Couples Tribute: Leah + Mike

Leah and Mike’s wedding day held at Celebrate Snug Harbor was a very special day.  Snug Harbor has been a part of Leah’s life before she was even born. Leah’s parents were married here and as a little girl Leah took art classes at the art school.  When it came time to propose Mike knew Snug Harbor was the perfect spot to begin the rest of their lives together.  Once engaged, Leah and Mike started planning their wedding at Celebrate Snug Harbor with help from Marissa Mortimer of Lavish Occasions Event Planning.

Leah and Mike’s wedding was timeless and elegant, but also true to the nature of Snug Harbor.  Leah and Mike let the beautiful scenery of Snug Harbor inspire them for decor and the overall vibe of their wedding. From a Tuscan Garden ceremony with classic floral arrangements of soft pinks and green hues to a dreamy reception in the Great Hall, their day was stress-free and full of romance.

We loved their intimate ceremony surrounded by family and friends in the Tuscan Garden.

How adorable is their flower girl?

Leah was a stunning bride in a lace gown by Ines di Santo.  Philip Siciliano Photography did an incredible job capturing every beautiful details that the couple and their family and friends created.

We especially love all the super special, quiet moments of Leah and Mike on the Snug Harbor grounds throughout the day.

Leah and Mike continued their wedding day with their reception following in The Great Hall.

Beautiful white and green hued floral and lantern centerpieces adorned every table from Eltingville florist.

They finished off the evening with an awesome reception that featured a non-stop dance party and a pizza truck!

What a fun dance party Leah and Mike had!

How awesome are these night photos captured by Philip Siciliano Photography???

Congratulations to Leah and Mike, and a huge thanks to Philip Siciliano for sharing these gorgeous photos with us!

 

The Wedding Team

Cake: Palermos Bakery https://palermobakery.com/

DJ: Steven Retas  http://www.stevenretasent.com/

Dress : Ines Di Santo http://inesdisanto.com/

Event Planner:  Marissa Mortimer of Lavish Occasions Event Planning http://lavishoccasions.com/

Florist : Eltingville Florist http://www.eltingvilleflorist.net/

Hair and Makeup: Amanda Sela 718-316-2515  email: Selaamanda@yahoo.com

Photo: Philip Siciliano http://philipsicilianophotography.com

Video : Majestic Creative http://majesticcreativefilms.com/

 

Advertisements

Holiday Events to Host at Celebrate

The holidays are right around the corner and findings unique locations to host your holiday event can be difficult if you wait too long. With over 80 acres of stunning grounds, Celebrate at Snug Harbor offers a space for every holiday event: corporate, anniversary, family gathering, and a holiday wedding!

Corporate Holiday Events:

For corporate events, consider our Great Hall Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 350 guests for a seated dinner, or more for a cocktail event. With 40 foot ceilings ensconced with Palladian windows and authentic woodwork, your company and their guests will love their unique and elegant surroundings.

Family Gathering:

It can be difficult to get everyone together for the holidays. Celebrate is conveniently located in Staten Island and is only a short ferry ride or drive from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’ll be the perfect urban oasis for you and your family to escape to. Consider hosting your family holiday gathering in our Gallery, which can accommodate between 75-150 guests comfortably.  You and your family can enjoy the holidays by enjoying all the property has to offer without having to prepare a thing!

Holiday Wedding or Anniversary Celebration:

Whether it’s for a wedding or momentous occasion, such as an anniversary or milestone birthday, Celebrate has the added benefit of offering one of a kind spaces for photo opportunities. The expansive Botanical Garden & Cultural Center features a hornbeam tree tunnel, bamboo garden, and a Chinese Scholar Garden with unique architecture and a rich history to make your celebration even more special.

Celebrate at Snug Harbor is also owned and operated by Relish Caterers, who are renowned for their culinary innovation and impeccable service. With a team of Event Designers working closely with you, your event will be everything you want and more for the holidays!

 

Photo credit: Whimsy Weddings, Premier Digital Weddings, SMC Nulty, & other photographers.

Happenings at the Harbor

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens, a proud Smithsonian affiliate, offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience the performing arts, visual arts, history, and more. If you’re looking to have family friendly and noteworthy experiences this coming fall, Snug Harbor has unique events for you. Some new and exciting events to keep track of include the Autumn Moon Festival, Richmond County Orchestra, Opera Exposures, as well as a Fall Horticulture Walk through the gardens!

