This weekend I was fortunate enough to have two of the world’s best wedding planners: my bestie/business partner Xochitl and my amazing friend Marcy Blum, host an amazing engagement party in my honor. My fiancee and I are still riding high from the amazing day, and almost 4 days later, we have finally recovered.

I must admit that prior to this glorious day I had been having a very hard time with the engagement process. Xochitl wrote a blog post (inspired by my bad mood around the office) and hit the nail on the head when she said that it is hard when your wedding dreams meet your wedding reality. Even though I live in the world of wedding, I was not prepared for the emotions and opinions that came with my lovely ring. Luckily, the love and excitement of the engagement party put me back on track and focused on the reason that this is all happening.

Now that I am in a better place, I feel okay to share what was “my dream wedding”. Frankly, I’d been hoarding this information, but since it doesn’t look like it will work for me, but I want someone else to enjoy this amazing venue. Now I am determined to have my 40th birthday party here!

The set up: A few months ago, Xochitl and I were fortunate enough to take a trip with the Mexican Department of Tourism. The week long trip included stops to the lovely states of Michoacan and Queretaro. Michoacan is the state where my mother was born and I still take yearly trips there. However, this was a chance to experience the wonders of the state as a tourist. It was here that I met my dream venue!

Welcome to Hacienda Ucazanaztacua. It literally was like we had been transported to a magical land. This 6 room hacienda is the perfect venue for an intimate wedding. Situated on Lake Pazcuaro, this property makes you feel like you have totally disconnected from the world. Relaxing and peaceful, it is the kind of place that you wish you could stay at just one more day.

The exteriors and views are not the only things that blew me away. The rooms are amazing, and each are different and have a distinct charm. If you are interested in a larger wedding and simply want your closest friends and family staying here, then they are in for a treat. There is literally no bad room. The room below blew me away and I decided that it is the best place for a bride to get ready and relax on her wedding day. Can you imagine taking a bath in this tub and enjoying that view. I can feel the nerves washing away just by looking at a photo.

The best part about this venue, is that even though you feel secluded, you are actually a stone’s throw away from the Island of Janitzio and the colonial city of Pazcuaro. You can walk the streets of Pazcuaro and see artisans at work, taste award winning food, and feel like you literally stepped back in time.

Now, my family is very traditionally Mexican and a ceremony out on the lovely lawn is something that they would never go for. Luckily the hotels owner arranged for us to take a canoe over to the neighboring island to see the Catholic church on that island. An accordion player was the perfect touch for our ride over. If this is an option that you think might work for you, the lovely people on property would be able to help you arrange all of this for you and all of your guests. If you wanted to have a slightly larger wedding, there are multiple canoes, that get decorated for the special day, that are available for you.

Look at the look of happiness on my face! Even if this also won’t work for your wedding, add it to your list of places to visit. It will certainly not disappoint!

As I had mentioned last week, Mayra and I were in Mexico checking out some amazing wedding locations in Michaocan and Queretaro, two states in Mexico that are a little off the beaten path of the usual Mexican locales for weddings, but undeniably almost more of what we think when we think “Mexico”.  From Haciendas to private estates on crystal clear lakes in the mountains… this region of Mexico has so much to offer in terms of culinary, cultural, aesthetics and history and of course… fun!  I will spare you the details of the fact that I ate like a hobbit during the trip (first breakfast, second breakfast, first lunch…. etc), and just assure you that you will be blown away by the region AND by the prices!  I’ll be posting some of Mayra and my favorite locales in Michoacan and Queretaro in the coming weeks, but for now, here is an inspiration board I put together of some of the things that I personally found inspiring.

Being such dorks, there is nothing that excites Mayra and I more than the idea of a wedding in a Library.  Particularly when the Library in question is The New York Public Library. Beyond iconic.  From Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Sex and the City the NYPL has been a part of our romantic consciousness… And yet, it’s been the Moby Dick to the Always a Bridesmaid Ahab.    Certainly, we’ve had close brushes… but one client turned elsewhere because at the time they weren’t allowing ceremonies on site (They currently allow CIVIL ceremonies), Another because it was a bit TOO vast for her 100 person wedding (they actually renovated a reading room that is now PERFECT for a smaller reception celebration) and, well…. let’s face it the last couple of years it was a hard sell to clients since it’s legendary 5th avenue entrance looked like this:

But now, after a long renovation, it is more breathtaking than Helen of Troy (I know, the literary references are killing me too, but I can’t help it). Check out this image from Christian Oth Studios taken at the 100 Year Anniversary Celebration:

And here are a couple of shots from the celebration itself (again photos from Christian Oth Studios and band from Elan Artists):

Sigh… it’s as grand as an Edith Wharton novel…. And this is just ONE of the four fabulous areas in the Library you can utilize for your celebration… No wonder I am longing like Mr. Darcy to create a fantasy wedding here and no wonder it’s become a destination for brides from across the country.

