Craig & Kelli MorfordValentine's Day, 2009!

“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.”

So read the invitation to Craig & Kelli Morford’s wedding ceremony and wedding celebration on Valentine’s Day, 2009, at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel.

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.”
One of many personal touches included an acknowledgement of Kelli’s love for the theatre as both an actress and director by naming each table for a familiar song from one of her favorite Broadway musicals. The place cards on the tables invited the guests to sing and dance their way to the buffet when their song was played.

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.

Once the happy couple had cut their cake, toasts were delivered by Craig’s Best Man, long time friend and coworker, and Kelli’s mom, who also stood as her Matron of Honor.
The guests enjoyed an enchanting, fairy tale telling of the Bride and Groom’s “Love Story,” complete with a “Once upon a time” beginning and a “happily ever after” ending.

You can listen in to the end of the story below and hear how Craig proposed.

Craig and Kelli then surprised and mesmerized their guests with an exceptionally well choreographed and beautifully performed First Dance to Michael Bublé’s “That’s All.” It was a very romantic, extremely memorable performance created by local choreographer, Jake Fisher, of Blue Martini Entertainment in Overland Park. (I’ve actually had several of my couples use him over the years and highly recommend his service. He also choreographed Scott & Kristen Smith’s First Dance which you can see on the video page of my web site.)

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!

There is no doubt that everyone had a great time as the dance floor was “moving” the rest of the night until the final, personally selected last dance, “Save the Last Dance for Me” as sung by Michael Bublé. Craig & Kelli definitely enjoyed a wedding celebration unlike all others.

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.

Morgan is also the photographic artist responsible for the gorgeous cover shot on the spring, 2009, Perfect Wedding Guide.

And, what can I say about Bree Atkins, Catering Sales Manager at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel? I’ve known Bree for several years and have had the pleasure of working with her on a number of occasions. She is one of the nicest, most generously accomodating wedding professionals I know and I’ve never seen her without a smile on her face. She is a consummate professional and a Bride’s best friend! I encourage every couple to arrange a time to discuss their wedding reception needs with her. You won’t be disappointed!