I’m going to let pictures tell the story, but first…
How beautiful is that space?
It absolutely exceeded any expectations I had. When we were reception shopping, I kept telling mom that I didn’t want a ballroom. I didn’t want the traditional hotel carpet and chandeliers.
Which naturally prompted her to ask, “Well, what do you want?”
I don’t know. Something different.
Easier said than done, right?
So when we found this place on Martin Luther King, Jr. in January of 2010, I knew that this was it. It was EXACTLY what I had been looking for. {Plus, it fit in our budget!} Mom was appalled. She hated the space and asked me multiple times that day if I was suuuuure I wanted it here? And every time I said yes, her eyes got a little wider.
And then she called me on her lunch break when she went to pay the deposit because, in her words, “we couldn’t get our money back even if I changed my mind” once she paid this deposit. She still hated it.
But in her defense, this place did not look like the picture above when we saw it in January. There was no rope lighting; no white fabric. Instead, the space had just hosted a casino night so there were pool tables and black jack stations everywhere. The floor hadn’t even been swept. Plus, a bunch of the lights in ceiling {which is kind of low with exposed duct work} weren’t on/didn’t work.
But somehow I just knew how beautiful it could become. And the room really was transformed. It was gorgeous and exactly what I had envisioned. Brick walls, colums… a place with character. And white fabric and rope lighting enhanced everything that was already there.
I think mom ended up liking the space on our wedding day but she was skeptical before that. And with good reason, I guess.
I cross my heart and promise to
Give all I’ve got to give to make all your dreams come true.
In all the world you’ll never find a love as true as mine.
You will always be the miracle that makes my life complete,
And as long as there’s a breath in me, I’ll make yours just as sweet.
As we look into the future, it’s as far as we can see,
So let’s make each tomorrow be the best that it can be
We had delicious food. {We had two bites each. Maybe not even that much.}
We cut the cake and toasted. {I told David if he slathered it all over my face I would kill him.}
We danced together. I told David, “I’m so miserable right now” and he’s never let me live it down. I mean, he wouldn’t spin me when I wanted him to! {Geez, what a brat, Claire! Get over yourself!} But the truth is… I was ready for all the planned events to be checked off the list so we could party!
I danced with dad; David danced with his mom.
And then we really did have a great time with all our friends and family.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Corbin promised he would dance at least once with me. When I tried to drag him out on the dance floor… “Claire. I’m not going to jump and clap like I’m on Family Feud.”
Who has a party without YMCA and Apple Bottom Jeans? {Not us.}
The party line, of course.
What I wouldn’t give to have about 6 more inches on that picture…
We said farewell {minus sparklers which didn’t work} and spent a week of resort-life. And talked about our perfect day the whole time.
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