Beth and Chris had met at Marist College eight years ago (much was made about how looooong it took them to get to marriage), so getting married at the Marist Chapel and celebrating at Locust Grove right down the road was the perfect choice.  On one of the hottest days of the year, guests kept cool inside and still managed to tear up the dance floor.

A very game bridal party executed various routines during their entrance, such as leap frogs and the Shopping Cart, as they were introduced to “Let’s Get It Started” by the Black Eyed Peas.  Then the newlyweds made their entrance to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys.  (“No Boston lyrics,” they warned.  “The New York fans will riot.”)  The bridal party jumped right in to surround them.

I loved this bridal party.  Maybe they’ll come on the road with us?

Beth and Chris picked a beautiful first dance song off the Garden State soundtrack, “Blue Eyes” by Cary Brothers.  They were adorable on the dance floor!

The Details

The bridesmaids wore pale green winter mint dresses and carried dark purple and white bouquets.  The wedding cake was butter cream decorated with white hydrangeas.  Each table had matching purple and white floral arrangements and non-sequential table numbers named after a significant numbers or digits: table 16 named for the number of days Beth is older than Chris, table Y5 named for the Chris’ Marist dorm room where he first said, “I love you.”

During the heart-felt toasts, I loved learning that Beth is a girl who “still jumps in puddles,” and about Chris’ history of video gaming and scheming up outrageous ways to make money. Even better was watching the newlyweds kiss on command at their sweetheart table!

Crazy Dancing

I thought these guys would never let us go home!  From song one, they wouldn’t leave the floor.  There was stomping and clapping to “Wild Rover” and frenetic dancing to “Shout,” not only in the main dancing area but in a fringe dance circle where Beth’s grandmother could join in.  And there was Lori O., in the middle of the throbbing dance floor, snapping images and ducking out of the way.

The Food

Holbert’s did an amazing job with the catering.  My chicken roulade was fabulous and the presentation was just as good as the food.  These imports from Orange County are welcome to visit our Poughkeepsie weddings any time!

This wedding was so much for us.  Thanks for the invitation, guys!

Locust Grove

Catering by Holbert’s Catering

Photos by Lori O’Toole Images Photos provided by Lori O’Toole Images

Video by Bob Gellar

Flowers by Osborne’s Florist

Photo by Steph

Lauren and Mike truly outdid themselves!  Guests enjoyed enough food for an army at the cocktail hour, including a seafood buffet, while Jeff performed acoustic guitar.

The newlyweds arranged a spectacular entrance for their family and bridal party by selecting several different songs for their introductions.  From the Black Eyed Peas to Pink, Katy Perry and LMFAO, each couple in the bridal party either danced or pantomimed a scenario on their way in.

Lauren and Mike made their entrance to “Shake Me Like a Monkey” by Dave Matthews.  (DMB would feature in their wedding music since they are huge fans.)

The Details

The bridesmaids wore turquoise gowns and carried bouquets of white and blush pink orchids.  The groomsmen wore smart gray suits and suspenders; as the night grew late they took off their shoes to show off black, turquoise and green plaid socks!  Lauren was naturally beautiful, a vision with her long blonde hair pulled back with a flower clip.

Each table had an orchid centerpiece and photos of the newlyweds at an age corresponding to the table number.  The Grandview’s ballroom was beautifully backlit with amber lights.

Wedding Advice

The speeches had us in stitches, in particular the advice from the father of the groom, who told the story of how “Always Right Mike” met Mrs. Right.  “If things ever get heated,” he said, “get naked.  You can’t argue naked.”

These guests were so much fun to play with!  There were dance circles with Lauren and Mike at the center, the groom was hoisted up onto the shoulders of his buddies, and groomsmen in their stocking feet, showing off their black, turquoise and green plaid socks, leap frogging across the room.

The Desserts

Photo by Steph

The wedding cake was decorated with green orchids, but guests got to enjoy an even more impressive treat: the Grandview’s Signature Viennese Extravaganza.  Think of every possible combination of treats you can imagine, cookies, pastries, cannolis, flambays, a chocolate fountain…then double it…and you’ve just about got the level of dessert decadence.

Lauren and Mike, you guys made this day your own and drew your guests in to share it with you.  Thanks for making us a part of it!

Grandview

Photos by Lori O’Toole Images

Video by Beautiful Memories

Uplighting by Hourglass Lighting

Extra Tag / Category: Poughkeepsie wedding

Photo by Steph

These two are born romantics who transformed the Garden Room with classic American songbook selections, jazz and ballroom standards.

DonnaMarie and Ed shared their First Dance to “The Anniversary Waltz” performed by Connie Francis, a graceful waltz around the dancefloor with eyes locked on each other.  It was simply lovely.

THE DETAILS:  The couple’s love for romance carried through in the details of their wedding day.  Their parents wedding photos graced the cake table and their cake topper was a glass cube containing photos on each of four sides: DonnaMarie as a child, Ed as a child, then two beautiful photos of the two of them together.

DonnaMarie and Ed each dedicated songs to each other, springing to the dance floor as they were played.  “That’s All” performed by Sarah Vaughn and “Making Memories of Us” by Keith Urban.

Photo by Steph

Our night incorporated fox trots, waltzes and swing…with lots of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Andrea Bocelli.  I don’t recall ever seeing the Garden Room done up in such classic elegance, so full of nostalgia and love.

Beautifully, tastefully done and a true representation of the love and personalities of DonnaMarie and Ed.

The couple is off for a month long honeymoon in Italy.  Bravo!

Villa Borghese

Photos by Lori O’Toole

It was the third splendid autumn day in a row for Nicole and Dan’s Grandview wedding.

Guests gathered for the ceremony on the patio overlooking the Hudson River, lulled by the sounds of Jeff on acoustic guitar. I switched into “Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawo’oole for the bridesmaids processional, a perfectly timed walk. All the bridesmaids were dressed in red-brown gowns with sand sashes, except for the Matron of Honor who stood out in a sand gown and red-brown sash.

Nicole beamed as she stepped delicately down the aisle to the romantic piano of “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada, the Candlelight mix. Dan fought tears during the ceremony as the Blessing of the Hands was read first by one of their female friends, then by a male, as he held his new wife’s hands in his own.

The bridal party planned a surprise for Nicole and Dan during the introduction. As each couple was introduced, they had me announce them as “Nicole and Dan after one year of marriage,” then after two years, after three years, etc., a succession of VERY pregnant Nicoles and VERY worn out Dans, some of them staggering with drink in hand.

But Nicole and Dan’s First Dance topped it all. They started out dancing to Keith Urban’s “Making Memories of Us.” Then, a minute into the song, the record scratched and the couple turned to us in mock confusion and anger, until the beat of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” began. As if they were possessed, Nicole and Dan began a choreographed dance through the decades including “Thriller,” “Baby Got Back,” “Walk Like an Egyptian,” and “The Twist.” The crowd laughed and cheered each dance number as Dan and Nicole hammed it up. (I laughed so hard myself that my face hurt!)

With the start of a party like that, it couldn’t go wrong. It was a crazy dance party, complete with Nicole leading the Cha Cha Slide and Cupid Shuffle, not to mention working “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” with the microphone, egging on the men and women to sing their parts.

Talk about ending the weekend with a bang!

Our friends Jim and Cathy Culhane of Artistic Images were there to capture the action on video. Check out their video blog for a peek at Nicole and Dan’s romantic, rockin’ day.

Grandview

Photos by Lori O’Toole

Video by Artistic Images