Congratulations Josh and Brandy

This afternoon reception was so sunny and pretty! It was held at a venue with a wall of windows overlooking the water, and on a gorgeous day. The colors were white and turquoise, which brought the feel of the water into the ballroom. The flowers were so gorgeous! Each table had a tall arrangement of white hydrangeas, white calla lilies, and curly willow. Surrounding each were pink roses in small vases and white candles. The tables had white table cloths with turquoise runners, and the chairs had white covers with turquoise ties. There were even matching, white personalized boxes of mints at each place setting.

Brandy looked so gorgeous in her white, strapless gown. It had a simple satin bodice with heavy beading at the top edge. The skirt was full with pretty pick-ups. What really made the whole outfit was the beautiful necklace Brandy was wearing. It had white pearls looping twice around the neck, and the two ends hang down her back, almost touching her gown. The ends were accented in pearls and sparkling rhinestones. Since Brandy wore her hair up, the necklace really showed off the back of the gown, which also had beading at the top. Brandy carried a pretty bouquet of white roses and stephanotis. Her bridesmaids wore pretty, summery tea-length turquoise gowns with soft chiffon skirts. They all looked great in the strapless style. They carried white calla lilies that were hand tied with white and turquoise ribbon. Not to be outdone, Josh and his groomsmen looked quite handsome in their black tuxes, turquoise vests and ties, and white boutonnieres.

And now for the first dance. You can tell that Josh and Brandy spent some time practicing for that! They made a mix of songs, starting with a slow one “Me and You”, and then it sounded like it skipped, then on to the song “Jump on It” (Apache), then “Ice Ice Baby”, then “Thriller” then many more. It was great and the guests loved it!! After that show stopper, it was on to the Father/Daughter dance, the Mother/Son dance, the Money Dance, then party time!

After a bit of dancing, it was time for the cake cutting. The Bride’s white cake was so pretty, with five stacked tiers featuring white floral gum paste accents on each. Josh’s cake was awesome! It had three tiers of chocolate cake stacked up to look like a mountain covered in rocks, and there was a Jeep climbing up it. The Jeep’s license plate said, “Just Married.” That cake rocked! (ha ha get it?)

When it came time for the bouquet and garter, Brandy did something a bit different. After tossing her bouquet to the single women, she then did a teddy bear toss for the younger girls. They loved it!

Finally, after lots of partying, shots, and fun, it was time for the exit. Josh and Brandy ran through a cloud of bubbles, jumped into their limo, and took off for their honeymoon. Congratulations to this fun and really nice couple!!

Letters... we get letters

This week we received two more thank you cards in the mail from recent Brides and Grooms. We want to thank all of you who take your time to send them to us. It means more than you can possibly imagine!

Dear Ferdinand and Wendy,
Thank you so much for your blessing and your wonderful services! We can't express enough how grateful we are to have had you perform the ceremony and DJ at the reception for us with such professionalism and personality! Thank you for making our special day that much more special!
Andrea and Cody

Dear Ferdy and Wendy,
Thank you for your encouragement and support. You both made such a wonderful team, and we felt very blessed to have you as our DJs. Wendy, the reception progressed so smoothly with your announcements, and Ferdy, we loved the music being fun and yet still with a touch of elegance. Thank you both for your time and efforts in making our wedding day memorable.
All our love,
Brandon and Krystle

Closing Ceremony

Last night we had the privilege of providing the microphones and sound for the Closing Ceremony of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Galveston. The church took on more than 4 feet of water during Hurricane Ike, and it was sadly determined that it had to close. The church had been there for 45 years and was a fixture in the Galveston Catholic community. It was nice to see so many parishoners attend the outdoor service. Luckily, the weather was perfect and a kind neighbor ran an extension cord across the street to provide electricity for the service. St. Peter the Apostle Church will be missed.

Congratulations Will and Alicia

Such an elegant and romantic wedding! The ceremony took place in the room where we performed for the reception, and it was so pretty. The colors were ivory and mocha (a dark taupe color). The tables had white pin tuck overlays over white floor length linens, topped by 2 simple, elegant ivory flowers in a vase. The chairs had white chair covers with mocha sashes. There were ivory menus at each place setting, tucked in a specially folded napkin. As I said, it was very elegant.

