10 Black-Owned Wedding Businesses in New York City You Need to Know About
There are so many incredible Black-owned wedding businesses in the Big Apple, but here are a few that couples love.
If you're getting married in the city that never sleeps, there's a chance you're feeling overwhelmed. After all, it's a global hub for fashion, beauty, architecture, music, interior design and more. With so many talented wedding vendors in the Big Apple, how do you choose your team? One way to create an all-star wedding vendor lineup is to be thoughtful about who you give your business to. Working with like-minded pros is a powerful way to live out your values as a couple. To help your hiring process, we rounded up 10 Black-owned wedding businesses in the New York City area. All of these vendors have perfect (or near-perfect) ratings on WeddingWire and many have earned our prestigious Couples Choice Awards. You can also find more Black-owned wedding businesses by utilizing the new Diversity filters on WeddingWire, where you can find Black-owned wedding businesses, as well as those that are Asian-owned, Hispanic or Latinx-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, Native American-owned, Veteran-owned and Woman-owned. Learn more about the top Black-owned wedding businesses in the New York City area below, and start planning your big day.
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Bridal Salon: Designer Loft Bridal
Follow: @designerloft_bridal
Liz Sellassie, owner of Designer Loft Bridal, says her home inspired her to get into the wedding fashion industry. She moved to American from Ethiopia at age six, but the week-long weddings she witnessed there stuck in her memory. "Some of my first memories are the festivity and pageantry of weddings and the rituals surrounding the bride," she says. In Ethiopia, the bride and groom wear velvet capes and crowns at their wedding ceremony. "I was always dazzled by the amazing garments and the workmanship that goes into creating a bride’s attire." She started her professional career as a lawyer, but quickly pivoted to the world of bridal fashion and opened Designer Loft Bridal in 2011. "Our mission has always been to create a beautiful and harmonious space for brides of all ages, sizes, races and religions, and to provide a supportive and special experience for our brides," Sellassie says. "We feature beautiful, diverse and unique bridal collections in an environment of friendly, supportive staff to advise our brides."
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Planning & Floral Design: À Votre Service Events
Follow: @avsevents
"À votre service" translates to "at your service," which is fitting, considering the mission of À Votre Service Events. "I wanted to create a business that's focused on delivering the very best in terms of quality of service, products, experience, delivery and results," says Marie Danielle, owner of À Votre Service Events and AVS Flowers. "We take pride in saying 'it’s our pleasure' to our clients' requests and inquiries. Nothing is too big for us to handle." Danielle founded À Votre Service Events in 2008 after planning her own wedding. She enjoyed the process so much, she pivoted from her career as a scientist to become one of the top event planners and floral designers in the New York City area. "There are many parts of my job that I enjoy, but truly the joy is delivering impeccable results for our clients." Her advice for couples getting married amid COVID? "Be patient, stay the course, and hang in there—things will turn for the better! Our industry pros are here still, ready to assist and support you in any way you need."
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Floral Design: August Sage and Violet
Follow: @augustsageandviolet
Rhonda Violet Zuri Suri Smith, owner of August Sage and Violet, grew up in the floral industry. "Floral design and horticulture was a tradition in my family," she explains. After earning her Bachelor's degree and working in NYC's floral industry, she decided to start her own company. "I decided that I needed to create an autonomous space to continue my career as a designer out of necessity," Smith says. "I felt that there was a concrete ceiling as to how far I could go as a Black designer without moving independently." Smith has established herself as a top vendor in the Big Apple with a five-star rating on WeddingWire. She says her favorite part of the job is the excitement. "Given that floral design and styling is an art form centered around an ephemeral medium, the constant changes of season and acquisition of botanicals for design, including seasonal blooms, exotics and foliages, makes everyday a fresh exciting experience," she says. "I also enjoy constantly meeting new clients and developing unique visions for them based on the inspiration that they share."
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Photography: Amy Anaiz
Follow: @amyanaizphoto
Amy Anaiz says she was destined to be a photographer. She's been photographing since she was young but decided to pursue wedding photography because it allowed her to connect with people all over the world. Her mission is centered around the client. "I aim to create heartfelt imagery that tells a unique story," she says. "I am also committed to ensuring that when a client sees their final images their skin tone—regardless of its melanated shade—is illuminated perfectly and is its true color." However, her favorite part of her job happens during the photo shoot itself. "My favorite part is watching the transition of a client from being completely nervous in front of my camera to feeling like a model by the end of the session," she says. "That’s when I know I’ve done my job successfully."
