Real Weddings: Ashli Rosenthal & Todd Blumenfeld
A couple with big-city style mixes modern and traditional at their Fort Worth fete.
Ashli Rosenthal is a self-described type A organizational maven who worked in the fast-paced world of New York fashion public relations. Her ability to anticipate every possible situation and coordinate accordingly made her great at her job. Unfortunately, surprising an omniscient girlfriend with a wedding proposal is no easy task.
Nevertheless, Todd Blumenfeld managed to find a moment when his girlfriend of five years would least expect him to pull out a ring: Ashli was in the middle of a spa treatment when her beloved sneaked in to replace the hands that were giving her a massage with his own. It was there that Todd got down on one knee and asked Ashli to be his wife.
Ashli and Todd met as undergrads at Tulane University in New Orleans. They were sophomores, hanging out at a bar. Ashli had a boyfriend; Todd insisted he would wait on her until she was free—he knew right away that she was The One. His patience had paid off, and the planning began.
“The biggest thing for Todd and me is that we both love to throw a good party,” Ashli says. “We wanted to give people one of the best nights of their lives. I knew that if I set all the pieces of the puzzle right …”
Ashli called in puzzle master Todd Fiscus of Todd Event Design Creative Services to set the stage for a boffo bash. The Fort Worth-born bride, with cosmopolitan tastes and a Manhattan address, requested traditional elements with a modern twist, not minimalist but with some big-city edge. About half of the 450 guests would travel to Fort Worth from out of town, many from the East Coast.
The ceremony was held at Beth-El Congregation. (In 1997, Ashli’s parents, Billy and Rozanne, donated seven acres of land for Beth-El to build a new temple. Ashli was the first Rosenthal to be married there.) Beneath a gorgeous white chuppah—boasting a variety of roses, orchids, and hydrangea—in a sanctuary awash with candlelight, the couple exchanged “I dos.”
Serious stuff over, the fun began at Shady Oaks Country Club, where Fiscus and company transformed a huge white tent into a swank setting. Guests spent cocktail hour in a sophisticated silver and gray area, clinking glasses and noshing on hors d’oeuvres such as fried spaghetti with meatballs and truffle grilled cheese, before doors opened to reveal the main event: a glittering showcase filled with layers of seating and tables and lighting, mostly white with pops of deep purple and dark pink. An octagonal mirrored bar and contemporary leather couches were glamorous complements to the arrangement of tables along the perimeter of the room.
It was dinner before dancing: a George Catering feast of Maryland blue crab and corn cakes and grilled Rosenthal tenderloin with mascarpone mashed potatoes, followed by wedding cake. “From that point on, I wanted a full-on party,” Ashli says.
As guests took to the dance floor, that was just what she got. No surprise there.
A five-star fete can't happen without a team of talented professionals. The information below was provided by the couples featured in Real Weddings.
Ceremony Site: Beth-El Congregation, Fort Worth
Photographer/Studio: Stephen Karlisch
Bridal Gown Designer: Vera Wang
Bridal Gown Retailer: Vera Wang New York
Hair & Makeup: L.B. Rosser
Groom¹s Attire: Ermenegildo Zegna
Bridesmaids Dresses Designer: Vera Wang
Bridesmaids Dresses Retailer: Vera Wang New York
Flowers: Todd Event Design Creative Services
Reception Site: Shady Oaks Country Club
Cake: Le Gateau Cakery
Caterer: George Catering
Band and/or DJ: Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters
Videographer: ProEdit Productions
Wedding Rentals: Todd Event Design Creative Services; Ducky-Bob¹s
Wedding Planner: Sara Fay Egan, Todd Event Design Creative Services
Wedding Designer: Todd Fiscus, Todd Event Design Creative Services