Alicia was so beautiful in her white strapless gown. It had gorgeous embellishments on the front, with a French bustled back. Her veil matched with its embellishments. She carried an ivory bouquet of hydrangeas and roses. The Bridesmaids wore floor-length mocha gowns with champagne colored sashes. They carried smaller versions of Alicia’s bouquets, and they were all wrapped with ivory satin ribbon. Will and his Groomsmen looked so handsome in their taupe suits with ivory boutonnieres.

After a few words from the Bride and Groom and toasts, it was time for dinner. The guests loved the buffet stations! Then it was on to the cake cutting. Alicia’s cake was so elegant. It featured 4 stacked ivory tiers with ivory designs on each. The bottom of each tier was wrapped in a mocha ribbon. The top tier featured Alicia and Will’s last initial and a topper of hydrangeas. Will’s cake was perfect for the couple, as it was designed around the couple’s university, the University of Alabama. It had a large crimson A and said “Crimson Tide.”

After the cake cutting, it was on to the first dance and a family dance. Will and Alicia opted to do the family dance dedicated to their parents, grandparents, and close family members. So they briefly danced with all of them before it was party time.

This group partied from the first song to the last. From Hip Hop to slow to Spanish, they were on the floor all night. Favorites included Suavamente, Yeah, Don’t Stop Believin’ (everyone sang along on that one!), La Vida es un Carnival, Baby Got Back, Tu Sonrisa, Chicken Dance, Calle Ocho, Cha Cha Slide, Boot Scoot Boogie, Cupid Shuffle, Low, and many more. This group was fun!! Sweet Home Alabama was a big hit, as it’s the song of the Newlyweds’ alma mater. So, all the Crimson Tide students and alumni were on the dance floor having a blast, waving pom poms and singing along. At one point, the dancers spontaneously broke into a Conga line, which circled the room. At another time, they ended up with couples doing a ‘tunnel’, in which each couple went under the arms of the others and ended up at the end of the tunnel (kind of like a Grand March). Then there was the Thriller dance, and I can’t forget it when some of the male guests (I assume they were in a college fraternity), got out on the dance floor and did step moves while everyone gathered around. They were fantastic! Didn’t I say they this group was fun!?!

Finally, the night came to a close and the Newlyweds made their exit through cloud of bubbles, jumped in their Party Bus, and headed off to their honeymoon. Congratulations Will and Alicia!

Congratulations Robert and Lori

This wedding featured the colors of berry/purple and ivory. Lori wore a beautiful V-necked gown with beaded accents on the bodice, with a satin sash on the waist and matching trim on the skirt. The Bridesmaids wore a variety of floor-length berry colored gowns and they all looked beautiful. Robert wore a black tux with tails (very handsome!), with an ivory vest and tie. The Groomsmen wore white shirts with berry vests, and dark red rose boutonnieres. Lori’s flowers were ivory roses with dark red rose accents and the Bridesmaids carried dark red roses with ivory rose accents. As a special accent, there was a white dove at the reception, in a cage decorated with matching ribbon. It was at the ceremony also, and was there to represent marriage (because doves mate for life).

After a delicious dinner, it was time for the Special Dances. The Newlyweds danced while a friend sung “Bless the Broken Road.” Then, Lori danced with her brother (and they were very, very good!) while Robert danced with his mother. And then, party time! It was so funny when the dancing started. The Bride and Groom were immediately on the dance floor, along with two Groomsmen. The Groomsmen were doing the Running Man and the Robot, and Robert and Lori were dancing along. The Groom was quite a dancer and his Groomsmen were hysterical!! Then they got crazy with the Chicken Dance (I think over ½ of the guests were in that one), and it got crazier with YMCA. I have to say major props again to the Groom, Robert. He is so funny and hilariously entertaining on the dance floor. At one point, Lori did a Polka with a family member, and they rocked the Polka! I tell you, this group was F-U-N!!! (And once again, they show that you don’t need alcohol to have a great time!) Other hot songs for the night were The Twist, Macarena, Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, Shout, and more.

After two very nice toasts (one which ended with “…and keep dancing!” (I loved that), it was time for the cake cutting. The Bride’s cake was so pretty! It had 3 white, stacked tiers, with ‘painted’ designs on each. At the base of each tier was a rhinestone ‘ribbon', and it made the cake really sparkle! The top featured one lone stargazer lily. It made for a very elegant cake. Robert had a two-tiered chocolate cake with chocolate accents.

