Our apologies but we've moved our blog! Please join us at our new home, here! It's a well lit neighborhood with plenty of free, offstreet parking. You'll even enjoy the new blog smell. 
My opinion may be a bit slanted, but I also believe we had one of the best looking booths at the show and it would not have been possible without the assistance of my good friends, Aaron and Heather, with Hawes Photography. The urban look and absolutely amazing photos on the piping were, of course, captured by Aaron & Heather at a wedding celebration that we worked together last June. They are amazing photographic artists and I consider it an honor to be allowed to incorporate their work into my display. You can also view a number of those same photos on my web site. Just click to the "friends" page.
The couple featured in the photos are Kyle & Laura Branson. They were married on June 28, 2008 and their reception was at the National Golf Club. Laura gave up her Sunday (while Kyle stayed at home to study for the Kansas bar exam) to join my associate, Carrie, and me and help answer the many questions that Brides had about weddings, wedding celebrations and our entertainment services. Laura even shared her experiences of working with us in helping her and Kyle design and create their very own version of "Kansas City's Best Wedding Reception...Ever!" 
“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.”
With 100 of their closest friends and family in attendance, Craig & Kelli lovingly exchanged vows at 2:00 p.m. in the Leatherwood Ballroom with Greg Coles as officiate. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests gathered in the foyer outside the ballroom for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while the hotel staff transformed the ceremony area into a beautiful reception venue. The ambient lighting added splashes of pink on the walls and included a gobo that projected their theme of “Happily Ever After.”
Craig and Kelli’s parents and attendants were introduced to the theme from “Father of the Bride” while the newlyweds entered to Natalie Cole’s “(This Will Be) An Everlasting Love.”
It was an opportunity to get the fun started early as their family and friends put on quite a show for the bride and groom with impromptu, laugh out loud, improvisational performances of those popular show tunes.
Throughout the evening, Craig and Kelli provided their guests with a signature drink, aptly named the “Valentini” in honor of the holiday. They also set up a special, fresh baked, pretzel bar that represented their “tying of the knot.” I had never seen that done before but found it to be a very clever addition that could actually be used as a substitution for the traditional wedding cake.
The party began with an Anniversary Dance that filled the dance floor with every married and engaged couple in the room including Craig’s parents who were the longest, happily married couple in attendance, exchanging vows 40 years ago this July. Congratulations to them!
I’d be totally remiss if I did not acknowledge Craig and Kelli’s photographers, Morgan Miller, her associate, Jeff, and videographer Steve, all of Cornerstone Photography. Valentine’s Day was our first experience working together and they were absolutely wonderful and went out of their way to spend time with me, weeks in advance of the reception to discuss every detail of the evening, allowing us to combine our creative talents and produce unexpected magic for Craig & Kelli. I can’t wait to see what wonderful moments they captured and look forward to working with her group, again.
I've got 5 pairs of FREE TICKETS to the Perfect Wedding Guide's annual, Spring Bridal Show on Sunday, February 22, 2009, from 11:00-5:00 at the Overland Park Convention Center. You'll be able to visit with hundreds of Kansas City's top wedding professionals! Additional info here!
Imagine cuddling with your honey while listening to your personally selected, extremely romantic play list on your brand new Apple® - iPod® nano 8GB MP3 Player. What? You don’t have a brand new Apple® - iPod® nano 8GB MP3 Player? No problem. You can win one right here!
I’m very proud that my son, Sean, and his employee's were among the countless volunteers that went to Chapman to assist in the rebuilding. Sean owns Redi Systems, Inc. a company in Manhattan, KS that sells, installs and services home theatres, home security systems, distributed audio systems, lighting controls, conference systems and just about anything related to wireless technology. 
The ballroom was decorated in the richest color of red that I've ever seen, producing a warm and romantic ambiance for what was an amazing evening of laughter and fun.
But, no doubt, the biggest surprise and memory of the evening came when Stacy & TJ surprised their family and friends with an incredibly well choreographed and rehearsed first dance that began with "All My Life" by KCi & JoJo before abruptly breaking into "Zoot Suit Riot" by Cherry Poppin' Daddies (one of TJ's favorites) and ending with "Lovestoned" by Justin Timberlake (a favorite of Stacy's).
Congratulations to TJ & Stacy on your one year anniversary. May you have a hundred more!
