Wedding Mania, Part I

After the question had been popped, the planning began. We originally considered being married in Maui as but, ultimately, we decided that my church - Grace Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, would be the site. As for the wedding date, we originally envisioned a June wedding, but due to my brother Chris not being able to return from Iraq until July, the day was set for July 31, 2004.

We discovered that the church's reception hall would not be available due to construction in the summer of 2004. This led to a search for a suitable reception site. We decided upon Gleneagle Golf Club which boasts panoramic views of the majestic Rocky Mountains which we figured would provide awesome scenic backdrops for our wedding pictures.

For our invitations, we decided to send a die cut tri-fold design which showcased the lighthouse from the Thomas Kincade painting entitled "Beacon of Hope." Thomas Kincade's work has always captivated me so this was one of the easiest decisions. On the front of the invitation, was inscribed "Your love was a beacon....that called my heart home" - a message which was true to our hearts. We made good use of Mark's hospital stay after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle to address the invitations and prepare them for mailing.

When deciding on our menu for the wedding celebration, we considered everything from a simple ice cream sundae bar to an Italian themed dinner. We finally decided that the perfect meal for a July wedding at a golf club was something simple; thus, hamburgers, grilled chicken breasts and brats with all the trimmings were to be served. Since we don't typically drink and since we were concerned with our guests' safety, we chose to serve Italian sodas rather than alcohol. These fun and fruity drinks were a big hit with most of the guests.

For us, the most important item on the menu - the wedding cake - had to be unique and, most importantly, yummy! If it looked pretty, all the better! We knew that the standard white wedding cake would never do. So, after sampling many delectable desserts from bakeries all over Colorado Springs, we decided that the Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake from Marigold's Cafe and Bakery would be our cake. We believe that all of our guests were thrilled with this decision.

In the area of decorations, we decided to let the natural beauty of the church shine through by only having flowers at the altar. The reception site's decor included white table clothes with navy napkins to tie in with our navy and silver wedding colors, which I chose because of the beautiful engagement ring Mark had presented to me when he proposed. Each table had a silver ship's lantern centerpiece accented with silver and navy balloons. Navy and silver M&Ms (Mark and MeLissa - M&M - get it?) were sprinkled about on the tables like confetti. We provided each table with a disposable camera to chronicle memories of the occasion. The Head Table was decorated with a floral centerpiece, lighthouse tealight holders and two sets of floral champagne glasses which would be used for the toasts. The final touch was several lighthouse windchimes which were hung from the gazebo to add to the ambiance of the occasion.

We decided that Mark and his party would wear black tuxes with vests and bow ties. Mark was in white to match me, the groomsmen were in silver and the ushers were in navy blue. Mark wore a white rose on his lapel while the other guys wore red roses. My attendants chose to wear fitted navy blue taffeta strapless bodices and matching A-line floor length skirts accented by a navy organza wrap. They all carried single red roses hand tied with greenery and a silver ribbon. White orchid leis, which they would receive from the groomsmen during the procession, completed their attire.

I wore a stunning Cinderella-style gown designed by Oleg Cassini (Jackie Onasis Kennedy's designer). The dress had a corsetted bodice with boning and simple, but elegant bead work. The skirt was composed of several layers of taffeta, the top layer of which was ornamented with lace appliques. The dress was finished with a cathedral length train (which after the ceremony became a bit of a nuisance since it didn't want to stay bustled!). I wore my hair up and accented it with a tiara with a pearl and leaf design. I also wore a traditional veil with blusher which featured scalloped edges accented by dangling tear drop Swarovski crystals. I chose matching pearl earrings, bracelet and necklace set for accessories. My bouquet was a combination of white and red roses which were hand tied and wrapped with ribbon. My sweetheart of a mother added a piece of sugar in a piece of green netting from her wedding cake to symbolize my parents' wish that our marriage be as happy and sweet as theirs. Say it with me now "Awww."