Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride Getting Ready - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Planning & Inspiration

Holiday Gift Guide For The Bride-to-Be

Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride Getting Ready - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Bride Getting Ready – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

 

If anyone could use an extra pick-me-up this holiday season, it’s the friend who is in the thick of wedding planning. With the anxiety of getting ready for the big day coupled with the usual stress this time of year brings, she has a lot on her plate. What better way to put the cheer back in life than with an amazing gift that lets her know you are thinking of her. From beauty and pampering to personalized goods to home décor, here’s the ultimate gift guide for the bride-to-be.
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Reception High Centerpiece - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

Hilary and Brad Celebrate With An Elegant, Fun-Filled Reception

Hilary & Brad Wedding - Reception Low Centerpiece - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Reception Low Centerpiece – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

 

Given Hilary’s taste for glitz and glamour, it comes as no surprise that she celebrated saying “I Do” with a reception comparable to the fabulous parties F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about in The Great Gatsby. There was luxurious décor, sparklers, pulsating music, and a showstopping 5-tier wedding cake. Here, the bride talks about the final chapter in her Real BB Wedding story.

Part 4: Reception, Centerpieces, and Sweetheart Table

After a preliminary round of toasts during cocktail hour, guests found their seats via a captivating escort card table and made their way to the Plaza’s ballroom. There, the vibrant pink color scheme gave way to white and gold. “Brad wanted an all white ballroom, which I thought was a nice idea to keep everything romantic,” Hilary says. “The Plaza is marked by gold ornamentation on the ceilings and walls. There was something so beautiful and elegant about having clean white.”
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride & Groom - Ceremony - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

Hilary & Brad say “I Do” In A Breathtaking Pink and White Ceremony At The Plaza Hotel

Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride & Groom - Ceremony - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Bride & Groom – Ceremony – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

 

Making high glamour work in a classic New York venue like the Plaza Hotel can be hard to pull off. You want to incorporate eye-catching elements without going over the top. Using her experience as an event planner, BB Featured Bride Hilary did just that. “I tried to bring in bright pinks in such a way so they popped just enough to not be shocking.”

 

Hilary & Brad Wedding - Ceremony Aisle - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Ceremony Aisle – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

 

Part 3: Ceremony and Chuppah
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride Bouquet Chuppah - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

BB Featured Bride Hilary On Her Stunning Rivini Wedding Dress

Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride Bouquet Chuppah - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Bride Bouquet Chuppah – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

 

Hilary made clear her plans for a lavish New York wedding right from the very start. Such an occasion calls for a remarkable dress. “Everyone tried to convince me to wear a ball gown since I was going to be a princess at The Plaza. But I knew that wasn’t me. I am much more one to show off my girlish figure,” she says with a laugh. Here, Hilary talks about her gorgeous Rivini wedding dress and bridal personals.

Part 2: Wedding Dress & Personals

“I always envisioned trying on a dress and just knowing – that is exactly what happened!” recalls Hilary. Finding ‘the one’ took some time though. Hilary had already made a few visits to the bridal salon prior to meeting her mom and sister there one afternoon. “I knew that I needed to have them with me, to see it and fall in love too. When I walked out of the dressing room in the Rivini gown, we all just knew.”
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Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride and Groom - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Weddings

Hilary & Brad: Classic Glamour At The Plaza Hotel

Hilary & Brad Wedding - Bride and Groom - Plaza Hotel - Hechler Photographers

Hilary & Brad Wedding – Bride and Groom – Plaza Hotel – Hechler Photographers

 

February is the month of love. We’re not just saying this because every drug store in New York City is heavily stocked with Valentine’s Day chocolates right now. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the harsh post-holiday reality of January has finally settled and we are starting see things clearer, with our hearts and minds. Or maybe the cold weather has us searching for comfort and good company. There’s just something about this time of year that feels romantic and warm.

We were thinking about how February has come to symbolize amorous emotions when choosing this month’s Bride & Blossom Featured Bride, Hilary. She and Brad said “I Do” in a glamorous pink and white wedding at the Plaza Hotel. Here, Hilary shares the first part of their love story.
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Jeff Stillwell, Founder of Stillwell Events - Andre Maier Photography - courtesy of Stillwell Events

Planning & Inspiration

Interview With Jeff Stillwell, Founder of Stillwell Events

Jeff Stillwell, Founder of Stillwell Events - Andre Maier Photography - courtesy of Stillwell Events

Jeff Stillwell, Founder of Stillwell Events – Andre Maier Photography – courtesy of Stillwell Events

 

“If the band stops abruptly, the lights come on while some of your guests are still eating dessert and the party doesn’t have a smooth ending, this last impression will overshadow the beautiful decor and heartfelt moments of your wedding. My job is to make sure this doesn’t happen.” Before starting his company Stillwell Events, Jeff Stillwell’s invaluable training was obtained by being the Director at some of New York City’s most luxurious venues. Thanks to the hospitality learned from a Southern upbringing coupled with a drive to continually cultivate new skills and knowledge, Jeff quickly established himself as one of the best in the industry. Stillwell Events plans and executes life’s most important events – anniversaries, birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, and of course weddings. “I love doing weddings,” Jeff says. “Tailoring every detail so the day of is expressed as an authentic signature of a couple is really rewarding.”
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