Lee & Ari
December 2012
Sorosis Building, Lakeland
Photos By Sarah & Ben Photography **
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As a wedding planner, I have a special respect for husband and wife photo teams. Such was the case for Lee and Ari's love story that unfolded through the eyes of Sarah and Ben on a winter Saturday in December.
From the smallest details to enormous groups shots, this team created a lifetime of photo memories I am certain the couple will cherish for years to come.
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I started working with Ari and Lee nine months prior to their December wedding. With Lee's busy work schedule, my initial conversations and emails were mostly with Ari. He did an excellent job of communicating all of Lee's ideas and questions.
After attending several open houses and securing the attendant gowns, they were ready to meet with Event Designer, Kent Billiter, to create their palette of teal, cream, Rosewood (light pink)), and platinum. Three months prior to their wedding, Lee and Ari got to view their guest table options at one of our client-only open houses.
Together, they chose a color scheme on the vibrant side with contrasting teal runners, sashes, napkins, and silver chargers, against the ivory tablecloths and neutral chair covers. Instead of mimicking the blush colors of the wedding flowers, they opted for bright purple-pink orchid stems inside of our clear glass cylinders. These were further illuminated with submersible bright white LED lights hidden in clear crystals at the bottoms of each cylinder.
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This is just an example of how original colors morph into more varied shades. Sometimes a light hue just can't compete with the dark wood accents of the event venue.
The results were stunning once the sun set and overhead lights were shut off.
The day played out as a cat and mouse game of whether it would rain. As it turned out, the skies cleared an hour before the ceremony in front of the Sorosis Building. Being detailed-oriented, Lee and Ari discussed a rain plan during our final meeting two weeks prior. It would have been held inside the main ballroom.
Details were so much a part of Lee and Ari's celebration. Their entry table featured a fun caricature of the couple along with beautifully framed place cards. Guests were further involved in making well-wishes on teal-trimmed cards.
Every feature of the celebration included thoughtful signage accented in the wedding colors. It was great to have so much communication with both of them during the final month of preparations. Our final meeting lasted almost two hours, but it was worth every minute to make certain we captured every placement element from programs to special bride and groom wine glasses.
The foyer's lovely fireplace was accented with a "G" monogram, a framed picture of the couple along with two of our chrome vases filled with extra orchid stems.
Kent's custom room décor pieces, The Sails, served as a backdrop on the stage for the sweetheart table and cake display.
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A simple square layered cake came to life with orchid stems and a simple block-lettered LOVE topper. Kent personally arranged the floral accents for the couple.
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Lee went through last minute preparations in the small dressing room of the building. Ari and his guys had arrived earlier to get dressed in the same room.
With the sun peeping through the clouds, we dressed out the high top tables along the Sorosis Building side terrace for the social hour.
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The couple chose to decorate their own Chuppah on the front porch of the Sorosis Building A Jewish ceremony with many traditions, it was visible for all to see from the ground level vantage point.
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Back indoors, the bar and gift tables were stationed right inside the foyer. We covered the glass doors into the main ballroom with solid white fabrics and teal accents. Hand-passed hors d'oeuvres made their way to guests no matter whether they were inside or out.
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Outside the couple joined Sarah and Ben for a whirlwind picture-taking hour around Lake Morton, just across the street. Because the couple chose to get many family pictures taken prior to the wedding, they had more time for very special moments as a couple right afterwards.
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As guests were personally invited into the ballroom to find their seats, we completed our buffet set up that included a French Onion Soup Station with torched Swiss Cheese. Menu items included a Baby Greens Salad with Walnuts, Cran-Raisins and Raspberry Viniagrette, Honey Glazed Carrots, Green Bean Almandine, Parma Rosa Pasta, Chicken Marsala, Lemon Caper Salmon, and Carved Roast Baron of Beef.
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Traditions continued with a special ceremony with Chullah Bread and Wine.
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The fun and formality continued after dinner with lots of dancing, cake cutting, garter, and bouquet toss.
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As darkness set in, the front porch became an illuminated departure area that culminated in a glow stick/necklace send-off.
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Kudos to Lee and Ari for interjecting so much personalized detail into their celebration. Their selection of a photography team that understood their love story was a even more of a bonus.
Kent Billiter, Designer
Wedding Cake: Publix
