Brandi and Michael, May 14, 2011
I first met Brandi back in the bitter winter of 2010! I knew from the start that planning her wedding was going to be a great experience. I knew from the beginning that it was going to be detailed and elegant. I thought that it would entail a lot of details and parts, and I was absolutely right. The wedding ceremony occured at the St. Johns Cathedral in Downtown Cleveland with the reception being held at the Old Courthouse on Lakeside. Both are amazing….old world charm!
I have said over and over, this wedding had the A team. So many great vendors collaborated to make this an evening that I know was enjoyed by everyone in attendance. I loved getting to know Brandi and Michael, they are very kind, extremely funny and really just a joy to be around. I worked a lot with them as well as their families in the creation of this wedding. It truly was a team effort….including getting the bridal party out of the hotel and into the church during an absolute downpour (see photo below!) I was drenched, but it wasn’t about me…..they were dry and that is all that mattered!
So back to the “A Team!”: The food was amazing and the service staff was top notch. Peggy Hauser with BonAppetit was absolutely fantastic to work with. The guests dined on an Amuse- Bouche of Corn Creme Brulee, an artistic salad and the entree was Surf and Turf!
The amazing decor was designed by Stephen Tokar. Until this wedding, I have not had the opportunity to work with Stephen and I am simply amazed! Not only is he a great designer, patient and kind….but he is also truly fun to be around! I am so glad that we had the opportunity to become friends through this wedding!
Jim Lottig from Event Source was also a big help in the planning of this wedding. Countless hours went into the rental selections and many of the items we chose were purchased just for this wedding, including the china and glassware.
The rest of the A Team: Jerry Bruno Orchestra was the fantastic entertainment for the evening, along with a Frank Sinatra impersonator (Michael Sonata) that had the guests saying, “what, it sounds just like him, WOW!” Maria at SoBella assisted in the design of all of the paper products and they were over the top beautiful. Lighting was provided by David Palmer of Network Sound in Aurora, Ohio. The beautiful and delicious cake was from Phyliss Lester Designs, and the late night chocolate treats (Gran Marnier, keylime, banana foster treats!) were made by Creme de la Creme in Akron, Ohio. And our transportation was provided by A1 Mr. Limo, always a pleasure to work with!
I cannot wait to see the video that will be produced by my friends, Brian and Suzi Morris of 2nd Mile Productions. They are such a pleasure to work with and I adore their work. And of course, last, but definately not least, our photograhy was provided by James and Genevieve Nisly of Genevieve Nisly Photography. You can see many of their photo’s of this wedding at: http://genevievenislyblog.com/2011/05/16/michael-and-brandis-elegant-wedding-at-st-johns-cathedral-and-old-courthouse/ The pictures are just simply outstanding and here are a few more to enjoy!
