Our March bride featured in Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2011

The fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings is out and I must say, the most beautiful photos are of our March bride, couture wedding designer Annie Sullivan!
http://www.annie-sullivan.com/

Read and see more about Annie & Oliver's exquisite wedding

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/annie-and-oliver

Photo's courtesy of  Weddings by Two
http://www.weddingsbytwo.com/

Annie & Oliver

Annie designed the dresses for her sister and her mom.

Kate Berry - Style Director for Martha Stewart Weddings

Loved the girls, again Annie's design

Matthew Brookshire who we accompanied for the Processional "The Very Thought of You". He was awesome!

rehearsing

To see all the vendors including ourselves

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/annie-and-oliver#slide_31

Queen

This month we actually have a couple of our clients requesting music by Queen. We have been busy arranging and rehearsing "Somebody to Love" along with "You're My Best Friend " for our wedding this weekend at the Mandarin Oriental. I have to confess, I was not familiar with alot of Queen outside of their huge hits like Bohemian Rhapsody and initially I was a little unsure about their choice and how it would translate to piano and strings.

But once I started playing the songs, I couldn't get over how musical they were and how they were so beautifully conposed. There are some songs that are just a chore to learn and others that just take you by the hand and lead you through the music like you are an old friend. They sound awesome and effortless for piano and quartet, which shouldn't be a surprise to me, considering how "orchestral" Queen was. I can't wait wait to perform this timeless material this weekend.

Queen rules.

Battery Gardens

Another amazing garden wedding this summer was at Battery Gardens in Lower Manhattan. Tucked away at the tip of Battery Park, Battery Gardens is a fresh taste of country in the city.

Our bride and groom were a power couple with incredibly busy careers and had a refreshing relaxed attitude in their approach to their nuptuals. Perfectly matched to the location. Sophisticated but chill.

For prelude music as guests entered we had harp amidst the flowers.

As guests came upstairs to enjoy the panaramic view of NY Harbor our "Silhouette" quartet played romantic classical music and for the processional we performed the following:

I Can't Help Falling in Love - Groom and Bridal Party

Simple Gifts by Aaron Copeland from Appalachian Spring - Flower Girls

All I Want Is You by U2 - Bride

 Viva La Vida - Recessional

 

Lauren, Hannah, K8 and Ariana

Lauren looked perfectly etherial against the window with the light pooring in.

 

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Continuing our garden series of events, we did an electic ceremony this summer for an uber-hip international couple from Brazil and London at The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The weather was picture perfect and we set up our 8 peice group under the trees beside an open field.

This groovy couple chose "As My Love Is For You" by FIVE DAY WEEK STRAW PEOPLE for the groom and bridal party, "Over the Rainbow" Jason Castro version for the children and "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver for the bride. We performed our rendition of this repertoire with string quartet, piano, acoustic guitar, percussion and vocal.

The recessional was an upbeat, foot-stomping version of Ray Charles' "Halleulujah, I Just Love Her So."

Once again, huge hugs to Jung Lee & Josh Brooks at Fête for bringing us in on this groovy collaboration!

gardens

This summer has been totally off the chain for us with weddings and special events, so I have sorely neglected our blog.  I finally have had a chance to come up for air before our next wedding and want to give you a glimpse of the gorgeous gardens we have performed in this summer.  Ranging from the tip of Manhattan's Battery Gardens, to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens up to the private estate in Greenwich CT.  Below are shots from a stunning birthday party in Greenwich.

The pool house was our "green room"

Annie Sullivan's dress

As promised here are a few shots of Couture Bridal designer Annie Sullivan's own gown from her March wedding at Alder Manor.  Everything about her wedding was sublimely chic and romantically sophisticated. She was so stunning, I just kept staring at her. 

We love Annie and her gowns.

http://www.annie-sullivan.com/

Jimmy Lafave

I recently discovered the amazing music of Jimmy Lafave. His voice is off the chain.

http://jimmylafave.com/