning thing is going to get interesting!

Until next time -

Cheers!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Destination Weddings - Bermuda


I recently had the opportunity to spend some time on the Island of Bermuda and could not help but take note of what a wonderful destination location this is for a wedding.  It is a short plane ride from the East coast and offers so many great places to hold a ceremony and reception.

I know many couples look at Bermuda as a honeymoon location but, if you are planning a destination wedding, I would certainly add this to the list of options.  In looking at venues in Bermuda one of the best places to start is the Mandarin Oriental Elbow Beach.  Elbow Beach itself is beautiful with soft white sand and gorgeous, clear blue water.  Add to that the great service and beautiful grounds of the Mandarin Oriental and you have a perfect combination. 



Across the island you will find another wonderful venue at the Fairmont Southampton.  With both garden and beachside options for ceremonies, and a variety of event spaces for receptions, the Fairmont is an excellent option for a Bermuda wedding.



What is great about Bermuda are some of the truly unique options for holding your wedding ceremony.  Take for example the "Moongates" located at various points on the island.  Couples can get married by the Moongate and afterward they walk through the limestone arch for good luck.  



Or, you can take advantage of the history of Bermuda and plan your ceremony in a unique setting such as St. Catherine Fort just outside of the original settlement of St. Georges.  Or consider the beautiful Bermuda Botanical Gardens that date back to 1898.


Bermuda Botanical Gardens

St. Catherine Fort
There are just so many great options for holding a wedding in Bermuda.  So, if you are thinking about a destination wedding I strongly encourage you to check out everything Bermuda has to offer.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Firefighter Appreciation Weekend in New York

Mark your calenders for Firefighter Appreciation Weekend taking place July 20 and 21 at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City!



I am honored to be a judge for the 5th Annual Battle of the Boroughs Cook-off where members of the FDNY will defend their respective Boroughs by creating mouth watering appetizers and entrees.  I can't wait to try all of the great food and hope you can join the festivities on Saturday, July 20 from 11:00am to 2:30pm.  

Come on to Pier 86 on the Hudson River to support the brave members of the FDNY and enjoy all of he great family activities planned on the Intrepid.