Wedding planner and Hamptonite, Sofia Crokos

Wedding planner to the jet set and Hollywood’s A-List, Sofia Crokos, is a longtime Sag Harbor resident. Both Robert Downey Jr. and Marc Anthony tapped Sofia to plan their weddings in the Hamptons a few years back, and her next Hamptons wedding is scheduled for late August. Sofia shares, “The Hamptons is my home base. I also happen to have a place in Brooklyn, so I have the best of both worlds — but the Hamptons is my true sanctuary.” If anyone knows how to plan a wedding on the East End it’s Sofia Crokos. Below, she shares her top summer wedding tips and trends in this NEW KDHamptons Design Diary below:

KDHamptons: What do you love most about living in the Hamptons?
Sofia Crokos: I live in Sag Harbor year round and whether I’m relaxing on Gibson Beach in Sagaponack, or sipping wine at Channing Daughters, I use all my Hamptons surroundings to keep inspiring me to come up with fresh takes on new design concepts.

KDHamptons: How would you describe your perfect day in the Hamptons?
Sofia: My perfect Hamptons day can simply be in my backyard or at Wolffer Estate Vineyard enjoying the beautiful scenery. It’s all about relaxing. I make my caffeine run at SagTown Coffee, have breakfast at Estia’s Little Kitchen, and for summer dining I love Dave’s Grill in Montauk for their spicy thai mussels and the best steamed lobster ever! My all-time favorite sunset spot has to be at Long Beach in Sag Harbor, and I also love hanging out at Sunset Beach on Shelter Island on a beautiful summer afternoon.

KDHamptons: What is your favorite Hamptons venue for a wedding?
Sofia: I’ve had the privilege of throwing events and spectacular weddings at private properties and homes throughout the Hamptons, so most of the larger affairs I have done have been at someone’s private home. This allows for an intimate gathering that is comprised of the bride and grooms closest friends and relatives. For larger occasions The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill is fantastic, and for smaller weddings and parties, you really can’t go wrong with Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton.

Parrish Art Museum

KDHamptons: What is the biggest mistake a Hamptons bride can make?
Sofia: One of the biggest mistakes a Hamptons bride can make is not planning for inclement weather, so make sure your tents are set up and ready to go. The host or bride should also always make sure that guests are aware of back roads to avoid having them siting on Route 27 for two hours straight!

KDHamptons: What is your idea of the perfect Hamptons wedding?
Sofia: I believe the perfect Hamptons wedding is at someone’s private home. From the beautiful architecture to the idyllic ocean views and all the greenery, the Hamptons provides the finest backdrop for a wedding. The cherry on top is to have that wedding at home, and give it that incredibly personal touch.

KDHamptons: Please share the most memorable story that has happened at a Sofia Crokos wedding?
Sofia: One of the most challenging, memorable and rewarding situations I have ever experienced was when I had to change a celebrity’s wedding location three days before they said “I do”. It was actually during the Hamptons Classic at the end of August. The client reached out with word that the location had to change, so I had to pull out all the stops to locate another one that had the same caliber in just three days and then alert all the guests. I reached out to all my contacts and got it done! The wedding was amazing and more memorable than anyone could have expected. I can laugh about it now, but it was definitely a huge challenge and had me on my toes at the same time.

KDHamptons: What is the current Hamptons wedding trend? Is the “barefoot on the beach” theme old news?
Sofia: Although I believe a beach trend is still beautiful, we are branching out these days with something I’ve coined as “Sanctuary Chic”, a trend that melds a client’s happy place with their personal stylish flair.

* For more information please go to: SofiaCrokos.com

* Photos included in this feature by:

Judith Rae
Julie Skarratt Photography
Christian Oth Studio
Patricia Lyons
Allan Zepeda Photography
Bentley Waters