Today I’m so honored to feature and introduce you to New York City Wedding Planner Carly Black, of Carly Black Events and share more of her approach and vision for the weddings she creates.
One of the best parts of being in the wedding industry (besides working with so many incredible couples planning intentional and meaningful celebrations!) is getting to collaborate with some of the best and most creative people I’ve ever met.
Carly and I worked together on an incredible engagement session in NYC (styled and planned by Carly), which you can see images from below. Her heart and spirit and eye for design are truly incredible. It’s an honor to get to work with someone who is so aligned on telling a couple’s story and dropping the “shoulds” when planning a wedding! Keep reading to hear more from Carly!
Hi Carly! I’m so excited to talk with you. Can you introduce yourself for our readers?:
Hi! I’m Carly. Your advocate, sounding-board and confidant. Here to bring new life, fresh perspective and much-need joy into the world of wedding planning. It always breaks my heart when wedding planning feels synonymous with stress. Let’s change that!
With over a decade of experience planning multifaceted, multi-day events alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, I’ve memorized all the steadfast, age-old rules that accompany typical weddings.. and I love nothing more than breaking them thoughtfully on your behalf. I am currently based in Pennsylvania, but happily serve couples in New York, Texas, or wherever else wild love takes me.
What got you started in planning weddings?
I’ve never done anything else! Truly! I have that cliche wedding planner origin story of planning all my own birthday parties as a young girl, including baking my own cakes, hand crafting invitations, cutting out all the paper-chain garland and confetti. A construction paper queen! Planning events is something I feel so deep in my bones, I will literally invent a holiday just as an excuse to have people gather. A wedding is the end all be all of events. The energy that builds and comes out of these experiences is unlike anything else and it’s something I will never tire of.
What began as finding any excuse to throw a party as a child eventually evolved into kicking off my events career in New York City working alongside some of the most recognized names in the industry. I spent a decade sharpening my skills all over the country, honing my style, and producing jaw dropping events with celebrities and dignitaries in attendance. Along the way I had short stints assisting design companies, catering companies and stationery producers all of which gave me incredible insight into every aspect of luxury event planning before founding Carly Black Events.
What inspires you most in your work (and/or life)?
I can’t get enough of the idea that we’re quite literally creating memories that will last a lifetime. It’s a tall task knowing that this day and these photographs and these memories will live on and serve as such a crucial building block to their story. I want to make it super personal and unique to every family’s needs. That requires a constant need to stay innovative and inspired.
Whenever I need some good inspiration I’ll usually find a beautiful boutique hotel lobby. I love implanting myself into another world and people watching. I order a good cocktail, listen to the curated soundtracks, admire the mix and match of patterns, fabrics and texture. Fashion-forward guests coming and going, the crisp attire and charm of a bellman, the branded stationery and merchandise. Pair that with a trip to an art gallery and you have the perfect day. I love those days and can’t go longer than a few weeks without incorporating them into my schedule. It’s crucial to remove yourself from ‘the work’ and just immerse yourself into this beautiful world.
What are your all time favorite weddings or designs? What did you love about them?
Whatever feels 100% authentic to the couple. You can tell if it’s just another run of the mill wedding. Get creative! I always tell my clients I want their wedding to feel like they’re inviting guests into their homes, not some big stuffy ballroom. Find a musician that plays what you actually listen to in your living room, not another cover song of Bruno Mars. Don’t often eat a bland chicken breast or medium well steak? Get creative with the menu. Put your favorite liquor at the bar. Create lounge vignettes you’d be happy to see in your own home. Your paper goods, linens, florals, should all feel like YOU.
I love getting really personal. Write your guests a beautiful, heartfelt note, tucked into the welcome bag to let them know how much you appreciate them being there. Host a welcome party the night before. Organizing transportation, hotel room blocks and attire suggestions that take all the guesswork out of the weekend. I love when the guests feel super taken care of. You don’t need all that and the kitchen sink. Just pick a few things to focus on and execute to perfection. Flow and service oftentimes feel more critical in creating a lasting impression.
What are some qualities of couples you really love working with (what are your client “green flags”)?
I love couples who are genuinely excited about the process and have lots of opinions, visions, and enthusiasm. It truly breaks my heart that wedding planning is sometimes known for being stressful and breaking the bank. I want it to be a fun, creative, soul fulfilling process from start to finish. Forget the to-do lists and fall in love with the process, knowing that you’re getting one step closer to your end goal. I love when they are focused on telling their story and not trying to please everyone else. You can be selfish!
If you could plan/design a wedding anywhere in the world, what’s the dream?
Anywhere that feels special to my clients! I mean that. I love hearing about a little town the couple vacationed in that just continues to draw them back, or why X property holds such a special place in their heart. It’s fun to pair together local hotels and vendors that feel unique to the area and create a super special weekend for everyone. Give your friends and family a reason to mark their calendars. Take them on a ride! The world is your oyster when it comes to picking a wedding location.
There certainly is more to think of when securing a location than the venue itself. Are the nearby hotels up to snuff? Do you have any local restaurants you’d recommend? Are the local vendors able to provide the level of service you’re looking for? Do guests need to rent a car? Will they spend an hour on a shuttle bus after the reception ends? I love diving into all of those options and seeing what will be the best fit.
I’d love to work more in Mexico. The food, textiles, art, landscape and sunshine serves as an endless source of inspiration and I can see myself happily creating there over and over again.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Carly!
And thanks to all of you for being here. You can learn more about working with destination and New York City wedding planner Carly at her website, or follow her on social media at @carlyblackevents!
And if you’re an engaged couple looking for a destination and Colorado wedding photographer for your intimate, intentional, destination event, I would love to hear from you!
xoxo,
Jen
