Part 1: Our Journey with Venue, Lighting, Florist & Band
Behind the curtains with our incredible vendors helped bring it all together.
It feels surreal to be writing this, as a wife, after a full year of being in the weeds of wedding planning. Not a day has gone by since my wedding day that I haven’t thought about it - every single detail. Somehow, almost a full month later, there are still new things that come to mind about the wedding weekend that I reflect on; and as I reflect, I can’t help but feel so thankful.
Thankful to have had the wedding of my dreams with the man of my dreams; thankful for the privilege to have our closest friends and family gathered in one room to celebrate our love; and thankful for all of the amazing vendors who helped bring it all together.
I truly couldn’t have gone through this journey without all of the amazing people in my life. Whether it be another bride, someone who has reached out on social media, or a vendor that I signed a contract with, I’ve met so many amazing people throughout this journey.
With that said, I want to not only thank all of my vendors dearly, but I also want to share my experience with each of them to help give you an understanding of some behind the scenes.
Behind the Scenes: Meet the Dream Team
Venue: The Liberty Warehouse
Allow me to introduce Jeff, the Director at The Liberty Warehouse, along with his talented staff. As someone who pays close attention to detail, I knew I could be quite particular in the wedding planning process. I have the type of personality who focuses on every detail and considers all of the options before making a decision. When it came to the venue, it didn’t take me long to decide that I wanted to get married at The Liberty Warehouse. Not only did I love that it was in Brooklyn, which is where Ben and I fell in love, but it also was exactly how it sounds - a warehouse. To me, this felt like a blank canvas in an incredibly decorated room. Overlooking the statue of liberty with the city skyline, leaving you with so much opportunity to dress the room however you see fit. So for someone with a personality like mine, this task to incorporate my style and look in my wedding venue was so much fun.
From start to finish, Jeff took the time to understand my personality and learn the vision we had for our wedding. Not only did he reassure me several times that my requests were heard and would be honored, but he also went above and beyond behind the scenes which really shined most on my wedding day.
Given Jeff has his own relationships with vendors from all of the weddings and events they host, he made excellent recommendations from preferred vendors that Liberty works with. Despite not having any experience working with these vendors, we put our trust in Jeff and moved forward with his recommendations.
Jeff had also spoken to these vendors throughout the process on his own to ensure that everything would be executed flawlessly to our standards. At every meeting, Jeff's assistant took detailed notes and ensured that every question was answered thoroughly. Additionally, Jeff was incredibly accommodating allowing us to visit the venue as many times as we needed, always accommodating our requests.
On the day of our wedding, Jeff's staff provided top-notch service. Alexandra, the dresser, was absolutely incredible and so helpful from morning past midnight. I had 3 outfit changes, with a lot of intricacies to my dress making it difficult to take on and off, and she made it feel so easy. You could tell how experienced she was at doing this week after week with brides which naturally made me feel so comfortable around her. She almost felt like a bridesmaid who was so willing to help and stick by my side to help me with outfit changes as needed. On top of this, she also held my jewelry in a safe place, she had my after party sneakers waiting for me by a certain time, and she even gave me a glass of water before I walked down the aisle. Her attention to every detail was unmatched.
As if I thought it couldn’t get any better, the food and drinks were outstanding. So outstanding, that the wedding was a month away and our guests are still talking about it! The catering at Liberty Warehouse is one of the many things that makes this venue so special. They serve incredible, high quality dishes in an extremely elegant way, leaving your guests blown away. The bartenders were experienced at working in a fast paced environment where people didn’t have to wait on lines.
So if this isn’t convincing enough, I can’t express how much Jeff and his team at Liberty Warehouse truly exceeded our expectations, and I couldn't be more grateful for their role in making our wedding day unforgettable.
Florist: Avenue J Florist
When Jeff first recommended Konstantino, also known as Gus, from The Avenue J Florist in Brooklyn, I admittedly hadn't heard of him before. However, when Jeff mentioned that Gus was the son of Louis Konstantino, a renowned luxury florist in Manhattan, I knew he was reputable; I assumed he had to have learned everything he knows about the flower industry from his father, and after hearing his story, I was right. They are both extremely talented and you can tell from their work how much time and effort goes into the execution.
