By Elisabeth Scott Daley, Wedding Entertainment Director®, ABC™
“A Passion for Performance”
Stepping In to Help
Almost a year ago, my business partner, Peter Merry, was asked to step in for Wedding Entertainment Director, Jeremy Brech, in Sioux Falls, SD. One of Jeremy’s best clients’ daughters was getting married and Jeremy was already booked. Jeremy’s VIP client needed TLC. Jeremy knew that his client knew him, she trusted him, and he wasn’t available.
What happened? Jeremy reached out to the founder of the WED Guild, Peter Merry, to make sure that his client was in amazing hands.
The wedding day finally arrived this past Saturday. Peter and I were in Sioux Falls teaching workshops, and I was brought on board as an additional “up-grade.” Jeremy brought his “A-Team.” Technically, this was a “tent” wedding. But, OMG…it was AMAZING!!!!
There was a raised floor with carpeting, there was elegant lighting to create the perfect ambiance, and there were gorgeous flowers, linens, and black Chiavari chairs to enhance the theme of Fall colors.
Best of all, the symbolic transition from the cocktail hour by the country club’s poolside patio to the tented reception location was led by a live bagpipe player, along with the Bride and Groom and all their friends and family, as they crossed over a light-lined bridge signifying the transition of their two families being joined into one.
The Grand Entrance
The Grand Entrance included introducing 15 Wedding Party members using the latest in remote technology via MegaSeg. Peter and I were 75 feet from the DJ booth as we welcomed the Wedding Party members by the tent’s entrance.
The music, sound clips, and personalized introductions created moments of resounding laughter as the guests were enjoying learning little tidbits about the wedding party that they didn’t previously know.
Because the Groom’s favorite band was AC/DC…we introduced Justin and Jennifer to “Thunderstruck” as the crowd leapt to their feet and cheered!
Toasts
The guests enjoyed poignant toasts from the Father of the Bride, the Bride’s two sisters and Matrons of Honor, the Grooms’ brother and Best Man and finally the Groom himself.
Video Presentation
After enjoying an amazing prime rib buffet and a video presentation that included footage from the ceremony earlier in the day projected on one of the walls of the tent, the guests witnessed the Bride and Groom’s first dance, the Mother/Son Dance and a Father/Daughter Dance that included a surprise recorded message from the Bride to her Father.
The Grand Finale
The Grand Finale began when we invited the guests to make their way outside onto the grass to witness an amazing fireworks display that was breathtaking and exhilarating at the same time. The guests were then invited back inside the tent to dance until midnight celebrating with the Bride and Groom.
Preparation Meets “Perfection”
Jeremy and his crew spent countless hours prepping to make that tent look like a fairytale come true. Peter and I spent several hours preparing the personalized moments that their guests will undoubtedly be talking about for years to come.
Afterwards, Jeremy, Peter and I exchanged high fives on a job well done and a first ever team effort of three Wedding Entertainment Directors providing services for the same wedding.
Author
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Liz Daley is a seasoned veteran of stage and screen and is the owner of Liz Daley Events, a boutique entertainment company in Virginia opened in 2004 that delivers dramatically different results. She got her first radio job at 16, but her passion for live entertainment moved her across the country performing from New York to Nashville as well as the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas! She works with brides and grooms to create Classic, Fun and Memorable wedding receptions. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Boston Conservatory of Music, she is a certified Wedding Entertainment Director® and the National President of the Wedding Entertainment Directors Guild® and an Accredited Wedding Planner™ with the Association of Bridal Consultants. She is currently co-hosting educational performance workshops for Wedding DJs and Masters of Ceremonies with Peter Merry, “The Fun Wedding Experts”.
