“Swanky,” “extravagant” and “magical” were the three words Amari wanted to emulate at her and Sam’s wedding day—and that they did, with the help of wedding pro, Ashley Mansy, founder and lead planner of Poppati Events. Drawing inspiration from their love of New York City, movie theaters and extravagant cuisine, the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis was transformed into a red dreamscape where bold design and guest experience combined to create a standout celebration. “From the start, Amari and Sam’s vision was unapologetically bold,” Mansy says. “An Old Hollywood dream reimagined through a modern, immersive lens.”
Service began as soon as guests arrived, greeted by fiery florals and attendants in chic red suits guiding them to the event space. Guests passed through candlelit corridors, receiving champagne flutes with monogrammed popcorn cones along the way, before entering a theatrical ceremony scene defined by sweeping red drapery, towering chandeliers and a floral aisle leading to a stage. “It was a scene I designed to evoke awe and emotion, balancing intimacy with spectacle,” Mansy says.
Cocktail hour was as immersive as the ceremony. Guests were serenaded by a live saxophonist, enjoyed a roaming caviar cart and glasses of bubbly etched with names and seat assignments emerged from hands inside an artful installation. “Our top priority was to make our guests feel as special as we felt that day,” Amari says. The couple even included their dog, Crouton, with an ice luge, matchboxes and menus bearing his image.
Throughout the luxe experience, guests savored a variety of culinary treasures, from mini lobster rolls and cacio e pepe risotto, to late-night New York-style pretzels, pizza and gelato. “Every design concept I proposed centered on that energy, drama, glamour and a bit of magic,” Mansy says. Disco performers, live music, a four-foot-long millefoglie cake and an afterparty at Four Seasons’ bar, Mara, offered a cinematic ending to the magnificent black-tie soirée.
