amy & jeremy – part 2: wedding

there was quite a bit of set up to do – in the tudor house, for the outside ceremony (as seen in the rehearsal post) and inside of the tent for the reception. i didn’t even touch my camera for a good 3 or 4 hours of being there, which is unusual for me, of course, because i love to document the behind-the-scenes photos that brides and grooms might not otherwise see.

i was just about done with the house and ceremony set up and entered the tent to help my assistant, elissa, who was dutifully placing the tables, linens, centerpieces, napkins, etc., when it started to sprinkle. at first i was in denial. it could NOT be raining for AMY and JEREMY. it could not. then came guilt that i didn’t believe phyllis, the lead ceremony musician, when she said a front was coming in. next came anger that northeast ohio would even think of giving us sunshine all day but rain less than an hour before the ceremony. and then i was totally depressed that i personally had to tell the caterer, the ceremony musicians, the sound guy… and the bride and groom… that the ceremony would have to be in the tent.

as we were furiously getting the chairs and all of the ceremony items (table, communion, sand ceremony, lantern centerpiece, etc.) into the tent, guests arrived at the tudor house. they were greeted by amy’s two nieces who graciously asked them to please wait in the house and sign guest book (made by catherine mckinley with engagement photos.)

guests also dropped off their umbrellas… (*sigh*)

… and their gifts.

they were then able to wander the house that amy and jeremy made more like their home with family photos throughout.

i loved all of the little signage that amy had made by paper persuasions. shown below – something new: our new family, which sat next to the engagement session photos that included amy’s daughters hannah and hope. other signage included - something old: the poorman’s cookie recipe that was amy’s grandmother’s and has been in their family for generations. the cookies and copies of the recipe were displayed on the sweets table. something borrowed: jeremy’s family’s china that the bride and groom and their daughters used during the reception. something blue: this sign had a quip to the effect of “no one is allowed to be blue!”

there was also a scrapbook on display that amy’s daughter made for jeremy and…

and (one of my favorites!) make a wish/take a wish jars!

once we were able to get the tent as guest-ready as possible, guests were invited to retrieve their escort cards and find their seats for the reception. once everyone was seated, we started the processional and the ceremony. in lieu of a longer walk to the tree-lined uncovered ceremony site, the bridal party followed this concrete path under the awning and large tree…

…through the much shorter lantern and rose petal-lined “aisle way” to the tent. during the ceremony we all caught our breath a bit and prepared for the rest of the evening. we realized that the the adjustment worked out just fine!

as soon as the ceremony was over, the bridal party took photos in front of tudor house while guests enjoyed the crudite…

..and cold drinks from the beautiful antique fountains, provided by waterloo catering.

once guests seemed content with the appetizers, i checked on the photography progress on the other side of the house.

with amy and jeremy here were photographer catherine mckinley and her second shooter, and krista from focus on you videography.

action shot! looking forward to seeing the results of these lovey photos!!!

after the formal photos, the new family was announced into the tent.

OF COURSE, right as the dinner buffet started…

…the sun was just right. i looked up quick enought to see amy and jeremy frolic (literally, i got misty-eyed watching them) hand-in-hand down the hill for a few more photos.

this is love, folks. swoon.

once we had worked through the rain, it was so nice that it was able to clear up for the rest of the evening. post-impromptu photoshoot and during dinner, we vendors had a mini pow-wow to congratulated each other for making it through without knocking over anything… or anyone.

L to R: my assistant elissa, bob and krista newill of focus on you, catherine mckinley and her second shooter.

back in the tent, the bride and groom finally were able to enjoy their sweetheart table (shown here pre-bouquet placing and champagne pouring)

after dinner, as soon as the northeast ohio jazz orchestra started, amy, her girls and other friends hit the dance floor. the band was such a big hit throughout the night! i enjoyed their music no matter where i was on the tudor house grounds.

action shot of the wonderful ceremony sound guy as well as band member, chris baldwin, also of graham river productions, who was so helpful – even just to get us to stop and smile – throughout the day.

next up was the best man then maid of honor, amy’s daughter hannah’s toasts…

during which i surprised amy and jeremy with some champagne at their places. : )

focus on you’s “love story” – interviews of the bride and groom – played after toasts.

i don’t think there was a dry eye in the house…

…when amy – on screen – described the best gift jeremy could give her: loving her two daughters so very much.

meanwhile… the coordinator’s work is never done. my assistant elissa started lighting the mason jar votives that lined the driveway. amy asked me to coordinate this as she had run out of time and couldn’t find white paper lunch sacks with sand like i had suggested she use for luminaries. instead, i decided to surprise her with glass mason jars that matched the rest of her glass/lantern theme. it looked AMAZING once the sun went down. this is when we were running, running, running again, so i didn’t get a photo of it! i think that’s what i’m most looking forward to seeing the pro photos of!

back in the tent, amy and jeremy shared their first dance, followed by open dancing for the rest of the night.

at the very end of the evening, i cued the band to play the last song. after that, they made the announcement for the guests to pick up sparklers from elissa and me where the aisle had been. we lined everyone up from the tent to the house and then lit the extra-long sparklers as fast as we could for amy and jeremy to run through, during which the band played the star wars theme! (amy and jeremy, and their daughters, are big fans of the movies.) they ran through the crowd, through the house, and to their getaway car where their best man awaited to whisk them away to the hotel…. and their honeymoon! i hope you’re enjoying the caribbean amy and jeremy!!!

the day didn’t go exactly as planned, but once we accepted the fact that it had to be in the tent, i think we made it work just as well. vendors and guests alike agreed that it turned out beautifully inside and we heard comments throughout the night how nice the ceremony under the chandeliers and in the candlelight was. i do have to note that the staff at john bahas’ waterloo catering were outstanding. they helped elissa and me out so much when making the transition from outside to in. the food and the overall display was very well done. if you’re looking for a caterer in the akron area, be SURE to check them out.

i do wish i had so many more photos to show you all of the wonderful evening! i’ll be sure to post if photographer catherine mckinley blogs some . do come back, anyways, as tomorrow i’ll share the #1 reason why this wedding touched my heart so.