Diahann and Brent – Urban Elegance for a Wedding with Friends and Family

Posted on July 29, 2013 by jlammerts

When Diahann and Brent first met, they embarked on a true whirlwind romance. Says Diahann, “That first kiss changed my life; a kiss I will surely never forget.” And Brent was so overwhelmed that instead of devising elaborate plans for the perfect proposal, just did it at his first visit to meet her family. Talk of being carried away… Getting married was the natural next step for them, but – super-busy professional people that they both are – the execution of that plan wasn’t quite as easy. “The day doesn’t have enough hours to get it all done,” was what I heard from Diahann all the time while I was planning with her and for her. The two wanted an elegant, urban, and distinctive setting for their Great Day, and they found it in the hip Le Meridien Hotel in San Francisco’s Financial District.

Stark modern architecture in clean lines forms an impressive framework in front of million-dollar-views of downtown San Francisco. For their wedding, the two “headquartered” in the Penthouse Suite, perched on the 24th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows,

and Diahann’s family, after a long trip from various East Coast locations, enjoyed the luxury of the Meridien as well. Speaking of family: that is perhaps one of the most striking aspects of this beautiful couple – their closeness to their family members and best friends, the warmth that surrounds them. So, all urban elegance aside, this was as much a celebration of family and friendship as a fancy party.

How to bring both together? Diahann had ideas, and together we made them a reality! The ceremony was held on the second floor of the Meridien, decked out with flowers, an arch, and blue-shining carved lanterns on stanchions along an aisle sprinkled with white and blue petals. The silver shimmer of the elegant chiavari chairs brought in the third element of Diahann’s wedding colors: white, blue and silver.An arch decorated with arrangements of white hydrangea, white orchids, fragrant white Stargazer lilies and ivy, accentuated with blue iris was the stunning focal point for the ceremony officiated by Rev. Kathy Wilkerson of Heartfelt Weddings.

The bride – radiant in a Vera Wang dress and lace-edged veil, walked in on her father’s arm to the sounds of Schubert’s Ave Maria, performed by the Garden Strings Trio. The bridesmaids all wore cobalt blue dresses of varying style, and the groom and groomsmen were outfitted with matching neckties and pocket squares. The bridal bouquet and bridesmaids’ bouquets rounded out the unified look –

white hydrangeas, orchids and blue iris in silk cuffs by Petals Floral Boutique.

Following their “I Do’s,” the new “Mr. and Mrs.” danced down the aisle, followed by the whole bridal party, also dancing – and that joy would set the mood for the rest of the evening! And every moment was recorded on photo and video by Indulge Studios.

For them, it was now “photo time”…
The stark architecture of the Meridien Hotel formed an expressive backdrop for Indulge Photography’s staged group photos…

… but eventually the couple needed just a quiet moment to themselves!
And then, after cocktail hour on the patio, guests enjoyed a lavish dinner in the Park Grille Restaurant,

all glowing in blue from the sparkling centerpieces that the bride had envisioned and I had put together – dripping crystal chandeliers over tall glass cylinders adorned with sequined cuffs and filled with blue fairy lights: just have a look for yourself:

And then: the cake! A little masterpiece by Katrina Rozelle, the cake design artfully complemented the bride’s stunning dress, from bodice to ruffled skirt, and even displayed the groom’s attire, right down to his blue necktie! Then it was time for the couple’s First Dance – and they kept on dancing to DJ Steve Perry’s music long after the last guests had left, just the two of them… and Steve kept playing for them until their Last Dance: “Unforgettable…”

And that’s what it was, unforgettable! Congratulations, Diahann and Brent, and all our good wishes on your way to your future together!

Hooray – we’re on Style Me Pretty!!

Posted on June 6, 2013 by jlammerts

Dear friends of Wedding Woof –

Great news! A Day Like No Other, my company, just earned another badge: One of my weddings, Nicole and Isaac – last October in San Francisco – just got published on Style Me Pretty! Look up “San Francisco Wedding from Nima Salimi” (our wonderful photographer) and enjoy!

