Led To Something Else

Location and Caterer: The Pierre Hotel, New York, NY; Cake: Sylvia Weinstock, New York, NY; Event Planner: Alimay Events & Productions, New York, NY; Florist: DeJuan Stroud, New York, NY; Rentals: Taylor Creative, New York, NY and Party Rentals Ltd., New York, NY; Napkins: Designing Linens, New York, NY; Band: Harris Lane of Hank Lane Music and Productions, New York, NY; Invitations: The Printery; Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren; Wedding Gown: Vera Wang; Cinematography: Adam Sjoberg, Ira Lippke Studios, New York, NY; Photo Booth: The Digital Photobooth; Photography: Ira Lippke and Nathan Smith, Ira Lippke Studios, New York, NY

It was on Jojo Landow and Michael Hoffenberg's first day of college at Indiana University where fate lent a hand in bringing them together. Jojo's mother needed assistance installing blinds in her dorm room and asked the first eligible bachelor who crossed her path: Michael. This simple act led to three years of friendship, which led to something else entirely when Jojo and Michael both found themselves studying abroad in Florence, Italy during their junior year.

Their budding romance continued when they returned to this side of the Atlantic for their final year of college. After graduation, Jojo convinced Michael to move to her beloved New York City in order to pursue their relationship. Five years later, Michael decided to make it official and proposed.

As the couple began to look for a venue to host their wedding, inspired by the modern feeling of South Beach, their goal was to find a clean white loft space that they could transform into something unique. In the end, they chose The Pierre Hotel, known for its traditional and ornate style. A classic New York venue, it is the antithesis of a downtown loft, but in love with the space nevertheless, they decided to merge the modern vibe they so desperately desired with the traditional décor. "We wanted people to walk into the grand ballroom and find something completely unexpected and the opposite a traditional wedding," shares Jojo, explaining how they wanted it to be more like an ultra-chic, downtown supper club, with a huge energy-filled, party-like vibe.

Boutique events firm, Alimay Events, was brought on-board to help personalize the wedding with all of the finishing touches. They brought in many elements to enhance the night from a digital photo booth, that was set up inside the ballroom looping the evening's outtakes on a projection screen that could be viewed from the dance floor, to the tequila ice bar and lounge. Everything was kept contained within the ballroom so that "no one missed a second of the party and everywhere a guest turned there was something new to keep them interested!" says Jojo.

To complete the clean, modern vision, Alimay Events brought in a seamless white dance floor. Tables were covered with mirrors and featured different versions of orchid centerpieces. Additionally, each place setting had a hem-stitched monogrammed napkin, which Jojo and Michael now use to entertain in their home, and for the final touch, there were personalized menu cards.

Throughout the night the surprises kept coming. When the party was assumed over, each guest received a monogrammed tin filled with the couple's favorite Hamptons' treats: fresh donuts from Dreesen's Famous Donuts, Hampton Coffee, Tate's Cookies and Hampton Popcorn. But it didn't end there. For late-night musings, guests were escorted to an after-party filled with comfort food, cocktails and old school snacks like Twinkies, Ding Dongs and every Entenmann's treat that one could dream of. In the end it was a very sweet night with a very sweet ending.

Location and Caterer: The Pierre Hotel, New York, NY; Cake: Sylvia Weinstock, New York, NY; Event Planner: Alimay Events & Productions, New York, NY; Florist: DeJuan Stroud, New York, NY; Rentals: Taylor Creative, New York, NY and Party Rentals Ltd., New York, NY; Napkins: Designing Linens, New York, NY; Band: Harris Lane of Hank Lane Music and Productions, New York, NY; Invitations: The Printery; Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren; Wedding Gown: Vera Wang; Cinematography: Adam Sjoberg, Ira Lippke Studios, New York, NY; Photo Booth: The Digital Photobooth; Photography: Ira Lippke and Nathan Smith, Ira Lippke Studios, New York, NY