I've been asked to be the NYC Wedding Specialist for TheKnot.com Blog!

SO EXCITED! Can't even begin to explain!
I am thrilled to have been asked to be the NYC wedding specialist blogger for the knot.com's new New York City Page! http://newyorkcity.weddings.com/

I'll be sharing the details of weddings we're planning, things that inspire me, design ideas, vendors we love, sample sales, you name it...if it has to do with weddings in New York City we'll be talking about it!
Would LOVE it if you followed!


Here's my first post!

Tomorrow I'm showing a wedding client one of my favorite little secret venues for their upcoming Summer wedding. On a fairly nondescript area of 10th Ave. between 20th & 21st St. is The Desmond Tutu Center a true oasis of serenity. For a client who is looking for a venue that has magnificent lawns (yes two huge lawns!) and a Gothic-Castle-type of feel this event venue is a true gem. Things I love about it.
The lawns!

The two lawns are really nice sized and fairly level. Perfect for outdoor ceremony's and cocktail hours. There's a wonderful serenity to the outdoor space that makes you immediately forget that you could possibly be in New York City. The trees are big and bushy and beautiful and when you're there in the spring or summer time you hear birds chirping and see the butterflies in the flowers!...its sublime and very romantic! (can you tell I like this place!) The space is both a hotel and a seminary so there are rules that need to be followed, but with enough notice they are very reasonable with requests. Oh and there is also a tennis court which you can also tent if needed (which is always a great option because you've got a built in floor!)
My other favorite part of the venue is the reception hall!(the Refectory)

This room is just breathtaking. There's a regal feel you get when walking up the stairs and entering the heavy doors to this long beautiful room. I have to admit that scene in Harry Potter is exactly what I thought of the very first time I saw it. The length of the room. The two giant fireplaces at either end. The Gothic wooden chairs. The chandeliers. All amazing! Very cool and very chic! There's a lot that can be done to this venue to create some amazingly breathtaking design moments. (by the way, there are a bunch of large paintings hanging in the room, but again, with prior notice they are really great and will take them all down if you'd like)

The venue is also a hotel, which for a wedding venue can be another added nicety. The rooms and suites are all quite large and designed with what I would call handsome, modern and chic details. The rates are really reasonable and can give your guests the ability to have a little NYC vacation weekend in Chelsea!

As as wedding planner, if I'm going to rave about the place I have to also tell you the things you might not love (but honestly you can get past)

The entrance,while very nice, clean and neat is a functioning hotel front desk - and thus does feel just like one. Its small and fairly neutral, maybe even a bit dry. So to a bride thinking about a venue I can see how that might be a small concern. BUT, I think it's a minimal issue and is definitely something you can glaze over and solve in creative design ways. (I would say lets chalk it up to another one of those 'NYC wedding venue' experiences).

*I have theories you'll start to get to know as you get to know me!

In order to help my clients find the best venue, I try to get them to understand and accept this theory. Most NYC venue entrances (other than hotels) are 'gritty' and 'urban' to say the least. Not what a stylish bride might normally think of as a beautiful, cool or chic wedding entrance to her wedding venue. BUT, when you enter the venue and the event itself! - That's when the WOW moment happens! That's a huge part of what makes a NYC wedding unique for you and your guests! So, in order to really be happy with picking a NYC venue for your wedding - I think you have to be open to this theory and make the decisions based on the wow factors to come, not necessarily what the outside of the building or the area looks like.

Anyway, I digress. The other thing you may be concerned with while walking around the property is the playground. Yes, there is a playground. (again, it's a hotel and a seminary that has a nursery school. No big deal, it wont effect your event at all). If you feel the need, screens will make it disappear on the day of your event, so don't event think about it twice!

All of that being said, as a wedding designer I love the bones of this venue! Its a beautiful, peaceful, and very cool space where truly magical moment can be created. Now after writing about it, I'm even more excited to show it to my clients tomorrow! I will certainly keep you posted on the details of the visit and of course the wedding planning to come. If you have any great stories or details of events from this venue you want to share I'd love to see them!

Cheers to getting married in New York City!
~Maya

OK! So I've been completely MIA when it comes to writing our blog!

OK! So I've been completely MIA when it comes to writing our blog! I know, I know! What's the point in coming to read a blog about event planning & design if its not going to be something new to read! Well you know what you're absolutely right! Things have been so busy the last couple of months that i kept telling myself, i need to do it, i need to do it, but by the end of the day was way too exhausted to share with you all the awesome stuff we were doing! So frustrating!
so long story short...I'm going to try and do a bunch of back to back recap blogs to catch you up to date. and then...well the possibilities are endless!
So how far back should we go. Well you know what its starting to get chilly here in New York City so lets reminisce a bit about a beautiful day when the temperature was a perfect 70 degrees!

We have a wonderful client that does an end of summer event for their employees and their families every year. This year we knew we had to be economical (the budget had been slashed by two thirds from last year - ouch!!) But we knew it had to be chic no matter what! So we decided to do a new take on the typical company picnic and create an

"Old Time (Country Chic) Americana Picnic"
(thank you to Martha Stewart for showing evevryone that country can be chic!)

