When I first moved to New York, Bryant took me to Imperial Number 9, a locally sourced seafood restaurant in the Mondrian Soho. It was and is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen – a picturesque setting in Manhattan with its chandeliers, a glass roof ceiling, palm trees and impeccable lighting.  Then and there, I began mentally planning my wedding around this gorgeous space.

Two years later as I optimistically began my search for the perfect wedding venue, this was naturally the first place I looked. I was so very quickly reminded that New York city wedding venues are expensive. Very expensive. The event coordinator broke my still beating heart into pieces when she informed me of their outrageous space rental free. BROKE MY HEART.

I continued to visit venue after venue, allowing myself to fall in love with places that were, simply put, beyond my means and I came to the conclusion that my perfect, beautiful, unique and decently priced New York City wedding venue simply did not exist. One place actually requires an in-house AV tech person that costs an extra $100 per hour. Who in God’s name are these people that are getting married at the Plaza and Gotham hall?

By our umpteenth unsuccessful venue tour I wanted to pull my hair out, but we forged on in what was turning into a fruitless pursuit to please both the bride (me) and the financiers of this whole operation (the parents). Bryant and I were constantly dreaming, scheming, plotting, arguing when he finally threw his hands up in the air and suggested a heading down to City Hall.

AS IF.

Then, I got a call from my sister Vanessa who is the most perfectly organized and put together person I know. She would have some sound advice that would would help me claw my way out of my descent into wedding madness, I thought, and it came in the form of two beautiful words: wedding planner.  Vanessa herself didn’t need a wedding planner, she had this meticulous binder and system that made her own wedding impeccably planned, budgeted and executed.  I, on the other hand, am a complete MESS.

She gave me a name and number of a New York based wedding planner that she had become friends with via Idojour twitter (don’t you just love technology?).  I sat on this for a few days. Do I need a wedding planner?  Can I afford one?  Can she really help me find and plan something swoon-worthy and amazing?  I figured it couldn’t hurt so I picked up the phone, and after a single conversation I realized that I could no longer live with out her.

 

Enter Tamra Sanford of Everswoon, the insanely gorgeous, organized and well connected New York lady I am not. After a short conversation, she had my entire wedding vision down to a tee and wasted no time  introducing me to some pretty amazing locations that I would never have thought to look at. I finally feel like I am getting my shit together. Bry and I are so happy to have her on board.

The best part is she is half Filipino like me and Bry, and Pinoys must stick together in this amazing city we all call home.

It is only starting to kick in now how much needs to be done and I am more than grateful that I have my sisters, my parents, my boyfriend (future post idea:  does anyone else have trouble with the word “fiancé”? I think it sounds pretentious. We’ll work on that…), my friends, and Tamra my wedding planner, who I will turn into a friend by the end of this process, sorry Tamra you may be stuck with me.

Next week – more wedding dress shopping! I’ll be honest with you, I think this is the BEST part of the whole process. Whoever says finding a dress is stressful is a liar.  Also, whoever says that there is such a thing as a “Bridal Moment” where you get teary eyed and exclaim, “this is the one!!!” is also full of shit and being unnecessarily dramatic.  Those are the brides to be avoided at ALL COSTS. (editor’s note: Alessandra can be so naive sometimes. Her bridal moment will come, tears will be shed and I will be there to capture and share).

Vera Wang, Jenny Packham and Elie Saab – here I come!

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