The theme: Intimate, heartfelt. A caricature invitation signaled guests of the event’s informality. Cool blues with textured greys and silvers set a tranquil yet festive mood.
The ceremony: A blessing of the hands took place with a shell-bead belt, just as Iroquois from the area used to mark special occasions. The rings were passed for wishes and blessings. Surprise tributes to the couple’s “bests” included: “a true friend who will actually pick up that 3 a.m. phone call” and, to Joe’s mom, nicknamed Mother Teresa, “You have hope, beauty and strength.”
The threads & bling: Sporting beautiful velvet jackets, winged collars, bow ties and jeans, Joe and Darryl walked the aisle together, led by their “groomsmen,” Enzo (a mutt of undetermined origins) and Seamus (a red heeler Australian cattle dog/pug mix). Joe’s fingerprint decorated Darryl’s ring; Darryl’s tiger’s eye maple ring had their initials burned in, a nod to how they met: around a campfire.
The details: Following the couple’s happy processional to the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love,” guests’ tears began. In the florals for “the bests” and parents, keys were placed to remind them that they’ll “always hold the keys to Joe & Darryl’s hearts.” Hanging lanterns, green floral balls and authentic augurs from Darryl’s family farm created a party feel. A chocolate and Nutella cake plus chocolates by Miesse Candies revealed the couple’s dessert personas.
The hitch: The hearts that were meant to be inserted into the boutonnieres were forgotten, giving everyone a good laugh.
Resources
The threads: Men’s Wearhouse, Lancaster, menswearhouse.com
The rehearsal dinner: At home with a very casual Italian feast from Rosa Rosa, Lancaster, rosarosapizzeria.com
The images: Cestelle Photography, facebook.com/cestellephotography
The invitation caricature: Gary Treer, the Treer Group, gtreer.com
The blooms: Premier Florals, Lancaster, premierflorals.com
The rentals: Linens by Special Occasions Lancaster, specialo.com, and Rental World, rentalworldpa.com/party-supply-rentals
The coordinator: Will Do For You Concierge, Heather Colosi, Lancaster, 717-575-6547
The officiant: Johnny Roberts, Lancaster, 717-449-0944
The food: Dinner—Urban Olive Food Truck, Christine Hess, urbanolive.net, and Greenfield Restaurant, thegreenfieldrestaurant.com; Sweets—cupcakes by Wendy Jo’s Homemade, wendyjos.com; Chocolates—Miesse Candies, miessecandies.com; Cutting cake—Peter Kovalec, Gourmandise Wholesale Sweets, Lancaster, 717-314-8721
The wheels: Mercedes Sprinter shuttle—Good to U Auto, Akron, PA, goodtouauto.com
The rings: Finch Jewelers, Lancaster, finchjewelers.com
The tunes: Penguin productions, penguinproductionsllc.com
The lighting and design: Production Express, York, productionexpressinc.com
By Cindy Kalinoski | Photography by Cestelle Photography