“When we listen closely to the bride and groom, we often discover that what’s most important to them are the little touches. It might be a special coffee, a particular dessert, or mom and dad’s favorite drink,” says Jason Kwintner, director of catering at Jumeirah Essex House.

Personalized Menus
“I did a wedding last fall for a bride and groom who were both Greek. For them, food was the most important aspect of the wedding celebration.” As Jason met with them over the year, the menu was discussed at length.

“The couple chose a Mediterranean cocktail display with chilled seafood, fried calamari, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, and baba ghannoush. We also butler-passed baby lamb chops and spanikopita. For dessert, we created a lavish dessert display including baklava, strong Greek coffee, and ouzo. For this wedding, we adapted our standard menus to include all sorts of dishes to please the bride and groom.”

Jumeirah Essex House offers a menu tasting for every couple in the weeks before the wedding, and in this particular case, the moment of truth arrived with the dessert course. “I remember the bride’s mother biting into the baklava we made. I was crossing my fingers, hoping she’d like it! Thankfully, she was very impressed,” says Jason.

Last Minute Solutions
Working as party planners, Jason and his team assist with last minute details, and their close relationships with various bridal vendors can be invaluable.

“One bride came to me the day before her wedding with an urgent request. She was missing one place card and it was for an important partner at her firm. The place cards were handmade in an unusual calligraphy font and custom color that was nearly impossible to match!"

They called a designer who they had worked with in the past, who graciously offered to help. "So a member of our team jumped on the subway, ran to the designer's office, and waited while the designer made the place card. It perfectly matched the other cards.”

Wedding Weekends, Both Elegant & Hip
At Jumeirah Essex House, brides often plan a full weekend of events. “We can turn your wedding into a weekend-long celebration. Our restaurant, South Gate, serves seasonal, Modern American cuisine. The bar has beautiful views overlooking Central Park, and an interior that is trendy and very ‘Manhattan,’ which provides a nice contrast to the elegance and grandeur of our ballroom.”

As part of the weekend wedding, Jumeirah Essex House provides a bridal suite for two nights. “I don’t know of any other hotel in New York City that offers two nights,” says Jason. “Here, the bride arrives the day before the wedding with all of her things. This gives us the opportunity to get her settled in and to go over any last-minute requests with our team, so that her wedding day is worry-free.”

Art Deco Glamour & A Tradition of Service
“The hotel, built in 1931, is an Art Deco gem synonymous with beautiful weddings since the year we opened.” The Grand Salon ballroom has graceful Beaux Arts touches including a domed ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and Grecian columns. “Our brides typically do not change the look of the room because it is so spectacular with its architectural detail. Since the ballroom has a neutral color palette, brides often express themselves with the color of their flowers, linens, lighting and even drinks.”

For instance, one recent bride loved deep purples. “She brought in purple velvet linens and her flower arrangements were different shades of deep purples and blues. To complement her colors, we made blackberry mojitos in exactly the same shade of purple. We get to be really creative in coming up with ways to bring each couple’s vision of their wedding to life. From the moment a bride calls us, we become her partner in creating her perfect wedding. We are at the hotel hours before the wedding begins, and we stay until long after the event is over. This gives our brides a sense of confidence. They know we are there to make sure every aspect of the wedding runs flawlessly.”

A Lifelong Passion
“We love building relationships with our brides and grooms. We spend so much time with them that it is very rewarding to be there for the wedding itself, seeing them get married and celebrating with them. Being part of each wedding is a touching and emotional experience, and we count it a blessing that so many brides have entrusted Jumeirah Essex House with the most important day of their lives.”

Jumeirah Essex House
160 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019
212.484.5144, jumeirahessexhouse.com