Classy in an old-world Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett kind of way. That’s what I thought when I walked into the foyer to start setting up for Anne-Marie and Andrew’s wedding on Friday afternoon at the Orpheum Theatre in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin. What a great way to escape the day-to-day world to really celebrate something special: walking into a venue that reeked style and elegance. I felt my coolness factor increase two notches just walking into the place. The detailed carvings in the woodwork along the hallway lines, the polished marble twin staircases that framed the tabletops adorned with fresh flowers, everywhere I looked I could just imagine the memories that were made in this place, and those to be made…. Ah, enough time for introspection; I had work to do to make sure my part in the wedding was to exceed expectations. And with this fun crowd, I knew I had high expectations to uphold.
When I first met Andrew and Anne-Marie back in February, I knew that their event would be lots of fun to be a part of. There were a lot of clues that tipped me off: their great selection of songs included in their “Must Play” list, their playful affection for one another, the easy conversation that we had during their planning meeting (sharing favorite Parisian restaurants to help them prepare for their honeymoon was also a fun diversion for all during the pre-wedding planning stresses), and their very creative wedding invite they generously shared with me, among others. Even with these various clues, I did not expect to have such a fantastic time as I did last Friday night.
After set up, I set the mood by playing an eclectic, if esoteric, mix of indie artists (The Avett Brothers, Postal Service, The Shins and The Rose Buds )hand-selected by the bridal couple. Playing the modern music with a classic jazzy beat fit the venue perfectly, and set the mood for the first guest to walk in. The crowd mingled while enjoying the music, the company, the appetizers, and eagerly anticipated the bridal party’s arrival. As people explored the foyer, theater and hidden hallways, there was a buzz in the air awaiting the evening’s fun. The grand entrance merited the buzz, as each couple in the party had their moments to shine from the upper balcony spotlight. After I introduced Anne-Marie and Andrew, they invited their party to join them on the balcony and it was as though we were eager spectators to a Tony -winning cast taking their third bow. I felt honored to stand on the stage and introduce such a fantastic group of people, and observe the beaming crowd from my vantage point.
The fabulous meal went off without a hitch. Family members gave touching speeches while the delicious cake was served. My favorite part of the toasts, though it was a hard favorite to pick, included Steve Koehn’s recollection of his daughter’s first date with her now husband. When asked by her mother as she prepared for the date why she asked him instead of the other way around, she replied frankly: “Mom, I’m a woman of the ‘90’s!” As the perfectly planned evening continued, the wedding guests relaxed into the theater seats to watch “A Wedding” film prepared by Mr. Koehn. A very special twist on the nouveau traditional practice of a family photo montage– very well done and very entertaining.
Ah—it was finally the time that I had been waiting for—the big dance! “A and A” chose a great Ray LaMontagne song. I love the artist so much, we were able to enjoy even more of him as a prelude to the first dance! As the evening drew on, you never would have guessed it was a Friday night and many of the guests arose early that day to have at least a partial day in the office working the grind. The floor was packed as we rolled on until 1am, enjoying every minute of it! I must also give props out to another couple who attended this wedding, Phil & Melissa who are also known as Philissa. Please take a look at their post event survey that they completed and is listed on our web site. A thank you for the referral and a congratulations goes out to them also for 18 months of marriage.
In closing, I am excited to hear how Paris treats Anne-Marie and Andrew, the two lovebirds. I wish them as much fun throughout their lives as I and their guests had on their special day.
Vendors we enjoyed working with:
Michael Krakora Photography
Jackie Suska of The Orpheum
Don Cady – Private Videographer
DJ Matt Long – DJ Magic Enterprises, Inc.