Sometimes, the best laid plans of mice, men, brides, grooms, wedding planners, DJ’s, etc. can go awry and yet still turn out absolutely perfect. No one would have ever thought that a wedding planned for late May in Southern California would have any possibility of rain…but when a light sprinkle started falling during Briana and Bryant’s wedding ceremony, we had no idea how much this would alter the course of their night. However, the few drops of rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits as Briana and Bryant were married in the most beautiful of settings at Eden Gardens in Moorpark.
I was tapped on the shoulder during their ceremony by Soltana, the wedding coordinator, who told me the storm was moving in, and they were already moving the reception from the outdoor Amphitheatre to the sheltered patio just a few yards away. By the time the ceremony was finished, all of the tables were already moved, and the amazing team of Velvet Alley Events was working to make the indoor area just as beautiful as the original plan. While the guests had their cocktails, we moved the sound system inside, wiped away the water drops and got ready to rethink the events of the evening. Meanwhile, the photographer Erin Mueller and videographer Jose Cardenas found the most creative (and dry) nooks and crannies at Eden Gardens to take the family and romantic shots after the wedding. With not one minute to spare on their cocktail hour, the guests were invited into the sheltered reception area and entered the room dry and happy.
I remember my first meeting with Briana and Bryant and, when I asked them what was one thing they must have at their wedding, Bryant said “Just one WWE moment!” We all laughed, but with the help of their bridal party (and a very tolerant bride) each member of their entourage entered the ring…I mean the reception to their own “walk on” music and thunderous applause. Briana and Bryant electrified the crowd with their entrance and went right into their first dance. (Which turned out to be another surprise…they choreographed a surprise fast dance in the middle of their slow song.) This wasn’t the only surprise these two had planned. During the parent dances, Briana and Bryant each recorded thank you messages to their parents in the middle of their songs.
Rain, cold, wind…nothing could stop this crowd from dancing. Once they got up, it was impossible to sit them down. Even during the married couples dance the longest marriage there turn out to be 70 years. (The husband could barely walk, but he got up to dance with his wife.) As the night got on, the dance floor got crazier and crazier. At one point, Bryant’s personal WWE championship belt was being passed around, and I’m pretty sure I saw Briana wearing it for a while. The smiles on their faces were from ear to ear, and the singing and dancing were over the top!
I have to take a second and give a shout out to this guy from Semper Fidelis Photo Booth who was working the entire room with his “Portable Photo Booth.” He would find a group of people, snap a picture “Selfie Style,” and text it to them immediately. A very cool new concept!
As we started to wrap things up, we had to make room for all the partygoers who stayed all the way till the end of the night. As they all circled around Briana and Bryant for one last dance, the song they chose was a reminder of how well the day went…Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.”
Dave’s recommended vendors for this wedding are:
- Eden Gardens – www.edengardensweddings.com
- Velvet Alley Events – www.velvetalleyevents.com
- Milestonees of Love Video – www.milestonesoflove.com
- Lovisa Photo – www.lovisaphoto.com
- Semper Fidelis Photo Booths – www.semperfidelisphotobooth.com