One Rockin' Reception

This past weekend we had the wedding of Jessica and John. When Jessica and John first came to me, the thing they stressed was that they wanted their reception to be different and to be a party with a capital “P”. All I can say is, boy did they get what they wanted.

The wedding had a simplistic elegant tone. It took place at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, in Greenville, SC. The bride looked beautiful in a taffeta, beaded mermaid style dress. The bridesmaids wore elegant black dresses. The men were all in black tuxes. Flowers by Memories by McMillan were calla lilies in deepest burgundy and white.

After the wedding, guests went to the Sawmill for the party of a lifetime. The Sawmill had been transformed into an elegant glamorous casino. Guest tables were dressed in silver overlays with black chivari chairs. The center piece for the tables was a beautiful vase lamp with deep purple orchids inside. These vases were lit from the bottom, top and even had lights in the water. There were candles on the fireplace with vases of calla lilies and votives in all the windows. Huge palm trees and ferns had been brought in to soften the edges and give that old Hollywood glamorous dinner club/casino feeling.

Guests were greeted at the door with $35,000 in chips and a casino in full swing. The casino tables of blackjack, roulette and dice were run by the Sertoma Club with all the proceeds going to charity. Guests played for chips that were exchanged for tickets that were used for a prize drawing at the end of the night. Music provided by Life of the Party was giving that “rat pack” feel to the casino. Specialty drinks (apple martinis, Firefly vodka ice tea and margaritas) were being butlered to the guests along with hot hors d’oeuvres. A huge ice sculpture of playing cards and dice top the fruit and cheese display and two bars were up and running serving wine and beer.

Once the bride and groom were announced in the carving station of beef tenderloin was open, along with the mashed potato bar served in martini glasses and the every popular chicken strips were added with chips and dip.

The casino ran until 9:00 when all the guests were moved into the dance area for the formal dances and then some surprise guests were introduced. First up was Cocky, the Gamecock mascot since the bride was a Carolina graduate, but have no fear Clemson fans, next up was the Tiger. They danced with the wedding party, posed for pictures and had a great time.

During this same time the sushi bar was opened on the back patio under a tent. Sushi was rolled, by experienced sushi chefs, as the guests taking a break from the dancing watched. Following the sushi bar, the tent was transformed into a cigar bar, complete with a large selection of cigars from a beautiful humidor.

Guests danced and ate and smoked into the night. I don’t think this was a reception anyone will forget for a long time to come.

Here are just a few of the pictures we took. I can’t wait to see the professional pictures by Nill Silver. He promises to send them and I will share them when I get them. Stay tuned the rest of the week and I will share more of our pictures.

Vendors:

Planner: Willrich Bridal and Special Events

Cupcake and Cake – Couture Cakes of Greenville

Photography – Nill Silver

Video – Siahgphx Wedding Films

Music – Strings For Things

Venue – Sawmill

Catering – The Catering Cru (For the Sawmill)

DJ - Life of the Party DJ

Casino – Sertoma Club of Greer