We’re one week out from Sierra and Andre’s wedding day — and The Knot Dream Wedding menu is set! I’ve been busy at Chandelier Events collaborating with the culinary geniuses at Celsius, our reception venue at Citi Pond at Bryant Park, on a modern winter menu that takes a cue from the snowy season.

From frost-themed cocktails to whimsical inspirations, our cool menu will give guests a toasty experience. Following a rink-side cocktail hour featuring libations and passed hors d’oeuvres, guests will be welcomed to their seats with an Iceberg Salad featuring crisp iceberg lettuce topped with pancetta, mixed heirloom tomatoes and creamy agave mascarpone blue cheese. An enticing Winter Steak & Potato entree will include an espresso-rubbed flatiron steak served with potatoes confit and tomato fondue. And we’ll cap it all off with a wedding cake by Ana Parzych Cakes and solstice-inspired sweets like s’mores, hot chocolate and even Macarons and Cookies by Woops! (I’m getting hungry just thinking about it all — aren’t you?!)

When considering your menu, curate it with dishes that speak to your shared passions, the location, the time of day, the season — and, of course, your theme! Hosting a Romantic Russian-inspired gala in a ballroom? Caviar and vodka are must-haves for your menu. Getting married by the sea on a summer weekend? Fresh-caught fish grilled and served family-style would be fitting.

Here are some of the hot trends in wedding food — will they be on your menu?

The brunch reception

Katelyn James

Evening weddings have long worn the hallmark of sophistication and glamour — but a delicious daytime fete can be just as winning. Many a celebrity has chosen an elegant wedding brunch in lieu of a traditional nighttime bash. Channel your inner laid-back sophisticate and think brunch-time bites. Serve mini frisee salads with a farm-fresh egg on a spoon, or gourmet French toast accompanied with champagne cocktails and juice blends. Guests can choose from artisanal cheese displays, scones, deluxe breads and even deviled eggs (yes, they’re making a comeback too!). The trick is to have fun but keep it fancy. Bagels and lox only have a place at a wedding brunch reception if they’re rethought in a stylish way (like shrunk down to the size of your thumb!).

Food pairings

Barnaby Draper Studios

Some things just taste better together: mini tacos and tequila. Caviar and creme fraîche with a shot of vodka. Braised short ribs and a shot of Guinness. A mini slider and a glass bottle of Coke. A tiny baked Brie paired with a gorgeous vino. When selecting your canapes and menu items (even desserts), always consider a dish’s companion spirit. Make your union memorable by working with your chef to create pairings throughout the night — guests will find it exciting to see what you’ve dreamed up!

Go local

Jonathan Young Weddings

Farm-to-fork continues to be a hot trend at weddings — and it’s no wonder! With so many fresh, local ingredients to choose from, locavores can be sure to have a divine dinner on their wedding day. I often work with local inns to cater weddings — and even when working with a traditional wedding venue, I’m not afraid to push the envelope and ask whether the chef can use ingredients from a local farmers market to create their menu. Chefs often jump at the chance to pull fresh food from nearby locations! On the menu card (I like to have one at each place setting), include the name of the local ingredient, such as a “Stack of Lucky Farm Heirloom Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella” or “Union Square Farmers Market Berry Medley served with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh mint.”

Serve it family-style

Anne Marie Photography

Opt for food service that creates conversation! Family-style service, where larger trays and casseroles are shared amongst guests, is an amazing way to create an intimate feast. Whether you embrace the trend by serving your entire meal family-style or choose to infuse the idea into a moment, such as shared appetizers and salads when guests take their seats, this is a special way to have each and every guest feel as though they’re sitting at a table in your home. Or consider having shared sides to accompany each guest’s individual choice of entree — I’ve served cauldrons of bubbling mac ’n’ cheese, fresh summer tomatoes tossed in extra-virgin olive oil, and even pomme frites (fancy French fries!) with dipping sauces. And for dessert, do it up with platters to share. Think: mini pastries and doughnuts piped with fresh fillings like peanut butter and jelly and sea-salt caramel. Yum!

What will you be eating as you watch Sierra and Andre say “I do”? Join us during your lunch hour next Thursday, February 14, at noon EST to watch The Knot Dream Wedding. Bon appetit!

> Meet the Dream Wedding Couple: Sierra & Andre!

> Pin More Modern Ice Castle Inspired Details Here!

We are finally in the homestretch! Wow, that went FAST. We’re busy finalizing all of the details for The Knot Dream Wedding — Sierra and Andre’s ceremony, all the amazing choices you’ve voted for, the menu (more on that in next week’s blog!) and, of course — the toasts! After all, what’s a wedding without a bit of bubbly?

