The Breakers

Upon arrival to the Breakers Palm Beach, you arrive to palm tree-lined driveway leading to a regal Italian-Renaissance setting. You will quickly realize why The Breakers is a romantic destination for weddings. This tropical, oceanfront mansion offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, lush gardens and charming courtyards.

The list of amenities is quite impressive:

· Mediterranean-style Beach Club reminiscent of St. Tropez

· One-half mile of private beach, five oceanfront pools and four whirlpool spas

· 25 luxury beach bungalows for daytime use, including personal concierge

· Luxury oceanfront spa featuring masterful treatments, services, and spa fitness classes

· Two fitness centers

· Nine distinctive restaurants and five bars for an array of dining and entertainment options

· 36 holes championship golf, including The Breakers Rees Jones® Course

· World-class golf instruction featuring the acclaimed John Webster Golf Academy

· 10 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts and instruction by USPTA/USPTR-certified professionals

· 10 on-site boutiques, including Guerlain, Ralph Lauren and Lilly Pulitzer® at The Breakers

· Family Entertainment Center and Coconut Crew Kids Camp


Weddings Locations:

What is fantastic about this venue is that there are plenty of options to host different events.



The Ocean Lawn has a breathtaking direct view of the Atlantic Ocean and provides the relaxed feel of a beachside wedding. This space is perfect to host a ceremony, welcome and rehearsal dinners, or even brunch. The Lawn accommodates 100 to 500 guests.


Mediterranean Courtyard

Framed by classical balustrades and furnished with tropical flora, the Mediterranean Courtyard is a dazzling spot for an outdoor cocktail hour, or can be transformed for a romantic ceremony. Reflecting the hotel’s Renaissance inspiration, it was designed to provide sunshine as well and cross-ventilation for many rooms in the days before air conditioning. The Courtyard accommodates 75 to 500 guests.



Mediterranean Ballroom

Modeled after the loggias of Italian villas, the elaborate fresco-painted renaissance ceilings portray paintings of the sky, with large Venetian-style chandeliers and tall, arched windows. The ballroom overlooks the Mediterranean Courtyard, and can accommodate up to 250 guests.

The Circle Ballroom (One of my favorites!)

The Circle offers spectacular ocean views, through its 15 ft windows. The soaring 30-foot ceiling has a shallow dome with eight oval fresco-painted murals depicting Renaissance landscapes such as Villa Medici outside Florence, and the famous Tivoli Gardens near Rome. At the center, a Venetian crystal chandelier hangs from a stylized gold-leaf sunburst. The Circle accommodates up to 200 guests.

Venetian Ballroom:

This room offers stunning floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Venetian Ballroom is one of The Breakers’ largest ballrooms. The 25-foot-high space glows with six chandeliers, custom fabrics and golden tones. This majestic room accommodates up to 550 guests.


Front Lawn

Offering guests a garden-like setting with lush, tropical foliage, the Front Lawn is a picturesque backdrop for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail reception. Originally used as the hotel’s croquet lawn, the Front Lawn adjoins The Palm Courtyard. The Front Lawn accommodates 75 to 300 guests.




The Gold Room

Aptly named for its gorgeous diagonally paneled gold ceiling, the Gold Room is adorned with 260 hand-carved cherubs. Niches just below the ceiling contain portraits of Renaissance rulers and explorers of the New World. The ballroom is a replica of a room in Venice’s Galleria Accademia and offers an elegant, romantic setting for a ceremony, wedding dinner, or after-party. The Gold Room can accommodate up to 250 guests for a ceremony and 85 guests for dinner with a dance floor and band.




Magnolia Room

Originally the living room-style North Lounge for the hotel, the Magnolia Room accommodates up to 250 guests for a ceremony and 85 guests for dinner with a dance floor and band.

I love finding great spots that don’t require us to use passports (nothing against traveling outside the USA, it’s just a little perk to think “Oh I don’t need that this time”). With daily flights into Palm Beach, this hotel is the perfect destination that feels exotic but remains somewhat familiar.




The hotel is gorgeous, it’s easy to get there but the best thing about this hotel is their amazing team. Their wedding team is probably the best in the business… accommodating, helpful and passionate about their clients. Once you go to the Breakers you will come back every year for your anniversary!! I guarantee it!