Sophisticated Glamour: Jane and Greg’s Wedding at the Julia Morgan Ballroom

Posted on March 21, 2013 by jlammerts

Last Sunday, I had the honor of coordinating (alongside famed onsite coordinator Linda Hylen) a glamorous evening wedding at one of San Francisco’s most prestigious venues: the Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Merchant’s Exchange Building, in the heart of the City’s Financial District. For their ceremony in the presence of 120 guests, the elegant couple, Jane and Greg, chose the impressive lobby, with neoclassical accents and a soaring barrel ceiling:

Cellist Suellen Primost set the festive mood before the ceremony, and the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers performed throughout – filling the immense space with truly glorious sound. Towering arrangements of white phalaenopsis orchids and branches (by Deidre Rastelli of Tutti Fiori) adorned the ceremony site where a radiant bride and groom exchanged vows and rings.

Ceremony arrangements – photo by Jessica Stout

Down the aisle – photo by Jessica Stout

The bride, in a stunning backless gown (by Jin Wang) walked the aisle accompanied by her two sisters.

“I do!” – photo by Jessica Stout

And here they are – Mr. and Mrs.!! The bride carried a precious bouquet of pink peonies and succulents….

… and the bridesmaids with their rose-and-succulent bouquets…

Bride and bridesmaids – photo by Jessica Stout

dazzled in pale pink and silver flapper dresses, lending the evening a distinctive Art Deco touch.

Following the ceremony, the couple had their official wedding photos taken by photographer and personal friend Jessica Stout …

Mr. and Mrs. – photo by Jessica Stout

“The Streets of San Francisco” – photo by Jessica Stout

The bridal party – photo by Jessica Stout

while guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the lounge of the 15th floor where vibrant floral arrangements, again by Tutti Fiori, signaled the “fun part” of the evening:

Reception arrangements – photo by Jessica Stout

Exotic flowers – photo by Jessica Stout

Succulent centerpieces – photo by Jessica Stout

And then the doors opened to the Grand Ballroom, outfitted with a central dance floor and surrounding seating areas of elegant lounge pieces and casual dining tables (by Hartmann Studios Rentals), inviting guests to dine, drink and dance all evening.

One of the highlights of this festive night was, hands down, the beautiful cake by Gerhard Michler of Creative International Pastries – decorated in keeping with the Art Deco design theme:

Wedding cake in Art Deco design – photo by Jessica Stout

And this cake was not only beautiful, but also incredibly delicious!

Cutting the Cake – photo by Jessica Stout

DJ Brent Hall kept the dance floor going…

First Dance – photo by Jessica Stout

and guests took breaks only to stop by the bar and the Snap Fiesta photobooth which was a great hit – lots of funny props, big photos to take home and online photos to download later!

Dance party – photo by Jessica Stout

On the way home, guests were treated to gem-like chocolate favors by ChocoVogue…

… and then sent off the newlyweds in style: under a cloud of bubbles they began their journey in a vintage silver Rolls Royce!

A happy send-off… – photo by Jessica Stout

Congratulations, Jane and Greg – and a glamorous journey through married life!

Wedding of the Week: Cherice and Michael – Crafty, Creative and Charming!

Posted on March 16, 2013 by jlammerts

“My” couple Cherice and Michael are doing things their way, and they are doing them all themselves! From the get-go, the two knew exactly what they wanted: a wedding that would bring together their families and closest friends; a charming, historic venue with a lot of character; DIY decor for their personal touch from the invitations to the favors; and a rustic, nostalgic atmosphere throughout.

For their venue, they chose the century-old Forest Hill Clubhouse, a hidden gem in San Francisco, surrounded by lush greenery. Here is a peek into the Great Room, with wedding dress:

The ceremony was held on the brick patio, centered on an arrangement of tree stumps and Cherice’s favorite flowers, Ranunculus in a rainbow of colors:

Handmade signs (old windows, transformed with chalkboard paint…) directed guests throughout the festivities; offering programs and bubble bottles on the way to the ceremony:

Cherice had hand-crafted invitations, programs and escort cards from brown paper and red-and-white twine, a design theme used throughout the decor…

… for example for the escort cards – luggage tags hung from tree branches in a nostalgic tin tub:

The bride’s vibrant bouquet was handmade from – you guessed it! – ranunculus flowers:

A longtime friend presided over the ceremony:

… which was short and sweet! And here is the official wedding photo:

Guests were immediately treated to a well-stocked self-service bar inside:

… and, of course, a handwritten chalkboard explaining all the choices!

While the newlyweds were still busy with having their official wedding photos taken, guests were asked to write their good wishes on brown paper slips and place them in a mason jar in lieu of a conventional guest book:

… and then everyone had fun with a home-made Polaroid photo booth.

