Rehearsal and the real thing!

Here I am, ready to begin the rehearsal for Renuka and Kyle's wedding at Nestldown. My assistant, Janece, took several photos during the rehearsal, so I thought it would be fun to give you an inside look at how I was able to provide direction and structure for 25-30 adults and children, many of whom have never met each other, but the next day would need to work together as a unit, to support the bride and groom by carrying out their individual parts in the ceremony...it can be a challenge, but it is one that I really enjoy!

I don't know how many of you remember the "Where's Waldo?" books, but the next photo reminds me of those picture books which I used to enjoy with my children; we would scan the colorful drawings of large groups of people, to find the distinctively dressed Waldo in the crowd...see if you can fine the Wedding Planner in the crowd...she has an orange shirt and brown pants, and probably a clip board!

Here I am showing the officiants, videographers and parents where they will be standing for the ceremony...

...discussing with Janece the arrangement of the wedding party in front of the arbor, how we will cue the 2 officiants, 8 groomsmen, 8 bridesmaids, 2 flower girls, 2 ring bearers, a Jr. Bridesmaid, plus family members for the processional, before bringing the bride and her dad down the 68 steps to the chapel...

...showing the parents where they will be entering to be seated for the ceremony...

...explaining to the bridesmaids how they will come down the steps before Renuka, enter singly at my cue, and take their places in front of the arbor.

Finally, I am out of the photo, because Renuka, Kyle and the wedding party are in place as they will be on the wedding day. Now it is the officiants' turn to run through the content of the ceremony itself....this is all preparation for the moment Renuka and Kyle have been looking forward to, during an 18 month planning process...the wedding ceremony itself! (see below, 28 hours later)

The guests have no idea of all the pre ceremony "choreography" that went before this relaxed, on-time wedding ceremony...every one of the 27 participants in the wedding ceremony confidently entered and took their place at the front, and waited excitedly to see the bride enter, as practiced the day before, on the arm of her father...it all seems so natural, but without an organized and thorough rehearsal, this photo could have been quite different!

I also want to share some of my wonderful memories of Renuka and Kyle's wedding day! Their photographer, Todd Rafalovich, will have some of his professional shots for met to share later on, but these area few which Janece and I took during the wedding day itself.

The rich shades of purple and green which Renuka chose look elegant and vibrant on the green lawn at Nestldown.

Escort card display by Niel Hunt, of Hunt Littlefield Designs...their flowers were perfect for the outdoor setting and Renuka's jewel tones.

Renuka's father shipped his favorite caviar by UPS to Tom Henderson, Thomas John Events, the caterer, so that Renuka's guests could enjoy a caviar buffet during cocktails.


The cocktail area was set up on the Bocce Ball meadow, so the guests could mingle among the redwoods, enjoy the "cooked to order" barbecue sliders (beef, chicken, pulled pork) and the music....

...a steel drum band from Trinidad, the country where Kyle's father was born.

During dinner, Renuka and Kyle enjoyed visiting with their guests on the lawn, and then at the end of the evening, thanked all the friends and family for joining them to celebrate their wedding.

And I want to thank my vendors and assistants for make this wonderful wedding, and the rehearsal, come together so perfectly!

Nestldown
Thomas John Events
Hunt Littlefield
Todd Rafalovich
Butterfly Cakes
Adam Lopez, DJ
Best Dam Steel Band
Janece Shelloe
Melissa Miller