PAIGE AND MICHAEL: A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Saturday, December 3, 2011- WHAT A DAY!!! The sun was shining and so was the face of this exquisite bride!! Paige and Michael said their "I Do's" at the Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia and then celebrated in style at The Union League. It was a spectacular day! I took so many photos that is was hard to decide which ones to post. I also have the first sneak peek of the amazingly wonderful and talented Sarah DiCicco's professional photos.

But, this photo, taken just before the groom sprayed all of us with champagne, really speaks to the day- it sparkled with the love and the beauty that all weddings should have!!! And, this photo of the girls "hiding" the bride as the last of the guests arrive gave me a chuckle!

These are Sarah's photos. Paige is so lovely and Michael a fittingly handsome prince for this princess. Together they are destined to make a beautiful and rich life together full of many more memories like these. They are blessed with a great love and respect for each other, amazing family to surround them,
wonderful friends and this day, that just kept bursting with love and celebration.

After the ceremony the wedding party went to the Art Museum for photos while there was still good light. I love this shot that Sarah took of the couple.

Then, it was off to The Union League for some fun photos of the group outside and the couple in the lights of the city.
Yes, there were sparklers and champagne and lots of smiles. These images were not staged. The smiles are real and the natural ease of Sarah's talent to capture the essence of the couple's love is breathtaking!
The city lights pale next to the brightness of these two beautiful people! I can't say enough about how special they are. From early in the morning until the wee hours, the bride smiled from ear to ear. And,Sarah captured all of Paige's radiance and goodness.
This is one of my favorite photos of the day! I have to send a special thanks to Sarah! She was amazing to work with and helped me to smooth out some little issues in the day- Sarah, you know what I mean!!!



The ladies of the wedding party were expertly made up by the talents of Face the Occasion. Working with Jill and Kelly is always a pleasure! And, they had beautiful faces to start with here, so it made their job that much more fun. The house was full of Christmas- the smell of pine, carols on the stereo and the incredible tree- that we used as a photo op for the bride's dad and the girls to gather. Dressing Paige was great to watch. As I usually help to dress the bride, it was hard to step aside and let the girls and her mom do it. But, it was ok. These photos are priceless! All that Vera Wang organza needed to be fluffed just right!
The Union League did a fabulous job! There wasn't a glitch in the service! Every detail was just as we had requested and Michelle, Brian and the staff were amazing!


I have to tell you about the fabulous Petah Bashano! He created a winter wonderland for Paige and Michael! The cocktail hour was very festive in red and green,with lots of candlelight and Paige's snowflake theme. But, inside the ballroom was a splendid vision in white and gold! Trees with "snowballs" and votives hanging from the branches, gold linens, and chargers that captured the light. The backdrop to the bandstand was a winter tree- bare, but beautiful. When Paige walked through the doors to the reveal, she was thrilled! It was awesome!

The flowers, which look purple in this photo, were actually rich shades of red. And, the little flower girl's basket was white satin with crystals around the rim. She was so excited to be a fairy princess! Every detail, from the red dresses, to the snowflake ice sculpture, to the cake that was dripping with "ice" and crystal snowflakes, this wedding had every element to make it the perfect day!



The Sid Miller Band had everyone on the dance floor all night! The chairs were empty except during dinner. I had to switch things up several times during the evening, and every time, the band was right there with me to make the change or add a request. I love working with pros like this!

Thanks to Sid and his band for helping me make this a memorable day for this special pair.


The couple danced to All I Want For Christmas Is You. And, I love this shot of Paige's gorgeous mom in red! What a wonderful lady and how smashing she looked!


I could go on about this wedding for days! It was great fun, a very rewarding job and I can't say enough about the team!!! A resounding THANK YOU goes out to The Union League, Petah Bashano Event Design, Sarah DiCicco Photography, Video One Productions, The Sid Miller band, Wertz Motor Coach and King Limo, The Philadelphia Pretzel Factory and The Sofitel and Ritz Carlton for taking such good care of the guests.




This was one of those weddings that I will never forget!! Thank you Paige and Michael and Chere and Steve for letting me be a part of this exquisite and special day in your lives!!!

For more about this wedding check out Philadelphia Weddings.

Photos: Courtesy Sarah DiCicco Potography

ARTS BALLROOM- REVISITED

There is a new venue in Philadelphia that I am so excited to show you! When I received the email yesterday from Starr Events about it, my jaw dropped at it's total opulence and majesty.
Imagine your wedding day here!





Arts Ballroom is Philadelphia’s premiere special events venue located directly off of the Avenue of the Arts, where cultural sophistication and diversity meet the richness of tradition and antiquity. Positioned on the ground level of the Arts Condominium, this 1920s Art Deco inspired building was the former site of the Hotel Sylvania. Boasting a two-story Grand Hall, Ballroom, and Mezzanine, the Arts Ballroom offers both historical distinction and contemporary style for events from 100-400 guests.













With the exceptional food and service of the Starr Restaurant Group and the amazing imagery surrounding you, your wedding will WOW your guests and make you feel like royalty on your special day. To schedule your visit to see this fabulous and exciting new venue, contact Starr Events today! Not only will you be surrounded with the history of Philadelphia and the beauty of the space, but you are conveniently close to some of the city's best hotels and restaurants. Your guests will enjoy every amenity during their stay in the city. I went to see the Arts Ballroom today and now I am really excited to take you there! So, lets get started planning your dream wedding at this gorgeous venue with the impeccable food of Steven Starr and the historic surroundings of Philadelphia.



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A HONEYMOON ADVENTURE

There's a new trend in wedding registries- well, maybe not so new, that seems to me a great idea for many couples. Many of you are already established with a home and don't want to go to your favorite department store and walk through trying to figure out what to put on a registry. So, start a honeymoon registry. This gives your guests the oppportunity to give you a gift that will will be more beneficial and make your honeymoon exciting- maybe with a few surprises.