After the bouquet and garter, and changing in to going-away clothes, the Newlyweds made their exit. They walked through a very long ‘tunnel’ of friends and bubbles, and headed off to their Caribbean cruise. Congratulations Robert and Lori!!

Our condolences

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Robert Schaerer of CR Cakes. Chef Robert was a nice guy with an incredible talent for beautiful, delicious, and affordable cakes. He opened his bakery about a year ago, and was already becoming known for his amazing cakes. Our thoughts are with Chef Robert's family at this difficult time.

Galveston Bridal Show on Sunday

Here's one last reminder to come visit us at the Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island this Sunday, August 16th, from 12:00 - 4:00. For more information, go to www.bridalshowgalveston.com. We hope to see you there!

Congratulations Brandon and Krystle

Such a pretty reception for such a nice couple! The colors for this wedding were white, ivory and dark red, and they looked very elegant. The tables had white floor length table cloths with ivory overlays. Each centerpiece had dark red roses floating in a bowl, on a mirror. On the mirrors there were candles and scattered rose petals. The chairs had white chair covers with dark red organza sashes.

Krystle was stunning in her ivory gown with champagne accents. It had a halter neckline atop a beaded bodice and a gorgeous train with satin champagne trim. She carried white/ivory roses with dark red calla lilies. The Bridesmaids wore dark red cocktail length gowns (each got to pick her own style, which means they all looked great!). Brandon was handsome in his black tux and white vest, and his Groomsmen wore matching tuxes with darker taupe colored vests. It was all made for a very classic and elegant look.

Other touches included well wishes cards near the sign in table. The guests wrote some good wishes for the Bride and Groom on a small card and then dropped them in a vase. Those cards are a great item to put in a scrapbook later, or to read on each anniversary. As favors, the guests got to take home wedding pens, which had different phrases that alternated when you clicked them. The phrases included, “To have and to hold” and “Forever and ever” and others. I’ve never seen pens like those before and they were really cute. There were also little custom made heart-shaped soaps in little boxes, and wedding bell escort card holders on the tables. A lot of planning and time went into this wedding and it showed!

I must also mention the families. We loved them! All of the family members (as well as the guests) were so nice and so much fun. You can tell they all genuinely love each other and enjoy their time together, and are united in their faith. And then there’s Krystle’s mom: she’s awesome! She was very involved in the wedding process and really helped Krystle and Brandon with so much. She made the wedding planning go smoothly and you could tell it was a labor of love.

Instead of saving the bubbles for the exit, this couple had a bubble entrance. We had all the guests line up starting at the doorway, leading right up to the head table. Krystle and Brandon entered through the lines, were showered with bubbles, and went right to their seats. It was a fun and unique entrance.

The dancing started with the first dance, followed by the Father/Daughter dance. They had practice their dance and it was beautiful. Then the Mother/Son dance followed and it was so much fun! Brandon and his mom were grooving, doing the bump, and all kinds of fun dances. Everyone loved it and they were both great dancers! After the special dances, it was party time. The favorite song of the night was definitely the Cupid Shuffle, and the Cha Cha Slide was not far behind.

A perfect match to the wedding day colors, the Bride’s elegant cake featured four ivory stacked tiers, with a fondant drape running diagonally down the front, with red gum paste roses that looked like real roses. It was topped by two bejeweled, entwined hearts. The Groom’s cake was an ivory open bible with a dark red fondant ribbon, with scripture written on it. It was a nice way to recognize their faith on their wedding day.

The bouquet toss was so funny! The ladies were ready, Krystle was ready, I counted 1…..2….3!... Krystle tossed the bouquet, and… nothing. Where did it go? Sure enough, it was 15 feet up, stuck in the chandelier. It was hilarious! (I wonder if it will end up on America’s Funniest Home Videos?) We all laughed and I handed Krystle another bouquet. With a warning to keep it low, the final throw and catch was a success. Brandon’s garter removal and toss went off without a hitch.

