I have known Melissa, the bride for a long, long time. When she was just out of college and driving the world's smallest car, she worked as a teacher with my husband. She and he quickly became friends and of course, I was totally charmed and fell in love with her. too! Over the years, Kevin and I have remained great friends with her entire family. To get the call that Meilissa was engaged to Jeremy made my heart skip a beat. I was thrilled in her happiness and excited for Jeremy, whom I had yet to meet. His bride's family could not be nicer!! An amazing family.
I was totally flattered, as I always am, to be asked to design and help plan her wedding which was held at The Museum of the Shenendoah Valley in Virginia. Over the course of our time working together, I was amazed at the effusive response of the design work from the ENTIRE family. I knew that if they liked the print material that I worked on with Praez Occasions, then they were going to be blown away with the floral display, linens and decor and other surprises that I had up my sleeve.
My team drove overnight from the south coast of Massachusetts, 13 hours south and finally arrived in beautiful Virginia on the Friday before the wedding. We were just in time to run through the rehearsal. I stepped up to the plate and made sure that all of the details came together and were executed in an elegant and timely manner. I used to think that all the things that are important to me....shoulders back, smile gently, flowers at the waist, look ahead, were common understanding. They are not, so it was great to get a wink from Frank, Melissa's father indicating that he was happy that I was there as the wedding planner. I was delighted to sit with Melissa and Jeremy at the head table during the quaint rehersal dinner. We caught up and shared in the amazing excitement that was brewing over what was sure to be a delightful wedding for the two of them the next day.
I woke early, anxious to get to work on the finishing touches of the florals. We have done this so many times, that we were able to set up the remote studio and I got to work. Furiously, I worked to arrange thousands of flowers, create bouquets that were fit for a princess and to make sure that they were all ready to go for the afternoon ceremony. One of the tricks that I use from up my creative sleeve is to put the reception flowers on display at the ceremony. Because the guests were to enjoy a lingering cocktail hour +, my team and I would have the time to move the flowers to different displays, so they could make their final statement within the reception tent.
All the details were ready, the string quartet softly played in the alcove at the end of the stunning garden cathedral lined with majestic trees, trained to gracefully bow. I knew that it was "time" for me to go and get the bride. She and her mother, my dear Pat, cried when they took their bouquets. I too was more than emotional to see one of my best friends in her stunning gown. I adored the fact that he something borrowed was her identical sister's veil from her wedding last year. I made the cues and sent the bridal party down the aisle, knowing that my last cue would be to the princess bride, Melissa on the arm of my good friend Frank, her dashing dad.
The photo of the two of them making their way down the aisle is perhaps one of the best bridal photos that I have ever taken. I will cherish that moment of perfection. Their beaming smiles with the sun streaming through the trees to gave a spiritual and almost devine feeling as we tearily watched the couple exchange their heartfelt vows. Following the ceremony we were going to be on a strict timeline so I made the best use of time and caught up with the bride and their bridal party to get the great wedding photography that you see here.
My team and I moved all of the flowers from the ceremony to the reception tent on another part of the Museum's property. We were ready as a company to have an incredible reception. My work as a designer was over and I could finally have a cocktail and mingle with the guests. I was asked to give the first toast of the night, a great honor. It was a thrill to recap our friendship with humor and to meet and embrace Jeremy and his family. I did not party too hard, I couldn't, the minute that the reception ended, I knew that we would have to pack it up and hit the road overnight to Boston to continue my work.
I think about Melissa, Jeremy and their family often. They are part of ours and I look forward to the "next" moment of joy and celebration. They know that I love them and wish them nothing but the best. I will always look back at these photos filled with shades of bright berry and think of my princess bride and our priceless friendship.
Congratulations Jeremy and Melissa !!! Love always, CMP