Autumn Moon Festival:

Enjoy traditional Asian music and dance, storytelling, tours, demonstrations of martial arts and Tai Chi, food, lessons in Chinese calligraphy, and more at the annual Autumn Moon Festival. The Autumn Moon Festival spotlights Snug Harbor’s NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden and celebrates the seasonal harvest fest in East Asia, which dates back to at least 2000 B.C. Learn more about how to attend here! https://goo.gl/6oZyuo

The Richmond County Orchestra:

The Richmond County Orchestra’s “From Russia with Love” theme marks the centennial of the Russian Revolution.  Music by Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto #1 will be featured, played by Staten Island’s own Dan Auerbach, as well Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and Symphony #5.  Kids in attendance will enjoy a performance of music from Disney’s Fantasia, the Tetris theme, and “Flight of the Bumblebee.”

Opera Exposures:

Opera Exposures will perform arias and duets from “La traviata,” Verdi’s opera based on the novel La Dame aux Camelias by Alexander Dumas. Learn more about how to attend here! https://goo.gl/oYgGQe
Fall Foliage Horticulture Walk:

Wander the Snug Harbor campus when the fall colors are at their most beautiful.  The Fall Foliage Tour begins at the Carl Grillo Glasshouse and continues through the Pond Garden, ending in the NY Chinese Scholar’s garden. Learn more about how to attend here! https://goo.gl/eRwahi
The events you can attend are endless. Visit http://snug-harbor.org/ to see all of the other events that are constantly going on at Snug Harbor. No matter which event you choose to attend, your experience is sure to be nothing short of memorable.

Corporate and Social Events at Celebrate at Snug Harbor

When planning a corporate or large scale social event, it is important to consider space, time of year, and who your caterer will be. You’ll want your employees or guests to enjoy the ambiance and meal so that your event is a success. Celebrate at Snug Harbor offers its clients a variety of locations on the 83-acre  Snug Harbor property, both indoors and outdoors so that your selected space can best fit the type of event and season.

Hosting a Corporate Lunch or Dinner

The featured collage displays the varied table settings in both the Great Hall and Gallery of Celebrate at Snug Harbor for a large corporate event. If you have a larger party, consider having small tables scattered throughout a grand room so that teams or groups can have smaller conversations. If you’re looking to host a smaller group, consider having a more intimate space with a U-shaped table so that all members of your team can engage in important conversations.

Check out more on Celebrate Pinterest!

While team building meetings can be accommodated at Celebrate, so can more lecture-based meetings. In the featured collage, the Great Hall is prepared to host a large scale group with a head table for the keynote speaker of the event.

Check out more on Celebrate Pinterest!

 

Hosting a Corporate Picnic or Gala Event

If you’re looking to host a less corporate and more philanthropic event, look no further than the Tuscan Garden of Celebrate at Snug Harbor. With formal water elements and a glass enclosed Lemon house, filled with olive and lemon trees, your guests can enjoy the outdoors and lush gardens of the property. The featured collage captures the magic of a recent Neptune Ball, in which guests were able to enjoy the gardens and a few hot air balloons!

Check out more on Celebrate Pinterest!

 

Catering at Celebrate

Part of what makes an event so successful is the quality of food being served. Because Celebrate at Snug Harbor is operated by Relish Caterers + Event Planning, the staff are used to preparing elegant meals for large groups. The featured collage displays delicious edamame, smoked salmon galette, and fried chicken sliders that your guests or employees are able to enjoy a variety of options on the big day!

Check out more on Celebrate Pinterest!

 

Planning large scale events at Celebrate allows for you and/or your company to focus on the people attending your occasion. The Event Designers at Celebrate at Snug Harbor will work closely with you so that your event is truly one of a kind.

Creative Wedding Signage

Wedding signs are a great way to get creative and keep your guests up to date on what to pay attention to. You can place signage as a welcome for your guests, to give directions as to where the party is, or just use them to get a warm-hearted laugh from your wedding guests. Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides.com offer a charming selection of wedding signs to get inspired by!

Welcome signs:

This adorable wedding sign is on framed glass with gold markered to match the frame. The bits of greenery at the top compliment the garden setting. Just lovely!

Photo credit: Paperlily Photography

Creatively stationed on the stairs of this wedding venue, this wedding sign is written on an antique mirror, with roses and green leaves wrapping the frame. Stunning!

Photo credit: Joseba Sandoval Photography

Signs with Direction:

This wedding sign is a lovely combination of different pieces of driftwood. Not only does it help guests see where the ceremony will be, but the nautical driftwood is just so appropriate for a beach wedding!

Photo credit: Brandon Kidd Photography

This wedding sign is a great way to enhance the rustic feature of this garden wedding. The information is also adorably entertaining!

Photo credit: Paige Jones Photography

Charming Signs:

As if we didn’t already love a chalkboard sign! This sign captures the love of the couple by placing the Song of Solomon verse. Heart-warming!

Photo credit: One Love Photography

This wedding sign reminds us all that signs are a great way to incorporate a loved one into your ceremony!