Near the end of the night, many of the guests left and the immediate family stayed to party. It was so much fun watching Krystle, Brandon, their parents, and their friends laughing and being goofy on the dance floor. It was a small group but they were getting crazy out there, having a blast! But, finally the evening came to a close, a waiter climbed up a ladder to retrieve the bouquet, and the Newlyweds headed out to a new and wonderful life together. Congratulations Brandon and Krystle!

Congratulations Jason and Jessica

This was a wedding done Texas style. From the colors to the décor to the food, it was Texas all the way. The guests were tipped off to the theme when they arrived at the ceremony. As they listened to slow country love songs during the prelude, they saw two large western boots filled with assorted yellow and blue flowers at the altar. They were the biggest boots I’ve ever seen!

The colors were light blue with dark blue accents. The tables had white table cloths with light blue toppers. The centerpieces had rope lassos around them, and lassos also decorated the sign-in table and special tables. On the gift table there was a large blue tub to hold cards. It had the word “Texas” on it, and was accented with bluebonnets. There were two arrangements on the bar that consisted of Texas wildflowers in western boots. The coolest thing of all the décor was the candle holders. They were small, sawed off logs, ranging from 6” to 8” high, and had small holes drilled in the center for tea lights. They were hand made and were the perfect touch for this elegant Lone Star Celebration!

Jessica looked gorgeous in her white, strapless gown. It had a beaded, wrap-style bodice with a satin train and a corset back. It really accented her tiny waist. She looked so pretty and her beautiful bead-edged veil completed the look. Her bouquet consisted of assorted ivory/yellow flowers, including roses and hydrangea, and it was tied with a light blue ribbon. The Bridesmaids wore light blue gowns and carried bouquets of light blue hydrangea with yellow roses. Jason and the guys wore black tuxes. He wore a white vest and tie while the guys wore light blue vest and ties. They all wore matching yellow rose boutonnieres. The two Flower Girls were so adorable! They wore white dresses with light blue sashes atop white western boots. They carried the yellow petals in small tin buckets that were painted with bluebonnets. It was so cute!

The Bride’s cake had four ivory tiers with different accents on each. It was accented with blue hydrangeas and yellow roses. The Groom’s cake was interesting. It was green, iced with white yard lines to look like a football field, and said “Go Gators” and “The Swamp.” On the top there was a flat Gator head that was entirely edible. The table itself was covered in a Florida Gators print cloth. The whole Groom’s cake table was awesome. (While the Bride is from Texas, obviously, the Groom is from Florida). But by the end of the night, Jason had changed into a Texas flag print vest, which showed that he’s seen the light and loves Texas! I’ll also give you one guess what they served the guests for dinner…… You guessed it. Bar-B-Q, of course!

The garter removal was a bit unusual in that the Jessica wore a rope tied around her leg. But the secret was that she couldn’t find her garter, so I (with her permission, of course), fashioned a garter out of one of the lassos I took off a cocktail table. It actually worked out very cute, as the garter matched the décor.

Just when we thought the reception was winding down for the night, Jason, Jessica, and a bunch of the kids (and a few adults) ended up doing what I’ll call the “Run and Slide”. I have no idea how it began, but suddenly, the Bride would line up with all the little girls, they’d race down the dance floor, throw themselves on the floor, and slide the rest of the way. (And yes, Jessica was still wearing her wedding gown. But now, with her boots, of course.) Then Jason and the boys took their turn. This went on for at least 10 minutes and it was so funny! Note for the tuxedo place: if you got a pair of pants returned Monday with the knees worn out, now you know why. LOL The photographer and I agreed that we’d never seen that at a wedding reception before, but it was so much fun to watch! Congrats Jessica and Jason, you’ve officially been one of our wedding firsts. :-)

As the night came to a close, the tired but happy Newlyweds jumped in their truck and headed out to their new life together. Congratulations Jason and Jessica, and yee haw!

Great video to watch

This video shows how a great sense of humor can get you through any little mishap that may occur on your wedding day. The CD skipped during the Bride's processional, and the guests helped her along. We weren't the DJ for this wedding, I found it on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxyevPhxY7Y

We enjoyed meeting you this weekend

We had a good time at the Bridal Extravaganza this weekend and enjoyed meeting and speaking to you future Brides and Grooms. We loved hearing about the plans for your big day!

