Wednesday, May 27, 2009

vineyard vows: gina & linton say i do

when gina and linton first approached me to help them with their wedding, my heart leaped when they said it would be at a vineyard! who doesn't love a vineyard wedding, right? with only 9 months to plan, gina and i hit the ground running, making several trips up to mt. airy, maryland to visit the venue.


as may 16, the big day, approached, we anxiously checked the weather forecast almost hourly...it was bleak, with rain and thundershowers forecasted all week. but we kept our fingers crossed. with the ceremony and cocktail hour outdoors, we really didn't want all of our planning derailed by a sudden rain storm! the weather was touch and go all day, but the rain held out until gina and linton's 140 guests were safely inside the barnyard reception, dancing the night away.

bright yellow school buses shuttled wedding guests from their hotel in frederick, maryland to the vineyard, which was luscious and green after all the rain. the nuptials went off without a hitch, although both the bride and her father sobbed throughout it! guests dined on delicious appetizers and vineyard wines during the cocktail hour, taking in the special elements of this wedding - a marriage certificate personally designed by a close friend, the bride's bouquet specially arranged by a wedding guest, and a moss-shaped "w" in honor of the couple's last name.

the couple entered the barn for dinner to the tune of when the saints come marching in, played on kazoos by everyone in the room - a surprise entrance crafted by a funny family friend. the reception look was complete with gorgeous gathered flowers arranged in mason jars and birch vase holders. after a delicious meal, guests feasted on a buffet of assorted pies (gina and linton are not cake people!), and then everyone danced their feet off, showcasing their party animal personalities in the photo booth the couple designed.


when the night ended guests dashed through the rain to hop on the yellow school buses back to the hotel!

many thanks to the many vendors who helped make this day so wonderful...

venue: linganore vineyards, mt. airy, md

catering: canapes catering

photography: jill thomas photography (aren't the photos incredible?)

reception flowers: blossoms and baskets

personal flowers: kristy daphnis

ceremony music: kensington park duo

reception music: bialeks music

Sunday, May 10, 2009

the art of caring

april 29 marked IONA senior service's inaugural fundraising luncheon - the art of caring. due to the changing economic environment, and hoping to do something more in line with its mission, IONA turned away from its typical gala, and hosted a luncheon to showcase their expertise - caregiving.
pringtime centerpieces dotted the grand ballroom at the mayflower hotel. fish bowl centers allowed all 285 guests to deposit donations, receiving notecards specially designed by one of IONA's senior artists.senator Claire McCaskill had to bow out of delivering the keynote speech at the last minute as she was invited to visit Missouri, her native state, with President Obama. fortunately everyone was wowed by her excuse, and like she said, it was a much better one than "the dog ate my homework." she was kind enough though to record her comments, which were played on dvd.

after delicious food and a tear-jerking slide show, everyone departed with a goody bag of treats, carrying with them the message that there truly is an art to caregiving!