Re-defining the at-home wedding and defying all expectations, Carly and AJ’s big day was nothing short of immaculate. Although, the day began humbly, as so many do. While the guys got ready at The Crescent, the girls spent a calm morning at the Mother of the Bride’s home. After hair and makeup was completed, it was time for Carly to sneak upstairs to put on the dress of her dreams (with mom’s help of course!).
Carly wore an A-line Mira Zwillinger gown from Warren Barron, complete with leaf embroidery and a strapless fitted corset. She added a charming sheer capelet for the ceremony. Her veil featured the same leaf embroidery of her dress, a motif that was mirrored in many different details throughout the event.
After having to delay their wedding multiple times over the last year, Carly and AJ’s first look on this day was especially emotional. The gravity of the occasion was lost on no one, most of all the bride and groom.
Alright, let’s talk about this tent. Off of the back of the Father of the Bride’s home, a mammoth structure was conceived as an idea, built from the ground up and eventually filled with striking details. Birch Event Design filled this tent to the brim with every hue of pink known to man. There was no shortage of drama when it came to the visual effect of this decor. The word ‘unforgettable’ comes to mind.
Suffice to say, Carly’s ceremony entrance was one that left us breathless. The melodious sounds of the full orchestra on sight swelled as drapes parted and the bride emerged at the apex of the tent. Her parents walked her down the bloom-lined staircase to her groom. Clusters of deep pink roses and peonies reached up from the four corners of the implied chuppah, drawing guests’ eyes up to the wisteria and gold leaf canopy above the couple. Upon the smashing of the glass, Carly and AJ were encircled by the cheers and well wishes of hundreds of friends and loved ones.
While guests mingled and located their gold leaf escort cards, the Birch team got to work on the room-flip of all room-flips. Within the hour, the tent was completely transformed and drenched in romance. Every pink flower imaginable was visible from the tops of the tables to the interior of the acrylic dance floor. The golden light radiating from hundreds of taper candles accented the warm details and enhanced the unmistakable allure of the reception space. Custom serviettes laid atop gold and white Versace china, each acrylic place card between them doubling as a menu. Not a single detail was left without consideration.
To kick off the reception, the bride and groom shared their first dance while West Coast Music serenaded them with “Remember Us This Way”. Guests surrounded the couple on the dance floor and celebrated them with the ceremonious hora immediately after.
The wedding cake was topped with elaborate sugar flowers. Two cake tiers were overlaid with a leaf design inspired by the motif on Carly’s dress; another example of this thoughtful through-line in the overall design of the wedding.
Once the cake was cut, the Father of the Bride snagged the mic to sing his heart out to his daughter. Through tears, Carly smiled and savored the moment as she and her dad shared a song and dance together.
After a brief interlude of West Coast Music and dancing, none other than Vanessa Williams took the stage (Yes, that Vanessa Williams). Carly and AJ held each other tight as Ms. Williams sang The Best for Last and Colors of the Wind, filling the tent with a sweet melody.
Staying safely within the realm of your “not so typical wedding singers”, it wasn’t long before Jennifer Hudson herself made her grand re-entry into the reception. Jennifer’s powerhouse voice preceded her as she emphatically sang One Night Only as well as And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going. The bride and groom swayed in the waves of Ms. Hudson’s vocals, all three of them sharing an embrace at the conclusion of her performance.
After the groom and his mother shared their dance atop the floral-filled dancefloor, the party really went full-tilt. Before too long, the bride changed into a mini dress with lace bodice and feathered skirt. Swapping out her custom platform Superga sneakers for a pair of studded Loubitins, Carly was more than appropriately equipped to take on the rest of the evening to night. Guests danced into the morning hours, even after the reception concluded. DJ Lucy Wrubel provided the soundtrack to the After Party, and kept the crowd on their feet until the bitter end.
Needless to say, this wedding was well worth the wait. The extravagance of this evening will have our mouths agape for some time to come. We wish nothing but the best to the Finers, and we’re so glad we got to be a part of this incredible day!
