Two hundred thousand flowers. Celebs. A world-class hotel. The most famous and successful DJs on Earth. And this was just for the engagement party.
Dancer and choreographer Marcella Raneri of Netflix’s Dancing Queen and reality show So You Think You Can Dance, and Daniel Nutkis, CEO of Frisco-based cybersecurity company HITRUST, are getting married. Congrats to them! Local Profile previously profiled Raneri, and Nutkis' company is based in Frisco. The couple held an engagement party at the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas on April 19.
Who Was There
Three hundred guests were joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All-Stars winner Alyssa Edwards, along with influencer and model Hope Beel. The Chainsmokers — the highest-paid DJs in the world according to Forbes — also played a full set.
A Truly Intimate Surprise Performance
The Chainsmokers played an intimate concert for guests — a truly one-in-a-lifetime experience. The duo are known for hits like “Closer” (3.2 billion views on YouTube) and “Something Like This” with Coldplay (2.3 billion views).
Before going into “Paris,” member Drew Taggart remarked at how good the room's sound system was. The Chainsmokers then invited guests up into the booth with them as they played into the wee hours of the morning.
"I always knew I wanted a surprise performance to make it truly special, and because the party had a fun vibe, I was looking for a DJ that everyone would know and love," says Raneri.
"I’ve always been into that style of music, and The Chainsmokers felt like the perfect fit for the crowd," she continues. "We happened to be in Vegas one weekend in January and saw them perform. We met them afterward, and they were incredibly nice. Their show was such a great time, and I immediately thought it would be the perfect vibe for our guests."
"I always knew I wanted a surprise performance to make it truly special."
Later, Local Profile heard a hotel staffer saying that, of course, he has seen numerous world-famous celebrities stay at the Ritz-Carlton, but that he had never seen musicians this famous play a concert in the ballroom for a party.
200,000 Stem Flowers
To be clear, any engagement party is special! But this one was certainly extra special. Planning began in January, and the couple partnered with France's Roni Floral Design, one of the top floral design teams in the world, known for their stunning work at the Paris Opera and Sophia Richie’s wedding. "They were truly the perfect team to bring our vision to life," Raneri tells Local Profile.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted with a trolley car and a massive floral canopy. Inside, there were photo opportunities at floral displays designed to look like Parisian streets or shops. Near a flower canopy, women in floral dresses and standing on pedestals, posed.
A slow-motion camera snapped guests as they tossed pedals, hugged and kissed, while an artist sketched guests, incorporating real pedals in the drawings.
Inside the ballroom, flowers seemed to stream from the ceiling, bouquets decorated the room and Raneri stunned in a rose-motif gown.
Why The Floral Theme?
When Raneri and Nutkis started dating, they joked about the need for her to get to know him through all four seasons before she even considered engagement. "Spoiler," she says, "he did not wait that long."
"When we started mapping out all the wedding-related events with our amazing team, I knew I wanted a winter wedding, it’s always been the dream," she adds. "That led to the idea of tying each celebration to a season." Spring, symbolizing new beginnings and fresh love, became the motif for the engagement party. "Summer will set the tone for a bold and fun hen party, fall will bring a romantic vibe for the shower, and winter will be the grand finale … Our wedding!"
And How Was It?
"It absolutely surpassed my expectations — 1,000%," says Raneri. "I truly loved every second of it. Every detail had been thoughtfully planned out and seeing it all come to life was surreal."
"One of my favorite moments was the look on everyone’s faces when The Chainsmokers came out," she continues. It was such a surprise, and the energy in the room was electric. Another unforgettable moment for me was having all the dancers I’ve ever worked with in one room. As a choreographer, that meant the world. The entire night was filled with so much love and joy. The flowers, the costumes and the performers, it was all truly perfect."
"It absolutely surpassed my expectations — 1,000%."
The Folks Who Brought The Engagement Party To Life
Venue: Ritz-Carlton Dallas
Entertainment: Gabriele Rizzi Lab
Musicians: The Chainsmokers
Event Planner: LGP Elite Experiences
Florals: Roni Floral Design/Nicolas Barelier
Set Design: Bayer Brothers Sets
Production Design: GRŌ designs
Event Rentals: Party! Dallas
Lighting: Stage 2 Lighting
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