Ceremony Location: Longacre House, Farmington Hills
Reception Location: St. Mary's Cultural Center, Livonia
Wedding Colors: Red, Black, White
# Guests: 170
Emergency Kit Items Used: Glue, rubber bands, bobby pins, clear tape, super-sticky-extra-duty outdoor tape (I don't think that's the technical name for it though, but it worked!)
Christine and her girls began their day of beauty at 6 Salon in Birmingham. After all of their appointments, everyone headed to Longacre House in Farmington Hills for makeup by Aleksandra Adams and her team from I Make You Up. Longacre House is actually an historic home with various rooms set aside for different things. The home has a nice bridal suite with a private bathroom, and a similar room across the hall for the groom and his guys to get ready in.
While the girls were getting dolled up, my assistant and I arrived at St. Mary's to inventory all of the wedding items and begin set-up. We draped tulle and icicle lights from the head table, got the cookie buffet containers ready (the escort card table was to later be transformed in to the cookie buffet table), and set up the memory table. Jessica of Elegant Linens arrived to place the chair covers and tie the red sashes.
On to the ceremony site! Boy, was the air conditioning working over-time that day there, and everywhere in Metro Detroit! It was a HOT one. We had some hot July days, but this August day was a killer ~ One of those days where you walk out from a comfortably air-conditioned space and the heat and humidity hits you like a ton of bricks!
This was not to destroy Christine and John's day, however! The threat of rain during their outdoor ceremony was also no match for this wedding. It started sprinkling about 10 minutes before the ceremony was to start, but the show went on. Luckily it never reached downpour status and the ceremony went off as planned, and beautifully I might add!
We added shepherd's hooks to line the aisles, and hung pretty potted plants with white flowers, red flowers, butterflies and some greenery added by Christine's sister. Programs and unity sand set were placed, and also two large red bins with bottled water iced down - much needed and appreciated on this very hot day.
Rev. Kirk Haas officiated, with music by family friend Joann Wright. While the ceremony was underway, my assistant and I spent some down-time loading LOTS of trays of cookies in to our vehicles. The cookies were home-baked by members of Christine and John's families, and would later be used at the reception for their "cookie buffet".
After their ceremony ended, the couple exited to their Harley-Davidson F350 limo by Millenium Limousine to spend a few moments together. (Nice ride!) In a few minutes, they returned for formal photos with their photographer Tammy Labar of Tres Jolie Photography on the Longacre grounds and gardens. Our goal for the brief limo break was for the couple to leave and guests would hopefully then disburse and head back to their hotel or to the reception. However, I think a lot of guests thought that the reception was also to take place at Longacre inside the house, so they lingered for a little longer than we expected!
My assistant was sent back during the ceremony to make the final touches on the room. When I arrived at St. Mary's, Kathy of Floral Expressions by Kathy had the centerpieces in and was also making her final touches. DJ's Misty and Charles of Bigfoot DJ's had also arrived, and the wedding cupcakes had been set up by Just Baked.
Guests arrived to enjoy appetizers and the couple's signature drink, "The Dirty Fergie", one of the best signature drink names I have witnessed to-date! The name was fitting, considering that the bride's new last name was to be Ferguson.
My assistant and I served the bride and groom their salads and dinners, and everyone else was served buffet-style. Ice cream was served for dessert, and cupcakes in different flavors were taken from the cupcake tower. During dinner, we snuck out to the lobby and put the cookie buffet together. It was a huge hit; we were re-filling the cookie jars all night long!
After dinner, dancing ensued ~ and the couple was even treated to what seemed to be their own private rainbow in the sky! How perfect is that?! I cannot wait to see the photos of that one!
Christine and "Ferg", thank you SO much for letting us be a part of your day! Special thanks also to your sister Stacy and her partner Sue for all of their help, humor, and great conversation through the day and night! Hope you are having a fabulous time in Tennessee!!
Escort card table and signature mat ~ later the cookie buffet table:
Illuminated head table:
Memory table, special candles made for both of Christine's parents who have passed:
Cupcakes & Cupcake tower by Just Baked in Livonia:
All of the red, the candles and head table lighting created a romantic mood ;)
Centerpieces, candles, table numbers and red napkins:
Looking forward to the pro photos (Psst - Tammy....hehe)! I had to take these photos with my Blackberry camera!
