Interview With Claudio Marquez, Founder of Mod Society

Claudio Marquez – Founder of Mod Society – photo by @manifest_it_collective

If music be the food of love, play on. – William Shakespeare

Much rides on the shoulders of a wedding band. After all the formalities of the marriage ceremony are said and done, the wedding band is responsible for playing the soundtrack that accompanies the newlywed’s once-in-a-lifetime celebration. This is where Claudio Marquez and Mod Society come in. Through music, Mod Society stimulates the emotions, mood, and energy that create memories people remember long after the last song is played.

Shortly after moving to New York City in 2009 to pursue his career, Claudio watched as fellow musicians picked up gigs (and made money!) playing at weddings. Interested yet unsure how to break into this type of work, he decided to form his own band. In its early days, Mod Society was just a trio that played while guests sipped cocktails waiting for the reception to begin. At present, Mod Society is an ever-evolving music collective known for keeping wedding dance floors jam packed well into the night.
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Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride and Groom First Dance - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Weddings

Melanie & Nick Celebrate With a Dance-Til-You-Drop Reception

by Kate Murphy

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride and Groom First Dance – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

After the ceremony, everyone was ready for a Hollywood rated celebration which began with cocktail hour – signature drinks were named after the newlywed’s favorite film quotes. Melanie looks back and says, “We wanted to capture the opulence of the roaring 20s.” As important as the flowers, the music helped to set a mood of stylish free-spiritedness for the evening. Here, Melanie shares the final chapter in her and Nick’s Real BB Wedding Story.

Part 4: Reception, Centerpieces, and Sweetheart Table

Custom designed escort cards that looked like vintage movie tickets, which were created by the maid of honor, directed guests to their seats. Along with numbers, tables were marked with signs featuring Melanie and Nick’s favorite movies such as Indiana Jones, The Princess Bride, and The Incredibles. “We also painted the ‘movie poster’ frames. They were originally white $1 plastic frames from IKEA,” Melanie says with a laugh. Each place setting was topped with pins, also made by the bride, with designs inspired by the movie table marker.
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Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride and Groom First Kiss - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Weddings

Melanie & Nick Take Center Stage To Say “I Do”

by Kate Murphy

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Ceremony -Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

After walking the red carpet, guests entered the lobby of The Suffolk Theater for Melanie and Nick’s wedding. A festive mood filled the air (literally) – a floating canopy of balloons trimmed with florals and ribbon hung overhead. While the movie theme was apparent, the couple kept the rest of their wedding details under wraps. Melanie reveals, “One of the surprises was that we made our own escort cards to look like tickets. The theater has an original ticket booth from the 1930s. Nick’s friend, who is an actor, stood in the booth handing out tickets and ushering everyone into the theater.” Here, she talks about sharing the spotlight with Nick to say “I Do” in front of family and friends.
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Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride's Bouquet - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Weddings

BB Featured Bride Melanie On Her Show-stopping Pronovias Dress

by Kate Murphy

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride’s Bouquet – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

When your wedding theme is ‘1940s Oscars Party,’ only a red-carpet worthy dress will do for the occasion. Melanie could have easily been mistaken for a movie star as she made her way into The Suffolk Theater. Here she shares the details about her show-stopping Pronovias gown and bridal personals.

Part 2: Wedding Dress & Personals

It was evident from the beginning that as a couple, Melanie and Nick had a distinct style and their wedding was going to be one-of-a-kind. Perhaps it was this genuine, ‘go with your gut’ approach that made her search for the perfect dress so effortless. Melanie had scheduled two bridal appointments, one in the morning followed by a second in the afternoon. “After trying on and liking a few dresses at the first boutique, I headed to Pronovias in midtown. I knew which gown was going to be mine from the moment I put it on. The decision was so very ‘matter of fact’ that even my Mother-In-Law, who is a very emotional woman, didn’t shed a tear… until the fitting anyway.” She continues, “My mother wasn’t there, so we made a second visit together. My mind was already made up by then and thankfully, she felt the same way.”
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Marisa & Harland Wedding - Bride & Groom - Liberty Warehouse - by Mel Barlow

Planning & Inspiration

Stylish And Clever Wedding Sign Ideas

by Kate Murphy

Marisa & Harland Wedding – Bride & Groom – Liberty Warehouse – by Mel Barlow

Telling your love story is a goal for most couples planning a wedding. Not only decorative accents, signs spell out (literally) the emotions and excitement felt during this once-in-a-lifetime event. They can also be used to highlight the special moments – first date, first kiss, proposal – in your relationship leading up to the walk down the aisle. On a lighter note, signs can be humorous – an expression of your fun-loving personalities. Looking for inspiration? We rounded up stylish and clever wedding sign ideas every engaged couple must see.
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Melanie & Nick Wedding - Bride and Groom - Suffolk Theater - Sean Gallery Photography

Weddings

Melanie & Nick: Hollywood Glamour at The Suffolk Theater

by Kate Murphy

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride and Groom – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie and Nick met like many couples do these days – online. After a few email exchanges, they made plans to meet at a chic downtown NYC bar only to find out there was a two hour wait to get in. The dive bar just around the corner seemed like a better option. Melanie recalls, “We spent hours talking and playing pool against a Michael Clark Duncan’s look-alike. In the cab ride home, I realized Nick forgot to close out our one-drink tab. That’s how lost in the moment we were.” She continues, “When we said our goodbyes, we both knew that we had just been on our ‘last’ first date.”
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Planning & Inspiration