ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE WEDDINGS continued from page 22 We had a mix of whites, pinks, and greens combined with ivory sequenced linens and mahogany chairs for a fresh summer look.” Danny and Melanie met at a gathering thrown by one of our mutual friends. “One day, Danny suggested that we take a step back in time and be kids again for the night,” said Melanie. “We spent the evening channeling our inner child, playing our favorite childhood arcade games. It was a blast.” After playing a bunch of fun arcade games, they ended up in the photo booth. We made different funny faces in the few shots, and then Danny got on one knee and proposed. “I was completely and utterly shocked. I was filled with so much joy,” she said. “Once I was able to finally collect myself and accept Danny’s proposal with a YES, we walked out of the photo booth to yet another surprise – our family and close friends. Danny had arranged for them to be there for our proposal to surprise me and help celebrate with us.” The biggest challenge is often planning the actual wedding. Many couples like to incorporate interests and their own identities and for Melanie and Danny it was Game of Thrones. “We decide to incorporate elements of the show into our wedding in a cool way,” said Melanie. “Our seating charts were not the typical seating chart. Instead, we had two Game of Thrones seating charts that Suhair helped us to create.” The first seating chart, was titled “Brace Yourself, Marriage is Coming,” and under that it said “You Can Find Your Seat Here.” On each side, it listed the names and the house each belonged to: Danny House of Shaman for the groom, and Melanie House of Toma for the bride. The next board, closer to the reception entry way was identical, except that it was titled, “Brace Yourself, Marriage is Here.” “Guests LOVED our seating chart,” said Melanie. “It was one of the most snapped elements of our wedding.” They incorporated more Game of Thrones elements with life-size cherry blossom trees that sat atop the tables. The final Game of Thrones element was a string quartet that played during dinner. “The string quartet played music from the Game of Thrones soundtrack, beginning with the theme song, and it was a hit,” said Melanie. “Our guests loved their performance, and it added a special vibe to the evening.” Along with the planning, Kallabat said there is one key element no couple should forget. “Sometimes couples get so caught up in planning their wedding that they forget that even more importantly, they should be planning their marriage,” she said. “I like to refocus my couples when I sense that they’ve lost sight of the true meaning of their engagement. As important as planning a wedding is, it is of the utmost importance for couples to be preparing for the sacrament that they are about to receive.” Falling In Love When June Abro was planning a couple’s wedding in the fall, he knew they wanted that particular PHOTO BY WILSON SARKIS time of the year. “They figured it wasn’t going to be too hot or too cold,” said June Abro of a June Event. “They had a perfect day.” They were looking for a Saturday in either September and October. When they found the date they wanted, they booked it right away. “It ended up being Sweetest Day and they wanted for all of their loved ones to share in their ‘sweetest day’ with them,” said Abro. Weather is not the only thing to keep in mind when planning a wedding, explained Abro. “Think about holidays and if guests have to travel and the wardrobe,” he said. “When planning a fall wedding, keep in mind daylight savings and that your clothes don’t clash with the time of the year. Certain wardrobes go with certain seasons.” The weather in the fall can be ideal as it was for this particular couple. “Amidst the weather changing, the colors are changing” said Abro. The elegance of the outdoor pictures were beautiful. It was a cool Autumn day for them.” As much as some couples love the fall season, it doesn’t limit the wedding planner. “We feel that the season should not dictate what you want to do,” said Abro. “It’s your wedding and you can have the wedding of your dreams no matter the month. The only thing that is crucial is the flowers that are in season. However, if you have no limits on your budget, you can have them any time of year for the right price.” The season should not deter you from your dreams. “It’s your wedding; you can do whatever you want as long as its styled right,” said Abro. “If you love fall colors but are getting married in spring, it can still be done as long as your ‘Color Story’ is done well and your wedding planner designs it just right.” Regardless of the time of year, Abro encourages couples to stay calm. “A mistake is when couples tend to get stressed during the planning period,” he said. “This is supposed to be a magical time - pick and have faith in your vendors that at the end of the day, they will throw you the wedding of your dreams!” 24 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 25
