The Plant Library

Bi-Rite is actually a neighborhood market—it's best known for hyper-local fruits and vegetables and a seriously good deli. Their catering business is capable of everything from a few pre-made meals to a full course dinner, and we love their big platters, which are perfect (and perfectly easy) for corporate events. Their famous ice cream, made in their in-house creamery, makes picking the dessert option a no-brainer.

Before adding a bricks-and-mortar location last year, the guys at Del Popolo were slinging pies out of their now-famous mobile pizzeria. Why famous? Other than the killer Neapolitan-style pizzas, which range from classic Margherita to a honey-spiked potato pie, it’s the ingenious use of a converted shipping container fastened onto a Freightliner truck in place of a standard food truck that got people talking. And lucky for us all, even with the free-standing restaurant (they tacked on some antipasti dishes and a pretty badass wine list to the restaurant menu), they’re still serving pies on the go all over the city out of the mobile pizzeria that started it all.

Humphry Slocombe vs. Bi-Rite Creamery is an ongoing debate between locals. Jake Godby and Sean Vahey—the two dudes behind team Humphry—pride themselves on the time and effort they put into concocting flavors, which run the gamut from Elvis (the fat years) to potato chip to salt & pepper. They’re also bringing back the ice cream cake in a big way.

For a less typical catered meal in the Bay Area, we recommend Rintaro, which serves excellent Japanese-style food at private parties. They also have a restaurant in the Mission, which is worth checking out, too.

Jessica Lasky's meals always feel homemade, even when she's serving a huge crowd. With straightforward menus and a rustic style (think beer bottles on ice in old washtubs and charcuterie plates served on well-loved cutting boards), they do excellent dressed-up family style.

While they call themselves a catering company—and their food is fantastic—McCalls is really a full-service event group. With wedding planning and floral design departments in-house, they bring a lot of resources to the table (pun fully intended) and are a great option if you're looking for a single point of contact.

Paula LeDuc is sort of a San Francisco institution. She's been catering in the city for years, and is credited with introducing the concept of farm-to-table to the industry. Her exquisitely designed meals are best suited for sit-down events; for a black-tie wedding, there's really no one better.

Taste has been serving San Francisco for more than 30 years, and in those three decades, they've established excellent relationships with local farmers–you’ll know exactly where your tomatoes, beef, and even your coffee comes from. Considering Northern California's year-round bounty, you'll be getting farm-fresh food regardless of season. They also offer full-scale event planning.

Cotogna and its more formal sister restaurant, Quince, are beloved San Francisco staples, so it's no surprise that their catering business is booming. Tusk Events (named for Lindsay and Michael Tusk, the husband-wife pair who run both places) can handle events of any size, offering casual Italian family-style fare from Cotogna, more formal options from Quince, or anything in between. Also good to remember: Cotogna's big tables can easily be reserved for large parties–a nice option if you're looking to host a fairly large gathering with minimal effort.

All party planners know that professional photographs will probably never have the social media power of the ones your guests take themselves. Awesome Booth takes care of the camera as well as the props, the prints (they wirelessly share them with your guests), and the backdrops.

It’s awfully rare to find a wedding photographer that shoots in film these days, and that’s exactly what makes Brumley & Wells so unique and different. Obviously, film can be digitized after the event, but the quality of the photo album alone (especially for artists or designers) more than justifies skipping the digital camera. They’re based in San Francisco, but love to travel for destination events.

The first thing you’ll notice about Caroline Frost is that she’s supremely organized: She comes to every event armed with a thorough timeline and a neat list of every shot she needs to get before the day is over. That attention to detail means that she can easily fade into the background on the actual day, never interrupting the special moments around the ceremony or during the reception for photos. Caroline is also famously great at organizing wedding albums—rather than disappearing moments after the event, she’ll walk you through the entire process.

Dylan's sensibility skews more fine art than over-the-top wedding, as his style is casual and unobtrusive, capturing candid moments from unusual angles, like the first look from behind a paned window. If you’re planning on getting married in an outdoor venue with a view (whether it be mountains, beach, forest, or plains), he’s an obvious pick.

