We're taking a brief break from the foodie fun to talk about something a little more nostalgic. This past year was completely taken over by weddings and the preparations leading up to them. Four amazing couples had asked me to be a part of their special days, some as active participants, some as merely a guest of the merriment. All I can say is that I am truly honored to have been considered and I want to thank those people for letting me be there to take part in a very special moment in their lives.
Photo courtesy of Caitlin H. Photo courtesy of Mary M.
Photo by Leah LaRicci Photography Photo courtesy of Kim J.
Looking back, I was amazed that each of the four weddings was so completely different but so inherently reflective of the couples themselves. Whether it was through color choices, location, decoration, or overall theme, the fact that the occasions seemed to represent who these people were as couples just made them that much more special and not anything I will ever forget.
Photo courtesy of Mellissa C.
Mellissa and Chris had vibrant colors and let their personalities (and those of their friends) shine throughout the whole process, for which, I can say, we are very grateful. As a bridesmaid, we were given free range over what style of dress we felt most comfortable in. The only requirement was the color and fabric of the dress (an electric pink, reflecting Mellissa's undeniably bold personality). While many brides would go for soft and ethereal, Mellissa charges headfirst into color and whimsy. She wanted her wedding to make an impact, and once you saw the shoes we all wore, there's no denying she did just that. The pictures were fun and lighthearted with a little bit of impropriety thrown in, because it wouldn't be Mellissa and Chris if it wasn't just a little bit cheeky. The venue was the gorgeous Glen Manor in Portsmouth, RI, a dream location for any couple looking to pair romance and ambiance with fun and frivolity. We danced, we drank, we ate DELICIOUS food (hello pasta station!!), and celebrated an amazing couple and their adorable family.
Photo Courtesy of Devon H.
Courtney and Matt had one very clear direction: Family. They wanted everyone involved, not just to alleviate the pressure of having to do it all themselves, but because they wanted people to feel like it was their day, too. While Courtney and Matt were busy studying for their bar exams, which they took two days before the wedding (they passed, in case you were wondering), their families was busy securing the church and the priests (his family is very good friends with the priest of their church), double and triple checking things with the caterers, the DJ, the bartenders, and of course, the tent. Family members took the photos that served as the backdrops for the invitations and response cards, brothers and sisters stood as members of the wedding party, family was the theme of the day. Shortly after they announced their engagement, Courtney and Matt had asked if I would make the cake. At first, I was elated, but as the day drew closer, that excitement turned to fear and then to panic and finally to nausea. Anticipation surged through my veins as I walked the cake from the car to the display table, but seeing the looks on Matt and Courtney's faces when they saw it made everything else seem unimportant. While the ceremony was traditional and romantic (a clear depiction of Matt), the reception was an ebullient display of childhood fun (an exact illustration of Courtney), so the day was exactly and perfectly Matt and Courtney.
Photo by Leah LaRicci Photography
Kate and Tom wanted fun and colorful memories, and surprises where you least expect them. Instead of a traditional guest book, they had a scrapbook (made by a dear friend who loves them so very much...cough cough...Eugene...cough cough) and asked people to answer questions about the couple like "If a movie were made about Kate and Tom, what would it be titled?" or "What's the best advice for a happy marriage?" and "Where do you see Tom and Kate in 5 years?" Most of the wedding details were homemade, which makes for wonderful keepsakes. The centerpieces were made entirely by the bride herself. The bouquets and boutonnieres were handmade felt flowers, assembled by the bridal party before the ceremony in a moment we referred to as 'forced arts and crafts.' But while the real flowers in other bouquets will only last so long, the felt flowers in my bouquet from this wedding are still nestled together in a vase on my desk, as vibrant and impressive as they were on the wedding day. Kate and Tom had a friend officiate the ceremony, giving it a little more of a personal touch. Rather than simply exchanging vows (which they wrote themselves), they also chose to do a Letter-Writing ceremony, where they wrote love letters to each other and (without peeking at what the other wrote) sealed them in a box with a bottle of wine and two goblets. They will open the box on their fifth wedding anniversary, read the letters, enjoy the wine, and remember the day the committed themselves to each other.
Photo Courtesy of Kim S.J.
Mary and Andy are anything but a normal couple. There is something about them that makes them unquestionably perfect for each other. Her quick wit and somewhat offbeat sense of humor is only rivaled by his penchant for off-color comments and ability to find a double-entendre in even the most innocent of scenarios. So it seems only fitting that entertainment would find its way into their wedding theme. The colors were not something anyone really ever sees in a November wedding. You expect to see deep ambers and subdued greens. Not at Mary's wedding. Her bridesmaids wore gorgeous rich yellow dresses, adding a much needed burst of light to the somber greys creeping into our everyday lives. The tables weren't numbered, they were titled. Instead of sitting at table 8 or 10, you could sit at Mean Girls or Wayne's World. The bridal party were introduced with individual entrance themes, more familiar to those who follow the world of wrestling, while a title belt circulated the room for those lucky enough to get a hold of it. Ever the class clowns, Mary and Andy had a photo booth set up, complete with props of fake mustaches, glasses, hats, and feather boas, and asked that you keep a copy of the photos for yourself, but also place a copy in a scrapbook with whatever congratulations, well-wish, or (in traditional Mary and Andy fashion) inappropriate comment you'd like to make.
While each event was as different as can be, they were all fun representations of the couples themselves. There are four days this year that I will never forget and more memories than I could ever hope for. So this Diary entry is dedicated to you, my darling friends, who gave me the great honor of being a part of your fantastically amazing and wonderfully special days.
I love you all.
Sincerely,
Eugene