Soon enough, the newlyweds joined their guests for a delicious, rustic BBQ dinner at long tables, set with gray tablecloths, ranunculus flowers, and – of course! – red and white napkins as well as favor packets wrapped in brown paper and red-and-white twine:

A collection of (self-emptied!) wine bottles served as water carafes, and one guest at each table found a special note on his or her escort card: “Congratulations! You have won the honor of opening the Champagne for your table!” – Very clever! No wait staff needed…

Michael’s Dad, Cherice’s brother, and a small army of their friends had hung string lights across the Great Room in the Clubhouse, casting a magical glow over the dinner party:

… and Cherice’s Mom had made the delicious wedding cake for her daughter herself:

…supplemented by lots more of sheet cakes from the kitchen! The grand finale was, however, yet to come:

….and guests actually used up each and every single one!! Cherice and Michael were, indeed, sent off in style to their married life. I am so happy I could be part of their planning, preparation, design process – and ultimately their great day! And here is why I love what I am doing:

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs.!! And many, many happy years together!

A Mid-autumn Night’s Dream: Actress Weds Playwright at Historic Forest Hill Clubhouse!

Posted on November 27, 2012 by jlammerts

The playwright wrote his masterpiece.

The actress shone in her most brilliant performance.

And the best of it: it was all non-fiction!

Opening night at the historic Forest Hill Clubhouse on September 15, 2012, was for real – with an enthusiastic audience of friends and family – and the piece premiered will hopefully run for countless seasons: Anna & Daniel in Love!

Their performance of a lifetime

Flashback:

Anna leads a double life as a website designer (her day job) and an actress (at night). She and Daniel first met 5 years before our opening night in a theatrical capacity – he as a writer, and she as a performer, during a monthly event called Playground – writers have a few days to create a short play off a prompt, and then writers and actors all get together to rehearse and perform those plays on one Monday night per month.A short while later, the two met again – by utter coincidence – at a client they had in common for their day jobs: Daniel as a tech provider and Anna as a web designer.

They stayed friends through various relationships and long distances… until they suddenly found themselves single at the same time – and suddenly, finally realized that they were both done for. So sooner or later it was a foregone conclusion that their story would culminate in – a wedding!

Preparations…

The dress…

Ready to walk down the aisle

And while most brides are simply overwhelmed by the amount of organization, decisions, logistics involved in such an event, Anna was totally unfazed. “When you have a background in theatre,” she commented, ” you’re pretty well-equipped to handle weddings. First and foremost, you’re accustomed to the unexpected – in fact, you embrace it – and really, weddings can’t hold a candle to what you run into in theatre. What’s a caterer showing up late compared to an audience member who breaks her leg in the middle of the show (it really happened – don’t ask me how!)… or to finishing your heart-wrenching Act II monologue, only to hear someone let out a thundering snore in row 2… or to knowing that whatever you do that night is going to be judged publicly in a major metropolitan newspaper?”

Well said, indeed. So our actress-bride courageously sailed the ocean of wedding planning and preparation, keeping everything in line. Her rule was, “If it feels too expensive, it probably is. Keep looking.” This kept her budget in check. Clothes and photography? Totally worth every penny. Chairs? Um…who’s going to remember chairs? Anyone? Exactly. “No fuss, no muss” was the motto – the two worked hard to get things in order – but in the words of Anna’s mentor, “Grasp – lightly. Be prepared for the expected and the un- – and welcome them both!”

And when the unexpected happened… the bride did NOT freak out! Just hear her in her own words: “When I handily wrecked my 2-hour old manicure (and pedicure – again, don’t ask) by arranging my flowers last-minute, I knew just the tricks to smooth things over (a slight layer of polish remover followed by a light application of a close-enough color and, yes, magic marker).”

Here comes the bride – and the groom!

Emcee-ing their ceremony

As for the wedding itself, they decided to emcee their own ceremony. They wanted to tell their story in their own words to make it clear that this wedding was something they were very consciously and responsibly choosing to do. The groom’s father, a minister in real life, officiated the ceremony – it doesn’t get more “in the family” than that!

And our two theater stars kept their audience laughing, not crying, and celebrated it all with really good cocktails afterwards.

“You may now kiss the bride!”

The historic Forest Hill Clubhouse

For their venue, Anna and Daniel had chosen the historic Forest Hill Clubhouse in San Francisco, a structure with a stellar architectural pedigree (Bernard Maybeck of Palace of Fine Arts fame) and a romantic charm to it that one wouldn’t expect in a metropolis.

