How do you improve upon the majesty of a New York landmark?
For the wedding of a young glamorous couple, Jerry Rose took full advantage of the marvel that is Cipriani 25 Broadway, in New York. This historical building served as the main ticket office for the storied Cunard cruise line in the 1930s and has been restored to its former glory with flourishes that celebrate the golden age of travel. The wedding celebration that took place in the fall of 2019 transformed the building’s Italianate interiors into a lush Tuscan garden.
To create this celebration, Jerry Rose was inspired by the couple’s love of travel, as well as of the Tuscan countryside and palazzo gardens of the hills above Florence. Guests were greeted by cascading roses and trailing vines of Japanese smilax on the building’s elaborate ironwork. At the large vestibule, two custom-designed bars in metal finishes complementing the existing interior were installed on either end of the space.
Inside the rotunda, this enchanted “garden” expanded to include a custom arch imitating the existing ironwork on the outside of the space. Ice sculptures with custom motifs of the couple’s initial monograms anchored the niches at each corner.
Beyond the rotunda, the main hall was separated by a custom garden gate designed to perfectly match the historical ironwork of the building. During cocktails, while guests were being entertained by the band Lapis Luna, they could gaze past the gate to see the main hall of Cipriani set for dinner. A mix of custom tables formed a long aisle down the vertical axis of the building. Custom candle holders and glass table accessories accented the dining tables that featured florals in shades of pinks and jade green. Quicksand, Amnesia, and Red Heart roses, along with dahlias, white and pistachio calla lilies, and pink Japanese lisianthus, were perfectly composed to blend with the splendid interior of Cipriani.
On either side of this majestic aisle, round tables were set with floral compositions and extraordinary candelabra of varrying height.
Finally, at the far end of the magnificent space, a custom mirrored dance floor with the couple’s initials reflected the impressively decorated ceiling for this festive, music-filled celebration.