We want to say a special Thank You to Carol of Carol's Catering Service, who surprised me with a small cake on Saturday for my birthday. It was yummy and very happily eaten!

And another Thank You to Michelle and the crew over at Clear Lake Flowers. Ferdy spoke to them before the show and arranged for them to bring a beautiful vase of flowers to surprise me. (Here's where all the ladies, say "He's so sweet!" And yes, he's the best!!) So, that beautiful pink floral arrangement in our booth was a birthday gift from my wonderful husband.

To see us again soon, we'll be at the Bay Oaks Country Club Bridal Open House on Thursday, August 13, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Contact Julie at Bay Oaks for more information, at 281-488-7888 x3805.

We'll also be at the Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island on Sunday, August 16, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information go to www.bridalshowgalveston.com.

Happy Birthday Brooks

Tonight we had fun providing the entertainment for Brooks' 11th birthday pool party. There were plenty of people there, enjoying the music, food, cake, and cool water. All the kids were so nice and well behaved, it was so nice to see. They loved the Limbo Contest (congrats to Clare, Abby, Mallory, and Kyle, the winners). Later there was some dancing and I led the kids in the Cha Cha Slide. Oh, a big shout out to Brandon, who is quite the dancer! For fun, we gave out sunglasses, glow sticks, leis, and a few inflatable guitars. Although it was hot, it was a great time for all. Again, Happy Birthday Brooks!

Come visit us at the Bridal Extravaganza!

Don't forget that this weekend is the big Bridal Extravaganza! It is Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 - 5:00, and Sunday, July 26 from 11:00 - 5:00. We will be in booth #312. Come by and visit us! You can get more info on their website at www.BridalExtravaganzaShow.com.

And, if you're there on Saturday, make sure to wish me a Happy Birthday. :-)

Congratulations James and Kellie

Such a gorgeous Bride, handsome Groom, and amazing colors! I think that about sums it up, but I’ll still tell you the details. LOL The colors of the day were black and hot pink, and they were all tied in so beautifully! We provided music for the ceremony and reception, so we (Well, I should say “me” because Ferdy isn’t quite so into that stuff as I am) got to see all the little wonderful things they did to make their wedding perfect.

Kellie looked gorgeous in her white satin gown. It had a long train with beautiful embellishments on the bodice and skirt. I loved the bustle. It’s not one that I’ve seen before, but it tucked the skirt up to the waist and kept the smooth line of the skirt. It was very elegant! She carried a bouquet of hot pink roses. The Bridesmaids wore black cocktail length dresses and carried hot pink bouquets as well. They changed into matching fuchsia flip flops for the reception – very cute! James wore a black tux with white shirt, vest, and tie, while his Groomsmen wore black tuxes with white shirts, hot pink vests, and hot pink ties. They all wore hot pink boutonnieres. They all looked so nice!

The ceremony was so beautiful. The chapel had hot pink hyndrangeas on alternating pews, with candles in glass lanterns on the others. Just as the ceremony began, the sky darkened and it started to rain. (You do know it’s considered good luck if it rains on your wedding day, right?) With less light, the chapel was so romantic and intimate. The candles at the altar and on the aisle were glowing. Even the ceremony programs matched the colors. The information was printed on hot pink paper, which was mounted on a black and white damask print paper, with a black bow tied at the top. The programs were very striking and I loved them!

The reception was equally beautiful. The tables had white floor length table cloths with white napkins and white chair covers. The black chair ties and hot pink centerpieces pulled the look together. The table centerpieces featured one main arrangement, with two smaller arrangements on each side. They were a mix of assorted fuchsia flowers (stargazer lilies, roses, and more). They were gorgeous.

The Bride’s cake was a perfect match to the day. It was white, with four square tiers, white scroll designs on each layer and a black ribbon on the bottom of each. There were hot pink roses between each tier, and petals scattered on the table. The Bride and Groom’s initials were on the top. The Groom’s cake was amazing! It was a blue Mustang Saleen: a replica of James’ car. It was done with amazing detail. I couldn’t believe it!

Another cool thing at this reception was the Candy Buffet. It was on layers of fuchsia and black organza, with assorted glass vases that had hot pink and black ribbons around them. There were little bags to take home your treats, and they featured the couple’s names and wedding date on them (in hot pink, of course). I tell you, every little detail of this wedding was so well planned and it was evident.