Photo credit: Jen Fariello Photography

Signs at your wedding can be easy, fun, and an inexpensive way to add detail. If you are all set on your venue, you can choose frames, colors, and calligraphy to match the ambiance of your wedding. Wedding signage can be the elegant touch you and your bridal party work on to bond before your big day!

Catering Ideas for Your Next Event

If you’re looking to host an event that will wow your guests, you’ll need to invest in a caterer who can create meals that are unique and delicious. Relish Caterers offers some inspiration for your next corporate or private event with hors d’oeuvres, main courses, and desserts!

Hors D’oeuvres:

When greeting your guests with appetizers, you’ll want flavors and textures that will excite your guests for the rest of the meals to come at your event. Relish Caterers has so many different flavors and unique hors d’oeuvres, such as pretzel crusted shrimp, falafel sliders, beef carpaccio, and more!

Pretzel crusted gulf shrimp with cherry pepper cocktail sauce

Petit falafel burger with tahini zatar spiced mayo and cucumber yogurt slaw

Beef carpaccio with champignon, lemon, arugula and parmesan

Spicy Korean chili chicken cone with radish, scallion and toasted sesame

Main Courses:

Relish takes a new spin on salmon, chicken, pork, and beef with these delicious variations. No guest will want to resist the main courses below!

Slow roasted Norwegian salmon with buttered pea shoots and truffle mashed potatoes

Roasted free range chicken with baby artichokes, basil and lemon caper sauce

Seared pork chop with yukon potato galette, roasted peaches and poppy seed buttermilk vinaigrette

Grilled beef tenderloin with sautéed mustard greens, roasted fingerlings, herb butter and jus

Desserts:

Desserts are the last bit of flavor your guests leave with, so make sure you give them the sweetness and one-of-a-kind treats they’ve been craving all day or night!

Strawberry Shortcake is taken to a new level with these strawberries and cream on petit toasted shortcake.

Blueberry peach cobbler with flaky crust and mint

Petite key lime tart with toasted marshmallow

When it comes to having a private or corporate event catered, consider a caterer that takes pride in culinary innovation, as well as impeccable service. See more that Relish Caterers has to offer at relishcaterers.com.

Snug Harbor Summer Events

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens, a proud Smithsonian affiliate, offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience the performing arts, visual arts, history, and more. If you’re looking to have family friendly and noteworthy experiences this summer, look no further than Snug Harbor. Some new and exciting events to keep track of include the Boogie Woogie Wednesday, Turn & Learn: Compost in NYC, as well as a Horticulture Walk through the gardens!

July Children’s Events:

Each Wednesday from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm in July and August, the Staten Island Children’s Museum is open for free. Explore the exhibits for two hours followed by an interactive dance program, where dancers demonstrate a specific cultural dance and invite Museum visitors to learn new moves! Boogie Woogie Wednesday is an event supported by the Staten Island Delegation of the NYC Council and Dunkin Donuts. On July 12th, experience Belly Dancing, learn Irish Step Dancing on July 19th, and give Mexican Folk Dancing a try on July 26th!

Register here!

Turn & Learn About Compost:

Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful surroundings while working on the NYC Compost Project demonstration site. Learn sustainable landscape management practices and help make compost. Admission is free and the event takes place the first Wednesday of each month, as well as the second and third Saturday’s of each month all between 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. This is a hands on learning event, so bring a water bottle, wear closed toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty!

Register here!

August Horticulture Garden Walks:

If you love gardens and history, you’ll love the Snug Harbor Horticulture Walks offered in the varied seasonal gardens. Offered throughout the seasons, you can enjoy learning about the history of each garden while walking through them! The featured photo captures the next Horticulture Walk scheduled for the summer: a Tropical Border Walk on August 3rd from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. In this walk, you’ll learn all about one of Snug Harbor’s most popular summer gardens: the Tropical Border at the Tribute Center.  There are amazing cannas, dahlias, gladiolus, and pineapple lily planted with tropical gingers, elephant ears, and angel trumpets.  You’ll get to explore the plants in flower with Greg Lord, Snug Harbor’s Director of Horticulture.

Learn how to register here!

No matter which event you choose to attend, your experience is sure to be nothing short of memorable. To learn about more events offered, visit http://snug-harbor.org/ !

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens Events to Attend

Snug Harbor, a proud Smithsonian affiliate, offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience the performing arts, visual arts, history, and more. If you’re looking to have family friendly and noteworthy experiences this summer, look no further than Snug Harbor. Some new and exciting events to keep track of include the special performance event, Using Art to Envision the Future, as well as the Green Gallery Exhibition, and the New York Philharmonic free indoor concert at Snug Harbor’s Music Hall!

