I’ll never forget the day I met Catherine and Lori. It was at a bridal show where we struck up our first conversation. They told me how they were both HUGE Disney Fans, and they were planning a Victorian Era Peter Pan Themed wedding. The challenge they were facing, however, was that their venue was very small, it was a two hour luncheon, and there wouldn’t be time or space for a traditional DJ and dance. They said they were just looking for someone who might be able to come in and play games with their guests, as they were both big game lovers. Most of all, they were worried that no one at the show would take them seriously. I was so intrigued that I asked them out for coffee to talk about their most unique of concepts. I really wanted to help them because they charmed me to no end, but I really wanted to talk to them and see if I would be the right fit and if what they wanted matched up with what I could do.
I think out first coffee chat lasted over two hours, as we gabbed about how they met, concepts for their wedding day, and of course, mostly Disney. I learned how Catherine helps care for Lori, who I think I only realized at that meeting was blind and how Lori now lives with Catherine and her family teaching life skills to Catherine’s autistic brother. This was truly a match made in heaven, and the wheels in my mind started turning with ideas on how to turn their Victorian Luncheon into a classy but fun game night. Once we checked out the venue to make sure it was conducive to what we all hoped, we started planning the day. We would mix a little bit of traditional elements with the games and contests Catherine and Lori loved so much.
The theme of the day was, of course, Peter Pan, and each table was decorated with elements from the movie. This is such a fitting theme for these two as they are such kids at heart and growing up for them is just the next great adventure. As the guests made their way up to the second floor of La Dolce Vita restaurant at the historic Heritage Square in Oxnard, their ears were treated to a playlist of some of Catherine and Lori’s favorite songs. The brides made their Grand Entrance, said some very heartfelt thank you’s, and danced for the first time as a married couple.
In between lunch, toasts, and cake, we had fun playing group games like Word Association, Candy Drop, and Name That Disney Movie. We also spotlighted Catherine and Lori playing The Shoelywed Game and a modified “elimination” version of Whose Playlist Is It, where the guests tried to guess whose song was playing by holding up pink or green cards with the brides’ names written on them. Once a winner was declared, there was one piece of tradition they wanted to share with everyone. Being that the era they loved and were trying to capture was the Victorian Era, I got to do something I rarely get to do at weddings and drop a little history on everyone. I explained that in Victorian times (and earlier), the concept of “Get The Bride” used to result in wedding guests tearing a brides wedding dress to pieces so they could collect a favor that was considered good luck. This early tradition is where we get our modern concept of tossing a bouquet. (The guests can “fight” for something from a bride for good luck.) After I explained this, we invited everyone out to the courtyard where Catherine and Lori both tossed “break away” bouquets so as many of their guests as possible could share in the luck that brought Catherine and Lori together