Which brings me to this week’s hot topic: cocktail hour! A vivacious kickoff to a wedding celebration, the first few moments of the reception can truly set the tone for the entire evening. At Chandelier Events, I love to infuse cocktail hours with stylish surprises — from performance artists to enticing stations and, of course, amazing libations!

Here are three hot trends for wedding cocktail hours to consider:

CHAMPAGNE FOUNTAINS & BUBBLY BARS

Photo: Elizabeth Messina

Champagnes and sparkling wines are a nuptial staple. Why not go beyond the toast and incorporate bubbly in a bigger way? This effervescent beverage should take center stage at your event — from tasting bars hosted by a sommelier (a certified wine educator), where guests can sample different vintages, to retro champagne fountains and sparkling cocktails poured at bars made entirely of ice. (We can’t wait to see what our official ice stylist, Okamoto Studio, dreams up for Sierra and Andre’s day!)

Selecting a vintage? I’m currently obsessed with Chandon Brut Classic, Moët & Chandon’s sparkling wine from Napa Valley. It’s a refreshingly soft, yet dry wine, driven by chardonnay with complex apple and pear characteristics accented by citrus spice over notes of almond and caramel! Doesn’t it sound delish?! We’ll be pouring Chandon on February 14 — and here’s a signature sparkling cocktail they created just for you and your Valentine!

Chandon Hibiscus Romance
1 hibiscus flower (wild hibiscus flowers in syrup). Made by the Wild Hibiscus Flower Company of Australia; available at Whole Foods
½ Tbl. syrup from the jar of wild hibiscus flowers
1 small drop of rose water
Chandon Blanc de Noirs

Directions: Combine hibiscus flower, syrup and rose water in a champagne flute. Top with Chandon Blanc de Noirs and serve immediately.

HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS

Photo: Kristin Taylor Photography

Signature cocktails have been all the rage for the past few years–and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. I often hire a mixologist to design custom cocktails for my events — and you can too! In fact, many venues have mixologists on site to handcraft cocktails just for your wedding. Our venue — Celsius at Citi Pond at Bryant Park — has some incredible winter-themed potions, like Frostbites, Snowcaps and Polar Bear Cosmos!

Choose a cocktail based on your favorite type of drink (vodka, tequila or rum is a great place to start). Next, think about the season — mint basil lemonades work great during the spring and summer, while nutty-based drinks and mulled ciders are hot for winter. Don’t be afraid to add fresh ingredients like fruit purees, mint leaves frozen in ice cubes, herbal garnishes and foams to your concoctions!

Here are two festive cocktails from Smirnoff – our vodka partner for The Knot Dream Wedding!

Las Vegas Wedding
1 oz. Smirnoff Iced Cake flavored vodka
¼ oz. creme de cacao liqueur
¼ oz. Godiva Chocolate Raspberry vodka
¼ oz. simple syrup
1½ oz. coconut milk

Directions: Shake and strain all ingredients over crushed ice. Garnish with a raspberry and shaved chocolate.

Kissed Caramel Appletini 
2 oz. Smirnoff Kissed Caramel flavored vodka
1½ oz. apple juice
¼ oz. lemon juice
¼ oz. simple syrup

Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with thin apple slices.

LOCAL BREWS

Photo: Kelly Park Photography

Okay, this one’s for the grooms! Yes, I know brides like beer too, but there’s no denying that guys will have fun putting their two cents in on this trend. Shake up your beer menu with microbrews, specialty ales and pilsners to round out your bar offerings. Take a cue from your location and find special bottles from local breweries. Guests will take notice of your attention to detail and taste in great beer with a variety of flavor profiles.

At The Knot Dream Wedding, we’ll have two beer selections: the all-time favorite full-bodied brew Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Samuel Adams Noble Pils — a deep-golden beer with a spicy, herbal and citrus hop character created with a blend of five noble hops varieties from around the world. Fun fact: Founder and brewer Jim Koch brewed the first batch of Noble Pils for his own daughter’s wedding day!

Next week, we’ll be back to talk menu, cake and other delectable trends we’ll be incorporating into The Knot Dream Wedding. Keep casting your votes to see how it all comes together!

Cheers! 

> Meet the Dream Wedding Couple: Sierra & Andre!

> Pin More Modern Ice Castle Inspired Details Here!

So, Knotties, excellent job choosing the shimmering Manzanita & Crystal look for Sierra and Andre’s winter wedding! That motif will undoubtedly transform the space into a winter wonderland on their wedding day.

I had so much fun putting together the gorgeous floral motifs for The Knot Dream Wedding with Rebecca Shepherd of Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design. Anne Hathaway sure knows style when she sees it: She had Rebecca pull together gorgeous florals for her engagement party — and now Sierra and Andre will have the amazing opportunity to work with Rebecca for their very own dream wedding on February 14 at Citi Pond at Bryant Park.

