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I have never heard as much laughter on a wedding day as I did for Michelle and Ryan. While I was setting up at the Davis Island Garden Club, the bride, groom, and wedding party were taking photos and were all giggles the whole time. Well, except when they spontaneously broke into song, which happened more than once. This crew knew how to have a good time! I knew going into Michelle and Ryan’s wedding that it was going to be a little “different” or “unusual” you could say. Unique is probably the best way to describe it. The couple had a unique vision for their music and that was RAP. Yes, you heard me. They wanted RAP music on the harp. I loved the idea of playing something you would NEVER imagine you’d hear on the harp. I was down for the challenge. For their wedding I played songs by artists like Wu Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, OutKast, D.R.A.M., Drake, Kanye West, and Post Malone. Say WHAT?! I still can’t get over how fun it was! The ceremony was great! Michelle looked absolutely beautiful and her dress had POCKETS! Every woman’s dream dress! The couple’s close friend officiated the ceremony and was very entertaining. He did an excellent job keeping the ceremony light and interesting. Some of my favorite quotes include “this ring makes your finger look skinny” and “that ring is pretty baller”! Also, Michelle may secretly (or not so secretly) be a comedian. OoOooOoo! I can’t believe I almost forgot my favorite thing! The couple had a customized drawing of themselves on their gift table (check it out in the photos below). I loved it SO much! Armature Works is the perfect venue for a wedding! Armature Works is located on Tampa’s Riverwalk (right on the Hillsborough River) in Tampa Heights. Alison and Matthew thought it was perfect too! They came all the way from COLORADO to enjoy beautiful Tampa Bay and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect either! I loved so many things about Alison and Matthew’s wedding; the decor, the venue (obviously), the songs, and the ceremony itself. The couple chose a family member, Ed, to officiate the ceremony. This is the best. He was able to include details about the couple and make everyone laugh. The couple chose “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes as their recessional song. I CAN’T believe I had never heard that song before. It is seriously perfect! It’s upbeat and the lyrics are so sweet. I loved learning this song! After the ceremony was finished, I continued to entertain the guests for the cocktail hour in the courtyard of Armature Works. I enjoyed playing some upbeat songs like “Africa” by Toto, “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters, “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N Roses, “A Sky Full of Stars” and “Clocks” by Coldplay. I also loved playing songs you wouldn’t expect by artists like Drake, Dr. Dre and The Weekend. The Mother of the Bride is a huge Elton John fan so I made sure to play “Your Song”. I love requests that are so meaningful! Congratulations Alison and Matthew! I had such a great time at your wedding (despite being sick lol)! Please come back and visit the Sunshine State soon! Xoxo A Huge shoutout to the amazing vendors that helped make this wedding spectacular: Event Coordinator: Confetti Events DJ and Uplighting: DJ Cory Barron & Associates Catering: Puff N Stuff Hair & Makeup: Style Hair & Makeup Floral & Decor: 2Birds Photographer: 1326 Studios Videographer: CJHalden Productions First let me start by saying, how beautiful is the harp at the Oxford Exchange? It was made for this venue. The harp looked ALMOST (but not quite) as gorgeous as Alexandra, the bride. She was the epitome of elegance and beauty! I must say Alexandra was probably one of the most relaxed brides I’ve ever met! Enjoying her wedding was the most important thing to her besides marrying her best friend, Damian. The wedding process was not an easy one for the couple, though they never let it show. The couple had to postpone their wedding, talk about stressful! On top of that, the groom was battling a medical condition that left him hospitalized. I respect this couple so much for maintaining the values of their love (and health) as the most important thing to them. Also, let’s talk about how FUN this wedding was? The bride and groom started the party with a shot during the ceremony (I loved this!). I loved playing music during the cocktail hour that you would never expect to hear on the harp such as: Drake, Wu Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, NF, and The Weekend. I also played some other contemporary music by artists like James Arthur, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, and Camila Cabello. I (and all the guests) had a such a great time at this wedding! It was a day to remember for sure. Congratulations Alex and Damian! Wishing you the best!! P.S. “Not all those who wander are lost” is one of my favorite quotes! May the couple wander and wonder through life! I had the best time playing for Kim and Ryan’s wedding at Cross Creek Ranch! I know, I know... I always blog about how much I love Cross Creek Ranch. I can’t help it! Every time I visit there is something new. Kim and Ryan had their wedding ceremony under the majestic old oak tree. Whimsical lanterns hung from it’s branches. The florals that adjourned the arch where incredible. This ceremony site is one of my favorites! Speaking of favorites, my favorite thing about this wedding was the bride’s entrance. Kim was escorted down the aisle by her parents AND her brother. Her brother walked out in front of Kim, and her parents were on each of Kim’s arms. When they walked, they sort of formed a triangle. When they reached the start of the aisle, her brother walked down by himself, then the stunning bride made her grand entrance. I LOVED this, I thought it was so special...but that’s not even the best part! The couple requested I play “I Need My Girl” by The National (now you understand the title of the blog!). If you could only have seen the bridal party’s reaction when I began playing the song. There were snickers, oohs, and shocked surprises. I couldn’t have hoped for a better reaction! It was obvious how very special this song was to the couple and I was so happy to learn it for them! This wedding was the perfect combination of sweet and fun! Kim and Ryan had the best bridal party! It was a large bridal party and they all seemed like best friends. While playing the cocktail hour, I got to observe the guests. Everyone was laughing, joking, and having the best time. I’m so thankful to have been a part of this special wedding! Wishing Kim and Ryan a lifetime of laughter and love. P.S. This nature lover was excited to see a banded water snake beneath the bridge! :) Rebecca and Austin had THE perfect wedding! They tied the knot at one of my favorite venues, the Outback Oasis. This place is truly an oasis and the perfect venue for a wedding. The lush landscaping, filled with butterfly attracting plants, was the perfect backdrop for the ceremony! I’m not exaggerating when I say that Rebecca was the most easy going and relaxed bride I’ve ever met. She had such a great attitude about her wedding day and because of that she was able to REALLY enjoy marrying Austin. It was so obvious how excited Rebecca and Austin were to marry each other. I don’t think I saw Rebecca without a huge smile the entire evening. Did I mention how incredibly stunning she looked besides? The couple choose to have an intimate wedding ceremony and reception filled with only their closest family and friends. I was delighted to have been asked to play the entire wedding, ceremony and reception. At the end of the night, I felt like part of the family. My favorite parts of the wedding were all of the sentimental details they included. Rebecca’s grandfather married the couple. They toasted with the same champagne glasses that Rebecca’s parents used at their wedding. They also had their first dance to “At Last”, beautifully song by their cousin (A capella and she rocked it!). I don’t think there was a dry eye around. Rebecca and Austin were the sweetest and I’m so thankful to have been included in such a special time of their lives. |
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Kristen Elizabeth
Thank you for visiting my blog! Check out my entries for pictures and summaries of all my weddings and event performances. A great place for ideas and sharing! Archives
November 2019
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