A True Fairy Tale Wedding

Krystal and Courtney
July 13, 2013
Scottish Rite Cathedral

I don't think Disney could of wrote this love story and dream wedding better.  Krystal and Courtney are so in love along with their daughter Rhyan, they make one of the cutest families.
Their wedding was nothing short of magical.  I helped them with planning every single detail and it  turned out AMAZING.  There were a few times where I thought- is this going to work out?  But in the end-the day was truly magnificent.
On Saturday, the morning everything went smooth.  Krystal and her maids were being pampered in the Presidential Suite at the Omni. While Courtney and the guys were playing cards down the hall in his suite.  Once, the ladies were all made up we traveled to the Scottish Rite and Krystal put on her gown.  She was stunning.  Then the guys arrived all decked out in their tan suites and orange stripped socks (a personal fav).  We had a planned a major surprise later in the reception, so the couple saw each other before the ceremony.  They were able to get so many fun and amazing pictures.
Unlike the rehearsal, the ceremony started at 5:30 on the dot.  The decor was spectacular, the arch was full of flowers.  Courtney and THE CUPID are friends, he sang as Krystal walked down the aisle.  Cupid's voice is unbelievable.  Bishop Benjamin gave a touching service.  Then at the end ceremony, Courtney gave a nod to his guys and they all put on sunglasses.  After the ceremony, guests gathered outside on the steps.  A Cinderella carriage was waiting for the couple but before they took a ride, Krystal and Courtney released doves.  Just another part of the fairy tale.
Guests then went up to the balcony and sipped on  signature cocktails from  the custom ice luge and nibbled on hors devours.  At the end of the cocktail hour, Krystal and Courtney took to the dance floor as guests watched from above and Cupid sang their first dance song.
The ballroom was stunning!  White panels were up lit in purples, oranges and golds.  The centerpieces were a mix of gorgeous arrangements with hanging glass orbs. The head table was a focal point, the floral arrangement was 8 feet long and florals and candles hung down from white branches. And in back of the DJ was huge screen of the couple's monogram.
After the delicious dinner, Krystal and Courtney cut the cake and then the maid of honor, best men and a few family members gave toasts to the couple.  AND then it was time for the MAJOR surprise- on the big screen we showed a highlight video from the days events.  EVERYONE including myself was AMAZED and in tears.
After that the dancing begun and gosh could these people dance.  Then there was one last finale CUPID performed the Cupid Shuffle.  After hundreds of weddings and just of many times hearing this song, it was one of the coolest moments in my wedding career seeing it performed LIVE.
What a love story and fairy tale dream wedding!!!  I wish Krystal and Courtney nothing but the best.
And now for the STELLAR cast and the biggest of thank yous for helping me pull this off.  Katie at the Scottish Rite, Lisa from Thomas Catering, Tiffany of Circle City Designers who was 10 1/2 months pregnant and gave birth on Monday afterward, Jessica Strickland Photography who was also preggo, Bob Ride of Indy Visual, Heavenly Sweets of Noblesville, Karen Hall and Company, Jill of Westwood paper, Evans A/V who did all the lighting and sound, Yellow Rose Carriages, Dove Express, Carey Limo, DJ Indiana Jones, Circle City Photo booth, and my lovely and also pregnant assistant Cara.

CEREMONY NOW!

