A Tuscan Style Wedding

On June 16, 2007, the Kirkbrides coordination team executed one of our best events to date.....a Tuscan Style wedding for Susan and Denny. This couple originally wanted to have a destination wedding in the countryside of Tuscany, Italy, but realized that they were far too busy to pull off the planning. They contacted me in the fall of 2006 and we began scouting all of our private locations, as that was their main location criteria.

They picked the Manor House on the Lake for its sheer uniqueness and awesome lakefront view.

We organized all of the vendors and amenities around their Tuscan theme. We started with the table style - long, like a vineyard. The colors were olive greens, chocolate browns, gold accents and many other colors for the centerpieces. We picked gold chiavari chairs, ivory linens and ivory plateware. For the cocktail tables, we chose olive organza overlays. Included in the details were wine cork placecard holders decorated with hand calligraphy and placed at each setting. Each table was named after a region of Tuscany.

The centerpieces included real pears and artichokes. Grapevine was laid out in several areas all around the mansion, including the front entryway and guest tables.

The cocktail entertainment consisted of a classical guitarist for that Tuscan feel. For the reception entertainment, we picked a fun, jazzy band.

The cake was ivory, with grapevine and votives garnishing the table. We displayed the cake inside in the fountain room, which allowed us to play a special CD for the cutting ceremony. Black and white family wedding photos were displayed on the built-in shelves in this room.

Italian gelato and pirouette cookies were served in martini glasses as the first dessert course.

We included many high-end choices for guests in the mood for a few cocktails. Specialty drinks included the "Sweet Susan Bellini", "Dirty Denny Martini" and "The Nightshift" (an espresso martini) which illustrated their tiresome jobs as ER doctors working all hours of the night. We also offered a wine tasting during cocktail hour, inviting wedding guests to try any 1 of 6 different wines. Italian Prosecco was served for the toasts as the night got underway.

The night ended as Moondance by Van Morrison was played by the band for the last dance. Our coordination team decorated their red Mini Cooper with Just Married decor. Guests were then ushered to the front of the mansion and handed sparklers tied with personalized matches. They lit them and lined the driveway as Susan and Denny drove off in a magical exit setting, on to their honeymoon in the Amalfi Coast.

The beautiful and expert photojournalism photography was done by close friends of mine, Scott and Julie Meivogel of Easywind Studio. Scott also utilized her graphic design expertise to create the ceremony programs. They attended the rehearsal at St. Dominic's on Van Aken in Shaker Heights, to be sure that they were always at the right place in the right time for the Catholic ceremony events.

Susan and Denny were wonderful, laid back people to work with. I think we laughed at every meeting we had! I will miss talking to them often, but know that I've made two new friends who I can now meet up with for Bellinis anytime I am in Shaker Heights! The guests, bride and groom were all very impressed with the wedding. Many said that is was "just exquisite" and the bride and groom later told me that many said they felt like they were in a movie!