Family Workshops:

The Lincoln Center’s Boro-Linc offers free art workshops for the family. On Saturday, June 17th from 1PM-3PM, you’ll be able to attend the art created by families as a way to envision the future.  Families worked together in a series of 3 workshops to create songs, movement, artwork, and puppetry to tell their vision of the future. Space is limited to attend this special event, so register using the link! https://goo.gl/Wb3K7Q

The Green Gallery:

If you’re looking to experience an event that compliments the spectacular botanical gardens and heritage farm Snug Harbor offers, consider the Visual Arts’ Green Gallery. Sprout to Mouth, the latest exhibition of the Green Gallery, is an interactive, multimedia, farm-to-table exhibition designed to showcase the evolution of farming as well as the history behind the desire to rebuild the Snug Harbor Heritage Farm. You’ll be able to walk through this exhibition, while also learning how it follows the educational state standards adopted by New York City. You’ll even see a mock-kitchen that helps students and visitors witness the necessary tools needed to harvest, prepare, and sample fresh produce on site! Check out the link to learn more about how to attend this one-of-a-kind exhibition! https://goo.gl/tnuFdr

New York Philharmonic: Free Indoor Concert

The perfect Father’s Day experience, the New York Philharmonic is offering a free indoor concert on June 18th, from 3PM-4PM. Experience the virtuosity and passion of New York Philharmonic musicians playing chamber music masterpieces at a Free Indoor Concert, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, in Snug Harbor’s stunning Music Hall. The Free Indoor Concert complements the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer. This is an experience you won’t want to miss! Find out how to register here: https://goo.gl/jOkymf

To learn more about all that Snug Harbor has to offer, visit their calendar to keep up with dates, times, and unique events for everyone in your family! https://goo.gl/v4Vz2p

Taking a Look Inside the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

The Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is not only home to Celebrate at Snug Harbor, but it is also a location where culture, history, and art all come together. A prominent Smithsonian affiliate, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden offer its community and visitors a chance to learn about it’s history and its mission to “provide a vibrant, regional cultural destination that offers dynamic programming in arts, education, horticulture, agriculture, and recreation for diverse cultures and all ages while ensuring a well-managed campus for all residents of Staten Island and surrounding communities.”

SHARP:

Snug Harbor Artist Residency Program, SHARP, offers an eight week fellowship program for eight talented, culturally diverse, and economically disadvantaged artists in a variety of disciplines at the post-BFA college level to help them transition from formal training to professional careers. These participants often display their work in the Snug Harbor art galleries or on the campus. As you walk through Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, ask about the artwork you see! The featured photo below captures some of the work you can see in an upcoming art exhibit this October.

Photo: SHARP Visual Arts

Horticulture Garden Walks:

If you love gardens and history, you’ll love the Snug Harbor Horticulture Walks offered in the varied seasonal gardens. Offered throughout the seasons, you can enjoy learning about the history of each garden while walking through them! The collage below captures the varied walks offered: a Peony Walk, a Spring Walk, a Tuscan Garden Walk, and a Tropical Border Walk. The larger image of the featured collage highlights an upcoming walk through Snug Harbor’s Richmond County Savings Foundation Tuscan Garden. In this walk, you’ll learn about Italian garden traditions while being led by Snug Harbor’s Director of Horticulture, Greg Lord.

Photo: Snug Harbor Horticulture Walks

Education:

An amazing aspect of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is the education it offers to students. With hands-on learning experiences and cross-curricular programs, there is an opportunity for all types of learners to walk away with a unique and memorable experience. Snug Harbor’s educational programs range from Beautiful Writing, Art & Meditation, Dragon Boat Festival, Autumn Moon, and Chinese New Year, which ranges from grades 2 and up.
To further your experience, you can register for Wetlands classes to learn about how water affects our daily lives, energy transfer, and wetlands, and the food web. Snug Harbor Heritage Farm classes offer students opportunities to learn about seeds, planting, pollination, flowers and fruits, as well as nutrition. Lastly, the Snug Harbor Pastoral Grounds offer students a chance to learn about different ecosystems, photosynthesis, and different types of trees. Whether it’s a class trip or an adult tour, there’s an experience for everyone!

Photo: Snug Harbor Education

Events:

If you’re looking for an unforgettable night, look no further than the Neptune Ball! Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is hosting a magical evening, it’s annual Neptune Ball. With the inspiration from Venetian masquerades, this ball celebrates the performing and visual arts on campus, as well as other beneficial programs offered on the grounds.

Photo: Snug Harbor Neptune Ball

There is not enough to say about Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. We’ve only highlighted a portion of what it can offer to guests. To learn more about visiting or donating, please take a moment to visit http://snug-harbor.org/.