Kait and Adam
IMA-Formal Gardens & Deer Zinc
June 22,2013

Kait and Adam are amazing! I had such a blast helping with planning and designing their wedding with them.  Kait and I planned an absolute PERFECT day with really unique and personal touches.  The plan was:
To have the couple see each other in the afternoon with Kait in her wedding dress and take pictures with their immediate families and the bridal party.  Then she would change into her cocktail hour dress and snap a few more pictures with extended family then mingle with guests as they arrived.  All of this was to take place outside in the formal gardens.  After 30 minutes or so, Kait was going to go and change into her wedding gown again for the ceremony.  After the ceremony the brass band was going to lead the couple, bridal party and all the guests back to the Deer Zinc, playing the New Orleans second line, Kait had attend Tulane University.  Guests would also pick up a glass of champagne as they made their way across the bridge. Then Adam and Kait was going to give a toast right outside the Deer Zinc in the courtyard.  After that, guests were going to go in the ballroom and dine and dance the night away.
That was the plan until it started raining, a bride's and wedding planner's worst nightmare.
So it was on to Plan B... and this is why Kait and Adam are so amazing!  There was no way that we could do the cocktail hour outside during the rain so the Kahn's staff quickly brought everything needed for the cocktail hour inside to the foyer area of the Deer Zinc  Guests arrived and sipped on "Just What the Doctors ordered", Kait and Adam are in medical school.
I thought maybe we could still have the ceremony outside until I saw that the rain storm destroyed the chuppah.  AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
I went inside to break the news to Kait and Adam.  I told them even though it stopped raining I thought it was best to bring the ceremony inside as well.  It broke my heart to say this because I knew how important it was to Kait to get married outdoors.  But another rain cell was on the radar and coming this way.  Adam then said " Is there anyway we could do the ceremony now?"  I said YES lets do it! Forgetting all about the chuppah but knowing somehow we would figure it out.
After letting all the vendors know what was going on, we all got to work.  What should of took about 45 minutes to setup, the ceremony was set in less than 15 minutes! Miraculously, Julie and the Royal Creations team with a little help from the IMA engineering department was able to fix the chuappah.  But to be sure I had ushers hold it so it would fall over.
Kait, meanwhile, rushed into the dressing room where her bridesmaids were and said, "CEREMONY NOW!"  They immediately helped her change into her gown.  As the last chair was being wiped dry, we told the guests  that the ceremony was about to begin an to make their way outside.  As the last group of guests were sitting down it started raining again!  Good thing we laid out parasols on the chairs because there was no turning back now.
The rain stopped just as Kait and her parents walked down the aisle.  The ceremony was shortened a bit but still was lovely.  Then Adam smashed the glass and the FUN began.
The parade was awesome!  In Adam's toast he joked about the weather.  Guests then enjoyed the rest of cocktail hour.
Then guests were let inside the ballroom.  It looked as if we brought the outdoors in.  20 foot olive trees with hanging votive candles were in the corners of the dance floor.  The dining tables were a beautiful pistachio green linen with a white cut-out overlay with a personalized cookie at each place setting.  The tables were named after places Kait and Adam had visited.  The centerpieces were simply stunning.  Kait and her mom collected white antique vases and had Julie fill them with fresh summery flowers.  At the sweet heart table, there were special vases that Kait's mom picked out personally.  There were ficus trees that flanked the each side where guests wrote "words of wisdom" and hung on the leaves.  Dinner was fabulous and Zanna doo rocked!!!
This wedding has all the little details, even down to a note from Kait and Adam's dog that was in guests' hotel rooms, saying that he was sad that he couldn't make the trip.  So super cute!
A super big and special thank you to all involved.  You all rolled with the challenges of the day and if it wasn't for the easy-goingness of each of you, we wouldn't of been able to pull this AMAZING wedding off.
IMA- Nicole Minor, Nathaniel Edmunds Photography, Kahn's Catering- Freddie Klagstad, Royal Creations- Julie Atcheson, Bay Street Brassworks- Glen, Circle City Photobooth, Karen Hall and Company, Lisa Sauce & Zanno Doo, Kevin from Engledow, Carey Limo, Cavallo Bus Lines, Trader's Point Creamery, The Conrad Indianapolis, A-Classic Party Rental, BBJ Linen and FABULOUS assistant Cara Dyksen
For more pictures- check out the NEP blog

Julie and Martin
June 8, 2013
Indiana Statehouse and Scottish Rite Cathedral

WOW!!! What a perfect day for wedding.  Julie and Martin are so sweet.  We worked together throughout the entire wedding planning process.  Their wedding day went so smooth.  The day started at Sheraton City Centre with hair and makeup by Karen Hall and Co.  Jennifer Driscoll was there snapping photos of everyone getting ready.  Then Jack from Antique Limo arrived with a trolley and took the ladies over to the Scottish Rite Cathedral.  There is where Martin saw Julie in her wedding gown. It was such a special moment!!!  Then everyone hopped back on the trolley and took more pictures around the city.  The next stop was the Statehouse.  The ceremony setting was simple but at the same time elegant.  The ceremony reminded me of my own when Julie put her hands in Martin's and Pastor Charlie Cash read the hand ceremony.  After the I do's, guests grabbed a handful of rose petals and tossed them at Julie and Martin as they made their grand exit into a horse and carriage.
At the cocktail hour guests munched on tacos and sipped mini margaritas as Julie and Martin took more pictures.  Then the couple danced their 1st dance as guests watched from balcony above.  The ballroom looked stunning, thanks to Tiffany at Circle City Designers.  Dinner was fantastic!  Dawn and her staff at Thomas Caterers always do a great job.  Afterwards, Julie and Martin cut into their beautiful and delicious cake from Classic Cakes of Carmel.  Then Julie surprised Martin with his very own Purdue shaped groom's cake.  Wes from Event One DJs had the dance floor packed the whole evening.  Troy from Movie Tyme Productions was able to capture all the special moments on video.  What a GREAT party!!!!
Thanks to all that made Julie and Martin a HUGE success!!!

Inside or Outside?

Kristen and Aman were such a fun couple.  I loved planning with them and Kristen's mom, Karen.  The wedding ceremony and reception was at Woodstock Country club.  We had planned to have the ceremony outside on the porch then have the reception in the ballroom.  The ceremony was traditional (in a sense) but Aman wanted to include a few Indian traditions.  We had dhol dummer and Aman was to make his entrance on a horse.  However, on that Saturday the weather wasn't cooperating.  10 minutes before the ceremony was to start.  The rain started coming down.  So the ceremony had to be moved inside.  Because it was a last minute change guests stood and watched the ceremony.  Afterwards, Aman said I wouldn't have had any other way our ceremony was so intimate.  After the "I do's" the rain stopped and guests gathered on the porch for cocktails while the bridal party went across the street and took pictures at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  Dinner was amazing.  Guests had their choice of of chicken, beef or an Indian dish.  Then it was time for dancing.  The music was a mix between American and Indian dance songs.  What a fantastic party!!!
A big "THANK YOU" to all that made Kristin and Aman's wedding day a huge success. Susan, from Woodstock, Crowe's Eye Photography, Heavenly Sweets, The Empty Vase, AMS Entertainment and Broadripple Party Bus.

Brenna & Chris

First Wedding of Season

Here a little teaser from the first wedding of the season!!
Thanks to Angie and Doug for letting me take part in your special day.