To set the tone... a perfect venue with outdoor and indoor space

(with the weather we've had this year!...hello rain plan!)

Guests were greeted at the tent with small individual picnic baskets.

Each picnic basket filled with a checkered blanket and tons of fun toys for everyone

we decorated the interior of the tent to have a warm and fun

old time Americana country fair feel.

Complete with a beautiful yummy pie station

An empty grass area was turned into comfy cool seating areas for guests to eat and chill out
Inexpensive Decor Details like wrapping silverware in bandannas

- make a "standard company picnic" into a CHIC gathering of family and friends.

Even a standard BBQ menu can be chic and inviting!

And don't forget how awesome it is to have PONY RIDES - everyone loves a pony!

Here's to making your next picnic-bbq a chic and fun day for everyone!

SWANK 2nd Annual SAMPLE SALE!

SWANK Productions is having its 2nd Annual SAMPLE SALE!
Tons & Tons of great Decor & Furniture from this years hottest events PLUS we're redecorating our office so EVERYTHING WILL GO!
Dont miss this event, last years was a huge hit!
Wed 21st & Thur 22nd - 10am-6pm -
231 W29th St Suite 605 NYC!
Cash Only

The Plaza gets The SWANK Treatment

The Private Copper Room

"Rat Pack" Billiards Boys night out

Two different looks for the Ballroom

Swank Productions is now the preferred, recommended

and simply adored designers for the newly re-opened Oak Room at The Plaza!

Swank is bringing new attitude to this iconic venue by embracing its elegant, masculine aesthetic and rejuvenating it by mixing bright color concepts. The Oak Room was recently featured on the hit TV show Gossip Girl. It’s not only the perfect location for Manhattan’s big wigs to come enjoy a delectable steak, but it’s the place to see and be seen. Private events are a huge part of this landmark’s business. It’s a justified assumption that for every fabulous party you need a fabulous designer and party planner! Swank Productions just recently designed and produced a photo shoot for the Oak Room’s makeover “After” shots. The shoot features four different looks. The first shot was designed to pick up on the rich oak wood paneling throughout the room. The tablescape featured chocolate brown taffeta linens, regal purple floral arrangements, and gilded details as wellas a more formal look incorporating the exsisting newly renovated chairs in the space. Another table was designed using the Oak Bar’s original incarnation as a men’s only club. A color palette of billiard green and burgundy were utilized for this table. Cabaret lamps, champagne buckets, bottles of whiskey were placed on the tables. Vintage billiard balls were placed at each setting. The final look was a private dining room with copper walls. A color scheme of copper and acid green was conceived inspired by oxidized copper (i.e.- The Statue of Liberty). Gold leaf, mother of pearl, and amber details were incorporated into the tabletop design.

We are thrilled that Oak Room patrons will now call upon Swank to personalize the space for them with luxury Event Planning and Couture Design!

Swanky Bride Reviews her SWANK Productions Wedding

A huge THANK YOU to our Swanky Bride for giving us this "love note" on video!

Big xoxo!

~Maya

SWANK Productions has partnered up with fine china distributor Michael C Fina for what will certainly be an eventful and swanky year. Between in store table designs and bridal events, Swank will be showcasing new designs and events at the magnificent flagship store on 5th Avenue about once a month for the coming year!

If you have not been to their flagship store on 5th ave in NYC you must! Michael C Fina is the world-class retailer of the worlds most beautiful diamond and gold jewelry, flatware, crystal, and other fine gifts and home accessories. Known for always being at the forefront of glamor and luxury this is the first stop for discerning couples celebrating their nuptials and clients who love to entertain.

Rather than the traditional china table displays... Swank will be doing what we do best, creating custom designs using Michael C Fina's extensive stock of breathtaking china, home goods, bath goods (and of course some fun props and gadgets) to produce one of a kind masterpiece table scape. This month, check out our elegant rendition of the chic gypsy life. Our "zodiac" inspired tablescape features an opulent array of Baccarat crystal stemware, Waterford vases re purposed as crystal balls, Royal Copenhagen statuettes of the zodiac signs and a porcelain cougar just to name a small fraction of the details! Our designs will change monthly (and dramatically) so make sure to come by (and come often!) We know this stores clientele are used to the best of the best and we plan on delivering exactly that! We promise each display table more memorable than the last!

More info about bridal events to come as well as more photo!

SWANK Productions Planned and Designed TNT Wedding DAY!

OMG! It was just so much fun watching all our hard work DESIGNING & PRODUCING this amazing wedding for Christina & Shawn! (did we mention we did this ALL in 5 DAYS!!!!) (and did we mention that every product and service was DONATED to us by our AWESOME VENDORS!

Take a look at the BEFORE shot of the room and some of these AMAZING AFTER shots! Another amazing SWANK TRANSFORMATION!

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

We'd LOVE to do a custom wedding for YOU!

CHEERS!

xoxo

Maya

more to come next week once I'm back in town!