Magbooth is kind of like the people's photo booth: Take your pick of prop and custom logos and never worry about going over some preset picture limit. The best part, though, is that ever rental includes an attendant, which significantly minimizes mid-party technical difficulties.

Paige Winn kind of kills it when it comes to the full wedding photography experience. She captures all of the special moments and her portraits never feel staged—plus, she's really easy to be around.

Ryan is a photographer with a talent for capturing the connection between a couple. Unsurprisingly, he does great engagement portraits, too.

Helmed by Jesse Kivel and Michael David (of Kisses and Classixx fame, respectively), this creative collective is lightyears away from cheesy wedding DJs. Simply put, these guys have stellar taste in music. For example: A mix can run the gamut from Missy Elliott to The Supremes to Iggy Pop, with some under-the-radar stuff thrown in for good measure. We're told their vinyl collection is second to none.

David Kimm is an electric violinist at heart, but he also has exceptional DJ skills, so if you're looking for a traditional DJ but with a little edge, he's your guy. He also knows his way around sound equipment, meaning he can hook up your speakers without subjecting your guests to screeching microphones.

It's thanks to Élan Artists that we were lucky enough to have the accordion-wielding Carte Blanche Band perform at our Net-a-Porter dinner. Their roster of entertainers is as deep as it is broad, with acts that run the gamut from cabaret-style burlesque dancers to string quartets to a Jersey Boys tribute band.

Magik Magik fancy themselves a "made-to-order" orchestra. They started out as a service for bands, composers, and other creatives who needed scalable string music for different projects, before bringing it to the public. You can hire their musicians and scale them to the size of your event, whether you’re looking for a full 80-piece ensemble or just a single, talented violinist.

This supremely talented jazz band includes drums, trumpet, stand-up base, piano, and of course, a sultry singer. Even though they definitely have a signature style, they can adapt their set to your taste.

When an event calls for a string quartet, these women get the job done. They all play in major orchestras and their song list is exhaustive: they can even do pop.

Torryne Choate is a truly talented designer. While she can take on any floral challenge you throw her way, she's especially skilled at handling those way-harder-than-they-look homogenous sculptural arrangements—not to mention crafting flower crowns that put your Pinterest to shame. For our San Francisco pop-up shop, we asked her to put together arrangements to complement the architectural space; needless to say, she didn't disappoint.

The folks at Bloomers are fantastic at incorporating unusual flowers into arrangements. If you're hoping for African violets or parrot tulips and unsure how to style them, this is the shop to call.

When Christina Stembel was doing event planning for Stanford University, she was surprised to find that the majority of flowers used Stateside were imported. In 2010, she launched Farmgirl Flowers out of her living room with the commitment that she would only sell U.S.-grown flowers. Today, the company caters weddings, private and corporate events, and even hand-delivers by bike and car across the Bay Area, and via overnight shipping around the country. Farmgirl typically offers one daily arrangement (e.g., orchids, snap dragons, anemone, eucalyptus, even kale) wrapped in burlap, and in three different sizes, from "fun size" to "big love."

Founded by Paris-born Lana Elie, FLOOM is an online floral delivery service. It is incredibly streamlined. The site is easy to navigate and the arrangements come looking exactly how you order them. The team works with local floral designers in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles to make sure everything is fresh and delivered intact.

For high-end, fancy flowers in San Francisco, call Claire Marie. The design studio is a family-owned business that’s been in town for almost thirty years now, handling everything from upscale weddings to formal dinners. Perfect for traditional bouquets and fragrant, elegant centerpieces that take center stage without being overpowering.

Floral designer Max Gill does the opposite of keeping it simple. Instead, the designer embraces the complexity of wild plants by adapting them to interior environments. Gill favors foraged blooms, along with rare botanicals from local Berkeley growers. These are no ordinary arrangements, and Gill’s unique eye lends an earthy seasonality to every space he and his team touch. Next time you pass through Chez Panisse or Zuni Café and find yourself wanting to scoop up the floral arrangements and take them home, ask after the designer—it’s probably Gill.

