I met Elyse and Andrew through a mutual group of friends. It’s funny how you can have a mutual group of friends and never really meet and get to know certain people within that group. However, sitting down with these two for the first time was like catching up with old friends. I’ll never forget Andrew’s answer to a question I asked him about past wedding experiences. He told me his favorite part of a wedding is the cocktail hour because “It’s the only part of a wedding that isn’t paced.” Andrew and Elyse wanted one thing for their wedding…a BIG party! Very few formalities and lots of time spent with the people who mean the most to them in the world. I made it my mission to give them a party they would talk about for years to come.
They couldn’t have chosen a better venue for their low-key, relaxed wedding. Madera Kitchen in Hollywood is just set-up perfectly to allow the guests to hang out at their tables, by the fire pits, in cozy day beds, drink at the bar, take pictures in the photo booth, and of course, dance…wherever they felt like! (More on this later.) The ceremony took place on one side of the open-air patio. Their friend Jay performed the short and sweet ceremony, and they were off to Andrew’s favorite part of the night…the cocktail hour. I was so happy to see both Elyse and Andrew spending this time socializing with their friends and family instead of taking photos. When it was finally time to move everyone into the dining room, Elyse and Andrew wanted to do one thing that they had seen at their friend’s wedding (which I MC’d) the year before; to enter the room, say their thank you’s, and have their first dance.
After their meal, we wasted no time in getting everyone out to the dance floor. Although dance floor was kind of a loose concept that night, the guests danced wherever they felt like it…Iin front of the DJ (where the designated “dance area” was), by the bar, back behind the dinner tables, even on the now cleared off patio/ceremony area directly behind us. When the guests were taking a dance break, they drank, sat by the fire, and just hung out socializing. Every time I checked in with Elyse or Andrew, they were all smiles and really enjoying their party.
They honestly thought the night would end early, but as the scheduled end time drew near, I knew I could end the night with a bang. We brought Elyse and Andrew out to the floor for one final slow song, and the group hugs started almost immediately. We ended the dance portion with a roaring rendition of “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and said good night with just enough time left for everyone left at the party to do one last shot with the bride and groom. It was the perfect ending to the perfect night.
Dave’s recommended vendors for this wedding are:
• www.cahuengagroup.com/maderakitchen