Gus is adamant about meeting his clients in person at his shop in Brooklyn, so we scheduled an hour-long appointment to get acquainted. During our meeting, he shared examples of his past work, including his own wedding—which, coincidentally, took place at the Liberty Warehouse. He listened to my ideas and gave great recommendations of areas he thought we could cut back on and areas he recommend we put more effort into. He wasn’t the type of vendor who was just trying to get your business - he genuinely had our best interest at heart and wanted to help as much as he was able.
When we arrived for our final floral appointment the week before the wedding, Gus had set up tables displaying the flowers we had selected, giving us a preview of how they would look during the reception. This attention to detail allowed us to make any last-minute adjustments, although it turned out that everything was exactly as we envisioned.
Not only did Gus and his team put in tireless effort to set up the room the day of our wedding, but they also did with the days leading up to make the actual wedding day go as seamless as possible.
They didn't just bring my vision to life—they exceeded it. The room was transformed into a breathtaking display of beauty, and I couldn't have been more thrilled with the result.
Lighting: Pegasus Productions
Pegasus Productions, also referred to from Jeff, was responsible for lighting up the ceremony, reception and after party to give it a warm, tasteful feel. We worked with Liz, who has worked with Liberty for years on years. It wasn’t until our first venue walkthrough that I learned the significance that lighting can make - especially at this venue.
They educated us on the different types of lighting options and colors palettes, ensuring that they were equipped with cutting-edge technology. While we initially had a specific color and tone in mind, our discussion with Pegasus really helped to broaden our understanding. We quickly became more informed about the nuances that would truly enhance the ambiance, ultimately aiming for a captivating and dramatic effect, which is how we decided on having string lights hang from the cielings. All in all, they made this part very easy by just sharing their recommendations upfront about what would give us the best results based off the way we were describing the feel of the room.
So if you have the type of venue where you need to bring things in to help enhance the space, Pegasus is a great addition to consider.
Music: Chevy Chevis Productions
Music plays a pivotal role in shaping the atmosphere of any celebration - especially a wedding. It’s the heartbeat of the party, infusing it with energy and liveliness. When a good song is played, it effortlessly elevates the mood, making it easier for guests to get into the groove, and visa versa.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Chevy Chevis and her team for several years, as she and her team were also the band at my older brother's wedding. From that moment on, I knew that Chevy's band was the one I wanted for my own wedding someday. While I've experienced many talented groups at weddings before, there was something truly special about Chevy that resonated with me.
First and foremost, Chevy's professionalism is unparalleled. She and her team always exude elegance and sophistication, adding an extra layer of chic to any event. Chevy's voice is remarkable—her ability to hit tones during songs is reminiscent of someone you'd find in Hollywood. Additionally, her keen understanding of timelines sets her business apart. She dedicates time leading up to your wedding day to comprehend your schedule, ensuring that she and her team stay on track.
Chevy has a knack for reading the room and knowing precisely when to change the music vibe, whether it's transitioning to more upbeat tunes or softer songs. She and her team were incredibly accommodating, offering us the option to choose their attire for the night and meticulously following our requests for songs to play (and not to play). They even learned the lyrics to our non-traditional first dance song.
Throughout the planning process, Chevy reassured us frequently that the night would be nothing short of perfect—and she over-delivered on that promise.
Of course, these are just 4 of the several vendors who helped bring our wedding day to fruition. They say that it’s important to mesh well with the vendors you hire because you’ll spend a lot of time with them, and I truly feel honored to have had the opportunity getting to know them and work with such talented people throughout this process. They each poured their hearts into making our day unforgettable, and it was.
Stay tuned for more vendor reviews to come.
With love,
Lexi Cohen
Lexi, when I plan a wedding, I will definitely use these vendors. They sound amazing!