Northern Girl, Southern Wedding

Meaningful Music

I've been in New Orleans since Thursday for a work trip that brought me to the Essence Music Festival. Being here surrounded by all of the fabulous events and musical artists has been such a treat, and actually reminds me of our wedding day!

Jedd and I have been coming to New Orleans for the last 6 years for New Year's Eve and as often as we can throughout the year. We love this city so much -- the food, music and spirit are tough to beat. We even considered it as a destination wedding spot. While that didn't happen, we did have a chance to bring one of our favorite bands from New Orleans (and old friends of ours) to our wedding to play the reception: The Stooges Brass Band. These guys are amazing. 

Whether you have a band or a DJ, music is one way to truly make your special day feel like YOU as a couple. Think about music that inspires you, gives you a special feeling and/or makes you dance! Do you have a connection with anyone musical? How can they be part of your day, whether during the ceremony, cocktail hour or reception?

Because we wanted the reception to feel like a big dance party, we played throwback dance hits for the first part of the reception and then kicked into high gear with the band -- who eventually marched us right out of the hotel "Second Line" style, down the hill, and across the street to the hotel where everyone was staying. We will never forget the musical memories from our wedding.

 

Photo credit: Eleise Theuer Photography

What Would You Do With 100 Guitars?

This past weekend Jedd and I walked past a fabulous window display at Bloomingdales in midtown (image below.) I tugged on his sleeve with a childlike "look, look!" and we both ooh-ed and aah-ed. I'd love to see what fun could be had styling a wedding around not just music but the iconic guitar itself.

For those of you who've been to the Jimi Hendrix Experience Museum in Seattle, the "cyclone" of guitars and other stringed instruments gives a similar amazement factor.

So Very Thankful

 
It's been hard to know what the right next post should be after something as amazing and surreal as ones wedding.

I am so thankful for so many things, especially the sheer bliss in the days that followed the big day. We reveled in the feeling that we had really pulled it off. Something that fun, that filled with people we care about, that "perfect" wedding that was everything we imagined -- and all the things we never could have imagined we'd feel during that special time. 

I think it's because our definition of perfect emphasized everyone just having a really relaxing, fun time. We didn't want anything to feel overly scheduled. We didn't want it to appear as though we had focused on frivolities. So we made it that way. We focused on the fun.

We had a key requirement -- a solid level of quality from all of our vendors. I can HIGHLY recommend the following folks if you are planning an event of any kind in the Hampton Roads area:

 

Planning & Coordination: Weddings by Michelle. In a word -- amazing. They worked with me for more than a year (we had a very long engagement) to help bring the ideas I had on paper to life in a seamless, natural way. I can't say enough about Michelle & Kim and wish I had another reason to work with them again! They are simply the best.

Ceremony, Reception & Catering: The Cavalier Hotel. The space was classically Southern (we used the Raleigh Lounge & Porches in the old Cavalier on the hill); the food was outstanding. The entire staff was lovely to work with.

Photography: Eleise Theuer. She was everywhere while also being totally under the radar -- I can't wait to see the pictures!

Cake: The Magic Cupboard. Simple, beautifully crafted, delicious.

Flowers: Bloom the Art of Flowers. Gorgeous variety, lush arrangements.

Make-up: Kim Porter. She did a fabulous job enhancing everyone's beauty!

Lighting: Blue Steel Pro Lighting. I can't say enough about how the lighting enhanced the mood. Loved it.

DJ: Arch Entertainment, DJ Seamus. Kept us dancing -- so easy and professional to work with.

We also imported a couple of folks --

Hair: My friend Daniel from Salon 2b in NYC created my stunning updo.

Band: The Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans performed during the second half of the reception. We've known these guys for a long time and they were kind enough to come up to play the wedding. Amazing performance, so much fun. See them if you are ever in the Big Easy!

This special group of people helped us make the day all that we wanted it to be. 

 

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway -- the greatest ingredient was the collective of friends and family who came from all over the country (and even a few from Mexico) to share this weekend with us. We could really feel the joy and positivity from everyone and that made it so very special. We loved it. 

Collecting Inspiration By Color

Over time a vision evolves. Even over a week. I made the board on the left last week or so, and within a couple of days already evolved the color scheme to look more like the right. You can see where elements of consistency lie -- things that are fixed versus things that are in flux. Ideas that we love versus ideas that we are just playing around with. Southern, but with touches and sensibilities that transcend our location and come down to our personal tastes. Note the sweet little gobs -- a Northern treat that is actually from Jedd's childhood with family in Western PA. They originated in central PA -- Amish country, and also sometimes called "whoopie pies" -- and are little chocolate cake discs with a white creamy frosting filling. His grandmother makes the BEST gobs!

I'm still playing with all of this...of course. It's scary exciting to think how much this might change between now and a year from now when the rubber hits the road and we really have to make some final decisions.