There are times you meet a couple you like, and there are times you meet a couple you just fall in love with. The latter was SO true when I met Caitlin and Daniel, and we started talking about their wedding. They would be married on the patio of the newly renovated Sand Canyon Golf Club overlooking the beautiful course. What a fitting place for two people to get married whose first date was to a golf course! But the warmth and familiarity their friends and family brought to their wedding made this country club wedding nothing like a first date.
Several months before the wedding, I referred Caitlin and Daniel to my friend Amaris Clare when they asked me if I knew a wedding planner who might be a good fit for them. This turned out to be one of the best decisions we all made, as she made their (and I have to say my) life SO much easier handling everything that could possibly be thrown at her. One example was when the photographer, Meghan O’Sullivan, pointed out the time the sun was supposed to set and how she could get all of the family and romantic shots done finishing off with the most amazing sunset photos If she just had a little bit more time between the ceremony and reception. Amaris contacted Andrea, the catering manager at Sand Canyon, who was nothing but helpful in rearranging the day’s schedule. We all collaborated and figured out the perfect time to start the ceremony, how to extend the cocktail hour just enough so the guests wouldn’t get bored, and how to get all the photos in before the Grand Entrance. This team of wedding professionals, which also included one of the nicest videographers, Joseph from Today’s The Day, I have worked with made everything happen not only right on time but with some breathing room as well.
It was now time to start the party! Caitlin and Daniel entered the room after each member of their bridal party dance in to a unique song. Daniel asked Caitlin to dance, and while they danced to “Only You Can Love Me This Way” by Keith Urban every single person in the room stayed standing and just lived in this romantic moment. The guests were then treated to an amazing meal, which paused briefly so that Caitlin’s sister Sarah could give the newlyweds a surprise toast. Sarah had been in touch with Amaris and I with a month before the wedding with an idea. After making a few adjustments, she presented everyone present with a chocolate-filled, custom-engraved shot glass, along with a hidden printout of lyrics to Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.” She led the entire party in a sing-along, serenading Caitlin and Daniel.
Once dinner was complete, it was no hassle getting every single person up out of his or her seats and onto the dance floor. In fact, there wasn’t a spare inch of space left, so some guests danced on the carpet around the floor. As we wrapped up an epic first dance set, Caitlin wanted to give her bouquet to the couple in attendance who was married the longest. When we set-up the Married Couples dance, we found out that Caitlin’s Grandparents, Shelby and John Fischer, were the winners with 63 years of wedding bliss.
Catlin and Daniel wisely decided early on to extend their time at Sand Canyon to 11pm. However, they still wanted to end the night with a “spark.” (Well, sparklers to be exact!) It wasn’t any trouble getting most of their guests to keep on partying until it was finally time to say goodnight. The guests lined either side of the entryway and made a tunnel of sparklers for our lovebirds to take the first steps of married life out of their reception and onto their own happily ever after.
Dave’s recommended vendors from this wedding included:
- Sand Canyon Country Club –www.sandcanyoncc.com
- Interlaced Events – Amaris Clare Event Planner – www.interlacedevents.com
- Meghan O’Sullivan Photography – www.meghanosullivan.com
- Today’s The Day Videography – www.ttdweddings.com