Church
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Reception Venue
Westfields Marriott
Wedding Coordination
Diamond Events
Stephanie Hughes
Photographer
Conte Photography
DJ
Horizon Entertainment
Aaron Hahn
Rehearsal Dinner
Bertucci’s
Gainesville, Virginia
Winter weddings have such a romantic feel. The snow, candles, warm coats, and colors… such joy in the midst of a cold winter.
We are so fortunate to have had the pleasure of being interviewed by Katelyn Polantz, a reporter from the Roanoke Times and being featured in two articles in the business section on Sunday, January 24, 2010. Katelyn spent a busy Saturday with us, packed full of appointments. It was the perfect day to showcase all of the pieces that are involved in planning a wedding.
For richer, for poorer, wedding industry thrives
Recessions and boom times barely affect the number of ceremonies.
By Katelyn Polantz | The Roanoke Times
Photography by Stephanie Klein-Davis
The Roanoke Times
More couples opt for fall weddings
By Katelyn Polantz | The Roanoke Times
It was such a pleasure to work with Kristin and her mom Kathy from the very early stages in the planning process. In our first meeting I remember Kristin commenting on the two main requests she had for her wedding “open bar and chair covers” and from that point forward I knew we were going to have a fun yet classy wedding to plan.
Our biggest challenge was faced very early on. The realization soon set in that until the release of the Virginia Tech football schedule in late February, many local hotels in Roanoke and Blacksburg cannot secure a fall wedding date; Kristin decided that she really wanted to get married on September 26, 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia. As we impatiently waited for the schedule to be released, checking the website multiple times a day, the time had finally come and the unthinkable happened, a Miami home game on the September 26th and they too would be staying at the Sheraton and using their ballroom the morning of the wedding. Nonetheless, Ginny Morgan, the Sheraton’s Catering Sales Manager, went to endless lengths to accommodate the wedding, quickly flip their ballroom and still maintain their superior service.
Wedding Weekend:
No detail was overlooked for the entire wedding weekend. As guests arrived to the Sheraton on Friday they received Welcome Bag’s at check-in. The rehearsal dinner, held at the Roanoke Country Club was decorated for an elegant BBQ. The tables were draped in black and white checkered linens with hanging lanterns as the centerpiece. A delicious buffet of southern comfort food was served before Kristin and Jan began presenting their wedding party with their gifts.
The weather report for Saturday, 100% chance of rain. Luckily Kristin’s photographer, Noah Magnifico of Magnifico Photography, had lots of suggestions for pictures in indoor locations around Roanoke, including Hotel Roanoke. He was able to get lots of great shots of the wedding party without letting rain get in the way of his creativity.
After pictures, the wedding party travelled to St. Andrews Catholic church for the ceremony. As Kristin made her way down the aisle, the sounds from the organ and trumpet, made a stunning and grandiose entrance, I even got chills on my arm! Afterwards guests travelled to the Sheraton to begin cocktail hour while the family stayed for pictures.
The ballroom at the Sheraton looked amazing, warm taupe table linens, mocha napkins and tall candle centerpieces designed by Jim Taetz of Crystal Orchid. The table numbers were bottles of wine with the couples monogram and the chocolates favors were made by Baylee’s Best Chocolate. The delicious wedding cake was made by Gail Wilson and had orange mini calla lily’s cascading down the sides. RSP Entertainment did a great job, the guests were energetic and dancing for hours, nobody wanted the night to end! When the couple arrived to their suite they found the letter “K” on the bed made in rose petals with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries (I love surprises!). Congratulations Kristin & Jan, it was such a pleasure to be a part of your wedding!
Church
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
Reception Venue
Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
Ginny Morgan
Wedding Coordination
Diamond Events
Stephanie Hughes
Photographer
Magnifico Photography
Videographer
Mike’s Video
Mike Azar
DJ
RSP Entertainment
Florist
Crystal Orchid
Cake Baker
Gail Wilson
Transportation
Executive Limousine
Rehearsal Dinner
Roanoke Country Club
Samara and Kyle had a beautiful ceremony at Colonial Avenue Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia. The bridesmaids had long, dark purple dresses and gold lanterns were hung from the pews. After the ceremony guests travelled to the Holiday Inn ballroom. Hundreds of candles lit the room with a soft glow, creating a warm ambiance. Roy “Papa DJ” and Russell Prusak of RSP Entertainment did a fabulous job, as always, they know how to keep everyone dancing and put on a great show. The Virginia Tech wedding cake make by Kelly Cakes intrigued all of the guests, and had the most adorable cake topper of two Hokie Birds dressed as bride and groom. Congratulations Samara and Kyle, it was a pleasure to be part of such a special wedding!
Ceremony
Colonial Avenue Baptist Church
Roanoke, Virginia
Reception
Holiday Inn Valley View
Roanoke, Virginia
Wedding Coordination
Diamond Events
Stephanie Hughes
DJ
RSP Entertainment
Russell Prusak
Photographer
Bert Reed Photography
Bert Reed
Florist
Petal Pushers
Cake Baker
Kelly Cakes
Susan Kelly
Diamond Events has a new look and we can’t wait to show it off! We’ve already updated our twitter page, but soon to come will be our facebook fanpage, wedding blog, website and more! What a great start for 2010.
