Housing Works Bookstore Wedding | Elvis is in the House!

What did you do last night? Well, I had a date with Elvis. Yes, that Elvis. He is alive and well, and entertained guests at the Housing Works Bookstore wedding of Susan and Doug on Friday. But before I get to the King, let’s start at the beginning.

The day began with a girl power pow wow of Susan, her mother, daughter, and closest friends as they got ready in the luxurious surroundings of Pucker make up salon. The ladies had the entire place to themselves, and the relaxed atmosphere allowed everyone to have fun getting pampered.

While the girls were getting ready, Doug, got ready on his own back at the hotel. As a clear ringer for James Bond, what better way to play the role than with martini in hand? The outside portraits were taken on the patio of the Crosby Street Hotel. And by the way, a quick shout out to the hotel and staff. The rooms were remarkably large (for NYC hotel rooms, that is) with floor to ceiling windows, and the staff could not have been more gracious. They simply bent over backwards to make sure that Susan and Doug had a wonderful stay and were more than happy to let me check out the venue beforehand.

As soon as the last powder brush was put down, the race began to get ready for the ceremony. Susan came back to the hotel and jumped into her dress, making sure her stockings were in place. (Note the Wolford ‘love is enough’ hosiery!)

The ceremony and reception were both held at the Housing Works Bookstore in Soho, a quick walk from the hotel. With the marriage license signing out of the way first, the ceremony began. Susan looked beautiful walking down the stairs, and there was not a dry eye in the house. Surrounded by friends and family, the couple said their vows and you could clearly see how much they love each other. A friend of the family read a moving poem by e.e. Cummings, and then that was it – Susan and Doug were married!

The crowd cheered, and the festivities began. This couple wanted to celebrate their big day in their own way. Every aspect of the evening reflected their personal tastes and mutual loves, from the food to the entertainment. A few details to note: the catering for the evening kept the party moving along. Rather than having a sit down dinner, everything was served buffet style in stations that opened in stages throughout the evening. The couple started with a grand cocktail buffet and passed appetizers, but moved on to a poutine station and a burger bar. If you are not from Canada, let me introduce you to the wonders of poutine: a delectable blend of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds that originated in Quebec. It’s the ultimate hangover food, but I can testify that it is delicious even if sober.

The music for the evening was provided by Lapis Luna – a retro band specializing in jazz ballads. I have worked several weddings with this group, and they never fail to disappoint. After the toasts, Elvis impersonator Bob McArthur took to the stage and brought guests to their feet.

The wedding cakes for the evening included a groom’s cake created by Butterfly Bakery. Doug is the proud author of four books, and the groom’s cake was created in the likeness of his published works. The detail on the cake was amazing, down to the separated pages on the edges of the cake.

Susan and Doug are avid readers, so of course they had unique books selected as favors for each guest. Every book was hand selected with the recipient’s interests in mind, and each book had the guest’s name imprinted on the inside flap like that which you used to find in a library. The date stamp on the flap was that of the couple’s wedding. Each book also had a personal note inside on page 115 of the book (wedding on 1/15) that the couple asked the recipient to open the next day.

After a beautiful first dance, the evening ended with an after party in the drawing room of the Crosby Street Hotel. This couple truly created a magical evening that reflected both their own common interests, as well as the love they have for each other and all of the guests present. Best of luck to you, Susan and Doug!