In the past few years, Waterlily Pond has organized several ambitious floral installations that are actually public artworks (including commissions for the de Young Museum). When it comes to their commercial business, they deliver excellent sculptural arrangements and structures—call them for attention-grabbing centerpieces, well-crafted chuppahs, and pretty much anything you might want suspended from the ceiling.

Although her corporate events are really beautifully executed (no surprise, with clients like Salesforce, Airbnb, and Pier 24), Alison is best known for her gorgeous weddings in Northern California (and really, all over the world). She's expert at creating an experience that feels uniquely personal and not recycled.

When you need to call in the big guns, you call Ken. The guy behind Sean Parker’s over-the-top Big Sur wedding also does interior design (he's put together some of San Francisco's most beautiful restaurants, and his Pottery Barn collaboration just launched), but he's best known for his events. Lavish, creative, and undeniably fun, he sort of has a Midas touch for unforgettable parties.

Laurie’s been in the business since 1994, and while she’s handled everything from dressed-up barbecues to intimate dinners, weddings have always been (and continue to be) her bread and butter. If you’re doing a destination wedding—even if it's just in Napa—book her for weekend and destination planning, which takes the pressure off your guests to entertain themselves by providing activities throughout their stay. In addition to being organized, thoughtful, and easy to work with, she’s got relationships with all of the best vendors in SF.

Floral design is in Natalie Bowen's genes (her mother was a florist, and her grandmother ran the flower shop at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco back in the 1940s). Her own style has a great sense of balance—the arrangements are lush without ever seeming over-the-top. And while flowers are her specialty, she also offers full-scale event design, from lighting to signage to linen and furniture rentals.

Robert Fountain definitely has a flair for the dramatic, in the best possible way. Call him when an event requires something extra special, whether it be ambitious projected lighting, a lavish Indian tent, live performers, sky-high centerpieces, or, in at least one case, a live elephant.

Stanlee Gatti is a fixture of the San Francisco event scene—his all-star client list includes Elton John and George Lucas, and he even planned the wedding for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Stanlee works best at large scale—some of our favorite moments include pantone chairs at an SFMoMA gala and towering pillars of calla lilies at a SAG Awards gala.

We have often found that the realities of hosting an outdoor sleepover have a way of stalling plans. Camp’d Out is a full-service luxury tent company that accommodates off-the-grid locations with ease. Pick a patch of desert or an unoccupied hillside (with permission, of course) and this female-founded company will handle the rest. Tents are spacious and decked out with comfortable blow-up mattresses, organic sheets, rugs underfoot, and handy storm lamps. Camp’d Out will also tailor the campsite to your event with heaters, a camp butler to help with the drinks, a fire pit to ward off the chill (and toast a few s’mores), and an outdoor lounge area to maximize the under-the-stars experience. Go big and book Moonrise Standard to cook a feast. You won’t regret it.

Elan's cadre of beach-wood benches, rattan chairs, and rustic tables is best suited for outdoor events—they've been curated to blend into natural surroundings rather than overpower them.

Shelter Co.'s business concept is completely unique: They've built an entire event-planning company around a gorgeous collection of luxury tents that they put to use in a variety of ways. You can rent just one for a small backyard party, or you can ask them to build out luxury accommodations in the wilderness. For those really remote events, they can also bring in catering, lighting, and general design.

The name kind of says it all: These guys are all about straightforward chairs, tables, and linens, all of which they can provide in large quantities. They're also really reliable and well-priced, meaning you won't get your bill only to realize you spent half your budget on napkins.

Zephyr likes to think of its tented canopies as sails—billowing, crisp, and made to last. This is appropriate given the tent type: The “Sperry” was initially crafted by New England sailmaker Steve Sperry. These canopies are as beautiful inside as they are outside, with many of the panels hand-sewn and the support poles carved out of wood. Most importantly, the entire structure is waterproof. Tents come in a variety of sizes to cater to events of all sizes, and the crew is top-notch. Conveniently, Zephyr also provides beautiful furniture, much of it made from reclaimed wood, hardwood flooring, and incredible lighting (we love the paper lanterns strung from the tent roof, which is as beautiful as it sounds).