Fairytale Weddings

Castles-in-Ireland.com

Fairytale Weddings --

For those who want to splurge on a wedding in castle, there are some wonderful options that await the Princess Bride -

Waterford Castle Hotel and Golf Resort, Waterford, Ireland

Waterford Castle is a a wonderful private 310 - acre island that is the home to a 16th century castle on the River Suir. Guests are ferried across the waters to the beech - lined arbor that leads to the 19 - bedroom estate. Stone walls and intricate tapestries with four poster beds await your arrival to this fairytale castle.  The grand staircase in the foyer, makes you feel like Scarlett Ohara in Gone with the Wind as you descend to meet your Prince Charming.

The wonderful oak paneled walled dining room sets the tone for a wedding feast to highlight the ceremony. The stunning gardens filled with pink and purple rhododendroms make for an old english garden backdrop to offset your wedding day.

The hotel is famous for its gourmet pig roast that would be a wonderful rehearsal dinner celebration.

For those who love activities, why know play some croquet on the croquet lawn, try your hand at shooting of the clay pigeons or play a round of golf on the islands 18 - hole golf course.

Waterford.castle.com

Biltmore Castle, Asheville, North Carolina

This 210 room French Renaissance Chateau, gives you the touch of royalty without traveling to Europe to experience, shall we say American style.  This chateau was once the largest private residence in the United States, built by George Vanderbilt in 1895.  This estate offers thirteen venues which include a champagne cellar that can host a party for 30 , the rustic courtyard of the Barn which can host 40 - 300 guests and Vanderbilt Ballrom that can seat up to 550 guests.  This majestic home was set high on the hills so you can enjoy the vistas of the Blue Ridge mountains all set upon 8000 acres of land.  Fall in love with the Vanderbilt Ballroom where you can  a feast featuring farm to table cuisine, which you can pair your courses with the Biltmore winery, conveniently located nearby.

This Chateau offers your guests 201 guest rooms and 9 suites to allow you to enjoy this for your destination wedding guests.

Biltmore - Village.com

This property offers a variety of activities to keep your guests occupied all weekend long. Enjoy the grounds of the estate to the fullest extent by letting us help you reserve an off-road segway tour, , or a cruise down French Board River. They also offer fly- fishing, clay shooting,  horseback riding and carriage rides

Oheka Castle, Cold Spring Harbor, New York

Once you enter the gates of Oheka you are transported back to the Golden Age. This French Chateau built in the 1920's by financier and philanthropist Otto Herman Kahn, was home to many lavish parties and events hosted by Kahn.  The Castle offers 32 guests rooms for out- of- town guests located on the upper floors of the estate.  The Castle boasts a grand ballroom, wood paneled library, sitting room, dining room, terrace and manicured sculpted formal gardens, perfect for a garden ceremony.

The guests of Oheka may enjoy golf and tennis with use of the private club of  prestigious Cold Spring Golf Club.

The food possiblities are endless at Oheka, from their extensive cocktail hour to wonderful seated dinner to their bountiful dessert table your guests will be impressed, food fit for a king and queen.  Your guests can enjoy everything from a seafood station, lobster station, roasted pig carving station, caviar station and sushi station for cocktails. Then complete the dinner by an amazing display of desserts complete with cupcake tree, candy bar, waffle station and chocolate fountain.

The best ending to the event is having after hour scotch and cigars with jazz ensemble in the library.

Gotham Hall Events

Gotham Hall ...Step Back in Time to  Experience the Grandeur of the City!

Gotham Hall the former headquarters of the Greenwich Savings Bank, Gotham Hall is a magnificent Art Deco ballroom with a seven-story-tall grand vaulted dome.



This is one of the many former banks, turned event space in the heart of Manhattan. Its seven story high glass dome ceiling, above its 10,000 square foot ballroom, surrounded by its grand Corinthian columns, gorgeous authentic marble, and u oval shape helps give Gotham Hall its warm, elegant feeling. Gotham Hall’s Main Ballroom, as well as, smaller side rooms including a Lounge, Mezzanine, and Oak Room.

This space will  only host one event at a time and the entire facility is used exclusively for your corporate gatherings, non-profit galas or social events.

Staged against the amazing turn-of-the-century architecture of the seven-story gilded Ballroom,  events will truly shine. Gotham Hall combines the style of Manhattan’s Broadway with the sophistication and tradition of New York’s finest architecture. The lighting of the venue is truly exceptional and takes the space from beautiful to outstanding.