After dinner, the cake cutting, the toasts, and the special dances, it was time for the party to begin! There were so many adorable little ones at this wedding, and I loved it. It’s so cute to see the kids in their dressy clothes, running around the dance floor. Big dance floor hits with this group were Cha Cha Slide, Play That Funky Music, Single Ladies, Cupid Shuffle, and Baby Got Back. To add to the fun, the photographer had set up a photo area with a backdrop, and he was getting the guests to get silly in front of the camera. The Crazy Booth poses were hysterical and everyone a great time participating as well as watching! We also had a great time with this couple: they’re both so nice and James is too funny!

Finally after the Money Dance and Bouquet and Garter Tosses, it was time for the evening to come to close. The Newlyweds ran through a shower of petals (hot pink, of course) and took off in a limo to their new life together. Congratulations Kellie and James and have fun in Cancun!

Congratulations Donnie and Rachael

What a pretty afternoon wedding reception! It was held at Maggiano’s on Post Oak, and not only was the ballroom pretty, but the food and staff were great as well. The colors of the wedding were indigo (blue), champagne (ivory), and silver. The tables had ivory tablecloths and were topped by alternating high/low centerpieces of flowers including ivory and blue hydrangea. The programs for the ceremony and the bubbles for the exit were tied with blue ribbon, to match. Something you don’t see often, but is a nice touch, is a donation favor. This couple did that, by donating to a charity in lieu of giving favors to the guests. There were cards on the tables letting the guests know that it was done.

Rachael was gorgeous in her strapless, ivory fitted gown: she has such a tiny waist! She carried a bouquet of blue hydrangeas and ivory calla lilies. The Bridesmaids wore strapless, cocktail length gowns in indigo, and carried bouquets of ivory calla lilies tied with blue ribbons. The Groom wore an ivory vest and tie under his tux, with a blue hydrangea boutonniere. The Groomsmen wore silver ties and vests with ivory boutonnieres. It all looked very elegant and summery.

Now for the cakes. The Bride’s cake had three ivory colored tiers with their last name initial on the top. The top and bottom tier had a simple blue ribbon ‘tied’ around each one, with a bow on the front. The middle layer had blue accents all over it (I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s like blue squiggles.) The Groom’s cake was amazing! The theme of his square chocolate cake was deer hunting, so I guess we know his hobby. :-) The cake itself was chocolate, with a deer stand on top. The stand was covered in chocolate and had green icing vines and leaves all over it. The front of the cake had an icing blue ‘river’ running down it. On the rest of the cake there were chocolate trees with green icing leaves, and chocolate covered ‘rocks’. The only things not edible or covered in chocolate or icing were the deer. That cake was really, really awesome!

After a seated, family style dinner of spaghetti and chicken parmesan (which the guests loved), the special dances, the cake cutting and toasts, it was time to party! This was another reception that shows that you can have lots of fun and dancing in the daytime. After the third song (you know it takes a little bit for people to get warmed up), it was dancing until the end. A bit later, the Bride and her Zeta sisters did a Sorority Candlelight, followed by more dancing. I can’t forget the dance dedicated to Dylan, Donnie and Rachael’s son. It was sweet that even though he was too young to understand, they wanted a special song just for him. He was a little cutie!

After lots more dancing (and some dancing craziness near the end of the reception LOL), and the bouquet and garter tosses, it was time for the newlyweds to leave. They ran through a shower of bubbles and took off in a gorgeous antique limo to begin their new life together. Congratulations Rachael and Donnie!

Congratulations Ronnie and Tonja

This was the Brady Bunch, 4th of July but the colors weren’t red or blue, held in a Historic ballroom, wedding of the year, and it was wonderful! I say Brady Bunch because, between the Bride and Groom, they have 5 daughters. Gorgeous and sweet girls, they already fit together like family.

Although the wedding was on July 4th, it wasn’t all about the holiday. It just happened to be the day that worked best for this couple’s schedule. The colors were a soft and summery mix of soft pink, mauve, ivory, and sage. The colors were perfect for the ballroom, which held tables covered with cloths of ivory damask topped by vintage oil lamps for centerpieces. The Bridesmaids wore soft pink gowns and had pink and ivory flowers. Tonja’s oldest daughter walked her down the aisle, so she wore the same gown as the Bridesmaids, but in sage green.. The Groom and his Best Man wore sage vest and ties with matching pink and ivory flowers.