Janis' Instagram feed is an excellent place to get a feel for her classic calligraphy and illustration style. You'll find perfectly arranged inspirational quotes, carefully lettered envelopes from her current projects, and a few of her quirky and whimsical illustrations.

Wedding invites are Julie Song's bread and butter, but her illustrations, calligraphy, and branding are all excellent, too. She's also really popular, so get in touch with plenty of lead-time. (Julie is responsible for the gorgeous watercolor menus at our goop x Net-a-Porter dinner.)

The folks behind Yonder are really graphic designers for your entire event, not just paper goods. Involve them in the early planning stages, and they'll keep everything consistent from the invitations to the place cards. Their unique offerings—some of the beautiful scene—can range from engraved wood place cards to custom seals.

Cloud Catering's Michelin-trained chefs spend the same amount of time and effort on presentation—the dishes seriously look like edible works of art—as they do on crafting insanely delicious recipes, which is precisely why we love them (and had them do the food for both our Diane von Furstenberg collaboration dinner and our Net-a-Porter celebration).

Harvest & Revel is that dreamy catering company that, in addition to food, handles all the event details—beverages, bar packages, staff, flowers, and photographers—that make party planning sort of maddening. Now back to the food. Founder Sara Elise and her staff don’t abide by the set menus typical in the catering space. Instead, you collaborate with them to design a menu that embraces the season and suits the particulars of the event you’re hosting. Every bite prepared by the Harvest & Revel team is sustainable, locally grown (when possible), health-forward, and exquisitely presented.

In addition to being a great fried chicken joint, with easy-going locations in Williamsburg and the Lower East Side, Pies ‘n’ Thighs caters parties and weddings (to every guest’s delight). Their Southern food is supremely authentic, and although the fried chicken is, again, particularly standout, their pies are just as good.

Oliver Cheng Catering and Events mimics the white table-clothed, fine-dining experience in catered form. This boutique company represents the gold standard in catering industry, concepting a totally bespoke New American menu, infused with Asian and European flavors (the level of artistry on each plate is breathtaking) for every job. Conveniently, Oliver Cheng also offers a comprehensive cocktail list with drinks expertly mixed on-site.

Even those who are not big on dessert can appreciate the paper-thin layered crêpe cakes that made Lady M. Confections so famous—not too sweet, and with a delicate consistency that literally melts in your mouth. The interiors of all nine international locations are kept strictly stark-white, with the cakes displayed like precious jewels on tiny podiums: there’s the Checkers cake, a chocolate gâteau, tarts, and so much more. While the original outpost is on the UES, the two Midtown boutiques are a blessing when a 3pm sugar craving kicks in.

This is fancy, white-glove catering at its best. Sonnier & Castle is famous for hiring experienced chefs from the finest NYC restaurants, which in turn translates to sophisticated finger foods, plated dinners, and buffets. What's great is that they can take care of all the details—waiter uniforms and wine pairings included.

The reason why Charlotte Neuville is dubbed the Fashion Chef is because she spent close to three decades in the biz (she was pretty high up at Gap Inc.) before leaving it all behind to bake couture cakes full-time. But it seems the industry refuses to let her go; she's been asked to design cakes for everyone from Alber Elbaz to Barneys.

You've probably seen People's Pops all over the city (they regularly set up shop at the High Line and Brooklyn Flea), and if you haven't tried their real-fruit pops or shave ice, you really should. For special events, they do custom flavors and fancy champagne-popsicle cocktails.

Brooklyn-based Roberta’s has been warmly flourishing for years. They cater events and weddings throughout the five boroughs (and will travel beyond the city). Their catering menu is fairly similar to their Bushwick restaurant menu: wonderful pizzas, seasonal veggies, meat and cheese plate apps—with raw bar additions. You can also host an event in their attached garden space (holds up to 180 for standing events and 120 for seated weddings).

