Glen Island Harbour Club Wedding in New Rochelle Part 1 – Nadia & Cary

Posted on March 4, 2011 in Blog

Wow, I can’t believe it is Friday again.  Oh, how I love flashback Fridays!  It is time for me to sit back, relax and reminisce on another amazing wedding I had the pleasure of planning, designing and coordinating in New Rochelle.

The moment I met Nadia and Cary I knew they were my flavor of client in each and every way.  They didn’t just want a wedding but they wanted something a step up from the norm.  So I worked diligently for 7 months to bring their vision to fruition by giving them a modern classic affair.

Cary and his groomsmen arrived in style at Shiloh Baptist Church to meet with my coordination assistant, Debra.  I, on the other hand, was busy with Nadia and her bridesmaids facilitating getting ready and keeping track of the time.

Cary’s mother just beamed as she and her husband stood outside the church to greet wedding guests.

As the trumpeter began playing my cue to open the doors, Nadia began to tear up and so did I.  I didn’t just plan the wedding, I was with her every step of the journey to help her transition from single to married.  As a result, we developed an incredible bond.  The more I spoke to stop her tears the more we both cried.  Thank God Debra gently pushed me out of the way, dried Nadia’s tears, fixed her veil and instructed her to walk down the aisle.  Nadia’s grand entrance felt like royalty as the trumpet resonated throughout the sanctuary.

In the midst of the ceremony, I dashed to Glen Island Harbour Club to oversee the set up for the reception.

At the conclusion of the formal portraits, I walked the grounds of Glen Island to find and congratulate Nadia and Cary.  I also wanted to escort them to the ballroom with the maitre d’, Vinny, before cocktail hour ended.  Take a look at the video below to see their reaction.

Instead of floral centerpieces, I designed break away centerpieces (3 in 1) in cylinders of different heights with aquamarine vase filler, water and floating candles.  I filled the vases with different levels of water so the candles would glow from different angles and heights throughout the night.  I also designed custom table numbers and escort cards with aquamarine gems to tie everything together.  I’m a stickler for quality stationery and a cohesive look.

Nadia and Cary wanted custom linens but the decor budget was tight.  So I opted to do linens to the floor for the three most important tables to make a statement; escort card, cake and sweetheart tables.  On the guest tables, I used aquamarine custom runners and cobalt blue votive holders to add a pop of color to the table top.

I suggested Nadia purchase an aquamarine encrusted cake topper with a matching cake and knife server set.  I just love details!

As I brought Nadia and Cary downstairs to escort them to their bridal suite, I noticed a faint rainbow.  How symbolic! It felt like God was saying at that very moment “Your marriage will be blessed and this is my covenant.”

The best man, Cary’s brother, was honored to escort Nadia’s sisters (Matron of honor and maid of honor)  into the ballroom.

Nadia and Cary entered the ballroom filled with joy thanks to a riveting introduction by my favorite Master of Ceremony in the industry.

I adored Nadia’s silk satin, Paloma Blanca, gown and custom scattered pearl veil.  Her ensemble was truly understated elegance.

In addition to my decor and uplighting provided by Glen Island, Finer Touch Entertainment, came in with their glow facade, plasma screens and intelligent lighting.  These elements were the perfect finishing touch that made this room captivate.

Cary was so moved by the soloist’s rendition of “At Last” by Etta James, he had to quickly acknowledge her talent.

After observing all the traditional aspects of the reception, the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. circled around the newlyweds and sang the Omega hymn.  Nadia then had her moment to shine as her sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. sang the Delta sweetheart song.

The wedding was absolutely spectacular.  I overheard guests talking about how grand and fabulous the wedding was – the best they’ve ever experienced.  From a behind the scenes perspective, it truly went off without a hitch!   So I thought…

Stay tuned!  The saga continues next Friday…

Stylishly Yours,

Tamieka L. Jones

Photo credit: Bryon Summers (Cousin of the Groom)

Tags: Glen Island Harbour Club, Linen decor design, New Rochelle Wedding Planner, Shiloh Baptist Church