The Bride’s cake matched the colors as well. It was 3-tiered, ivory, with sage ribbons around the bottom of each tier, and had mauve and ivory flowers spiraling down the front. There was a tiny bit of cake smashing when the couple fed each other the cake, but it wasn’t too bad and only required Tonja to blow her nose to get all the cake out. :-)

The ceremony prelude music was a bit unique in that it was timed to a slideshow put together by Ronnie. So, the guests got to enjoy the photos and accompanying music while waiting for the ceremony to start. Finally, Tonja walked down the aisle in a pretty gown with soft layers of chiffon. Combine the dress with the curls in her hair, and Tonja looked like a Greek goddess!

After picture taking and appetizers, the Bride and Groom were announced into the room and dinner began. Following the First Dance and the Bridal Party Dance (which was to the Chicken Dance – that’s when the guests knew the night was going to be a lot of fun!), it was party time. Everyone had a lot of fun dancing, especially Ronnie and Tonja. I knew going in that Tonja would probably be a big dancer, but I didn’t expect that Ronnie would be on the dance floor so much. He’s a real party guy!

The bouquet toss (bouquet caught by Tonja’s oldest daughter) and the garter tosses were over, and the dancing continued until the end of the night. (They had already done a bubble exit after the ceremony, so everyone got to dance until the very end of the reception.) Finally the happy Newlyweds left for their honeymoon cruise. Congratulations to you both and enjoy your trip!

Happy 4th of July!

Today is the day we celebrate the signing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence: the birthday of our nation. Independence Day. While you are all out celebrating by eating hot dogs and apple pie, watching fireworks, and enjoying the parades, don't forget the meaning. Celebrate not only for the fun, but remind yourself of the amazing freedoms we have in our country. Remember the service men and women who have and continue to fight for our right to live free. While we will be working a wedding, we will be celebrating as well: the birth of a new family that is joined together in marriage. Go out there and have a safe and happy July 4th!

Congratulations Landon and Amanda

This was one of our more unique receptions, and it was a perfect for the Bride and Groom. The reception was for a Christian couple, held at an Indian restaurant, in the morning/early afternoon, with lots of Spanish music mixed in. How’s that for unique! I loved it. Amanda was not your traditional bride, yet every single part of the day was perfect and a beautiful reflection of the Newlyweds.

The Bride wore a gorgeous wedding gown with white Stephanotis flowers pinned in her hair. There was no Bridal Party, although they had witnesses standing up for them at the altar. The women wore any dress of their choosing, with wrist corsages. Amanda carried a soft pink and white floral bouquet that matched the other flowers. The men at the altar wore suits with pink and white boutonnières, as did the Groom.

The restaurant needed no extra décor, as it was already very pretty. So, there was no need for centerpieces to be brought in. The dinner consisted of three courses and all kinds of Indian food that I can’t even spell or pronounce. :-) The guests loved it all! The wedding cakes were one traditional element of the reception. The Bride’s cake was three-tiered, vanilla with raspberry filling, and a soft pink and white bow on top. The Groom’s cake was two-tiered, chocolate, and accented with strawberries.

After the cake cutting, toasts, and special dances, the dance floor was opened with the Anniversary Dance. (Some of you may know this as the Married Couples Dance. It’s when we invite all married couples to the dance floor and then slowly eliminate them down to the one married the longest. It’s a nice way to recognize long, happy marriages.) The longest married couple has been married for 37 years and shared some words of wisdom to the Newlyweds. The husband was smart, and advised Landon to always get the last words in an argument: “Yes, Dear.” Everyone had a laugh and it was on to party time!

The crowd was a lot of fun, and danced to all genres of music. We didn’t play any Pop, Country, or current Top 40, but everyone still had a great time. The guests danced to Rat Pack, oldies, Salsa, Merengue, Spanish Pop, Reggaeton, and more. The dance floor was overflowing most of the time!

This wedding was a wonderful example of how Brides and Grooms can do things a little outside of the norm, and end up with a wonderful day that matches their personalities and interests. It was an ideal day, full of happiness, and absolutely perfect for this couple that is so much in love.