Seriously not your average catering crew, Pinch brings a playful, almost theatrical vibe to party food presentation. It’s run by chef Bob Spiegel and designer TJ Girard who collaborate in equal parts: With Pinch, it’s as much about the experience as it is the taste. Picture chef’s tables with quick prep demos, food stations that literally move, clever dishes that rest atop wine glasses, custom-designed utensils, floating pizza slices, and so, so much more.

Parties don’t always lend themselves to healthy meals. The idea behind this food service is that simple, good food can be special-event-worthy. Woldy’s will work with you to come up with a menu (whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner) that is seasonal and local, without skimping on taste. Sample dishes include: chia seed breakfast bowls decorated with shaved coconut and edible flowers; roasted Brussels sprouts with white beans and almonds, served with blood orange vinaigrette; Vietnamese-inspired meatballs with sriracha aioli; and (flourless) chocolate cake.

Brooklyn-based Sogoal Zolghadri turned her love of watercolor and baking into a full-time gig a couple of years ago quietly launching Sogi's Honey Bakeshop on social media and starting a Kickstarter to help her get the business off the ground. (Check out her hilarious Instagram here.) Her exacting hand takes food coloring and a paintbrush and applies it much like watercolor onto delicately glazed sugar cookies. The result? Cheeky phrases, like "Sorry for things I said when Mercury was in retrograde," edible emojis, and ones painted to look like avocado toast that are almost too pretty too eat.

Offering some of the most superlative catering in New York City since 1985, Peter Callahan is a master at executing the perfect event. With a full team of event producers, artists, and most importantly, chefs, he customizes each menu and drinks offering to the client's specifications irrespective of whether the event is a gala dinner, an intimate baby shower, or rustic wedding (the team are adept at creating kitchens in the field to cater to every type of location).

While her portfolio is dedicated predominantly to weddings, Jennifer Sosa's detail-centric style would lend itself nicely to any special occasion. She's also a born-and-bred New Yorker, so her knowledge of the city comes in handy when it comes to location-scouting.

Hannah Thomson isn't so much an event photographer as a portrait master. Her expertise is really in capturing people—candid, posed, and everything in between.

With a background in editorial, photojournalism, and fashion photography, Jennifer MacFarlane adds a cool, unrehearsed edge to traditional wedding photography. Based in Bushwick, MacFarlane brings an exuberance that’s all her own to the day. Weddings carry a heavy logistical load from the outset, but MacFarlane is a seasoned pro at planning out the scheduled shots and ensuring that none of the intimate moments are missed.

California native Amber Gress grew up on an organic vegetable farm before she fell in love with the dark room. She’s now Brooklyn-based (and shoots digital), but travels. Her style is fresh and sophisticated; most of her photos—from family portraits to engagement series and bride close-ups day-of—have a real editorial feel. Her associate photographer, Shannon, is also great. And they are expanding into (non-cheesy) videography, too.

Gabrielle Plucknette started out in the photo departments of The New York Times Magazine and New York Magazine before heading off on her own as a freelance photographer. In addition to weddings, Plucknette also does brilliant lifestyle shots that run the gamut from local parades to food photography and coastal portraits. Plucknette is very good with lighting, for one, which makes her photos really stand out.

Edward Keating comes from the world of serious photojournalism—he was a staff photographer at the New York Times for more than a decade, has been nominated for the Pulitzer nearly a dozen times, and won for his coverage of 9/11. But he’s also long had a tie to wedding photography: He co-created the NYT column, “Vows,” and his own wedding photos (twice nominated for Pulitzers) are bar none.

The spirited duo behind A Guy + A Girl, Michael Kelley and Lauren Saldutti, are masters at capturing shots that feel full of life. Their portfolio is playful in the best way, and every wedding they shoot looks more fun than the last. Typically, Michael and Lauren shoot separately (with a second photographer), but you can book them together. They’re fully bi-coastal, with posts in both NYC and LA.

