Life is full of surprises. For instance, Michael Kutsak never could have imagined that the candidate who was about to walk into his office and interview for a position at his health-care company would forever change his life. But when Michelle Wurtz stepped through his doorway, it was clear that this woman was destined to be much more than an employee. “I sat across the table from her and could hardly concentrate,” Michael recalls. “I knew from the first instant that she would one day be my wife.” Following a brief courtship, Michael surprised Michelle with a fantasy proposal in the south of France, and the two began preparing for their New York City nuptials. 

From the start, bride and groom were equally involved in all aspects of wedding planning. “Michael and I love to throw a party,” says the bride. Shortly after settling on their favorite luxury hotel as their venue, they assembled a first-class team of vendors to help execute their vision. The cream, gold, and royal blue hues utilized in their custom wedding stationery inspired the regal color palette for the rest of the event. The watercolor image painted on the front of their invitation was based on a well-known photograph of their venue and featured the bride with the couple’s one-year-old daughter stepping out of a Rolls-Royce.

To ensure the night was as unique as possible, the couple incorporated numerous one-of-a-kind design elements, such as the oversized Fabergé egg seated atop a column of seasonal flowers that greeted guests when they walked into the ceremony space. “The goal was to ensure every component of the event was tasteful, yet entertaining to keep guests in suspense as to what was yet to come,” says Michael.

The groom awaited his bride beneath a chuppah fashioned out of an abundance of snowy white blossoms and lush greenery that stretched from floor to ceiling. As an orchestra performed, a curtain parted to reveal Michelle in true bridal glory. She wore a breathtaking mermaid gown with a detachable ball gown skirt (which she later removed for the reception). Her brunette locks framed her beautiful visage and a lengthy veil billowed behind. In her hands, she carried a cascading bouquet of blush cabbage roses and pink peonies.

“As she walked down the aisle towards me, it was difficult to keep my composure as I was filled with so much emotion,” confesses the groom. The couple’s daughter served as a precious flower girl and wore a head wreath created from light pink rose buds. Groomsmen were dressed in ebony tuxedos with handsome orchid boutonnieres. Bridesmaids wore strapless, floor-length couture gowns in ivory.

A waterfall of Champagne pouring over Russian black caviar marked the start of the cocktail hour that followed the ceremony. Ice sculptures containing floral arrangements decorated the room, and live musicians enriched the merriment of the occasion.

Inside the reception ballroom, tall candles in translucent vessels and orchids housed beneath glass domes adorned the centers of round dinner tables that were draped in blush linens embroidered with a floral motif. Arrangements of phalaenopsis orchids dotted the perimeter of the space while streamers draped overhead and festive mood lighting completed the chic, yet romantic, ambiance. The wedding cake was an edible work of art that featured blush roses created out of sugar and arranged in an ombré effect, the darkest shade appearing on the lowest tier.

Jovial surprises continued to keep attendees amused throughout the evening. Shortly after entering the reception, guests were asked to watch a comedic video of the couple of the hour. At the film’s conclusion, the screen onto which it was projected dropped to the floor, revealing the newlyweds themselves as they made a grand entrance on their way to the dance floor. “The excitement in the room was like nothing else,” smiles the bride. Later, the groom astonished the bride herself by hiring a flash mob of dancers to recreate the closing number of one of her favorite movies, Dirty Dancing. “I jumped off the stage like Patrick Swayze,” says the groom. “Michelle was in as much shock as everyone else.” An after-party that lasted until the early-morning hours was the perfect conclusion to the celebratory night.

The couple credits their fabulous team of vendors with pulling off the final and greatest surprise of the evening: creating an event that surpassed their expectations. "It was all more than I could have ever dreamed," says Michelle.