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Planning: Fallon Carter Events
Follow: @falloncarterevents
Fallon Carter, owner and principal planner at Fallon Carter Events, went from "law school to love," according to her WeddingWire storefront. The company, which has a five-star rating and several Couple's Choice Awards, is focused on simplifying the planning process so couples can enjoy their special moment. Not only has Carter received praise from her own clients, she's also received praise from other vendors she's worked with. According to one reviewer, "Fallon was, by far, my favorite planner of 2019," wrote the reviewer. "I found that Fallon was extremely detail-oriented, an advocate for her clients to receive the most bang for their buck, thought of VIP guests in timing/menus, worked hard behind the scenes to build in surprise moments for the couple and, most importantly, [was] even-keeled and solution-based during any unforeseen problem solving onsite."
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Bridal Gown Designer: Pantora Bridal
Follow: @pantorabridal
Pantora, which launched in 2009, was created by designer Andrea Pitter-Campbell. The store's mission is to provide unique, on-trend bridal options in a warm, welcoming environment. Pitter-Campbell is inclusive in her design so that every bride gets to shine. One area of focus for her is the concept of "nude" colors on different skin tones. She noticed that the nude commonly offered at stores didn't match deeper skin tones, so the brand launched Forgotten Skin Tones, a collection of mesh linings created for brides of color. The company has succeeded in its mission, as it's earned a five-star rating and countless rave reviews. Brides have described Pantora as "custom wedding dress heaven," "jaw-dropping," "amazing," "phenomenal," and more. One bride called it a "hidden gem." "[It] was the best bridal gown shopping I've had so far hands down," the reviewer wrote. "I wish that every bride (especially curvy and plus) could have the experience I had."
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Photography: Anée Atelier
Follow: @aneeatelier
Created by best friends Gina Esposito and Sheena Meekins, Anee Atelier is a top-rated wedding photography boutique based in New York City. Esposito has decades of accomplished photography experience under her belt while Meekins has an esteemed eight-year career in women's magazines on her resume. Together, they combined their storytelling abilities to capture stunning images. With seven Couples Choice Awards and nearly 200 five-star ratings, they're a wedding photography vendor you want to know about. Couples call Esposito and Meekins "magicians," "a dream team," and "simply the best." One client says working with Annee Atelier was the best investment they made on their wedding day. "From the emails and chats on the phone to dial in the timeline and coverage of must-have pictures through to the delivery of the photos in its crystal USB, Gina and Sheena from Anee Atelier were flawless in their communication," they write. "They totally understood what we were hoping to achieve with our photos and on the big day, they came prepared for every possible scenario."
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Bridal Salon: Mark Ingram Atelier
Follow: @markingramatelier
Mark Ingram, owner of Mark Ingram Atelier, had an interest in fashion even as a child. After graduating from New York University, he began his career at Bonwit Teller and Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue. In 2002, he launched Mark Ingram Atelier, which is a must-shop destination for brides around the world. The salon offers a curated selection of unique, gorgeous gowns to help you shine your brightest on your wedding day. With it's near-perfect rating and six Couples Choice Awards, it's no wonder Mark Ingram Atelier made the list. Brides praise the salon for it's incredible gown selection and first-rate customer experience. "Any time anyone gets engaged, I insist that they HAVE to go to Mark Ingram for their wedding dress," writes one customer. "I went to a few other bridal salons during my search, and Mark Ingram blows them all out of the water. I have never felt more beautiful than I did on my wedding day, and I 100% owe it to the team at Mark Ingram for making me feel like a princess."
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Floral Design: Alexis Denise Floral Design
Follow: @ad_florals
Alexis Greene, owner and floral designer of Alexis Denise Floral Design, founded her own company in 2018. She personally sources and designs stunning floral arrangements for a variety of different venues and events. Greene is best known for "curating 'flowercentric' arrangements with a garden-style feel," according to her website. Based in Brooklyn, Greene also works as an administrator and adjunct lecturer at the City University of New York. Scroll through her Instagram feed to see all of her stunning, colorful creations.
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Floral Design: kat flower
Follow: @katflower
Kat Flower's passion for floral design is apparent as you scroll through her Instagram account. She showcases beautiful bouquets and centerpieces, but also takes time to appreciate the beauty of a single flower. According to her WeddingWire storefront, "Kat Flower celebrates charm, elegance, simplicity and beauty through the expression of flowers." As such, she curates a selection of stunning, fresh imported and domestic flowers for clients to choose from. To-be-weds need only book an initial consultation with Kat Flower to communicate their needs and dreams. After that, the boutique will work closely with couples to create gorgeous, memorable floral designs for the wedding day.