I had a real Angel Orensanz day yesterday. I heard from a client who married there in 2009 and just had an adorable baby boy, a bride who was married there in December and who is now just my friend, AND from a caterer who wanted my opinion about a floorplan in the space. Now, I love the space, so I was so happy to have spent the day thinking about it! Now let me tell you about a couple who were married there last January.

I first met Margaret in the lobby of the Bowery Hotel and loved her from the start. She was sweet and easy going, knew what she liked, and wanted to make sure that their families felt a part of the celebration. The couple already had a date and venue and although both were from the South, they had dated and  fallen in love  in the city, and wanted this to be the backdrop for their wedding day.

So how do you make sure that your mom knows she is a part of the process even if the wedding is far from home? First, Margaret made sure to use her mothers trip wisely. Her visits were carefully planned and activities were arranged to make the best use of her time. Sample, tastings, and visits to the venue were all done during these trips. Her mom was able to meet all of the vendors and develop relationships with everyone. By the end of the planning process, we were speaking to her as much as we were speaking to the bride!

One thing that the couple did totally on their own was plan their ceremony. Not only did they want it to reflect the two of them, but they also wanted to keep their guests entertained. It was one of the most personalized and memorable wedding ceremonies I have ever witnessed. First, to acknowledge their families, they had all of their family members walk down the aisle in the processional. A gospel choir serenaded their guests with the couple favorite songs.

Readings? No, this couple opted to have their “toasts” during the ceremony! Now, I know, that is a big ask of your best man and maid of honor…but they came through in the clutch. No major teasing or roasting here,  just two people(who happened to be their siblings) sharing the best things about the bride and groom and sharing how blessed they felt to be sharing in the day. Xochitl is usually the crier here, but I must admit that my eyes did get a bit teary.

Now when it comes to personalizing a day I always think of food. Is that because I am always hungry? Leslie from Marcey Brownstein Catering helped us put together a menu that incorporated some of the foods that satisfied the couples more adventurous palate, while incorporating Southern comfort food. Yum, I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

When it came to decor, Margaret knew that she wanted to incorporate Magnolias. Her parents had Magnolia trees outside their Georgia home and the were a taste of home. When we began the process, the bride’s mom (Mrs. B) put together a floral arrangement of her own using the leaves from her tree. We used that as the main inspiration for the centerpieces.

Our wedding version blew the couple (and her mom) away!

I told you we took Mom seriously! Despite being a rather larger wedding (over 200) the space felt intimate while still allowing us a very large dance floor. The bride and her mother personally wrote out each and every place card. Lots of work? Yes, but a great personal touch…if you have nice handwriting!

Now, to complete the day, the couple wanted to surprise their guests with a special performance. What better than a little break dancing action to get the party started?

Thanks to Maggie Marguerite for the wonderful photos. Happy Anniversary to Margaret & Ted!

Xochitl and I are both obsessed with New York City. She loves it in a way that only a native can, while I love it so much that I chose to leave sunny California and consider this home. We also are both obsessed with city weddings. HOWEVER, we are also happy to work on a few weddings outside of the city throughout the year. It’s a nice little change of pace that keeps things interesting:) So, I was so happy to work on a wedding out in Orient Point, Long Island this summer.

Evan and Kelly were set on a wedding at The New Leaf Cafe when she first came to meet us. A public event at the park however caused the couple to re-consider. She knew that she wanted it to feel outdoor-sy and feel in love when she visited Driftwood Farms. A fully functioning farm with animals on property, a barn, and a beach view. What’s not to love? So off we went to the furthest tip of the North Fork!

I was so excited to have Leslie from Kiss the Bride Films on board. I often have brides who are wary of a videographer for fear that they will get in the way of the photographer, have an annoying light, or try to interview their guests. No one is less like this than Leslie. As a matter of fact, one client thought that we had opted against a videographer for her wedding (her mom was the one that wanted video and was our contact for this hire) and she never noticed a video camera. So stealth is Leslie!

Hope you enjoy the video!

Enjoy!