The perfect proposal, the swoon-worthy ring, and all the jaw-dropping moments over each intimate detail.
The rush of excitement was almost unreal, and it feels like you’ve told and re-lived your engagement story a hundred times. But now, it’s actually time to plan the wedding of your dreams, and the panic sets in. So many details, so many decisions. Instead of wondering whether to go with peonies or roses, you’re worried about how you’re going to pull it all off. And if your future mother-in-law asks you one more time about the seating chart, you might just scream…But don’t run off to elope just yet! I’m here to make your upcoming wedding day a huge success.
And I love it!
Owner of Intimate Occasions by Ikiya and an intimate wedding planner in the New York-New Jersey area. You can read more about me here. But, I’m also your new secret weapon and wedding planning bestie.
You see, I have people come to me from all different stages of the wedding planning process. From not knowing where to start to being knee-deep in the overwhelm, I’ve seen it all.
I’m Ikiya!
Weddings, event planning, love stories, venues, cake toppers, lighting, dresses, linens…they get me HYPE! This is my joy in life, my purpose, and my passion. To the point that if we work together, you might question who’s more excited about your wedding…me or you.
I just love what I do.
I’m the detail-oriented, precision-minded, quality-focused, above-and-beyond sidekick you’re looking for. I help you navigate the crazy wedding planning world while giving you the beautiful and authentically “you” wedding you're dreaming of (while keeping you sane)! So, what are we waiting for? Let's grab a frozen margarita and plan this intimate wedding!
Want to be sure that I'm a good fit for you?
You'll love working with me if these statements vibe with you:
ideal match
Defining…and Redefining
“Intimate” Weddings
An intimate wedding means that the celebration is smaller. The vast majority of weddings I orchestrate are capped at 100 guests. Plain and simple!
Let me tell you, friend, I’ve heard it all when it comes to the misconceptions about intimate weddings! People have said:
At this point, you might be wondering if an intimate wedding is right for you…or better yet, you might be itching to know what it even means to have an “intimate wedding.”
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Because of how small they are, the guest list is probably for family only.
Nope.
Intimate doesn’t mean it’s a family reunion.
We’re talking chic, not cheap.
They are only for people who are trying to save money on their weddings.
No way.
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Couldn’t be further from the truth.
Think more penthouse rooftop, less Uncle Bob’s BBQ.
They are boring and usually take place in someone’s backyard.
Now that we’ve defined them, let’s talk about redefining them.
That’s what I think we tend to do around here! With me as your intimate wedding planner, you won’t have to sacrifice the elegance, quality, decor touches, attention to detail, or memorability you see at bigger events. In fact, you’ll have a bigger chance to highlight what makes you unique as a couple. Enjoy the benefits of my solid vendor relationships, personalized attention, design process, and creative personal touches to truly be present and enjoy your wedding, instead of being overwhelmed by it.
Together, we can turn up the volume (on the dance floor and otherwise) so that your exclusive guest list will rave about your wedding for years to come.
Discover the Top 10 Intimate Wedding Venues in the NYC/NJ Metro Area and find the perfect spot for your dream celebration.
Intimate Wedding Venues in the NYC/NJ Metro Area
freebie alert
I cannot recommend Ikiya enough!
She worked with us on our 75-person Brooklyn wedding and every single detail of the day went so smoothly thanks to her. She is patient, organized, professional, and so much fun to work with. She seamlessly communicated with us throughout the planning process, coordinated with our vendors perfectly, and ensured the day went off without a hitch. Her team was excellent as well and just as sweet and friendly as her. Hiring Ikiya was one of the best wedding decisions we made. You won't regret working with her!
Michaela and Greg
We both realized after our first meeting with Ikiya that having her as our wedding planner was the way to go, and she did not disappoint.
We told her about our budget, and she made sure we stayed within it even when we weren't sure how. Having her on our side was like a breath of fresh air. She was always in touch with us and made sure our needs were met. Anything we wanted to do in terms of creativity. The day of our wedding was perfect, and I owe her thanks for the best day of my life. Ikiya and her team ensured that everything went as planned and that everything ran smoothly.
Tania and Tyre
Ikiya was a flawless wedding planner - there is NO way we could have pulled off our event without her.
She hyped up our vision, got us organized, took care of every single design detail, proofread every single contract, and kept us far ahead of schedule throughout the entire year and a half wedding planning process. We especially appreciated her inclusivity and her ability to honor the things that were unique to us as a couple, rather than giving us a cookie cutter wedding. Ikiya and her team took an imaginary vision, and turned it into the most magical, connected, and beautiful evening of our lives.
Sumaya and Sara
Ikiya was EXCEPTIONAL from beginning to end.
We hired her as a month of coordinator and she truly made a huge impact in the success of our event. We had planned and secured most of our vendors but Ikiya still provided a much needed organizational piece to our planning that we would not have been able to accomplish alone. She met with us weekly to ensure all aspects of the wedding were in order. She went above and beyond to ensure that we did not have to worry about behind the scenes logistics on our big day. We are deeply grateful for her positive energy, great spirit and efficiency throughout the last month of planning.