The four styles Rebecca and I pulled together for your vote were inspired by the winter season — but they also represent some of the hottest trends in wedding flowers. Here’s more on the trends that inspired us and how to incorporate them into your day-of blooms.

Vintage Modern
Vintage floral inspiration has been all the rage in recent years — and these dainty, feminine florals remain the look of the moment. Consider a palette of pastels like mint, buff and ballet slipper pink, which work really well together and also with neutrals like soft gray and even with metallics like pewter, brushed silver and matte gold. Rebecca brought this look to life with clouds of baby’s breath atop fluid Lucite vases, flanked by gorgeous bud vases with delicate anemones, fringe tulips and ranunculus. Of course, peonies are a perfect fit for this look — but as Rebecca tells us in this week’s video blog, if you can’t get peonies in your wedding season, garden roses are available year-round that will give you that same gorgeous vintage look. And take a cue from Rebecca and have fun with your containers! Go beyond vases and pop flowers in vintage tea tins, milk-glass containers and any antiques you pick up along the way!

Ombre
Ombre has been all over fashion, beauty, home decor and, yes, weddings too! Try this crescendo of color that shows a spectrum from white to light to deep to dark in a single color in a variety of blooms. The monochromatic look works in almost any color: purple, pink, yellow, orange and even green. The trick is to pick ONE color and repeat the look consistently throughout your wedding florals. My trick to achieving the perfect ombre? Go to the local paint store and pick up strips of color that work well next to each other. This will allow you to work with your florist (or shop on your own) to create your spectrum.

Modular & Monobotanical
One of the best ways to achieve a trendy, modern look is to go modular with your centerpieces: four cubic vases of varying heights filled with a single bloom in each (hence, monobotanical). When you put them together, they create a dynamic centerpiece. You can choose to go monochromatic or to color block (with two to four colors) — again, with a single type of bloom in each vase. For Cubist White, we had amaryllis in a tall vase, ranunculus in a medium-height vase, hydrangeas in another vase and then a super-cool artsy bud vase filled with silver brunia. Note: Structural blooms like calla lilies and tulips work best with this look, but don’t be afraid to get funky with non-floral textures like berries, billy balls and seed pods.

Organic Glam
Bringing the outdoors inside will continue to be hot in wedding floral looks this year. Branches are an incredible way to add a dose of drama to your flowers. But don’t be afraid to inject a boost of bling into your barn-inspired wedding. We added crystal and sparkle to the manzanita centerpieces that will grace The Knot Dream Wedding — and flanked the otherwise earthy centerpieces with sparkly details like shimmering linens with oversize sequins. The juxtaposition of crystal and bark really makes a surprisingly stylish impact that guests won’t soon forget!

Watch to find out more about this year’s hottest floral trends:

Stay tuned to see what else we’re dreaming up for Sierra and Andre’s big day — and vote for your favorites by tuning in each Monday and Thursday at 1 p.m. to TheKnot.com/dreamwedding.

> Meet the Dream Wedding Couple: Sierra & Andre!

> Pin More Modern Ice Castle Inspired Details Here!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to plan Sierra and Andre’s wedding at Citi Pond at Bryant Park, and in case you missed the announcement, the theme that America voted for is — Modern Ice Castle! How perfectly fitting that you have chosen to make Sierra’s ice fantasy a reality on one of the most important days of the couple’s life together.

So how are we going to make their wedding one-of-a-kind? Well, it all starts with the theme. Here’s a bit more about how I designed the four themes for The Knot Dream Wedding: Modern Ice Castle, Aspen in New York City, Royal Russian Winter and Great Gatsby Affair. Plus, I’ve included some great insider tips for pulling off one of these themes at your own wedding.

Choose a theme

When choosing a theme, refer to inspiration cues: the season, the venue and, of course, your personal style. For Sierra and Andre’s wedding, I was inspired by the winter wonderland and Sierra’s personal passion for skating. I also took a cue from the glass-enclosed environment and the iconic Manhattan skyline, and I always try to infuse what’s hot and trendy too!

Audrey Hannah Photo

Pick a color palette

Choose three to four colors that you can refer back to throughout your planning. I always incorporate a metallic or neutral hue that works with a number of complementary colors. If you choose gold, opt for a rich jewel-tone palette of ruby, sapphire and amethyst. Or, if you want pewter, go with bright whites, ivory and shades of green. You can search millions of images by color for inspiration on TheKnot.com, browse through a Pantone book (if you happen to have one) or even head to the paint store to pick up paint chips.