Amanda and Landon’s honeymoon is one of the coolest I’ve ever heard of. They are going to spend time in Italy and France, and then walk through Spain on a 500 mile pilgrimage. How’s that for awesome! It truly will be a trip to remember.

After the bouquet toss, the afternoon finally came to a close and the Newlyweds headed out under a shower of bubbles. Congratulations to you both and enjoy your honeymoon!

Congratulations Ian and Meghan

For this ceremony and reception, we were at the beautiful Pine Forest Country Club. The colors were pink and sage green, which were perfect for a summer wedding. The alternating high/low centerpieces consisted of assorted pink, green, and white flowers surrounded by candles. The white table cloths added to the summery look (well, and the view of the golf course from the windows did also. :-) Even the favors matched: pink and green Jelly Bellies in little boxes, tied with pink and sage ribbons. Luckily, the events were all held indoors, because the temperature outside was around 100 degrees and it would have been so hot!

Meghan was so beautiful in her gown: it had a full, ball gown skirt with layers of tulle, lightly sprinkled with beaded accents, topped by a beaded bodice. Her long, chapel length veil was gorgeous with its beaded accents that matched the gown's skirt. The bridesmaids all wore sage green gowns and carried pink flowers, as did the Bride. Ian looked handsome in his tux with sage green vest and tie. The groomsmen wore the same and they all looked great!

The ceremony was so sweet and filled with meaning. It’s obvious that Ian and Meghan are very much in love and strong in their faith. Their first kiss was one of the longest ones we’ve ever seen, and the guests loved it! I must mention the soloist, Regan, who played the guitar and sang during the unity candle lighting. She is only 16 years old, and is already amazing! She has an incredible natural talent and I can honestly see her being well known in the music industry some day.

After the special dances, it was time for the toast and cake cutting. The Bride had cupcakes instead of a traditional cake, and they were arranged beautifully. The guests loved the assortment of flavors, and they were a big hit! (Oh, wait, I have to get back to the toasts. I think this wedding won the prize for the most toasts ever. There were nine toasts, and they lasted for over twenty minutes!) It was plain to see that many people love Ian and Megan and wanted to share their wishes for them.

From the first song to the last, everyone was on the dance floor having a great time. From the littlest ones to the oldest, all the guests had fun dancing. There were so many cute little kids at this wedding, and they were all so sweet! This was another reception that proved that you don’t have to have alcohol to have a fun time.

Following the bouquet and garter tosses and the last dance, Ian and Meghan ran through sparklers, jumped in their well-decorated car, and headed off to their new life together. Congratulations Newlyweds and enjoy your honeymoon in the Florida Keys!

Congratulations Keith and Laura

This afternoon wedding reception was the second one for this Bride and Groom. They got married a week earlier in her home state of Kansas, and it was a full, traditional ceremony and reception. This reception was for their friends and family in Texas. Can you imagine how much more relaxed the Newlyweds were at this one? Another added bonus is: Laura got to wear her wedding dress again!

The reception was held at the South Shore Harbour Country Club, which has a beautiful view of the golf course from the wall of windows in the ballroom. The colors of the day were white and blue. The white chair covers had blue chair ties, and the centerpieces were pretty, alternating high/low arrangements of white roses and other flowers, surrounded by candles. Each place setting had a customized white bookmark with Keith and Laura’s names printed in blue. The room was very pretty!

One unusual aspect of this wedding was the Groom’s cake. Instead of a traditional cake, he had mini, custom made cheesecakes, with strawberry sauce to drizzle over the tops. How fun, and who doesn’t love cheesecake?

Finally it was time to dance! Laura, the beautiful bride, got to dance her first Chicken Dance. Welcome to Texas! (I wonder if she thought we were all crazy?) This crowd loved the fun, interactive songs, like Macarena, YMCA, Cha Cha Slide, and Twist and Shout. Sometimes there’s not a lot of dancing at a reception when it’s still light outside, but not this one. I must mention the cutest little girl that was dancing all night. She was three years old and the best dancer ever! She’d follow along with every song, copying everyone’s dance moves. I tell you, that little girl and her bright green painted toenails was just too adorable!

The evening came to a close and Keith and Laura stayed until the end to see their guests off. Congratulations (again) to the Newlyweds!