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The
Wedding Planner
Diana
Shapiro
Marriott Certified Wedding Event Planner, New York Marriott at the Brooklyn
Bridge
Considering a New York wedding?
A popular venue for weddings of all types but especially ethnic weddings
which reflect the diversity of this city is the New York Marriott at the
Brooklyn Bridge. We recently interviewed Diana Shapiro, wedding event
planner for this metropolitan hotel, for her tips on planning a wedding
at this property. Diana, like other planners interviewed in this monthly
column, has passed the Marriott
International Wedding Certification Program. Diana also gives us
her advice on Culinary Trends and Customizing
Menus for Ethnic Weddings.
What aspects of your property
are most attractive to brides?
To begin with, the location of our hotel is most attractive to our brides.
One in seven people can trace their roots back to Brooklyn. The convenience
of staying in the hotel once the reception is completed is most appealing
to my clients.
We have a beautiful lobby, which features a mural on the ceiling, hand
painted by a local Brooklyn artist. In January of this year, we completed
a $2 million dollar renovation of all our ballroom and meeting space.
The brand new wallpaper and fresh new carpet colors are very inviting
to our guests. Our entire staff is friendly and accommodating and our
guests can feel that upon entering the hotel.
We
have a pastry chef on property who will create a customized wedding cake
for the bride and groom. I was the hotels opening pastry chef back
in 1998, and our clients love the fact that we will work with them to
create a wedding cake that is simply perfect for their big day.
What are the most popular wedding venues at the
property, both for large and small weddings?
We have a Grand Ballroom, which features both 13' and 19' ceilings and
crystal chandeliers, and our Legends Ballroom, which offers windows, although
it does not have a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Many of our brides are
interested in the Legends Ballroom because the windows create a very intimate
atmosphere. Day weddings are especially popular with the natural light
filtering through.
We can host an intimate wedding of 50-100 guests or comfortably seat 800
guests with a chuppah in one room, smorgasbord in our foyer, and the dinner
in another room; with no wait time!
Kosher weddings are very popular in our hotel as our hotel was built with
the Orthodox community in mind. We have a dedicated kosher kitchen, four
open chuppas in the Grand Ballroom and Sabbath locks on our guest room
doors. Our staff is well versed in the traditions associated with Jewish
weddings and this puts our clients at ease with the comfort that they
are in very capable hands.
What
local elements can a bride add to her wedding to give it a regional atmosphere?
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The hotel specializes in Caribbean
and West Indian cuisine. Our pastry chef can prepare a delicious black
cake for the wedding cake. For the Brooklynites, the menu can be customized
to include stations representing the different communities in Brooklyn:
Russian, Caribbean, Asian, etc. We have Brooklyn-themed props that can
be included in the cocktail reception. Guests can enjoy Juniors Cheesecake
and an egg cream for dessert!
For brides planning a weekend wedding, what nearby
attractions or on property activities are of special interest for their
guests?
Brooklyn is quickly becoming the new Manhattan. We have Court Street and
Smith Street, which have become the hot spots for both restaurants and
shopping. Downtown DUMBO has a delectable chocolate shop owned by Jacques
Torres. A quick stroll down Montague street will afford you a beautiful
view of historic brownstones and at the end of it, the New York skyline.
There is the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Academy of Music for those who
like to take in a bit of the arts. The hotel is only two train stops from
Manhattan, which makes it a hop, skip and a bridge away!
Click
here for an interview with Diana about
Culinary Trends and Customizing Menus for Ethnic Weddings
To plan a Marriott
wedding, call the Marriott of your choice and ask to consult with
the hotel's wedding event planner. For more information on Marriott Hotels,
Resorts, and Suites, call 1-800-228-9290 or see www.marriott.com.
Photos courtesy Brooklyn
Marriott
Untitled Document
Marriott
Weddings Read more interviews with Marriott wedding planners, check out
wedding photo galleries, and read the tips of wedding planners .
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