For smaller, private gatherings, unwind in either of the oak paneled rooms, complete with fireplaces and private restrooms. Guests can enjoy cocktails on the mezzanine as they overlook the spectacular ballroom, or mingle in the lounge for a more intimate cocktail setting.

This room was built for Royalty. The ten foot tall brass doors of the foyer give way to reveal the heart of Gotham Hall, the Grand Ballroom. From fifty to twelve hundred guests, the Ballroom can host a wide variety of events including non-profit galas, corporate dinners, fashion shows, product launches, wine tastings, film and Broadway premieres, boxing matches, corporate meetings, trade expos, concerts, weddings, bar mitzvahs, television and movie shoots.

Gotham Hall Events

Step back in time and enjoy this truly amazing venue!!!

Landmark images

The Many Personalities of St. Barths!!

This unique gem of an island, is an island that one cannot compare to any island in the Caribbean.  St. Barth is a french island which creates a cosmopolitan European environment, unlike any other island in the Caribbean.  There are no casinos, no high rises and no all inclusives, but instead you will find red roofed
villas dotted along the hillside and small, chic hotels set along the beaches.  This charming island is known for its world class cuisine.

In order to reach this gem you must land in St. Maarten, which is the main gateway to St. Barth (the largest plane that can land in St. Barth is a 19 -seater). You can take the small charter plane or a ferry, which can transport you to the island.  The crossing by boat can take an average of 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the weather conditions and departure point of the ferry.

Since St. Barths is a French island, French is the official language of the island. However, English is widely spoken at the resorts, shops and restaurants.

What makes this island unique is the types of properties and restaurants that is is has to offer. You will find the five star luxury hotels from Eden Roc to Isle De France to a more relaxed vibe of  Le Plage at Tom Beach Hotel.  Le Plage is a fun, relaxing seaside restaurant, where you enjoy the beauty of the beach and
watch the planes land literally right over your heads (you can almost feel the wind as it passes by) and you can certainly hear them screeching of the tires as the plane touches down.  Or you can rent one of the many villas that dot the hillside and enjoy the beauty of island from your perch atop the sea.

Saint- Barths.com

There are over 80 restaurants ranging from beach side grilles and chic sidewalk cafes to gourmet dining rooms.The island of St Barths is known for its sophisticated yet casual restaurant scene. Caribbean Travel & Life magazine named it the culinary capital of the Caribbean.  From four star Relais & Chateaux rated dining at Isle De France, The Rock, and Victoria's, to harborside bistros and cafes like Boucanniers, Le Repair and the Wall House, to feet in the sand casual dining at La Plage and Do Brazil.

Saint-Barths.com

There no place like home: for an event or wedding!

If you’re thinking about holding your wedding, a bridal shower or any wedding-weekend event such as the rehearsal dinner—know the limitations of the house.

Here are some more helpful hints to hosting an at-home event, and if you’re planning on making a call to an event planner to handle the details for you (this may be the most cost-effective and hassle-free way of handling an at-home party)

Location: First, take a look at your home and property and decide if it’s equipped to handle the size of your party. Are there spacious rooms like a living room and den where people can gather? Will there be enough space for tables and chairs? Will you have to remove furniture to fit the rentals, and if so, do you have a storage space available? Where would a buffet table go? A bar? Have a planner map out your home to see where everything would fit, allowing for plenty of walking space for guests. Remember to allow space for servers to pass through. If you plan on having musicians or entertainment, keep that in mind for space.

Tented: If you’re envisioning an outdoor-tented wedding, be sure your backyard is spacious enough for the tent that covers tables and dance floor. You don’t want to get too small of a tent and have some tables outside of the tent.

Bathrooms: Keep in mind that two or three bathrooms in your house will not be able to handle 150 guests. Renting portable bathrooms is advisable. There are even bathroom trailers that are modeled after household bathrooms.  Also make sure you know where the septic system sits and BE SURE to have it pumped right before the event.

Parking: What are the parking restrictions in your neighborhood? Alert the police that an event is taking place, prior to the event.

Permits: Make sure you apply for proper permits, if a tent is being erected.

Sound Restrictions: If you are planning on taking the party outside, make sure you know the sound ordinances in your area, before the police make a surprise visit that evening.

