I exist in two places: here and where you are.
Three weeks ago, I received a message on Facebook.
“I’d like to talk to you more about the opportunity to hire you for a wedding.” Short, succinct, direct.
I was excited; weddings are so much fun and the high speed of the day takes me right back to my time in the military. But as is the case with many of my clients, I had no idea what was in store.
First of all, the wedding was THIS MONTH. Bride and groom had a very short timeline to work with, and I could feel their stress about all the details — venue, vendors, guest list, the list went on — as I sat in Starbucks and took notes on what they wanted.
I could also feel their love — love that was stronger than ever because it had grown throughout a global pandemic and family losses. Love that proved that despite the challenges behind them, Amy and Nick were perfectly suited to be each other’s futures.
I spent the entire day with them. We got ready together. We toasted together. We rested together. We danced together. We ate together. Shit, I witnessed their marriage certificate. In eleven and a half hours (oh yes… ELEVEN), I spoke with every guest and wedding party member and learned much of their story.
In eleven hours, I knew my gut feeling from seeing Amy and Nick making gaga eyes at each other as they held hands in Starbucks — a look that told me despite the chaos of planning a wedding in three weeks, when they looked in each other’s eyes, things became calm and serene — that gut feeling was ridiculously on point.
This was a real life fairytale, and I am absolutely honored to have been the person who gets to tell their story.
A Change in VEnue
With 48 hours to go and a stormy forecast on the horizon, the wedding had to be moved from an outdoor garden in Palm Beach Gardens to the conference room of Drive Shack, a driving range nearby Palm Beach International Airport. All hands on deck, as we say in the Navy. Bride, groom, and loved ones all pivoted quickly to ensure the wedding decorations and setup were ready in time for Saturday afternoon.
Keeping Memories Alive
Both of the bride's parents were no longer with us, and with her father's passing still a recent, painful memory, everyone took special care to ensure that Mom and Dad were there in spirit. We placed their wedding picture near the altar, the bride wore special jewelry and had a piece of Mom's wedding dress tucked into her bodice, and the bride's sister showcased a special slideshow of photos and video for all guests to appreciate.
TWO CULTURES UNITED IN LOVE
Part of the difficulty with Nick and Amy's long engagement was that Nick, who resided in the Netherlands, was prevented from coming to America during the pandemic border restrictions. With a visa in hand, the Verdunks sprang into action to ensure that Nick and his family could make it to Florida to celebrate his union to Amy.
Celebrate the Micro Wedding.
A micro wedding is just what it sounds like: it's a wedding of 50 guests or less, and can be as traditional or nontraditional as you want it to be. Micro weddings allow you to keep your loved ones involved in your wedding day without the additional costs of having a large wedding party. Micro weddings are traditionally small and intimate ceremonies that still include the treasured customs and traditions that distinguish a wedding.
Wedding Traditions Amy & Nick Included
wedding party processional
Jewish hand-fasting ceremony
breaking of the glass & Mazel Tov!
maid of honor and best man speeches
first dance & parents dances
cake cutting
sparkler exit
Submit an inquiry for your own elopement or micro wedding below!
