Wedding: Susanna and Phil

After a whirlwind of planning and excitement, on April 1, 2011 I had the joy of coordinating the wedding of Susanna and Phil Latham in Fort Worth, Texas. Following the formal ceremony at University Christian Church, guests gathered at The Ashton Depot in downtown Fort Worth to celebrate with the newlyweds’ marriage. The event was undoubtedly a reflection of Susanna and Phil’s love of Fort Worth surrounded by the dramatic elegance of the ceremony and reception venues and décor. 

Wedding: Tamara and Scott

After many months of planning, on February 26, 2011 I had the pleasure of coordinating the wedding of Tamara and Scott Garrett in McKinney, Texas. The intimate candlelit ceremony was contrasted by bright colorful, and fun elements in the reception. There was no doubt the event’s décor was customized to match Scott’s sensibilities and Tamara’s bubbly personality.

Choosing Unique Ceremony Music

Music. It sets the mood, it fills awkward silence, but most importantly, it is the element that moves people to tears, that makes their emotions swell, that makes them fall in love.

The modern bride is saying “no” to traditional trumpet processionals and boisterous organ music. Don’t be scared to look in some unlikely places for the solution to your musical dilemma.

Music to Match Your Decor
A wedding I just coordinated this past Labor Day weekend(congratulations, Jim and Amanda Connelly!) used beautiful piano and cello duets as the music for the processionals. Its soft backdrop created a fairytale feel and highlighted the glow of the candles in the church. Check out the composer and artist, Brian Crain, here.

Music to Match the Decade
For a stronger nod towards contemporary music, look into the Vitamin String Quartet. They take famous, popular music and re-write the songs into a string quartet work of art. The familiar tunes are of interest to guests while formal seating is still happening and the ceremony has not yet begun.

Music to Match Tradition
My most recent find is a song called “Pachelbel Meets U2” by Jon Schmidt. He blends the beautiful traditional wedding song into a modern day masterpiece. What a great way to maintain tradition with a current twist.

Music to Match the Location
Don’t stop at the song selection itself –select the appropriate musical instruments to play the songs. Have a live band play instead of playing a CD. Take your favorite song and have it re-written and composed to have a long build of volume before the doors open for your dramatic cathedral entrance. Use banjos and fiddles to play your outdoor country wedding march (think: Nickel Creek) instead of pianos and guitars. Customize the music to fit you and your event.

Music to Match the Mood
Whatever you select, think about the overall emotion you want to create in your guests and for yourself. Music can change things from upbeat to serene or from classy to sassy, so make sure you take time to select it just as you did all the décor, attire, and flowers.

Happy Planning!

The Pearl Stables: San Antonio, TX

During an amazing site visit in San Antonio, Texas this week, I discovered an incredible wedding venue: Pearl Stables.

Once a grand home to the brewery’s draft horses in the late 1800’s, today Pearl Stable provides a unique site for events. This venue, equipped with full-size kitchen, is very versatile as it is perfect for a romantic fairytale wedding, a vintage glamour soiree, or a rustic - but chic - reception. The best part is that the Pearl Stables is practically a blank slate that you can personalize any look, theme or "feel” tailored to your event needs.

From the glass bottle custom chandeliers to the red velvet curtained stage, this hardwood-rich venue has more character than I could have imagined. Faux “stalls” provide perfectly private dining spaces, while still remaining on the main floor. The round layout creates a very intimate feel, while still remaining a lavish event.

While the website suggests it can hold up to 600, for a seated reception I would not put more than 375 on the main floor to maintain a certain level of comfort. The spacious foyer allows room for buffet stations and two large stationary bars, which are perfectly placed for flow of traffic and need no dressing up.

For more information, go to the Pearl Stables website. They have great pictures, information on event space rental, and the history of the venue.

Happy Planning!

Vitamin String Quartet

So, you’re not exactly what we call a “traditional” bride. You want a pink sash on your dress, a fire truck to take you to your reception, and pyrotechnics to come raining down behind you when you cut the cake. The standard Bridal March isn’t going to do it for you.

You can think outside of the box with your music (and still be classy) if you know where to look. Meet the Vitamin String Quartet. With their string renditions of Coldplay, Paramore, and many other current artists, you will be able to have a touch of contemporary music without upsetting your mother-in-law-to-be. Check them out today!