Jaclyn & Brian

Ceremony Location: St. Fabian Catholic Church, Farmington Hills

Reception Location: DoubleTree Hotel, Dearborn

# Guests: 190

Wedding Colors: Berry, Eggplant, Silver

Emergency Kit Items Used: Tape, pins, scissors

What a gorgeous spring day for a Tigers game perhaps, or maybe a stroll in downtown Detroit? This was the general theme of Jaclyn & Brian's wedding from the table "numbers", all named for Detroit landmarks and places, to the baseball-playing bride & groom cake topper and catcher's mit/baseball groom's cake.

We began the day at Doubletree Hotel where Estelle of Uptown Weddings had already completed the linens and chair covers. The lobby of the hotel was being prepared for cocktail hour with pretty silver paper lanterns hung from the trees and we cut deep red roses to place in short square vases for the cocktail tables. Florist Joan Claypool set up the beautiful tall and short centerpieces in the reception room, again using seasonal spring florals to compliment the color scheme. Many votives were placed, table numbers, scattered crystals and flower petals, and a terrific silver light-up crystal tree that Jaclyn had made and was so very proud of! There were also Detroit-native snacks and tourist guide books to be placed in a separate "hospitality room" that the guests would be able to take advantage of later on.

At the church, Brian and his groomsmen had already arrived and were dressed. Florist Joan arrived shortly after with some floral wreaths that were set up outside the church doors, and the personal flowers. I got started on pinning the mens' boutonnieres on while videographers Daniel & Adam of Mike Staff Productions got set up and began getting some footage of the groom and groomsmen. I then finished up the ceremony decorations which included bows and pomanders for the pews, an aisle runner, some memory table items, bubbles, and their framed papal blessing.

Photographer Rene Rodriguez of Studio One Creative arrived to get some photos of the men, and then we had to make sure Brian was hidden. Shortly after, Jaclyn and her bridesmaids arrived to hide in the social hall area of the church. Jaclyn looked just beautiful! Hair and makeup had been done by BridesMaid Beautiful and her dress was this gorgeous silvery color, not the standard white or ivory. I wheeled Jaclyn's super-sweet grandma from the bride's room to the ceremony room, and we were ready to begin.

Once Grandma was seated and situated, the ceremony began on time. It went smoothly and the couple made their grand exit as guests blew bubbles. The final fun surprise was a butterfly release done by Jaclyn and Brian once they made their exit. These butterflies had spent their travel time in a somewhat groggy state of "sleep" (if butterflies even sleep!) and had to be removed from their chilly storage place to "thaw out" about an hour before release. When released, they get to fly around and find themselves new homes in the Farmington Hills area :)

Back at the reception site with my assistant, AV7 had been in to set up the gobo with Jaclyn and Brian's monogram lighting the dance floor, Shutterbooth photo booth had arrived, and Heidi of Lakes Cakes brought in the wedding cake and the baseball glove groom's cake. Meanwhile, guests had started to arrive and partake in the hors d'oeuvres and cocktails (including a signature drink the couple had named "Something Blue" that guests raved was delicious) in the lobby.

When Jaclyn & Brian arrived to DoubleTree from their off-site photos, the hotel staff served them signature drinks and hors d'oeuvres in a waiting room and allowed the bridal party to get prepared for the grand entrance soon to follow.

Guests were served a delicious plated dinner followed by cake for dessert, while wedding singer Gary Sacco entertained with Frank Sinatra songs. He was a big hit! Later, DJ Kevin Joynt of Mike Staff Productions spun some tunes and guest enjoyed the photo booth and last but certainly not least, a special guest appearance by our very own Detroit Tigers mascot, Paws!

The day and night were packed full of great surprises and fun for the wedding guests. Thank you so much Jackie & Brian, I thoroughly enjoyed your wedding and know your guests did too!