The Wedding Library

Jewel Box

New York City

Michael Falco, Christian Oth Studio

“The best gifts often come in the smallest packages.” So true. When this hedge fund managing director groom approached us to plan a four-day, ultra-luxurious wedding for twenty-five guests in just six weeks, we were delighted to take on the challenge. Private rooms, hard to get reservations, theater tickets, international travel coordination, custom gifts and printed materials as well as booking extraordinary, unique and talented vendors and experiences made up the challenge. Planning long distance with the bride and groom in San Francisco and Switzerland added complexity to the project; making sure that everything was utterly bespoke and reflected the values and uniqueness of the couple made every moment a pleasure.

We had a German-speaking stylist do the bride’s hair and makeup in the Presidential Suite before taking pictures just outside the hotel.

Invitations to each day’s events were printed with unique motifs for each. The couple’s custom monogram graced the cover of the silk box we created especially for them.

Gifts accompanied by personal messages were delivered to each guest room daily. Custom fire-branded steak knives for a steakhouse dinner, cookbooks signed by Lydia Bastianich with custom bookplates for dinner at Felidia and olive oil from the couple’s Sonoma groves were just a few of the presents we prepared daily.

We commissioned a watercolor of an olive sprig to honor the groom’s Cyprus homeland and Edelweiss to represent the bride’s German/Swiss heritage. The motif was used throughout the wedding weekend.

We adhered custom labels to bottles of the couples’ favorite Ruinart champagne that were part of a welcome packet in each guest’s room.

As night fell, the view from the suite became magical.

he couple signed their marriage license in the Presidential Suite’s office. We arranged for the officiant to meet the couple ahead of time to ensure a perfect fit.

Despite the necessity of impossibly tight turn-arounds for design, sourcing, provisioning and printing, we committed to provide the highest quality, most thoughtful touches throughout.

Here you see the motifs, fonts and styles that are carefully coordinated with each evening’s custom designed menus.

The St. Regis staff ensures that every detail is perfect.

With a color palette picked by the bride, the Wedding Library designed the dining table, coordinating our signature Wedding Library chargers with the hotel’s exquisite china, silverware and glassware.

The couple enjoys the moment before everyone enters the dining room.

We worked with the chef to design a custom menu for the couple.

An extra special touch was hiring a talented watercolorist to work throughout the event, presenting the couple with a precious portfolio of original works after the wedding.

Guests begin with the first toast of many to celebrate the special occasion.

American and European traditions of starting the meal with a salad and ending with a cheese course were combined to suit the couple.

We gifted each guest with their own keepsake abalone shell caviar plate and spoon. For cocktail hour we had our favorite oyster shuckers mingle amongst guests to offer a perfectly made-to-order mollusc treat.

Throughout the four days of events we carefully chilled, coddled and served the groom’s private collection of vintage wines and champagnes to guests. Of course, wines from the couple’s own Skipstone vineyards were also on offer.

The artist at work. Guests were delighted to have their portraits painted during the evening. The most moving artworks are those of guests unaware that they are being “captured”.

The bride and her best friend chatting in front of the cake.

Sylvia Weinstock, too, provided a watercolor of her confection to better help visualize the cake she designed. The amazing result was much photographed, and of course included wine “boxes” from the couple’s vineyard and an imprint of the couple’s name, wedding date and place.

We rolled up the rugs and cleared a room of the suite for dancing, and a quartet of big band stylists led by an uncanny Frank Sinatra crooner had everyone dancing the night away.