7/13/13 (Friday the 13th) Beach Wedding in Ocean City, NJ

I know, I know. I need to keep up more with this blog. I'll write another post coming today, with a short video and a bunch of Pinterest links. 

Sometimes a wedding is so precious to me that I don't even know what to say. This is one of them.

First of all, Donna and Ryan wanted 80s music for their ceremony. So right there, we've already got a party going on. Secondly, it was on Friday the 13th, and they really played up the theme (I saw some custom-made Jason hockey mask wooden jewelry). Thirdly, Donna really did something very special for me, which I'll mention again at the end.

Here's the song list:

Prelude music: 

Footloose

Bohemian Rhapsody

Vogue

Arrival of officiant: Keep Your Hands to Yourself by the Georgia Satellites 

Groom's Processional: Somewhere in Time

Bridal Processional: Jersey Girl

Medley during readings: 

True Colors/Islands in the Stream

Recessional, cue intro guitar riff at actual kiss: Prince's "Kiss"

Post-ceremony dance on the beach: You're My Best Friend by Queen

Killer, right? Here are a couple of photos of the wedding:

The officiant dances during prelude.

Congratulations, Donna and Ryan!

I told Donna about my own wedding in May 2009, how I ordered a bunch of antique handkerchiefs. One of them had blue embroidery on it, so I carried it during the ceremony and reception and was very sentimentally attached to it. I must have put it down and the catering staff must have thrown it away, because it was missing at the end of the night. When Donna met me, she gave me another antique handkerchief with embroidered raised blue flowers. Even as I type this, I'm in tears. Donna, I carry this handkerchief with me everywhere I go (it's a little wrinkled because it lives in my handbag); I feel that it's even better than the one I lost, and that it carries good luck and the joy of everything that's good in my life. Because it's from you.

Love,

Catherine

Love, in the form of a well-worn handkerchief.

(P.S. - From Donna, here's Bohemian Rhapsody on the beach:

ULTRA COOL wedding, 5/15/11 in Audubon, PA

I think I'm going to let Brenna's song list speak for itself. She's getting married at the Audubon wildlife preserve near Phoenixville, in an apple orchard. So, two A+s already for our bride!
1) Groomsmen: 3rd Eye Blind, How's it Going to Be
2) Mom and Dad: Rolling Stones, Wild Horses
3) Bridesmaid: U2, All I Want is You
4) Bride: Traditional Hymn, Now We Are One
5) Recessional: Beach Boys, God Only Knows
6) Postal Service, Such Great Heights
7) Dashboard Confessional, Hands Down
8) Beatles, Across the Universe
9) Foo Fighters, Everlong
10) Coldplay, Shiver
11) Weezer, El Scorcho
Do you know of any bride with cooler music than this? I thought not!

September 11 wedding in Cape May

I wanted to share this wedding with you for several reasons. First of all, I'm proud of Melissa for getting married on September 11 and bringing new joy to the day for everyone. Secondly, she had the wedding at the Peter Shields Inn, which is the most gorgeous Great Gatsby place EVER. Third, she gave the guests a gift they will NEVER forget!

Picture this: you walk on the beach in your formal clothes. Peter Shields has some drinks chilled on ice for you (nice touch, by the way, Peter Shields)! Your vioinist is playing Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. The whole ceremony is classical: Pachelbel Canon, Wedding March, Ave Maria.

Then, BOOM! Tailored to the musical loves of the guests, the violin starts the bridesmaids' favorite MICHAEL JACKSON MEDLEY (Thriller, PYT, Beat It, Dirty Diana, and Wanna Be Starting Something). The father of the groom loves Jethro Tull, so Aqualung is next. Then you've got Kiss "Rock and Roll All Night," AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long," Taylor Swift "Love Story," Bryan Adams "Everything I Do, I Do For You," Van Morrison's "Moondance," Lady Gaga "Bad Romance," Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer," finishing off with "Devil Went Down to Georgia"!

I walked down to the water's edge with the wedding party for the pictures. The love in my heart for the day is that everyone had a special song. EVERYONE was smiling and felt the bride really loved them and had thought of them.

If you are on a serious budget and cannot afford a DJ (you know, the ipod is a reasonable alternative), you can toss your fearless violinist a small extra fee and let the good times roll!

Love to you all,
Catherine