Sabrina and Rob’s wedding was an experience no one could forget. No matter how creative or organized one is, nobody can stop Mother Nature and illness; a bride’s two worst nightmares. However, not a soul could have handled it better than this loving and relaxed couple. The morning of the wedding, Sabrina fell so ill from food poising that it kept her from having the strength to get ready for her own wedding. To add to the complications, the couple had planned on having their ceremony outside on the beautiful steps of the Jefferson Memorial, but the chance of rain was 100% with no signs of stopping. Her close family and friends were busy by her side coaxing her back to good health. With the help of Rachel Naft of RMN Photography the couple had a beautiful ceremony at Union Station (since they had a D.C. marriage license) and then went back to the Crown Plaza, in Silver Spring, Maryland for the ceremony for their guests and the reception. The impressive flowers were designed by the bride and put together with the help of a volunteer association and Diamond Events. The Groom even set up the lights himself, which were rented from Atmosphere Lighting and really enhanced the room. The DJ, Tony Gaetano of Black Tie DJ’s got the party started with fun music and amusing props for the bridal party to wear. To top the night off, the decorative and delicious candy bar opened for the guest’s to take home a box of their favorite goodies. There was nothing stopping this couple from getting married. They shall love each other in sickness or in health, rain or shine. Sabrina and Rob, you were a true joy to work with.
All Photography by Rachel Naft of RMN Photography
Ceremony
(Rain Plan Location)
Union Station
Washington, D.C.
Ceremony
(Original Location)
Jefferson Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Reception
Crowne Plaza
Silver Spring, Maryland
DJ
Black Tie DJ’s
Tony Gaetano
Photographer
RMN Photography
Rachel Naft
Cake Baker
Sweet Bakery Cafe
Sweet Bakery Cafe Blog
Wedding Coordination
Diamond Events
Jaclyn Koblos
Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with videographer Jessica Piscitelli of Jessica Pi Productions. Capturing weddings for over 10 years, she has been noted for being one of DC’s best wedding videographers! Jessica brightens up when describing the way people come to life in a video. The emotions that arise when capturing the bride as she gets ready, walking down the aisle and the words spoken while exchanging vows are a once in a life time experience that you will want to remember forever. “How else are you going to remember the exact words from your vows or the speech by the best man or maid of honor?” Jessica commented.
As budgets get tighter and tighter some couples question the importance of a videographer, sometimes thinking that relatives can handle the responsibility. You can rest assured that hiring Jessica Pi Production to capture and produce your wedding video will be unsurpassable in quality, professionalism and provide years of reminiscing to come.
View a Wedding Ceremony Montage
Video by Jessica Pi Productions
Jessica Piscitelli
Jessica Pi Productions
Sight. Sound. Style.
www.jessicapi.com
703.860.1238
Khanh contacted Diamond Events just two weeks before her wedding for Day of Coordination services… without a doubt, the shortest amount of time that we have worked with a bride, but you could tell right away that Khanh was different. Having had previous experience herself as a wedding coordinator, the couple’s wedding was full of personalized details, décor and very organized. A Day of Coordinator is exactly what this bride needed to be able to enjoy her big day, but she had to find the person to pass her “baby” off to and we were honored to accept the responsibility and ensure that their day turned out just right.
Both the ceremony and reception were held at historic Whitehall Manor in Bluemont, Virginia. The wedding just happened to fall on a peak day for fall foliage in Loudoun Virginia, making a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony and pictures. The photographer was Laura Burke of Laura Ashbrook Photography, an absolute treat to work with and we can’t wait to showcase her pictures. The aisle arrangements, bouquets and corsages were designed by Holly Heider Chapple, one of Loudoun’s most talented florists. The bridal bouquet had beautiful shades of orange, as Khanh was lucky to have one of the last clippings of the gorgeous dahlias that Holly gets locally.
As the ceremony ended guests made their way inside Whitehall Manor for cocktail hour. All of the food throughout the night was delicious and prepared by Celebrations Catering. DJ, Aaron Hahn of Horizon Entertainment did a fabulous job orchestrating music throughout the entire wedding, from the second by second ceremony entrance to the flawless announcement of the wedding party, a top notch DJ can make all of the difference! The couple chose Connie’s Cake Creations for their wedding cake, a great choice! She offers one of my personal favorites, cream cheese/butter cream icing, to die for, the guests couldn’t get enough! Congratulations Khanh and Ryan on your new life together, you did a fabulous job planning your wedding and it was such a pleasure to be a part of it!
Ceremony & Reception
Whitehall Manor
Bluemont, Virginia
Wedding Coordination
Diamond Events
Stephanie Hughes
Caterer
Celebrations Catering
DJ
Horizon Entertainment
Aaron Hahn
Photographer
Laura Ashbrook Photography
Laura Burke
Florist
Holly Heider Chapple
Holly Chapple
Cake Baker
Connie’s Cake Creations
Connie Schweizer
Receiving a thank you note like this in the mail is such a treat! Thank you Susan!
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