After five years as a couple and another year of engagement (and wedding planning!), Laura’s and Tyler’s Great Day was finally drawing close, and I am so honored they chose my company, A Day Like No Other, to coordinate their wedding. To make it easy on their guests, many of whom had come from far (and a good number even from Europe) to share their joyful occasion, the couple opted for a hotel where everyone could simply stay and be pampered: the Marriott in San Mateo.
Laura had chosen a bold and striking color combination to go with her dramatic ivory-and-silver wedding dress: teal (for the bridesmaids’ dresses), hot pink (for the bouquets by Floravida)
and a dash of cobalt (chair sashes and napkins) to round it off.
For Laura, her four bridesmaids and the mothers, the day began with a beauty session in the two-story bridal suite with hair by Char Petersen ([email protected]) and makeup by Lanay, the Makeup Girl. Photographer James Everett and the Less Than Three Video Team captured the ladies getting ready – and then the bride was being helped into her voluminous dress.
Off to photos with bridesmaids …
… and the bride’s family – especially with the bride’s brother Lane who was also the officiant!
The groom and his groomsmen were meanwhile treated to a grooms’ party by the groom’s Dad …
… to make sure they wouldn’t try to get a peak at the bride, because… Laura absolutely did not want to be seen by Tyler before the ceremony! Everybody played along, and so the last moments before the ceremony became very emotional…
The ceremony took place in a courtyard with a beautiful gazebo, and the aisle decor matched the bride’s favorite colors perfectly:
Here they are, with Lane officiating (and doing a wonderful job with a deeply personal ceremony).
The day turned out to be perfect, summery, sunny under blue skies with a light (and sometimes stronger) breeze that blew away the petals on the aisle… and the bride and groom were all smiles! DJ Dan of Love in the Mix provided wedding music, Pachelbel’s traditional Canon in D followed by “A Thousand Years.” And everyone needed the tissues the bride wisely provided for the guests!
Just married…
Immediately following the ceremony, our photographer took a group shot of everyone attending the wedding – more than a hundred friends and family members!
While the couple had their traditional post-ceremony photos taken, guests enjoyed cocktails and snacks, followed by a lavish sit-down dinner in the elegant “Engage” ballroom.
Once guests were seated, the newlyweds were introduced …
… and enjoyed their (beautifully choreographed) First Dance:
Toasts and speeches punctuated a delicious meal, but Bride and Groom had one mandatory task waiting for them: cutting the cake (by Studio Cake):
(“T” for Tyler, “L” for Laura, and “C” for the initial of both their last names – isn’t that perfect?!)
Another highlight of the evening was a special surprise by the Mother of the Groom: a musical slide show to accompany the Mother-Son dance!
Then the dance floor was officially opened to everyone, kicking off a wild dance party! Guests just took a break for the bouquet toss and garter toss …
and then later on to enjoy a surprise sundae buffet.
In lieu of a conventional guest book, guests signed a matted and framed engagement photo of Laura and Tyler – ready-to-go artwork for their home and a forever-cherished keepsake for sure!
And here is why I love my job so much:
Many happy years together, Laura and Tyler, and our best wishes on your way!