Shaded by mature trees, it transported our “theatrical” couple, their real-world masterpiece performance and their guests to a time where things were simpler (or so we tend to think…) and where matters of the heart still counted. And so they couldn’t have imagined a wedding more suited to who they are.

As for their honeymoon, they had the blessings of their families and co-workers to escape entirely – and Anna had pictures from the late 70’s when HER parents had gone to French Polynesia. It didn’t take much convincing to choose that location – just google “Tikehau” to get a taste.

They went off the beaten track – most honeymooners flee to Bora Bora (understandably – it’s beautiful!), but they opted for a trip to the Tuamotos, a fairly unknown cluster of islands further north.

They spent three weeks in remote, picture-perfect islands, living in smaller (more affordable) pensions and eating fish three meals a day – weathering inclement weather and a civil aviation strike that left them stranded for a few days (and with the Western concept of schedules and deadlines unheard-of in Polynesia, they couldn’t hope for much understanding from the locals); they went swimming with humpbacks and trekking through the mountains – and it was the adventure of a lifetime.

Anna’s conclusion: “Opening your mind to the unexpected is the lesson, here. And there are ample rewards for that mindset – as well as strong suntans!”

Congratulations, Anna and Daniel!

Elegant Design by A Day Like No Other: Peacock Feather Escort Card Display

Posted on November 8, 2012 by jlammerts

For a formal and elegant wedding with a “vintage glamour” theme, I designed a stunning escort card display of 200 peacock feathers, fanning out from a vintage wine crate:

Each escort card was hung from one feather, and the feathers were then arranged in alphabetical order in several rows, front to back.

This arrangement was not only a visual focus, but also a conversation piece for guests – and each guest arrived at their seat carrying a beautiful feather…

Luxurious Design by A Day Like No Other: Tiffany-themed Invitations and Favors

Posted on October 29, 2012 by jlammerts

For a very elegant, Tiffany-themed wedding, I designed invitations to set the tone and the expectation for the guests: crystal-embellished ivory silk folders held custom-designed invitations. The folders were ordered directly from the manufacturer in Thailand.

The invitations themselves consisted of layered cards (pearlized ivory cardstock layered on matte chocolate and a wider rim of tiffany blue in a discreet sheen) custom designed for the square folders:

The side inserts in the folder flaps were used as RSVP cards and directions cards. Invitations were wrapped in ivory tissue paper and mailed in white square boxes embellished with custom tiffany-blue address labels matching those used on the – equally custom-made – favors.

For favors, the couple chose home-made organic limoncello in corked and wax-sealed artisan glass bottles, packed “luggage proof” in tissue paper and cardboard tubes and presented in tiffany-blue handlebags with custom labels.

An elegant presentation in keeping with the overall theme and elegance of the celebration – and a hit with the guests!

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Une Grande Affaire – Virginia and Mick’s Wedding

Posted on October 21, 2012 by jlammerts

Virginia – Jenna for short, and that’s how her friends call her – and Mick are a busy, quirky, upbeat young couple. They live in a loft, downtown. Jenna zips around on a baby-blue Vespa. When they decided to get married, one thing was clear: it would be “no-frills.” But it would be a great party with all their (many) friends, their parents, a lot of good food, a lot more good stuff to drink, and even more dancing. Very easy.

But even “easy” takes a lot of time, effort, and planning, and so the two turned to A Day Like No Other for help, and I was happy to jump right in! And as weddings go – their wedding, too, became bigger and better, and – to speak with their French theme and their French friends – “une grande affaire!”

Jenna’s and Mick’s invitation became the theme for the party…

Jenna and Nick chose the brick patio of the historic Forest Hill Clubhouse for their wedding ceremony, and – literally – Heavens (the celestial Weather Department, to be precise) smiled on them: it turned out to be one of those perfect, golden October days when San Francisco is the most beautiful.

Bride and bridesmaids were made even more beautiful in an impromptu onsite beauty salon by Belle by Marine, hidden away from any advance glimpses by the groom, and then, to the music of cellist Suellen Primost, the bride walked down the aisle on her Dad’s arm to meet her groom:

Friends and family had gathered from far and wide…

A truly romantic setting

Happiness – and a gorgeous dress

The ceremony was officiated by Amanda Bowman, a close friend…

who has just presented the two “for the first time – as husband and wife!”

Jenna and Mick held a champagne reception on site – and guests were invited to take their champagne flutes with them as keepsakes. The couple had lovingly inscribed every single glass with their initials.