TheKnot.com

Set the tone with your invitation

Your invitation is your guests’ first impression of your wedding, so choose a design that’s reflective of your theme and colors. For a rustic-chic wedding, opt for an invitation that either looks like it’s printed on wood — we love the wood-inspired design from Night Owl Paper Goods for Wedding Paper Divas, the exclusive invitation provider for The Knot Dream Wedding. For a Great Gatsby affair, we chose an invite from Wedding Paper Divas that echoes our black and champagne color palette and features an Art Deco font and design. Keep in mind that carrying your theme through all of your paper accessories — from the invitations to the escort cards and favor tags — can make a major design impact!

Set your table

Start building your design with a table linen. For these designs, I handpicked different cloths from Wildflower Linen, our exclusive linen provider for The Knot Dream Wedding. For a rustic wedding, go with Irish flax linen, burlap or use a farm table — with no linens at all! For a modern ice castle theme, choose a shimmery silver linen or a white crushed taffeta. Or forgo the traditional table linens and ballroom chairs — and rent specialty items like Lucite ghost chairs and tables from luxe rental companies like Taylor Creative Inc. Then go beyond florals with your centerpieces! Flank them with “found” items and accessories — whether it’s popping an ostrich feather in with the romantic blooms or tying pearl strands around your napkins for a Great Gatsby affair (our amazing design was created by Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design). These days, you can find amazing pieces at flea markets or online, or you can rent them!

Allison Davis Photography

Infuse your menu

Don’t stop your inspiration with the design — tell your “wedding story” with your menu (think about it: when do you ever take 100-plus of your closest friends out to dinner?!). Go beyond filet and fish: These days, I work with venues like Celsius that prepare chic presentations of comfort food — a mac-n-cheese cube, hot chocolate on a stick and glacier-inspired cocktails! For a Russian-themed affair, caviar is a must: black caviar on teeny potato blini with creme fraiche, or a full-out caviar tasting station! And don’t forget the spirits: For a Russian affair, have a vodka-tasting bar; for Great Gatsby, bring back the vintage “champagne fountain” with magnums of Chandon, our exclusive champagne purveyor for The Knot Dream Wedding.

Anne Marie Photography

A final touch

Finally, don’t forget to send your guests home with a memory of your unique celebration! Hosting a rustic-chic wedding? Send your guests packing with a s’mores-making kit or a miniature local pie. Romantic? A candle in a velvet pouch is always a hit. For a modern soiree, hire a food truck as a surprise at the end of the night! The possibilities are endless!

Audrey Hannah Photo

Stay tuned for how we incorporate The Knot Dream Wedding winning theme, Modern Ice Castle, into Sierra and Andre’s Valentine’s Day affair. From the flowers to the cake, it’s your choice!

> Meet the Dream Wedding Couple: Sierra & Andre!

> Pin More Modern Ice Castle Inspired Details Here!

The planning for The Knot Dream Wedding has begun! I’m beyond excited to plan (with The Knot editors and, of course, you Knotties!) this wedding celebration on Valentine’s Day 2013 at Citi Pond at Bryant Park — Manhattan’s very own ice playground.

Why Citi Pond? Well, the fact that more proposals have happened right here than pretty much any other place on the planet makes it a very romantic setting. Plus, it’s New York City’s crown-jewel skating venue — where millions of winter enthusiasts, including Olympians, world champions and celebrities, travel each year for a chance to dance on the ice. It’s an inspiring location for this once-in-a-lifetime wedding, and it is quintessentially New York!

After the ceremony on ice (no worries — the bride, groom and guests won’t need to wear skates!), everyone will head over to the stunning two-story glass-enclosed restaurant, Celsius at Bryant Park, for a cozy cocktail hour on the outdoor terrace, complete with glacier-inspired drinks and toasty hors d’oeuvres, luxury banquettes, rink-side table service and heaters to keep guests warm as they chill on the deck.

Then everyone will head upstairs to dine and dance at the stunning Atrium at Celsius. Under the chandelier-adorned glass ceiling, the in-house mixologist will serve up warm and cold winter-themed cocktails like Chilled Polar Bear Cosmos and Snojitos from the 24-foot bar! Guests will enjoy a comfort-food-gone-luxe reception featuring eclectic American dishes. Favorites include Celsius Mac and Cheese, Home-Style Chicken Pot Pie and Four Cheese Ravioli! And of course, the sparkling decor and magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline will take everyone’s breath away.

We’ve got lots of surprises in store for the bride and groom, their guests and all of America as they tune in on February 14 to watch this wedding stream LIVE on TheKnot.com. A mystery celebrity guest? A dramatic performance on the ice? Hmmm…the surprises await! Share your vision with me by casting your vote on each and every wedding detail at TheKnot.com/dreamwedding! After all, you’re the wedding planners too!