about the event

Ingrid and Martin’s luxury New York City wedding was one of the most memorable weddings we've ever planned. Not only was I the wedding planner, but I was also the maid of honor because Ingrid’s my sister. Because of our relationship, it was one of the most meaningful celebrations I've planned.

One of the main things we wanted to highlight at their wedding was their cultural heritage. Ingrid was born in the Philippines and Martin was born in Peru. Both countries are known for their textiles, so we gathered inspiration from their native dress. The bride and groom love blue, which is also an important color in their faith. Finally, we included natural elements such as capiz shells from the Philippines and fall colors like mauve and tan. The result was stunning and also unique to the couple.

The cultural significance extended to florals, which contained roses, dahlias, ranunculus, anemones, foliage, Jasmine vine, privet berries, and Lunaria – some of which are grown in the Philippines and are special to Ingrid’s family.

When looking for a New York City wedding reception venue, they wanted to re-create an upscale but casual large family gathering. They loved the modern, industrial vibe of Gelso & Grand, an Italian restaurant near the church, so it made the perfect setting for an upscale family-style meal.

At the dinner reception, custom capiz shell votive holders alternated with romantic high and low candlesticks. The capiz holders were then gathered at the end of the evening and given to guests as wedding favors. These were even more special because the bride’s aunt sourced them and the mother of the bride hand carried all 150 of them from the Philippines.