From the Champagne reception, the bridal party took stretch limousines (with a surprise of “Just Married” soda cans clattering from behind the rear bumper…), and everyone else boarded a big tour bus to a reception and dance party downtown, at “The Box SF,” a hip urban event space located in a former factory building. Jenna and Mick loved the raw, industrial look and had opted for minimal (I did not listen and added some nonetheless…). Here the party is already underway:

While DJ Chris took care of the music, everyone feasted on French delicacies by La Bonne Cuisine…

… beautifully presented on raw logs with moss and succulents, from which I took my cue for various centerpieces…

What would a French dinner be without dessert… and La Bonne Cuisine did not disappoint:

Macarons and Creme brûlée presented on suspended “floating” trays

Various performances by friends and family members were the highlights of the evening: the bride’s sister and Maid of Honor had written a song for Jenna and performed it “en lieu” of the requisite toast- a huge success …

…as was the performance of Jenna’s friend Marie who sung a slightly “risqué” very French couplet “to Jenna and Mick” of her own composition, accompanying herself on the accordion:

And then the bride herself, accompanied by her bridesmaids, let it rip for her new husband… they are all terrific dancers!

… and the party was just HUGE! Everyone had a really good time – and me too…

… because this is why I love my job! Thanks, Jenna and Mick, for making me a part of your Great Day, and have a wonderful marriage!

Wedding Coordination and Design: A Day Like No Other

Many thanks to my Dream Team:

Kelli DeSeelhorst, my assistant

Suellen Primost, Ceremony music

Marine Vaisset, Hair and Makeup

The Party Staff, Keith Linzey, Champagne Bar

Forest Hill Clubhouse, Ceremony venue

The Box SF, Reception venue, Danielle Amato and team

La Bonne Cuisine catering

Chris Dudzine, DJ, dingdong@gmail.com

United Coach Tours, guest transportation

City Express Limousine Service, bridal party transportation
. 

A True Fairytale Wedding: Michelle and Philipp

Posted on October 16, 2012 by jlammerts

Michelle and Philipp did not only have a fairytale wedding – more of that in a moment – but just as much a fairytale courtship: born and raised at opposite ends of the world (Michelle in Inner Mongolia, Philipp in Germany), the two met in College, at the University of Southern California, literally during their first week in their first semester. Despite all that might have stood in their way, like having no language in common and coming from vastly different cultural backgrounds, they were inseparable from day one. They were truly made for one another! And they did everything together, studying, movies, playing sports:

And that’s why they decided to get married just out of College, and they made me their wedding planner. They entrusted to me the design as well as the organization of their wedding celebration, literally everything from their invitations to their Rehearsal Dinner, choice of venue to guest accommodations, from the dress to the groomsmen gifts, and, of course, the Great Day itself. They choose Tiffany blue as their wedding color – and this idea then carried through to all the details, the invitations, the bridesmaids dresses, the linens, the favors, the jewelry – and even the cake.

The wedding was held at Stonepine Estate, an equestrian estate in Carmel Valley – 330 acres of rolling hills and forests, vineyards and horse trails, and a French-Mediterranean chateau in the middle, surrounded by formal gardens.

Definitely an appropriately magnificent setting for a fairytale wedding!

Here is the dress (by Priscilla of Boston) displayed with gorgeous bouquets from Christine Cater Floral Design:

… and here is the bride getting ready for the great moment:

Bride and groom were transported to the ceremony in style: in a horse drawn carriage:

Guests arrived from all over the world – Germany, France, China, Canada, the East Coast – to attend their outdoor ceremony in the formal gardens of the Chateau:

“You may now kiss the bride!”

Now happily married, the two proceeded to cut their cake (by Cake Coquette) and enjoy their First Dance, but first the husband carried his young wife across the water…

… to the Pool Pavilion, where, serenaded by a String Quartet, the two proceeded to perform their official first task together: cutting the cake which not only resembled a stack of Tiffany boxes, but actually contained ONE real box, filled with a pearl bracelet (the cake had to be guarded until the bride found her special gift!)

Then it was time for their First Dance, traditionally to the tune of Johann Strauss’ “Blue Danube,” music that even Michelle’s parents had come to know and love in China. Videographer Andrew Hsu captured every precious moment.

While their guests enjoyed an al fresco reception under blue skies, the couple had a photo shoot with photographer Kevin Chin in the Stonepine park…

… some official ones…

… some right out of “Alice in Wonderland” – but also some riskier poses on the diving board:

The two did NOT take the plunge, but returned to join their guests on the lawn…

… where their beloved four-legged companion, Buzz, was already waiting for them.