No Access: Mark rooms that you do not want to have guests access with  “No Entry” signs on private rooms. For a tented wedding, do not be afraid to put a “No Entry” sign on the entrances to the house if you don’t want anyone entering the house.

Kitchen: Is the kitchen capable of producing an event in a timely manner? Caterer’s trays are often oversized, so they need to have access to ovens and refrigerators that will accommodate them. A hired caterer will want to tour your kitchen ahead of time to be sure he/she can work well there. He/she will want to make sure that there’s plenty of counter space for staging and plating. They may require you to rent a separate tent in the yard where they will work their magic.

If you have a small kitchen, do not worry; a great caterer can produce magic from the garage or a cook tent.

Finally, hire a planner who has the vast experience with at home weddings or events, they will know what questions to ask and allow you actually be a GUEST at your own home.

Questions to Ask When Picking: Videography

Videography, also known as Cinematography, is a method of moving pictures telling a story. Be sure to ask the following questions:

1. Check to see if you can find their videos on Vimeo.com (this is sort of like Youtube but meant for more edited works). Most videographers post their newer videos on there.
2. How many cameras will you have on the day? How many assistants?
3. How early will you arrive at the ceremony to set up the equipment?
4. Will you bring backup equipment?
5. How soon can I see the final cut?
6. What will your attire be?
7. Is my wedding the only wedding being shot that day? This question is super important. Sometimes the people you meet with may not be the people who will be shooting your wedding...
8. How will you capture sound during the ceremony? Will I need to wear a wireless mic?
9. Can I select the music for the final cut?
10. Can you install a stationary camera in an area where your presence isn't interfering with the ceremony?
11. What type of cameras do you shoot with?
12. Do you shoot any super 8 film? (if this is important to you)
13. How long is the typical final edited version? There is a trend now where the final versions are not 20 minutes long and they are more like 10 minutes long. Don't panic. Many videographers include full toasts and ceremony on the same DVD or another DVD.

This should help you in the interview process! Happy Wedding Picking :)

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Grand Velas Riviera Maya sits on the pristine 1000 feet of white sand shores of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The newly opened Grand Velas sits on over 400 acres. The property sits on over 80 acres of mangroves, jungle, and natural freshwater wells locally known as cenotes. Beautiful luxury accommodation options include uniquely exotic garden suites, oceanview suites for guests ages 12 and up with private plunge pools overlooking the Mexican Caribbean.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya is just 5 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen and a short 35- minute drive from Cancun International Airport. This property also received AAA’s highest award rating of a five-diamond property.

This is the only resort in the area to offer a culinary tour. The restaurants span the globe in 8 locations including the internationally-acclaimed Cocina de Autor restaurant. Other include:

Piaf – French cuisine

Sen-Lin – Asian inspired

Frida – Mexican

Azul – International

Bistro – French

The resort Spa offers guests a magnificent 75,000 square feet spa dedicated to the body and soul, with a re-hydrotherapy circuit and a cutting edge menu of treatments inspired by the ancient healing practices of Mexico and distinct world cultures. The spa is comprised of the following therapies:

Sauna, color therapy steam room, clay room, ice room, sensation showers, hot tub and cold plunge pool.

Sensations pool offers: sensory pebbly walkway, cascades, bubble beds, neck-massage jets, bubble geyser and warm chlorine free pool.

All suites offer personalized butler concierge services, a convention center, and a modern Kids Club.

The resort is divided into 3 sections:

The Zen Grand Section: sits in the natural environment of the Mayan Jungle, this family-friendly section features 206 elegantly exotic suites, each with over 1,000 square feet of space, private terrace and interior Jacuzzi. It is located ¾ of a mile from the beach, but the hotel offers shuttles that run continuously to the beach.

The Ambassador Section: family-friendly area of the resort that includes 195 spacious 1,200 + square foot ocean-view suites with a terrace, a sitting area, and some with private plunge pool. All of our beautiful suites offer interior Jacuzzis and terraces to enhance the experience in paradise. These suites are conveniently arranges around the main infinity pool.

The Grand Class: adult-only area of the resort designed for optimum privacy and relaxation and features 90 sophisticated ocean-view suites with private plunge pools, in-room massage tables, two Jacuzzis and modern conveniences such as wireless Internet ($), a DVD/CD/MP3 player and a plasma screen TV.

Wedding receptions can be held in a variety of locations, offering your guests world class experience and fine dining choices.