For your New York City wedding, The Roosevelt Hotel offers a storybook setting in one of the city’s few remaining traditional ballrooms. Spacious enough to host cocktail receptions of up to 1,000 guests, the spectacular Grand Ballroom’s magnificent and original Swarovski chandeliers and the gold-gilded 27-foot-tall ceiling, iron-laced balconies and enormous arched windows create an unforgettable backdrop on your wedding day. The Ballroom Foyer is perfect for your Cocktail Reception providing ample space and privacy from the rest of the hotel.
Fernioosh Khosravi is the senior manager for weddings and special events at The Rooselvelt Hotel. With 10 years of experience, each of Ferinoosh’s projects, whether for a private party or corporate event, a lavish wedding or a charity ball, is a distinctive work of art. Ferinoosh’s expertise has brought a lot of celebrity attention to the hotel. Fernioosh was able to give us an exclusive peek into planning a wedding at the The Roosevelt Hotel and the unique services they offer for brides to be.
GO: What is your unique role when it comes to a couple’s wedding day?
FK: If I can sum it up in one word, it will be “Peace of Mind”! That is my most important role on the day of the wedding. I am here to ensure all the things we discuss during the planning stages are executed the right way and to coordinate all the details.
GO: How does your property distinguish a couple’s experience as opposed to getting married somewhere else?
FK: I would say “Personal Touch”, “Flexibility” and “Thinking outside the box” are some of the most important key factors. We show them we care and this is not just another piece of business for us. With “One on One sessions”, “Bridal Camps”, Blogs and Twitter advices I make them feel confident about our services, what to expect and what they need to know. We educate them good by educating them about new trends and ideas. Most of my weddings will be twitted live the same night, this way couples can see the room every week with different arrangements and get ideas about their own.
GO: From start to finish, what can a couple expect if they choose to get married at your property?
FK: “Dedication” is what I would say they could expect from our team from the beginning to the end. As I mentioned we do not look at our weddings as another piece of business rather we look at it as what it is: A very special day and because of our point of view, we give them comfort and peace of mind. From the time they sign contract, they will receive a “wedding timeline” and “a list of recommendations.” This will be their guide throughout the planning stages. We always recommend joining my twitter account to get up-dates and special offers to help with their planning.
Once they hire most of their vendors, we ask them to come in for a food tasting, table presentation and review of the timeline.
With the food choice in hand and all the planning details and time line full of information, we will put a formal plan together preparing what we call “Wedding (Banquet) Event Order”. BEO is normally about four to five page long and it contains all the details starting with the time of the contract. Details entails of rooms set ups, colors, decorations, stage and dance floor sizes, vendors information, emergency contact numbers, decorating details and other important information such as coat check, car reservations, valet services, piano tuning, room reservations and diagrams.
GO: If you had to describe your property in three words, what would they be?
FK: Classic, Grand and Timeless!
GO: What are the unique locations that a couple can host their ceremony and reception at in your venue?
FK: We are home to two of the few remaining classic ballrooms in New York City. The Grand Ballroom and The famous Terrace Ballroom.
The Grand Ballroom is located on the mezzanine level, featuring original Swarovski chandeliers designed exclusively for the Roosevelt Hotel. Encircling the ballroom is our balcony framed by gold and black railing.
The Terrace Ballroom; which is connected by a few steps to the Palm Court is the smaller and more intimate one. Graced by authentic Tiffany chandeliers, crystal scones, and floor to ceiling windows dressed with brown and gold silk drapes.
GO: Do you have areas where a couple can elect to take their wedding pictures at your property?
FK: Yes, we have our rooftop lounge Mad46 with spectacular views. Vander bar, which is unique in location and has been called a “Local corner cosmopolitan New York.” Our mezzanine floor balcony overlooking the lobby is another fantastic location for pictures, which in most of the pictures can capture our antique lobby chandelier. Another very interesting location will be our famous “Palm Court” with 20th century antique mirror, marbles, wallpapers and murals.
GO: Do you have customizable packages? Tell me a little bit about them?
FK: Yes, due to our “Outside the Box” thinking and vision, we are very open to mix and match packages. We provide one basic package, and then, we offer changes into that package. For example, couples are allowed to cut things out of their package and use the money elsewhere within the same package. They can change or add some of the options from our banquet menus. If they are of any specific ethnicity we offer either “ethnic station or passed hors d’oeuvres.” Some clients have special drinks such as special wine or whisky from their country of origin and we will allow that to be added to their package. Other special customized ideas are for example in our Greek wedding we had Rack of Lamb on each table, in our Russian wedding we had a bottle of Vodka and special Caspian Sea Caviar on each table, Persian wedding; a tray of Saffron rice and Italian of course we have local special recipe and recently we had Irish station set up for our Irish couple.
GO: Food is such an important element at a wedding; tell me about your menus/culinary team?
FK: Our executive Chef, Rupert Leitner has more than 25 years of experience in the culinary field. As Executive Chef at The Roosevelt Hotel, Chef Rupert has elevated the level of fine dining at the historic 84-year-old landmark. With early inspiration from his grandmother and mother, he graduated from culinary school in Villach, Austria and began his culinary career in Europe traveling to Switzerland, France and Sweden. In 1982, Leitner moved to the U.S.
GO: What is the first thing a couple should do if they are interested in getting married at your property?
FK: Putting the space on hold is the first step. The next step will be scheduling a time to visit us one more time to go over preliminary details in order to originate the first draft of their wedding contract.
The Roosevelt Hotel
45 East 45th Street
At Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
T: 212.661.9600
theroosevelthotel.com
rooseveltweddings.com
catering@rooseveltnyc.com
GO: What is your unique role when it comes to a couple’s wedding day and how does your property distinguish a couple’s experience as opposed to getting married somewhere else?
