How did you choose your venues?
We chose our venue, The Hotel Van Zandt, after evaluating many options. Joel and I wanted a venue that very much matched our aesthetic, modern but elegant. We also knew that we wanted a winter wedding which dramatically reduced our options in terms of outdoor venues. After having run around to multiple venues, I walked into the Van Zandt and said this is Joel. Joel and I booked the venue the next day.
Describe your decor and how you chose it?
We wanted the décor to be fairly understated but warm. A winter wedding in a large ballroom with a relatively small guest list drove our desire to have the room feel intimate. We also had been scouring Pinterest for photos of how to make the room feel consumed by candles. The idea of playing with the light given the brocade wallpaper in the Van Zandt ballroom provided us with an amazing opportunity to do so.
Tell me about your attire – who designed your dress and where did you buy it?
I wore a dress by Rivini that I purchased in Los Angeles at the Kinsley James boutique. The dress is named “Timeless” and that is what I immediately thought when I saw the dress. It was elegant and frankly could have been worn 60 years ago today, or 60 years from now. I truly felt like Audrey Hepburn in the dress. It was so much fun to wear and really captured my personality.
What shoes did you choose and what jewelry did you wear?
For the ceremony, I wore a pair of nude Celine pumps that were comfortable but later changed into a pair of silver Sam Edelman flats. I wanted to wear very minimal jewelry because I often don’t wear much jewelry. I also did not want detract from the high neckline and clean lines of the dress. To maintain the simplicity and elegance of the dress, I wore pearl earrings and a pearl bracelet.
Who designed the bridesmaids dresses?
The bridesmaid dresses were from multiple designers. I really wanted to allow my bridesmaids the latitude to choose a dress that they would or could wear to a future event. My only requirement was that the dresses were black, long, and tasteful.
And your groom – tell me about his look – who was his suit designer? Any other significant accessories?
For Joel, he wanted his tuxedo to reflect a modern, refined sensibility. Joel purchased his tuxedo at Hugo Boss and selected a shawl lapel. He also took great care to select a pocket swatch that was playful.
Why did you choose me, Jenny, to be your wedding photographer?
Jenny was the obvious choice. We had been looking at photos from wedding venues to select our venue and the best photos were Jenny’s hands down. It was frankly a no brainer. We actually may have booked or confirmed Jenny’s availability before we booked the venue or at least conducted the process concurrently. Getting Jenny booked was a top priority for us.
What was one of your favorite moments from your wedding day?
Our favorite moments from the wedding day were our ceremony and the hora. The hora was a culmination of the magic and fun from our day and represents our traditions.
What was your favorite image from your wedding day?
Selecting my favorite image of the day is beyond difficult. There are just too many to choose from. However, if asked to select one, there is a photo of Joel and I dancing the hora being surrounded by a group of people. He is picking me up and spinning me. We are able to see the faces and reactions of so many of our family and friends. It just captured the moment so well.
Did any of your other vendors go above and beyond for you?
We were incredibly pleased with the band. The Matchmaker Band was phenomenal. We told them we intended to do a 45 minute hora. They thought we were insane. We did a 45 minute hora. They kept the energy going all night long and we had the best time.
Our wedding planner Sarah Avigne was also phenomenal and helped the day go smoothly. The staff at the Van Zandt also did a great job of making our day very special
Do you have any tips to share with other couples?
My tips for the other couples would be to continuously work on the wedding in conjunction with all of your vendors and planner. Joel and I booked most of our vendors in July for a January wedding. Most of the vendors, however, begin to contact you a month or two prior to the wedding date to finalize everything. This timeline is obviously logical for the vendors, given that they are continuously working on other weddings. At the same time, if you can work with your vendors to finalize details further in advance (i.e. lighting, flowers, table settings, and the dreaded seating charts) it reduces a lot of pressure that is associated with the last few weeks prior to a wedding.
A special thanks to the vendor team:
Venue and Catering: Hotel Van Zandt
Music: Matchmaker Band
Florist: Stems
Coordinator: Mrs. Planner
Cakes: Cupcake Bar
Hair and Makeup: Adore