Party Time Podcast with Perry DiNapoli at The Briarcliff Manor: Episode 2
Welcome back to Episode Two of Party Time with the team at Westchester Talk Radio and our very own Perry DiNapoli! In this next episode, Perry DiNapoli, owner and General Manager at The Briarcliff Manor, is interviewed by co-host Laura Smith, about how to plan a party. They go into all the details that Perry deals with on a day-to-day basis when planning the many events he throws at The Briarcliff Manor. The hosts welcome their special guest, Chris Nealon from Christopher’s Studio. Chris shares his years of photography experience and guides us through his process. Tune in by listening here or clicking the mic below.
No time to listen? We recapped the episode for you below!
In Episode Two, Laura Smith mused over the incredible backdrop overlooking the Hudson Valley River and how the sunsets here really create the perfect moment for a Wedding Ceremony here. They started by talking about the overall aesthetic of our grand manor and how it’s location is pretty near perfect. The Briarcliff Manor is located in central Westchester which makes it easy for multiple different towns to be able to reach, it sits at the top of a hill with an amazing view of the Hudson and the overall setting of the Mansion is unique, “It is almost like you stepped into a lavish home back in the day” said Laura.
After going over the grand manor’s beautiful aesthetic, Perry DiNapoli started to dive into what it takes to plan an event here at The Briarcliff Manor. According to DiNapoli, there is an immense amount of work that goes into planning a Wedding here. His mantra is building a personal relationship with every client that comes through the door. Coming up with a questionnaire for the bride and groom really helped to give us the skills necessary to pull off the perfect dream wedding they had in mind. “A lot of other wedding venues have a cookie cutter program that works for everyone, but for me, the way our style is, that didn’t work for me. We are a very personalized service and we spend as much time as possible with our brides, grooms and their families,” said DiNapoli.
Moving on to budget aspects of a Wedding, Perry DiNapoli expressed his need to guide people in the right direction. According to WeddingWire, The Knot, and other sources, the average cost of a wedding in Westchester is $57,000. Perry stresses how you do not need to spend anywhere near that much, unless you want to. He stresses how he tries to accommodate every couple’s wants and needs within reason. Laura goes on to ask about if the time of the year is a factor in your budget. “October is our number one month that couples want to get married, with the leaves changing in the Hudson Valley it really makes the Manor a beautiful place,” states DiNapoli. The time of the year and the day of the week has an impact on your pricing. Perry made it clear that he is willing to work with people the best he can to produce the couple’s best version of their Wedding Day that he can.
The last segment of the show was a Q & A with Chris Nealon of Christopher’s Studio. Chris has worked with Perry side by side for some years producing the best photographic experience for their clients as best they possible can. Nealon has the same time of mantra as DiNapoli where they try to keep their customer’s happy by always putting their needs first. “We deal with every client to create beautiful wedding memories from start to finish,” states Nealon. With his fifteen years of photography experience, Chris talks about the importance of shooting as much as you can rather than not having enough photos. “No more running out of tape!” Laura joked. Nealon goes on to stress the importance of technology and his business. The use of drone videography has expanded their photographic skills ten-fold. “You’re going to be looking at these photos for the rest of your life, so having a great professional in this field truly matters,” stresses Perry.
This show will be live every 2nd Tuesday of the Month on WestchesterTalkRadio.com Stay tuned for next month’s episode on Tuesday, November 13th.
Party Time is brought to you by Westchester Talk Radio and The Briarcliff Manor. Many thanks to all who took part in the production!