Real-life couple Ken Juska and Ro Agents come as a two-for-one package deal that includes both DJ and photographer. In addition to his practice as a beautiful collage artist, Kenan DJ's a long-standing radio show, Chances with Wolves. At weddings, he's known for playing records that keep everyone on the dance floor without selling out to the predictable set list—expect lots of Motown and everyone saying "I love this song—I haven't heard it in forever!" Ro is a documentary photographer during the week, whose style shines through in her photography, as nothing ever seems posed or staged. She's got a way with natural light, always finding the best spots for post-ceremony family shots. They're based in Brooklyn, but they'll travel (to Manhattan and beyond) for weddings.

Scrolling through John Dolan’s website is the digital equivalent of flipping through a beautifully curated coffee table book. Dolan does his fair share of editorial and advertising work, and his images have the dramatic, energetic quality of both. When it comes to weddings, he’s a master of discretion. He excels at capturing intimate moments—a quiet conversations in the corner, the setting of a veil, guests’ expressions when they catch their first glimpse of the bride. Dolan prefers film over digital and is based in New York City and the Berkshires.

Roey Yohai runs his New York studio with his wife, Zoe. The couple met many years ago while Yohai was in Greece on assignment, when he was a photojournalist. The photographer’s experience shooting candid portraits, wanderlust-y travel pictures, and, of course, editorial spreads means Yohai brings a depth and realism to his images. Instead of staged (and, too often, stiff) wedding pictures, he excels at capturing natural, spontaneous moments.

Let’s start with a caveat: Christian Oth is tough to pin down. To guarantee availability, you’ll want to book a year in advance. Really. This popularity is warranted. Oth and his team are at the top of the wedding photography game. They leave no detail uncaptured, and the finished product is somehow editorial and glamorous. Oth is conscious of just how much effort goes into the small details, whether it’s the flowers or the candles of the hem of a bride’s dress, and he’s a master of capturing it all.

Sure you can have a fantastic gathering without the services of Jacqueline Suskin and her old-timey typewriter, but why would you want to? She can set up her Poem Store virtually anywhere and will tap out beautiful, one-of-a-kind poems for guests right on the spot.

Magbooth is kind of like the people's photo booth: Take your pick of props and custom logos, and never worry about going over some preset picture limit. The best part: every rental comes with an attendant, which significantly minimizes mid-party technical difficulties.

45 Riots is the real deal—members of their band are not only regulars on the New York nightclub circuit, but they've also toured globally, playing in bands for Prince, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys...the list is as impressive as it is long. They're universally considered to be one of the best Motown bands in New York, and their combination of old-school classics and newer songs (their big-band version of "Drunk in Love" is insane) makes them incredibly easy to dance to. Our advice? Wear flats.

Vermont native Emily Thompson earned an MFA in sculpture from UCLA, a fact that’s evident in all of her floral centerpieces—yes, she uses flowers (which tend to be as wild and fecund as possible), but she builds them into boutiques that look like they might have sprung from a Renaissance painting. There are brambles, and sticks, and over-ripe pieces of fruit, all done up to pretty stunning effect.

Legendary florist Katsuya Nishimori first made a name for himself as the chief floral designer at the floral shop inside the Japanese department store Takashimaya. When Takashimaya shuttered in 2010, Nishimori and his team opened up their own place in Flatiron. They're known for daring, architectural arrangements with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic. Most of the flowers come from their organic farm in upstate New York, about eighty miles north of the city.

L'Olivier Floral Atelier consistently produces some of the most remarkable floral arrangements in New York: You can find Olivier Giugni's work in monumental arrangements in hotels and restaurants all over the city, but you can also have smaller arrangements tailored to your home. He's a great resource if you’re planning a wedding or a party.

Operated by husband-and-husband team Michael and Darroch, Putnam & Putnam's gorgeous, otherworldy arrangements grace the tabletops of some of the city's most exquisite events and weddings. (The amazing team supplied the incredible florals for GP's wedding.) They also deliver smaller-scale arrangements and host classes and workshops. Most recently, the duo opened its first retail location in Moxy Chelsea, where they turned the hotel's entrway into a verdant, lush, botanical reprieve from the city.