Lucy and Rasheed
Words cannot express how grateful we are for Ikiya.
Our wedding was so well coordinated and seamless, everybody has been raving about it. Ikiya has been on top of every detail of the wedding and executed exceptionally well that we ourselves were in awe when we arrived the venues and saw our plans come to fruition. Ikiya has been very diligent in updating us and communicating with us thoroughly to make sure our wedding is exactly as how we'd want it to be. Everybody had so much fun and there were no issues at all on the day which made us enjoy the wedding even more.
Prince and John
We loved working with Ikiya to plan our wedding from beginning to end!
From our first consultation to the wedding day, Ikiya brought positivity, support, and a fun approach to the process. Her portal with worksheets and trackers was a lifesaver for planning. On the morning of the wedding, when our transportation canceled, Ikiya stepped in and found a replacement at the same price—true magic! We became friends throughout the journey, and I’m so grateful for everything she did to make our day perfect.
Justyna and Daniel
Ikiya was truly an amazing planner and made the process leading up to the wedding so much less stressful than it would have been.
Ikiya's organization and consistency made wedding planning much easier. She listened to my vision and budget, ensuring they were prioritized in every vendor discussion. On the wedding day, she kept everything on schedule, handled issues effortlessly, and kept us stress-free. Her team was amazing—diligent and so sweet to us all day. Our wedding felt seamless, and I owe it all to Ikiya. I highly recommend her to everyone!
Naomi and Bert
Ikiya has been such a delight to work with.
We cannot believe how much work she has done for us over the past year and a half. Our wedding turned out so beautifully and we couldn't have done it without her. Ikiya is a true gem! She's clearly passionate about her craft and we couldn't have asked for more. She seemed just as excited about our wedding as we were! You will not regret working with her. WE LOVE YOU, IKIYA <3
Melissa and Chris
I am not exaggerating when I say our wedding could not have gone as well as it did without Ikiya's help.
From our first call, Ikiya understood our vision and kept me organized with her detailed Google Drive portal. We had monthly meetings, and as the wedding neared, she always made herself available for questions. On the big day, she and her team kept everything on track and helped me stay calm in the chaos, like when I forgot my veil before the ceremony. Ikiya is incredibly skilled at what she does and became a great friend during the process. As a type-A bride, I highly recommend her—she’s organized, experienced, and great at managing anything that comes her way.
Chloe and Tony
Our wedding journey will be one my husband and I will cherish forever.
Ikiya is truly a gem, her professionalism, expertise, patience, persistence is one of a kind, top tier. She brainstormed ideas with us, thought quick on her feet to provide solutions to any challenge and allowed my husband and I to be present the entire wedding day. We appreciated her superb organization, planning and design skills, broken down into phases allowing us to make the day unique to us and our vision. We could not have pulled off such an amazing and beautiful celebration of our love without Ikiya! We truly enjoyed meeting with Ikiya weekly, and our family and friends grew to love her as much as we did. We would recommend her to any newly engaged couples planning their wedding!
Tiffany and Chris
IKIYA WAS INCREDIBLE!
Ikiya took the time to understand our vision and helped us with every detail, recommending vendors within our budget. She made us feel comfortable with the planning process and set clear expectations. As the wedding day approached, she handled everything and kept checking in on us. On the day itself, she truly shined, along with her team and Selena! Our parents and guests had nothing but positive things to say about her. We highly recommend Intimate Occasions by Ikiya—she made our wedding unforgettable!
Heather and Les
Initially, I was one of those brides that was determined to do it all by herself.
But in the last month leading up to my wedding I decided to find myself some help. A friend of mine who works in the wedding industry recommended Ikiya to me, and it ended up being the best decision I made (aside from marrying my husband). Ikiya is a miracle worker! She coordinated everything with all of my vendors and my family seamlessly, and it truly felt like she made miracles happen. By the end of the night my sister could not stop singing Ikiya's praises, and was in awe of all that Ikiya had done. My advice to any bride since has been: "If you're even considering getting a wedding coordinator, do it! And if you're in the NYC area make sure you work with Ikiya!"
Michelle and Chris
Ikiya is amazing!
She was the glue that pieced everything together and allowed my big day to run very smooth. She was extremely organized, kept me informed, allowed me to enjoy my day without any anxiety or additional stress. I encourage all brides to give her the opportunity to support your big day- it will be beautiful and extravagant. Thank you Ikiya!!!
Mia and Alberto
Ikiya was incredible, I don't know what we would have done without her.
Not only did Ikiya handle all the moving parts on the day of our wedding, she met with us monthly for months before to answer our questions, guide us along the process, and keep us on track organization-wise. She provided us with an incredible amount of documentation and organizational tools that was invaluable in planning our day. She is personable and professional, and clearly genuinely cared about us and our wedding. She was a ray of sunlight but also a finely tuned wedding machine. I'd recommend Ikiya to absolutely anyone.
Julia and Jesse
