Super in Salem!

What a great place to kick off my 2011 season during the Supermoon in Salem, MA! I met Juliet and Atlee last year at Coffee Talk in Salem (who was also their master cake baker). They had been so looking forward to this day but they had a look of sheer fright because of all that needed to be done and the "guard at the gate" at the Nathaniel Silsbee House on Salem Common. But, in the end, it all turned out just perfectly. I arrived on Saturday at A Little Style salon where my bride was already having her beautiful red hair braided and curled. Juliet was radient and remarkably calm. We finished early and was able to catch lunch at her home where she greeted out of town guests bearing gifts - how nice! Once lunch was complete, we seperated. Juliet proceeded to Rouge for make-up and I was off to the venue to make sure that I was first in line to get my hands on decor. Shelby (my assistant and the right side of my brain) arrived and we went over some fun parts of the night to come. Upon arrival we met with Juliets friend Patty who made the ladies beautiful bouquets with Callas and Lilac. So sweet! Her friends really came through for her! Between bouquets, candle favors & pretty centerpieces - she is loved! We set out the gift, memorial table & cake accoutrements and made sure the tables were in line. All had fantastic Salem and memory names like "Mandrake" (where they were engaged) and "Boardman Street" (which was a craft paper wrapped kids table), not to forget "Salem Commons"! Our bride arrives and, oops, forgot the grooms florals at her house - which luckily was two blocks away! I am so jealous that she gets to live in such a fantastic area. Right off Salem Commons which has the BEST hotel ever - The Hawthorne - which is haunted and I love that. I must stay there some night - with a flashlight. The large granite gazebo on the common was where they really wanted to have their ceremony but brrr! It was a chilly day! So, we stayed inside and made it all work. After we scurried our bride into the bathroom (the only hiding place upstairs) we had the entire wedding cast set and lined them up. Shelby was able to coordinate the ceremony music from a laptop and faded it out perfectly! Once our couple jumped the broom we popped the champagne and lots of hugs all around! They headed off to the commons for their formal shots with photographer Christopher Padgett of Little Monkeys Photography. Even though it was a bit chilly, I am sure they couldn't get the smiles off their faces! Back inside the venue, the front room was packed with people trying out the fun St. Patricks Day hats, ties & silly headbands while making faces in the Shutterbooth photo booth. Of course, Shelby and I had our "test" shots done earlier in the day to make sure it was working properly. I guess I am an idiot who cannot pay attention to countdowns but it was throwing me off by suspending a picture on the screen so I thought it was done and then BAM, it takes the picture. I will have to walk in posing for the next booth event! Once cocktails had wrapped up, we lined everyone up in the hall for introductions. This is the best part for me. It's like greyhounds at the gate waiting for the rabbit to run! DJ Greg Capozi of C-Zone Music introduced our group and played the night away - the dancefloor didn't clear until the end! Even throwing in some fun wrestling theme music as a nod to our groom, an ameteur wrestler known as The Greene Machine! They were super fun, and, I found out we graduated together from the same high school! What a small world! I learned that while dining on delicious food prepared by Miziock-Witham caterers. That staff was like a machine! Super fun and incredibly on task - I love that! At 8:00 PM Juliet & Atlee were fortunate enough to spare a few minutes to head back out to the commons to take advantage of the Supermoon. Last night I heard on the news that it won't be back again for another 18 years. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary than by hiring their photographer again to take some more photos on the common! This time with their children! I had such a blast at this wedding. It went off perfectly the entire day and so laid back! A super moon, super venue, super night, super couple!