Denise Fasanello is a fine artist by trade, so it makes sense that her arrangements have a museum-worthy quality. She's particularly skilled in trimming arrangements with wildflowers and rustic elements, which creates a texture and volume that's as unexpected as it is beautiful.

Why we love Robert's floral services: You tell him what kind of flowers you like, and what your color scheme is; he comes along and personally makes beautiful flower arrangements in your space.

Fleurs NYC supplied the incredible hydrangea centerpieces for our Net-a-Porter garden party. Their aesthetic is clean and approachable, so nothing feels overdone.

With and adorable shop and more than a decade's worth of experience crafting extraordinary, seasonal bouquets, Denise Porcaro kind of spearheaded the boutique floral movement in NYC. She's also responsible for the recent resurgence of flower crowns, which make for sweet bridal shower and birthday party additions.

Mimi Brown's background is in fashion (she had a stint at Zac Posen before transitioning back to her floral business), and it shows. Her bouquets are discerningly elegant—never over-designed or fussy, kind of like you did the floral arrangements yourself...but better.

Named after founder Taylor Patterson's childhood farm in Delaware, Fox Fodder is a next-level floral design studio based in Greenpoint. The studio itself is by-appointment-only, but you can order an arrangement online to be delivered anywhere in the city. The seasonal arrangements are anything but ordinary; they feel found rather than fussed over—but they're made all the more special by the custom stoneware, smoked glass, and hand-thrown ceramic vases they arrive in.

Founded in 2006, Saipua specializes in handmade olive oil soaps and dreamy floral arrangements. Their flower farm, Worlds End, is located on 100-plus acres of rocky clay soil Upstate, about thirty miles west of Albany. Depending on the season, the farm grows narcissus, tulips, fritillaria, muscari, quince, hyacinth, ranunculus, and so on. Three cool things about Worlds End: It's also home to a flock of Icelandic sheep; it runs primarily on solar energy; and it uses all of Saipua's flower waste as compost.

BRRCH is a floral design studio that operates out of the Lower East Side of Manhattan as well as in LA. It was started by Brittany Asch, who got her start in the flower industry with an internship at Saipua. A never-ending wealth of flower inspo, Ash's style is timeless; her arrangements are often reminiscent of an oil painting, meaning they are masterfully done. Seasonal arrangements (and slots at occasional workshops) can be purchased online.

Primarily an event- and editorial-focused stylist, Amy Merrick's arrangements are lush, evocative creations with creative combinations of classic flowers with foliage, branches, and unexpected fruits like blackberries. She teaches floral design classes out of her Brooklyn studio and delivers single arrangements as her schedule allows; it's definitely worth trying her for a special occasion.

Liza Lubell has more than a decade's experience working with botanicals–and her experience shows. Every bespoke piece she and her team creates has an ethereal, organic, whimsical quality, reminding us that to stop and literally smell the roses–and revel in their ephemeral beauty. Simply gorgeous arrangements for wedding, parties, or any occasion, for that matter.

New Yorkers have been bowled-over by the totally random, sumptuously over-the-top flower arrangements that have been sprouting up on street corners, around trash cans, and over city landmarks since 2016. This exercise in random delight is the work of Lewis Miller and his team of florists. Miller grew up a California farmer’s kid. Horticulture school followed a childhood spent in the garden, and now he runs a large studio in New York City. He is a true creative. For an artist like Miller, flowers can elevate a humble city block. Imagine what the man can do with a wedding. To get an idea, flip through his coffee table book (published by Rizzoli) or request a meeting at his studio.

Jason Murakawa is the guy you contact if you want your tables set with Havilland porcelain, antique sterling silver flatware, and circa 1860 crystal goblets. Small Masterpiece can also provide table settings for your party in New York City. Photo credit: Styled by Bellafare, shot by Heather Waraksa.

