real wedding 2008 :: liza + james

Couple :: Liza + James, 10.4.08
Pearls Events service :: Day of coordination
Ceremony :: St. Alphonsus Parish
Reception :: The University Club
Photographer :: Ryan Boughner (family friend)
Caterer + Bar :: The University Club
Cake :: Laura Lewakowski (family friend)
Florist :: Shelly's Designs Florist
Decorator :: Helen Weitzmann (bride's aunt)
DJ :: Complete Music
Transportation :: Affordable Limo
Favors :: caramel apples

Liza + James had a beautiful wedding day in Grand Rapids and I am so thankful to have meet such wonderful families. I arrived at St. Alphonsus about an hour before guests started arriving at church. The photographer started with family formals, and I started pinning on flowers + passing out corsages, setting up the unity candle and making sure the bride + groom did not see each other. Since Liza wanted nontraditional bouquets, Shelly's Designs Florist created the most luxurious crystal + orchid bouquets I've ever seen--they were awesome!

As Liza walked down the aisle in her gorgeous silk, form-fitting gown and birdcage veil, the entire church was in awe. The Catholic ceremony was beautiful, and afterwards, the couple released their guests by pews before making their way through the bubble exit and into the party bus for fun photos around Grand Rapids.

After the ceremony, I was off to The University Club to check out Liza's Aunt Helen's amazing centerpiece + other decor she created for the event. Again, no flowers were used, but instead Helen filled tall vases with pussy willow, silver dollars, and branches which she wrapped in gold wire and strung crystals to. There were also low centerpieces with white lanterns sitting atop a wreath of berries. Each table had candles, and the tables names were all Fall inspired--from pumpkin and spice to moss and mums. It was Autumn goodness that guests were raving about! The head table, however, was my favorite--branches, red berries, mini white lanterns and crystals all intertwined together on the traditional, long head table.

The cocktail hour was filled with good drinks, fabulous appetizers and a slide show put together by the bride's parents. Guests made their way into the main dining room before the wedding party was announced and dinner was served. The food was fabulous--The University Club did an outstanding job with the menu, and the cake was scrumptious. Dancing started and Complete Music did a good job of keeping the dance floor packed until the very end.

After dinner, I got to catch up with one of my July '08 clients, Kathryn, as her and the bride are friends. Kathryn recommended my services to Liza + James after she booked me back in December and it's always fun working a wedding when I know at least one guest!

At the end of the night, I loaded gifts, extra caramel apples and decor into cars, and then was off for the night. It was a great wedding filled with amazing family + friends and I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to work with Liza + James! I am hoping to get some pro photos from Ryan Boughner in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for their preview...

CONGRATS LIZA + JAMES!