September 21, 2008
Leah & Rob: Love At First Sight
The MeetingLeah and Rob met in late 2005 when they were introduced by friends, and it was quite honestly love at first sight. Love at first sight sounds like a fairy tale and they wanted to be cautious. Each of them couldn’t imagine that finding someone so perfect could be easy and were waiting for the ball to drop. It never did. The two became inseparable and their compatibility was awe inspiring and heartfelt. They became the couple that you see and can only assume they just met because they were so enamored by each other. The truth is that they are truly in love and are always selflessly thinking of each other.
The EngagementAfter dating for almost six months, Rob surprised Leah with an anniversary trip to her hometown of Monterey. It was December 2nd, 2006 and Rob booked a gorgeous room at the remarkable Monterey Plaza Hotel. The first night there, they went up to enjoy the roof top spa overlooking the whole bay. They were greeted with a beautiful clear night and a full moon shinning over them. For Rob, “It was as if I flashed forward in my mind and saw her walking down the aisle towards me. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this woman and asked her to marry me. With a look of surprise, she accepted and kissed me.”
The Big DayAll Leah and Rob ever wanted was to commit to each other completely and had considered eloping many times just to make it official. Each time they dismissed the idea due to the fact they wanted to share their day with everyone that has supported them. On the day of their wedding, having spent their first night apart since starting to date, they were both anxious to be back in each other’s arms. While they were excited to share the morning with family and friends, all either could think about was seeing the other during their first sighting and sharing the moment together that they had been planning for. Their first sighting was full of emotion and excitement as Rob saw Leah standing before him as an absolute sun kissed vision. She took his breath away. As Leah turned to greet Rob for their first sighting she couldn’t help but think she was marrying the sexiest man alive!
Their ceremony and reception were everything they imagined. They were graced with perfect weather, jubilant friends and family, delicious food, great music, love and support for this union. Everyone was there to celebrate the reality that love at first sight is possible.
Photography:
The Memory JournalistsCeremony/Reception Venue:
David Girard VineyardsCoordinator: friend
Florist: Floral Artistry
Cake: Classic Cakes
Band: Tim Dierkes and friends
Favors: cookies from
Cookie ConnectionLounge Station Rentals:
Celebrations! Elegant Party Rentals
If you're not a huge cake fan, talk to your caterer or baker about creating an individual dessert that your guests can enjoy. They will have tons of ideas and your guests can try something other than the expected cake they see at most traditional weddings. Consider something like this delicately designed bread pudding. Mmmm....
If you have friends that can be trusted, work with a DJ that will get your friends up on the mic! We're not saying to turn this into a karaoke session, but if you have a few friends that can capture the room with a great Marvin Gaye or Faith Hill rendition, work with your DJ and friends to get this party started!
Sometimes the container that holds the flower makes a big impact. If you choose a vase, cup or different container that plays into your theme, that can be the focal point and you can use less flowers as a filler.
Why follow suit? Choose an offbeat theme for your wedding reception. Maybe invite your guests backstage at a rock concert.
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists; design by Blooms by Martha Andrews & Arcularius Events
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists; design by Blooms by Martha Andrews
Setting props around the room can really make an impact on guests regarding your theme. This is also a unique way to share your hobbies/interests with your guests.
Ask your venue what the servers will wear if you are doing passed appetizers or food service. You may be able to get them to play into your wedding theme with accessories such as a top hat!
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
September 21, 2008
Ask your photographer what time they or their team will be arriving at the church or ceremony location. You want to make sure that they get some shots of the venue before the ceremony begins to capture the natural beauty and decor details without all the people. You want to capture every element that you spent so much time coordinating, creating and setting up.
Thanks to all the Dynamite Experts that participated in the Dynamite Weddings Workshop last Sunday! The brides have given the event great reviews so far, saying things like: "This workshop/class setup beats a regular bridal expo any day. The "hands-on" learning in the workshop, and learning from experts in-person provide a great head start for wedding planning. It was much better than reading advice from a magazine!"
Funky Chic
Current Trends
Outdoor Chic
Sparkling Glam
Thanks to The Memory Journalists for capturing great photos throughout the event!
Don't forget to take your dress out a few days or week before the wedding and let it breathe. Don't forget to fluff it frequently. If your dress is at family or friend's house, make the trek or ask them to take on the responsibility. If you're dress touches the floor when out of the bag, consider placing a towel underneath to avoid picking up dirt.
Consider a collection of individually potted succulents as a centerpiece. These can also double as guest favors that can be taken home and planted in their own yard. This will save you the trouble of clearing the tables at the end of the night and will save on tons of materials being wasted.
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
Photo provided by The Memory Journalists