This honeymoon adventure is one that is sure to please all of you who enjoy the water and the beach. Pura Vida Adventures has a honeymoon package that is the perfect blend of excitement, adventure and relaxation. Spend the day learning to ride the waves, taking yoga class and enjoying the beautiful beach. Then relax in your luxurious accommodations and enjoy exotic cuisine in the evening, topped off with a moonlight stroll on the beach. This resort is in Malpais, Costa Rico at the Hotel Tropico Latino. Here's what you get with the honeymoon package:

The revitalizing seven-day, six-night adventure combines surfing, yoga andrich cultural experiences, along with the expansive rainforest and stunningbeachfront locale, for a rich and fulfilling retreat.- Daily Surf Instruction (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)- Daily Relaxing Yoga Classes- Private Beachfront Villa and Bungalows at the Deluxe Hotel Tropico Latino
- One-Hour Beachfront Massage (with a full menu of spa amenities available)- All Meals (delectably fresh and inventive cuisine served at both the hotel's open air "Playa Boa" and the select local restaurants)- And more...

You can also plan your entire wedding with Pura Vida Adventures. If you are looking for the perfect Destination Wedding- here is one that will be sure to please everyone on your guest list. This honeymoon adventure is worth looking into!

A SWEET LITTLE WEDDING

When Danea called me to help her with a small wedding for 50 people, I thought "what can I do to help her?" She had a venue picked out, but as we explored it we found the cost was prohibitive and full of hidden charges. So, I set about trying to find a perfect spot for Danea and Joseph to have a perfect day on a budget. When I saw The Joseph Ambler Inn, I was excited! Not only was it a beautiful place to get married, but Danea could custom desiign a wedding based on their budget. Wendi was wonderful to work with and very helpful in giving us ideas of what to do. As soon as Danea and Joseph saw the Inn, they were hooked! Joseph Ambler Inn has gorgeous grounds for a ceremony, several reception locations and accomodations for the wedding couple and the guests. The food is perfect and the charm of the property are unsurpassed. .






















































The next thing Danea needed help with was flowers. Again, with a small wedding on a small budget we had to be creative. Who better to call than Leslie at Whimsical Welcomes! Leslie always has great ideas and perfect product to make any bride happy! These are some of the wonderful flowers that Leslie has created- beautiful...Yes?!









We found cameras for the tables and decided to let the guests be the photographer. Candids from the guests in a beautiful book would be personal and fun. Danea and her aunt could make the invitations from a computer template. Danea was so easy to sork with because she was flexible, realistic and understood the limits of her budget. Her expectations never exceded her wallet and that is key to making a wedding on a budget look like the "sky's the limit"! Girls, decide what your priorities are, be realistic and hire a planner who can help you find the right fit for your budget and your dreams!

BRIANNA AND CHRIS- THE DETAILS

Brianna's flowers were so beautiful! On the left is the bride's bouquet and the bridesmaids' bouquets. On the right are the mothers' flowers and a small corsage for all of Brianna's aunts who really helped to make her day special! All the personal flowers came from Bonnie's Flowers in New Britain. Thanks, Bonnie!














The venue is a charming little place called Nostalgia in Chalfont, Pa. The grounds are beautiful and very well kept and the house is adorable! The owners, Gail and Joe Morosky, are there from start to finish and they don't miss a thing! I love the way they clear the tables with big wicker baskets lined in pale blue fabric! No messy trays or scraping of dishes in the ballroom. It is such a wonderful idea. The room is lined with windows that look out onto the beautiful grounds and there is a porch out back for guests to get some air or mingle during cocktails.















The food is lovingly prepared by Gail and Joe. Every dish is presented with flair. I just love the angels that look over all the fresh fruit and vegetables. Brianna and Chris chose a buffet so that their guests, many from out of town, could mingle and feel relaxed and really enjoy the party. But, Nostalgia does sit down dinners too. Their menu is extensive and the extras, like the cappucino and espresso bar with homemade biscotti, the fresh dacquiris and the sweet table make it easy to make your wedding unique. The staff is courteous and very pleasant. Kathleen, the maitre' d was wonderful! And, Joe was carving the roast beef himself.
It's not often that I get to see the cake assembled. But, I was there when Jeanne got there to assemble this delicious confection!! It was an amazing cake!! "Enchanted" is a perfect name for Jeanne's business. Girls, contact her. I'm telling you, it was the best chocolate cake you will ever eat! And, she works from scratch and uses butter and real eggs. She even makes her own vanilla. Wow! The inspiration for the cake was the favor. They were a mini wedding cake for fall. Jeanne made the cake look just like it! She put every leaf on the cake while I watched. I wish I could make something this lovely!

All the decorations for this wedding were the brain child of my clever little do it yourselfer! This bride thought of everything! There were three different centerpieces. All the elements were nature inspired. There were no flowers. She used pine cones, leaves, branches- and lots of candles! Sorry to all of you Michael's shoppers! I think Brianna collected all of the fall she could since last year!! We spent Friday decorating the ballroom. It was a great way to spend the day and I got to meet all of her bridesmaids. I also got to dismantle all of this on Saturday night for Brianna's dad and uncle to pack in the cars. I didn't mind at all! I did wish I had about 4 more hands though! It was a long walk form the ballroom to the bridal room.









































The linens were a shiny wine pin tuck. The napkins and chair bows were yellow. We used 200 little pumpins! I think we used that many candles too! The room was aglow all night. It was so beautiful! This was fun to work on and the results were- well, just take a look! Brianna knew what she wanted and she set about making it happen. Everyone pitched in and we all had fun. No doubt about it- Brianna had a perfect day!