Kim and Paul were introduced to “Let’s Get Married” by Jagged Edge.  Then before they shared that first dance together, I read the letters they’d written for each other.  Both told of how grateful they were to have finally found each other and ended with, “I love you, forever and always.”  And I saw tears.  Score!

Steph’s Interruption

I interrupt this blog post for a brief suggestion…About 25% of our couples choose to write “love letters” to each other that I read before their first dance.  Most of the time, they aren’t love letters at all; they describe what they love about each other, what drives them nuts, why that can’t live without them and wouldn’t want to, how they met…they’re Letterman style Top 10 Lists, limericks or diary entries.

If you can, DO IT!  It will be one of the most memorable moments of your day.  Even if you choose not to write something for each other, please find a way to share your story and share it with your guests, just a little.  It will make your wedding unforgettable!

Now, back to Kim and Paul’s big day…

The Details

The bridesmaids wore strapless red dresses and carried bouquets of red roses.  The groomsmen wore playful black caps.  Tables were decorated with red linens and centerpieces of white and red roses.  The cake had elaborate white piping adorned with red roses.

Kim and Paul were so sweet together, just holding on during their first dance.  Kim was lovely in her gown, with a red sash around her waist to match her girls.

Usually it’s the ladies who own the dance floor, but at this wedding, the guys rocked it.  In particular, a young boy who practiced his Michael Jackson moves and two gentlemen who held a dance off to “Sex Machine” and “Rebeleon.”  The winner?  I’m not telling!  I think they were both impressive.  

The music was a mix of contemporary country, new dance hits and a little Latin flavor mixed in.  Appropriate, since Paul likes country and classic rock, while Kim prefers hip hop.  The fact that they were able to compromise says good things about their marriage.

Kim and Paul, I know how hard you planned to make this wedding happen, and you did an amazing job.  Thanks for inviting us along for the ride!

The Eagle’s Nest

A.C. Metropolis Videography

Photos by Ed Townsend *Photo in this blog post courtesy of Ed Townsend.

Photo by Steph

at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor.  They made their introduction to the pumpin’ “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas.

Beth’s auburn hair was drawn up into an elegant, layered updo reminiscent of the 1930′s.

I understood the significance of their chosen first dance song, John Legend’s “Stay With You,” after the Best Man’s toast.  He explained that ‘Los had a huge “man crush” on John Legend.  The Best Man, Aaron, had known Beth since she was two months old.  He traced the growth of the couples relationship back the ten years earlier when Carlos returned from Oklahoma as something that was always meant to be.

One of the most adorable moments was when the flower girl requested, “Fire Burning” by Sean Kingston.  She bounced around the dance floor, singing along with the lyrics, “Shorty fire burning on the dance floor,” and ran off to drag her father out to dance.  He lifted her off her feet as she sang at the top of her lungs.

We ended the night with hip hop, a touch of reggaeton and a surprise request for the catchy “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus for Beth and her girls.

Beth and Carlos are off to their Puerto Rican honeymoon.  Congratulations, guys!

Anthony’s Pier 9

Photos by Eli Sloves

Heather and John’s wedding caught the last of autumn’s spectacular foliage with the unparalleled views from the Eagle’s Nest. The hills lit up a brilliant scarlet and orange against the blue sky at sunset.

The ceremony was held on the porch overlooking that view. Guests awaited Heather’s arrival in the brisk air as Jeff performed his piece, “Union” for her walk down the aisle. There was much giggling and humor amongst the bridal party during Father Rich’s ceremony, and the flower girl played peek-a-boo with Jeff around his guitar.

The sun came out twice during the ceremony; once for Heather’s walk down the aisle and again just as Heather and John were exchanging vows. Father Rich delivered a powerful, impassioned sermon and pronounced them husband and wife.

Heather chose subtle fall colors for her wedding. The girls wore chocolate brown dresses with gold sashes and the tables were decorated with orange and yellow orchids with the added texture of the branches. Maryann from Flowers on the Porch did an expert job interpreting Heather’s fall wedding vision.

