When I first met Amanda I was a little nervous about what she had in store for me. Right away I could tell that Amanda was not a typical bride and I wouldn’t have to talk her out of electric pink bridesmaid’s dresses but I had no idea what her ‘wedding style’ was going to be.
Amanda is wonderfully sweet and I could tell she really wanted to have a unique and meaningful wedding but couldn’t quite figure out how to bring her ideas to life in a cohesive way. Amanda and her fiancé, Jeffrey, wanted a wedding based on their Irish heritage and the values of love, friendship and loyalty. I was on board immediately as I think heritage should always be celebrated and I love including cultural traditions into wedding celebrations!
While Amanda’s original plan did include some Celtic elements, most of the things she had picked out didn’t really read “Irish”–so a lot of it had to go! This did not go over well with Amanda who really didn’t want anything about her wedding changed, including the location: an Irish pub! While I love using unique and personal locations, it is still important to transform the party space to create an elegant event whether you are at the Ritz Carlton or in a barn yard.
After I spent some time with Amanda, we got right to work on figuring out how to incorporate her heritage into her wedding. For this I took her all over New York City to get her into the Irish spirit, including stops at central park for a carriage ride, a shopping spree at Waterford Crystal and a trip to the New York Irish center where we learned some traditional Irish customs that bring luck and good fortune.
After a few more stops and some major décor changes, Amanda was ready to walk down the aisle in style. It was not an easy one, but this transformation is one you will not want to miss! Tune in next Sunday to see how Amanda’s Irish celebration turns out and if she really does have the luck of the Irish!
One of my favorite details about Amanda’s wedding was the table names. As a nod to Amanda and Jeffrey’s Irish background, each table was marked by the name of a different Irish whiskey instead of traditional table numbers. Choosing themed table markers is a fantastic way to weave your personality into your reception and to create a more memorable experience for your guests. Think about naming your tables after books and movies you both love or places you have visited together as a couple. Guests will love the added personal touch and your attention to detail.
