The wedding vendor search can be overwhelming. There’s so much talent out there to compare, and you’re trusting them with one of the most joyous and delicate days of your life.

Where do you even begin?

Having been in the wedding industry for 10 years now, I’ve met and collaborated with countless wedding vendors in the 100’s of events I’ve documented. In an effort to make your vendor search easier, and in order to lift up other small businesses I love, I’ve collected my favorite wedding vendors (aka “friendors”) in this exhaustive list.

Here you’ll find professional, experienced vendors vetted and curated by me, with an emphasis on those who are not normally centered in the wedding industry, including queer & BIPOC-owned businesses, and those who are values-driven and prioritize eco-friendly practices in their businesses.

Note: I have no business agreement with these folks, just support and love. 💛

Happy Booking!

My “Friendors

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woman-owned, photobooth UX BEX woman-owned, photobooth UX BEX

Brindamour Studios

“The Brindamour Studios photobooth experience is unlike any other! We specialize in custom experiences to ensure everyone can express their unique event style through our photobooth setup. From open-air booths (pictured to the left) with luxury backdrops and unlimited on-site printing to video guestbooks where your guests can pick up a microphone and tell you how much they love you, we have it all!

Want a professional photographer instead of a traditional “booth” — we are now offering portrait studios with on-site editing and printing. Scroll down to see examples of previous activations and package options — and remember, we specialize in custom, so don’t be afraid to reach out to inquire about a custom package!”

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Flux Photo Booth Company

“Founded in 2017, FLUX Photo Booth Company is a women-owned New York City photo and video experience company specializing in immersive content capture for weddings, corporate events, brand activations, and social celebrations.

Based in NYC, FLUX produces modern photo and video activations that blend professional photography, interactive technology, and thoughtful design to create experiences guests naturally engage with.

Our work is trusted by event planners, brands, marketing teams, and couples looking for elevated content that looks polished in the moment and lives on long after the event ends. FLUX works with couples and wedding planners throughout New York City to create modern wedding photo and video experiences that complement the style of the celebration. Rather than feeling like a separate attraction, these experiences are designed to blend seamlessly into the atmosphere of the wedding while giving guests a memorable moment to participate in.”

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Firework Photo Booth

“Firework Photo Booth Co is a boutique photo booth company based in Brooklyn, NY and Boston, MA. We specialize in providing luxurious open-air photo and video booth experiences with modern & professional pop-up photo studios and next-level service for corporate events, brand activations, weddings, and social gatherings.

FPBCO is an LGBTQ+ and woman-owned small business with 20 years in the photography, events, entertainment, and hospitality industries, operated by Kate Alison Photography LLC, owned by Kate Bancroft (she/her).”

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Twelve Month Aura Photography

“I’m Stephanie – a musician, writer, and aura photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. I travel around the East Coast taking aura photographs with my business, Twelve Month Aura.

Aura photography is a type of instant photography that reads and interprets your energy using handplates. The camera captures your physical image and the frequencies you emit are projected as the colors of your aura.

As I move into my 5th year as an aura photographer, the continuous awe and excitement it brings me shows me that I’m on the right path. If you’ve ever taken a photo with me, you’ve seen firsthand how I geek out and get so excited to talk about your aura. Each photograph is so unique and I absolutely love seeing how readings validate the energy people are experiencing.”

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entertainment, woman-owned UX BEX entertainment, woman-owned UX BEX

Deanna Kei

“Deanna Kei is a NYC based fashion and beauty illustrator, specializing in live event art and detailed fashion branding, blending luxury fashion with New York street style.

Deanna collaborates with luxury fashion and beauty brands to create elevated, storytelling-driven illustrations and imagery that inspire customer engagement while honoring each brand’s identity. She is also known for her live guest sketching at NY Fashion Week events, brand activations, luxury retail experiences, galas, corporate events, private parties, and weddings. Her live sketches celebrate guests’ unique personal style, capturing the details that make each look memorable.

Since her first live sketching event in 2018, Deanna has illustrated thousands of guests. Her work is deeply influenced by her background in fashion design and her upbringing in New York City. She is a Fashion Institute of Technology alumna with over a decade of experience across women’s contemporary sportswear, outerwear, athleisure and performance, juniors, childrenswear, and menswear design categories, as well as professional styling roles.

Through her art, Deanna aims to encourage confidence, individuality, and positivity—celebrating personal style as a powerful form of nonverbal communication, always with a distinct New York edge.”

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entertainment, woman-owned UX BEX entertainment, woman-owned UX BEX

ARS Poetica

“Poet, polyglot, and multi-talented people-connector Lisa Ann (LAMARKS) Markuson is the owner and founder of Ars Poetica.

In November 2012, a Washington, DC restauranteur tapped LAMARKS to create an immersive experience for the opening of his new sushi restaurant. Writing custom haiku on the spot on her vintage typewriter, Lisa Ann cracked the code on a way to help strangers bond over what we call "empathic intelligence." Long before the age of artificial intelligence, we were already living in a time where terms like "engagement" and "experiential entertainment" were already rising in importance and recognition. Fast forward over ten years, and we're proud to say we've become the go-to creative curators for conscientious event planners and clients around the world.

