Hi Ikiya!
Thanks so much for chatting with us. We’re excited to get a peak at the inner workings of your mind since you have to bring together the whole picture of a wedding, and we’re only responsible for one part.
You can find all the details about Intimate Occasions by Ikiya here!
What’s your favorite part of planning a wedding?
I tried to choose one but it was too hard, sooo my favorite parts of a wedding are vows and first looks!
What about your least favorite part?
My least favorite part of a wedding is the breakdown at the end of the night. So not glamorous, but it's still a part of the job
If you could give couples one piece of advice before they start planning their wedding, what would it be?
Research, research, research, and did I mention research? It is incredibly helpful when you research prices and ideas first because then you have a realistic idea of how much things cost and what you can have according to your budget. Also, once you reach out to vendors for pricing, it won't be too much of a shock.
If you were only allowed to ask your couples one question to help them plan their wedding, what would it be?
Tough one, but the one question I would ask is "What do you want your wedding to look and feel like?"
What’s one thing people never think about that’s actually essential when planning a wedding?
A wedding planner haha! Seriously though, at the very least a wedding coordinator is super essential. They ensure that your wedding day and the days leading up to it are planned, organized and coordinated smoothly. It also takes the stress off of your friends and family who are there to enjoy your day with you, not to work on it.
It seems like you treat wedding planning as more of a design process than I would have expected, can you talk more about that?
Absolutely! Wedding planning is a whole process with many aspects put together to make the wedding come to life. Design is one of those aspects and a very important one. Your wedding design is what you envision in your head, what you'll see when you're walking down the aisle, and what you'll experience while you're dancing the night away with your guests. It's just as imperative as the planning portion and takes just as much time and attention to detail to create it.
Why did you decide to name your company Intimate Occasions?
I named my company Intimate Occasions By Ikiya because I love intimate occasions! Weddings are one of many amazing intimate occasions you can celebrate and it's always absolutely beautiful. I wanted to plan these intimate occasions that I loved so much, for other people, so I added 'By Ikiya'. Thinking about love, happiness, and a great experience associated with my name always makes me remember why I love to do this line of work.
All the photos are a result of the collaboration of these professionals
Planner and Stylist - @intimateoccasionsbyikiya
Venue - @ramscale
Rentals - @partyrentaltd
Gown - @maplewoodbridal
MUA - @livsbeautybook
Suit - @buccocouture
Photographer - @eastriverphotographer
Videography - @matt_weddingfilms
Florist - @fernbotanica
Baker - @vincenzo_salvatore_cakes
Cellist - @musicboutiquenyc
Stationery - @tayloredscriptdesignco
Models - @livelovetoni @cratows63
Officiant - @pearl_ivy_events_