Entertain Your Guests

Match Your Music to Your Venue & Your Guests. “The size of your band and its volume varies with the size of your ballroom … and the variety of musical styles varies with the tastes of your guests.”

Ceremony: St. Johns the Theologian
Reception: Central Park Boathouse
Gown: Aire Barcelona
Bridesmaids: Bari Jay
Tux: Ralph Lauren
Hair: Hy Gorgeous
Makeup: Makeup by Araceli
Photos and Videographer: Natural Expressions Photography
Florist, Planner, and Designer: ZAK Events
Music: Bounce Music and Entertainment
Limo: ELS Limousines.

From The Bride

“When Lou and I got engaged,” says recent bride Sophia Macchiaroli, “we knew my dad would be our greatest resource. He has been in the wedding business over 30 years and knows everything and everyone.”

They were getting married in her Greek church in Tenafly, NJ, and wanted their reception to be in NYC. “But I did not want a hotel. I wanted to be the only bride that day.”

When she asked her dad for his favorite non-traditional NYC venue, he said The Central Park Boathouse. But she was getting married in the fall and thought the Boathouse was more of a summer venue. “A few weeks later, I was speaking with my grandfather, who is also a musician and has been in the wedding business for over 60 years himself and has played every room in NYC at least twice. I asked him the same question and his response was the same, but I still wasn’t sold!”

Sophia was determined to find the most unique venue in NYC and outdo both her father and her grandfather. “So one Sunday I got my fiancé, my mom, and my dad in the car to look at a warehouse space in Harlem. We came, we saw, and we hated. Then my dad said, ‘Since we’re in town, let’s have brunch at the Boathouse.’

We were there the weekend after Thanksgiving. They had just finished decorating for the holidays; the air was crisp, the fire was roaring, and it felt so magical, so romantic, and so perfect. Within 10 minutes our wedding was on the books for exactly one year later!”

A Surprise Performance

Sophia and Lou“The Central Park Boathouse is already so romantic, with its beamed ceilings and glass doors looking out over the Pond, that I wanted to stay with its natural romantic style while bringing in a vintage feel. Zak Kunish from ZAK Events took my vision to another level. Every table was beautifully lit by tall tapered candles and adorned with overflowing floral arrangements that were breathtaking.

“I live off entertainment!” says Sophia. “Ever since I was a young girl, I would get dressed up and go to work with my dad and his band, to help in any way I could, just to be at his events. So when it came to the entertainment at our wedding, I wanted a lot of it! Lou, on the other hand, wanted a fun wedding with not too much other stuff going on.

“My dad asked what was most important to us and we both said the same thing: dancing! When the bandleader said goodnight, we wanted everyone to scream for an encore. I wanted Greek dancing. Both my family and I love it. Lou is Italian and the band wanted to accommodate him and his family just as much, so we went right from the Zeibekiko to the Tarentella and from that moment on, we couldn’t get anyone off the dance floor.

“The band had to slow it down so our guests could enjoy the wonderful entrée The Boathouse was serving! Then Lou and I and our guests were surprised with the most amazing dinner show, a ‘Jersey Boys’ tribute act! It made for such a unique evening and something that my friends and family still talk about.”

From The Band

Jersey Boys tribute performers, from Bounce Music“Sophia and Lou chose their first dance,” says Dean Vali, founder of Bounce Music and Entertainment and father of the bride. “Our father and daughter dance was ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ by Israel Kamakwio’ole. The song features a ukulele, and our guitarist played a ukulele.”

Dean’s big surprise was a show during dinner. “Sophia and Lou love the Broadway musical ‘Jersey Boys,’ so I brought in one of our Jersey Boys tribute acts. The group sang hits from the Broadway show, including a special song from the show, from Louis to Sophia, ‘My Eyes Adored You.’ ”

Their Greek Church Wedding CeremonyDean tells us that Sophia was very particular about what she wanted. “I just guided her on what to watch out for, like the size of band for the venue, how much volume to have, and the right mix of musical styles so all guests would have a good time. Sophia and my wife Shirley were the real producers and planners of the wedding. When it came to décor, flowers, photographers, and so on, I gave them some of the companies I like working with. Ultimately, they made the final decisions.

“Working on my daughter’s wedding was special because it didn’t feel like I was working. It was a joy to see her and Lou having their own ideas for the wedding. Sophia is a big part of our company (she is VP of operations) and works with all our brides. She took that knowledge to the next level for her wedding.

“One moment that stood out for me was seeing the look on her face when we brought out the surprise show for dinner. Sophia looked over at me from across the room and mouthed the words ‘Thank you so much.’ But after all the planning and details for the entertainment, the best moment was watching the bride, my daughter, come down the aisle to marry her true love.”