Typewriter haiku was how we got our start, and still remains a powerful activation for events of all kinds. But we're pushing the boundaries of creative entertainment to new heights with partners like Google, Twitter (pre-Elon), the Chilean Embassy, the City of Sacramento, FENDI, the Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce, Tiffany, the NY Public Library and NY History Museum, Van Cleef Arpel, and perhaps soon, your event too.”

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Mon Amie Events

“Mon Amie Events NYC is a Brooklyn based, WOC business, booking talented and knowledgable DJs in NY and beyond.  We offer an alternative to the 'typical' DJ agency: no wacky announcements, no banners, no line-dances just good music.

Each DJ has different style and genre specialties, but they all have one common goal - to create bespoke soundtracks particular to each event.  Let us help you create the perfect party, specifically catered to YOUR vision.

All our DJs have high musical IQs and know how to keep a varied demographic on the dance-floor without relying on the same songs you hear at every celebration. We blend many genres and eras seamlessly, while also mixing up hits with deeper cuts.  Simply put, we offer cool DJs playing good music.“

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DJ Mariko

“With over 200 events under her belt, DJ Mariko brings a no-ego, musician's ear to every event—whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, or night club. She has played at top venues like The Standard Hotel, The Bell House, and City Winery, and worked with major brands including Google, Snapchat, and BlackRock. When not spinning, she produces and writes music alongside Grammy and Tony award-winning talent. Named one of Go Magazine's Women We Love, DJ Mariko proudly represents multicultural, LGBTQ+, and AAPI communities.

Book DJ Mariko for non-traditional weddings, multicultural celebrations, and queer weddings. Serving couples in NYC, NJ, MA, CT, and PA who want authentic, personalized musical experiences.”

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June Events

As a Sound Stylist, DJ June’s mission is to be a curator of beauty, fashion, and good vibes for all. She brings individuality through her sharp outfits and thoughtful soundtracks that reflect the music DNA of her clients. June approaches each Stylist on her team, every client she works with, and every vendor with the utmost respect and humility. Her drive for creating a beautiful atmosphere, storytelling through sound, and bringing joy to others fuels her passion to keep elevating June Events.

“One thing I love about our team is we’re all New Yorkers at heart. We love and support our diversities of people, cultures, music and artistic expressions. We are LGBTQ{ proud and affirming, inclusivity and acceptance are values we hold dear at June Events. Regardless of how traditional or not your celebration may be, we’re always ready to find the best way to provide an unforgettable experience. - DJ June”

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Stylus DJ Entertainment

“Music is one element in a wedding that can truly be as unique as you are. Whether your tastes are mainstream or offbeat, general or specific, Stylus DJs take the time to listen, to ask questions and to make suggestions while curating a custom soundtrack to one of the most important days of your life.

If the musical goal of your event is to reflect your personalities, to please your guests, to make a great dance party, or all of the above, we put the energy and focus into getting the balance right.

Our reliable, professional DJs keep the party flowing with great music – no gimmicks, over-the-top hype, earsplitting volume or excessive talking. We are music lovers with a diverse digital library – if we don’t already have it, we are happy to buy it. We are never cookie cutter – every set is customized, even with minimal direction from the client. You can trust that we will pay close attention to your Must Plays, Do Not Plays, and openness to guest requests. Most of our clients are looking for an alternative to the typical cheesy DJ – someone who really “gets” them and their musical goal.”

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Star Power Band

Star Power is led by the magnetic and dynamic vocalist Myoshi Marilla, blending world-class musicianship with undeniable style. This elite team of entertainers delivers high-energy performances with authenticity, precision, and flair - bringing your favorite songs to life like never before. With unmatched chemistry and effortless sophistication, the band's "Star Power" sets the tone the moment guests enter the room - filling the space with warmth and infectious energy. Their name says it all: Star Power brings exactly that to every event, whether in NYC, the Tri-State area, or across the globe.

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Brass Queens

Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019.

Finding that they shared similar frustrations about the emerging brass band scene in New York City, co-founders Alex Harris and Ally Chapel came together to form a group dedicated to showcasing the talents of female musicians in a landscape that was dominated by male musicians and bandleaders. After debuting in March 2019, Brass Queens grew to be a fixture in the local music scene and was dubbed "the hardest working band in town" by their peers. The Queens gained a dedicated following through outdoor performances on the streets of Brooklyn and playing pop-up events in their community through the pandemic. Now, a core value of the band is to play for as many audiences as possible to increase the visibility of female musicians.

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Honey + Vinyl

Honey+Vinyl is a Brooklyn-based boutique music agency and multi-piece band founded by Sonic Sommelier Keanna O'Quinn, specializing in highly curated, live music experiences for NYC events. They offer a unique blend of jazz, soul, R&B, and pop, designed to create soundscapes for events.

The band provides custom music experiences for weddings, special events, and high-end collaborations while specializing in creating a "soundtrack" to the event's story. Keanna believes strongly in

using the science of sound to align music with the atmosphere, ensuring a curated experience.

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