CROWNING CELEBRATION: Amanda & Zach

Amanda and Zach are one of these couples you just fall in love with! Amanda's gorgeous smile and Zach's charming personality made them one of our favorite couples of 2014. Not to mention they have excellent taste! Pair that with some fab vendors and you have a pretty awesome wedding and really fun day.

From Amanda's 20 carat diamond necklace (no, I'm not exaggerating) to their Catholic-Jewish 'cashew' ceremony, followed by a bridal party who had too much fun on the 12 golf carts at their disposal, to the gorgeous sunset with sparkler introduction and heart-warming and funny toasts, Mary Wyar Photography captured it all fabulously!

Location: Toledo Country Club. Photography by Mary Wyar Photography. Invitation, Menu and Favor Tags designed by UpperCase Designs. Flowers designed Bartz Viviano Flowers and Gifts. Coordinated Crowning Celebrations, Brittany, Anna, Megan and designed by Crowning Celebrations, Brittany.

Thank you bride, Amanda for this review:
Crowning celebrations was the most well spent money of our entire wedding! I do not know what we would have done without them!! They helped us with ever aspect of our wedding from invitations to decor. Brittany is a great designer and made our wedding beautiful. They are also very organized and answer emails and phone calls immediately which was very helpful. I would 100% recommend them to anyone!

CROWNING CELEBRATION: Bridal Shower at Toledo Museum of Art

I love it when clients let me design for them and then totally let me run with it! And its even more fun when its a break from the usual and plan an intimate party such as this one. 

This bridal shower for 12 lovely ladies at the Toledo Museum of Art was designed around the bride's profession as a profession art auctioneer at Sotheby's in Manhattan. The hostess, the bride's sister, wanted to use coral and touches of turquoise and gold.

Great events deserved to be photographed by a professional. Thank you to Mary Wyar who captured my tablescape design, along with the entire event. 

 Don't you just love the gold flatware - totally completes the look!!! I luckily have a connection with fabulous taste and really good estate sale shopping skills. Thank you, Dale, for loaning us your fabulous finds!

Crowning Celebration: Marisa & Eddie

If there was ever a couple to define the term "sweethearts" Marisa and Eddie would be it. Not only were they each other's sweethearts from grade school (in which they dated on and off until college), they were sweethearts to work with! Marisa was super organized and on top of the details, which I loved! Not only were Marisa and Eddie great to work with, but so were their families! It truly was one of those weddings that united two cultures, two traditions, two families and two people.

Marisa's heritage is Mexican and Hungarian. Eddie's heritage is Italian and Greek. This was "My Big Fat Mexican-Hungarian-Italian-Greek Wedding"! The service at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral was packed with their closest friends and family. I am so impressed how many people came out to witness their vows. {Usually people skip ahead to the party}. During the service Father Ari welcomed Marisa's Mexican heritage as they not only performed the Greek Crowning Ceremony, but the Mexican Lasso Ceremony. The wedding crowns (stefana) are signs of the glory and honour with which God crowns the bride and groom during the sacrament. The crowns are joined by a ribbon which symbolizes unity, and the presence of Christ who blesses and joins the couple and establishes them as the king and queen of their home, which they will rule with wisdom, justice and integrity. The priest takes the two crowns and blesses the bride and the groom, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then places the crowns on them. The koumbaro or koumbara then steps behind the bride and the groom and interchanges the crowns three times as a witness to the sealing of the union.

The Lasso, which also affirms their union and commitment, was handmade and presented by the bride's cousin from California.

And at the end of the service, the groom's father presented the thirteen coins to the groom to give to his bride. The thirteen coins are a symbol of the groom's unquestionable trust and confidence placed in her as his beloved wife and gives the responsibility of all of his material to her. The acceptance on her part assures him back of her total love and dedication in looking after him, his possessions and her unconditional love.

I have to thank Father Ari and Pres at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral for allowing Marisa and Eddie to use biodegradable confetti! Guests had fun with it, as did Marisa and Eddie. Check out these great shots!!!

At the reception Marisa and Eddie continued with some touches to signify their heritage. We hung hand-cut paper banderas over the dance floor. They were gorgeous and very intricate! Marisa and Eddie surprised their guest with an authentic Mariachi band to serenade guests during dinner. They were fabulous!

Guests sipped on sangria and enjoyed Greek pastries.

Decorative Sound did an awesome job mixing traditional Greek and Salsa music with modern music.  Guests had so much fun - I have not seen a dance floor that packed all night in a LONG time!!! The party was going strong until the very end.

Thank you Mary Wyar Photography for these awesome pictures!!! Check out Mary's blog and facebook page. If you share these photos, please do not crop her logo.

Ceremony: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Reception: Heatherdowns Country Club

Planning and Coordination: Crowning Celebrations, Brittany, Marcy & Anna

Photography: Mary Wyar Photography, Mary Wyar & Gregg Hart

Florist: Glendale Flowers & Gifts

Table Linens and Chair Covers: I Do Chair Covers

DJ: Decorative Sound, Joel

Mariachi Band: Mariachi Nuevo Zapopen

Wedding Cake: Cakes by Stephanie

Rentals: Special Events Rental

Catering: Catering by Scott

Bride's Dress: Casablanca

Bridesmaids Dresses: Waters Wtoo Collection