Everyone then took a short break…

Peekaboo!

Buzz couldn’t wait to finally sit down with closest friends and family for the wedding dinner on the loggia (well, Buzz, seated with his dog walker, dined a little bit away from the party, but got to enjoy the same entree of Filet Mignon…)

It was a wonderful conclusion to a one-of-a-kind day:

Congratulations and best wishes, Michelle, Philipp and Buzz! Your wedding was a fairytale – may your married life be one, too!

Michelle and Philipp | Stonepine Estates from andrew msv on Vimeo.

Wedding Coordination and Design: A Day Like No Other

Thanks to my Dream Team:

Venue and Catering: Stonepine Estate

Invitations: The Desk Set

Dress: Priscilla of Boston

Jewelry: Tiffany

Cake: Cake Coquette

Hair and Makeup: Triple Twist

Flowers: Christine Cater Floral Design

Photography: Kevin Chin Photography

Videography: Andrew Hsu / Studio MSV

Ceremony and Reception Music: Karsten Windt String Quartet

Dinner Music: Matisse Freimark, ph. 831-722-8131

Transportation: City Express Limousine Service

A Fabulous Family Festivity: Nicole and Isaac’s Wedding Celebration

Posted on October 7, 2012 by jlammerts

Every couple dreams of a wedding that’s one-of-a-kind and a reflection of who they are and what they treasure. Nicole and Isaac, the couple whose wedding I had the pleasure of coordinating yesterday, definitely did a fantastic job in making their celebration all their own.

Where to start? With the venue, perhaps – the historic Trocadero Clubhouse, a charming Victorian in a secluded Redwood Grove, a former officer’s club with a slight whiff of all the decadent pleasures of yesteryear still lingering in the brass and dark-red bar…

The 100 guests at their wedding were without exception all their personal friends and family; everyone knew everyone else – no introduction needed! And what’s more, Nicole’s and Isaac’s families came together to help them with all the Do-it-Yourself projects for their decorations. They made all the flower arrangements and the bouquets and boutonnieres for the bridal party.

The bride and groom, as a charming nod to their professional lives – they are both teachers – crafted miles and miles of paper chains for decor…

…and they designed, printed and embellished the ceremony programs themselves.

The tiny trees in burlap sacks doubled as escort cards and favors – and will serve guests as a living memory of the beautiful ceremony under the Redwoods for decades to come!

To document their Great Day, the couple enlisted photographer Nima Salimi who from the first portraits and family photos tirelessly captured every moment of the Great Day.

In their ceremony, Nicole and Isaac honored both their close family ties, their Jewish tradition and the bride’s German heritage – under a beautiful chuppah handcrafted by the Mother of the Bride, Officiant Zehava Dahan presided over an intensely personal ceremony that included elements of the Jewish faith as well as a reading of a famous German love poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, “Wie Soll Ich Meine Seele Halten…” – read by Nicole’s beloved Grandmother.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds joined their guests for cocktails on the loggia of the Clubhouse as dusk fell and the setting turned truly magical:

Guests were treated to delicious organic food – appetizers to accompany the cocktails, followed by dinner in a truly joyous and colorful setting:

(Note: in keeping with the “German” inspiration, the table flowers were arranged in historic beer steins from the Mother of the Bride’s extensive collection!)

After getting started on organic heirloom tomato salad (see above), guests literally devoured the delicious authentic Italian pizza and lasagna prepared by Kristin Houk of All Good Pizza (she learned her trade in Sienna, Italy, and it shows, or – rather – tastes!) While guests were dining, DJ Aaron “Goldmyne” entertained the crowd with music from his collection of original ’45 vinyls – and the rousing favorite was the repeated Bavarian drink song “Ein Prosit der Gemuetlichkeit!” (as far as that can be translated into American culture: “Cheers to – everything like good times, camaraderie, and coziness…”), and that definitely captured the exuberant mood of the evening.

Nicole’s and Isaac’s First Dance…

… was just the beginning of a huge dance party where really everyone joined in, with breaks only for a quick visit to the bar…

… and to grab one of the delicious cupcakes by Elspeth Peliccica- the vanilla ones were my personal favorite – soft, airy cake topped by a luscious, creamy frosting with an intense and really satisfying vanilla flavor, not too sweet – a perfect balance!