Corrin Arasa's collection of vintage couches, chairs, rugs, and tables is so vast that it lives in a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in Brooklyn (open to visitors by appointment only). And it's not all large-scale furniture either—take a peek at the miles-long roster of smaller rentable props like lamps, baskets, floor pillows, and surfboards.

These guys specialize in the kind of techy stuff (lighting and audio visual design) that would make the average person's head spin. Coincidentally, it's the behind-the-scenes stuff that has the power to make or break a special event, and they nail it every time.

This Brooklyn-based suiting shop is the subject of a Lena Dunham-produced HBO documentary coming out this fall (we’re eagerly counting down the days). The concept is to create bespoke suiting for all genders. Not only are their suits tailored with the finest craftsmanship, they’re also filling an enormous gap in the wedding market by creating a bespoke, fitted suiting option for women and non-gender-conforming people, who—for myriad reasons—are not interested in a traditional wedding dress.

Stefanie Cove is the mastermind behind some of the most memorable goop events (our dinner with Net-a-Porter and last year’s celebration with Diane von Furstenberg), not to mention a goop staffer's wedding. As the owner and creative director of NYC/LA-based Stefanie Cove and Company, she really is the very best planner around, with a deep rolodex of amazing vendors.

Chris Hessney founded his eponymous event planning and design company after more than ten years of working in the event management field. He’s earned a reputation for his expertise in brand identity and decision making (and excellent taste, we must add), with a roster of clients that includes Vogue, Andre Balazs, Stuart Weitzman, and many others. He thoroughly considers every detail.

For events that require not only meticulous attention to detail when it comes to the décor and organization, but also pitch-perfect food, Mary Giuliani and her team are the go-to. Everything from flowers to mixology to décor (and more) comes as a part of her service. She intertwines the latest in the food and entertaining worlds, exemplified in her recent collaboration with Chef Mario Batali. If you’re looking to bring the flavors of your favorite Batali restaurant to your next party, Mario by Mary catering offers seasonally inspired Italian menus that will surely create a memorable culinary experience. For a quick taste of the collaboration, check out Mario by Mary's new Italian fast casual concept at The Pennsy.

Though Mr. Boddigton's one-of-a-kind creations are the stuff of legend, they've put custom services on hold for a while. Luckily, the collection of pre-designed invitations, place cards, thank you notes, and more is plenty to tide you over.

Run by art director and designer Lisa Hedge, Venamour's dreamy wedding stationery suites are broken down into three floral-themed collections: botanical, wildflower, and viridian. Each one is even more beautiful than the last.

We got to know the awesome Eliza Gwendalyn during our NYC goop MRKT—she lent her calligraphy talents to our pop-up, the party invitations, and place settings. She runs a full-service design house, and her hand-lettering work is absolutely stunning, whether it’s a wedding invitation, party favor, or the homepage of your website.

This super-versatile design studio works with a team of skilled calligraphers, offering essentially any and every style of lettering conceivable. Far beyond your standard envelope, Paper Finger makes very cool maps for destination events, as well as sophisticated programs, menus, and table settings for special meals. They also sell non-custom stationery online and host calligraphy workshops.

Ellen Weldon has been creating lavish invitations for New York weddings for close to three decades. And does she know what she’s doing? Let’s put it this way: Estée Lauder was her first client. A specialist in the art of calligraphy, Weldon offers different styles, ranging from the more printed-looking type that is straight caps to the dramatic swirling font that is Venetian. Be sure to allow at least three months, especially if your heart is set on one of Weldon’s custom monograms for the invitations.

Just outside New York City, in the lovely area of Oyster Bay, you’ll find the Printery headquarters. The location is in the town’s charming old clapboard newspaper building. But the setting isn’t for show: All the vintage printing presses are, miraculously, still in use. Invitations, save-the-dates, announcement cards—you name it—are all handmade and engraved on the printing presses using rich stock. The company is available for private consultation appointments in the city on Wednesdays at locations chosen by the client—your home, the office, a local café, it’s up to you.