The six large photos above were provided courtesy of Reverend and Mrs. Jerry Blau.
On Saturday, October 31, 2009, I had the pleasure of coordinating the Wedding of Lindsay Dalrymple and Bill Croasmun, in Akron, Ohio. Lindsay and Bill are such a fun-loving couple, that I was excited about their wedding plans from the moment I met them. It was only fitting for them then, to have their wedding on Halloween. With a color scheme of black and dark reds, it reflected the holiday as well as the fall season. Their decor had a gothic romance feel, but quite striking and elegant. The wedding ceremony was held in the Historic Tallmadge Church, located right on the Circle in Tallmadge, Ohio. This is a very old church, with the original Town Hall across the green from it. The church has 3 front doors, which open wide for entry, to accommodate guests. For the wedding, Lena Klimczak of Highland Heights Floral hung 3 huge grapevine wreaths on the doors, which were decorated with dark red silk flowers and wide velvet and satin ribbons. Once inside the sanctuary of the church, the guests found the pews decorated with very full bows made of the same wide velvet and satin ribbons, with long streamers that trailed to the floor. The steps leading to the altar/platform at the front of the sanctuary were flanked by four enormous pots of burgundy chrysanthemums. The mums were covered with artificial spider webs, in honor of the Halloween holiday. They were gorgeous! Also, on either side of the platform were two tall candleabras, each of which were decorated with full bows, with long trailing streamers. The bridal party flowers were comprised of black magic roses, red roses, burgundy mini calla lilies, and fiddlehead ferns. All in all, a very romantic picture. The beautiful piano music for the ceremony was provided by the very talented Miss Olivia Lucrezi, Lindsay’s niece. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were paired to enter through the doors on either side of the sanctuary, the Maid of Honor had a solo entrance, and then finally Lindsay, escorted by her father, made their way down the aisle to meet Bill. There was such a feeling of love and anticipation in the air, I could almost taste it. The ceremony was conducted by Reverend Jerry Blau, short, sweet and meaningful, just as Lindsay and Bill wanted. After the ceremony, the couple and the bridal party took pictures around the church and the green, with photographer Joshua J. Wood. They got in some great shots, as the weather cleared for the afternoon, bringing sunshine and lots of smiles.
Transportation was provided by Thomas Limousine Service. The vehicle chosen for the wedding was a stretch black Cadillac Escalade. This is a beautiful vehicle, I wish I would have had time to ride in it! I went to the reception location ahead of the wedding party, to make sure all the details for the reception were completed, and the vendors had arrived. I did not have to worry about anything. Drema Roth and her staff at the Akron Radisson Citicentre, are consummate professionals when it comes to weddings and special events. The ballroom, and connecting event space, are located on the 19th floor of the Radisson. The decor is elegant, with dark paneled walls, plush carpeting, and the most amazing views of downtown Akron, and the surrounding area. The staff worked exceptionally well, and any request by either a guest, bridal party member, or myself was handled quickly and efficiently. The wedding banquet was delicious, with several choices of entrees and side items. A full blown Halloween Candy buffet was set out for the guests, with many varieties of tempting treats for those with a sweet tooth. There was also a concierge suite set up for the bridal party’s use on the 18th floor, well stocked with cold drinks, snacks, and other essential items. The bridal party really appreciated this feature of the hotel’s services, and made use of the suite several times during the course of the evening. The wedding cake was spectacular, provided by Creme de la Creme Bakery in Akron. The cake was delicious, and was decorated in fondant, with swirls, diamond patterns, and curlicue wires, in the wedding colors of black and burgundy. Absolutely stunning to look at! The guest tables were equally stunning, with black and white damask tablecloths, and black napkins, provided by L’nique Linens of Valley View, Ohio. The centerpieces on the tables were a mixture of short arrangements of burgundy hydrangea and black magic and dark red roses in square glass vases, and tall glass vases overflowing with roses, fiddlehead ferns and greenery. The overall effect was lush, elegant, and very romantic. The party really got going after dinner, with Vince Slomsky and his partner, of Party Boys Entertainment. They kept the music flowing, and the dance floor full. With it being Halloween, several guests were dressed in costumes, as well as members of the bridal party, it made for a very fun atmosphere. The highlight of the evening, however, came as a surprise to Lindsay and Bill, with a special appearance by Zippy, the official kangaroo mascot of The University of Akron. Zippy was hired as a surprise gift to Lindsay and Bill, and that happy kangaroo mingled and danced with the guests for over an hour. I even got in a good hug with the hippy hoppy mascot!
I had a great time at Lindsay and Bill’s wedding, that it almost didn’t feel like I was working. This amazing couple went out of their way to make sure their guests had a fabulous, fun-filled evening. I wish now that I had worn some kind of costume as well. I will the next time I have a Halloween wedding. I would like to wish Lindsay and Bill a lifetime of love, laughter and happiness. Congratulations, you two!!
Vendors:
Wedding Coordinator: Kimberly Lehman
Church: Historic Tallmadge Church – www.tallmadge-ohio.org/parks_rec/parks/historical_church/index.html
Reception: Akron Radisson Citi Centre Hotel – www.akronradisson.com
Officiant: Reverend Jerry Blau
Florist: Lena Klimczak, Highland Heights Floral – www.highlandhtsfloral.com
Photographer: Joshua J. Wood – www.joshuajwood.com
Transportation: Thomas Limousine – www.thomaslimousine.com
Bakery: Creme de la Creme – www.cakesbycreme-de-la-creme.com
Linens: L’nique Linens – www.lnique.com
DJ: Party Boys Entertainment – www.myspace.com/partyboysent
Love, Laughter & Elegance 