The newlyweds took extra care to entertain their guests by practicing a choreographed First Dance surprise. The medley we created started innocently enough with “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith. Then, a painful record scratch (I swear John’s father looked ready to kill us!) before slamming into “Apache” by the Sugarhill Gang, Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and “Thriller,” as Heather and John danced their way through several songs before ending with Soulja Boy and sliding back into the remaining verses of the Aerosmith song.

It takes guts to pull off a First Dance Surprise, but the guests LOVED it. Heather’s father laughed as hard as I did, watching the two of them go through their routine.

What a loving family! The ring bearer, Anthony, dedicated “Angel” by SarahMaclachlan to his Aunt Heather and Uncle John, because he, “wanted them to have something nice.”

They did have something nice: an unbelievable wedding surrounded by the love and fun of their closest family and friends.

Ulysses and Jenni did such a phenomenal job with the engagement photos of Heather and John in their guest book that I can’t wait to see their photos of the wedding!

The Eagle’s Nest

Flowers by Flowers on the Porch

Officiant Father Rich

Photos by Ulysses Photography

Miranda and Rob arrived (with their HUGE bridal party of 19!) in a white Rolls Royce at the Twin Lakes. There was such energy in the bridal suite while waiting to be lined up for introductions that the flower girls were bouncing off the walls.

When they finally joined their guests for the reception, the bridal party was cheering like rabid football fans. When Rob ran through the corridor of bodies, his two Best Men slapped his bottom and bellowed.

It was great to see Rob’s Best Man, Chris; we’d played for his wedding almost five years ago at the Twin Lakes! It was the memory of that wedding that brought Miranda and Rob back there to celebrate their own.

The bridesmaids wore nutmeg gowns that matched the yellow and brown of the centerpieces. White and yellow rosebuds in shot glasses decorated the tables, a nice and inexpensive way to spread floral beauty.

I only wish we could have stretched this night for the couple! Their friends danced to old school Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls, and everyone joined in for classic rock and especially Kid Rock’s new song, “All Summer Long.” (Who can resist those samples of “Werewolves of London” and “Sweet Home Alabama?”)

Miranda danced with her grandfather to a song he picked out for her, “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor. He told me before their dance, “I mean it for her, too. I hope she’ll always be my friend, even when I get old.”

Despite the rain, it was a beautiful day watching the love in Miranda and Rob’s eyes as they ended the night with a dance to Jack Johnson’s “Better Together.”

Twin Lakes

Photos: Max Nucci

Video: Bruce Williams

We met the couple when we worked the annual Holiday Ball for the employees at Stewart Airforce Base. Danny “volunteered” to be a human Christmas tree and was decorated by the ladies with tinsel, ornaments, and ladies undergarments. As if that weren’t enough, he did a runway walk, strutting his stuff for the crowd.

Yep, that’s Danny.

With three children each, Mashelle and Danny are forming a regular Brady bunch.

On their wedding day, Danny and Mashelle made their grand entrance, rising up the elevator in the Imperial Ballroom, lights flashing, the theme from 2001 Space Odyssey blaring. We kicked in with Rob Base’s “It Takes Two” and the guests went wild.

Danny really stretched my vocal talents with the Love Letter he wrote for Mashelle, inspired by the Jack Black comedy Nacho Libre. I assumed my best Mexican accent to deliver lines like, “Let’s get down to the nitty gritty,” (except it sounded more like, “neeety greeety“) and “I was wondering if you would join me in my quarters this night…for some toast.”

How many times did you see that movie, Danny?

Mashelle and her young son Barrington, who had also walked her down the aisle, shared a special dance together. He held her tight, head pressed into his mother the whole time. It was the sweetest parent dance I’ve seen in ages.

Let me tell you–the bouquet toss later on was FULL CONTACT. Those single ladies were dangerous! They actually tackled each other and wrestled for the bouquet. Stray flowers were flying everywhere.

We tapped into some salsa, merengue, old school hip hop and freestyle for this party, interspersed with some of Danny and Mashelle’s Christian favorites.

My favorite moment: seeing the looks of love exchanged by Danny and Mashelle as their six children surrounded them on the dance floor. These are the moments you remember.

Thanks, guys!

Anthony’s Pier 9