Andrea and John met through a mutual friend and quickly decided to meet for what turned out to be an epic love-at-first-sight date of vodka cranberries and a picnic lunch on the Mississippi River Bluffs. Both hard-working, self-motivated, and goal-oriented, the more they talked, the more it felt right.
Andrea had always joked that she wanted a big diamond over a big wedding, so after nine years together (seven of them engaged), Andrea and John decided to tie the knot one day in their kitchen (with a BIG diamond, of course!), with no guests and John’s cousin as their officiant. Happy with their decision, they moved on with life. However, as friends and family began asking when they could celebrate with the couple, John started getting emotional at the thought of seeing his bride walk down the aisle in a beautiful white gown. He couldn't help but feel like she might be missing out on something special.
Ultimately, they decided to host a celebration, but with a focus on the friends and family who had supported them throughout their nine-year relationship. After attending a few weddings themselves, they came to the realization that wedding celebrations are about giving back something fun and memorable to the people they love. And with that, the planning began!
The celebration at The Beach Club was a gorgeous and uniquely evolving event from start to finish. Guests arrived for cocktail hour, where a pianist and vocalist performed jazz tunes and drinks were butler-passed. John mingled with guests while Andrea hid away. Thirty minutes in, everyone gathered around as Andrea descended The Beach Club staircase amongst a cascade of flowers, bringing everyone to tears. The couple renewed their vows on the steps in a quick 10-minute ceremony, where John shocked Andrea (and the guests!) by serenading her with John Legend’s “All of Me.” John isn't a singer, but as the dedicated groom, he took private vocal lessons with the cocktail pianist to prepare.
Andrea and John are known for hosting incredible parties with extravagant food, and John is an incredible home chef, so naturally, their wedding celebration had to be over-the-top when it came to food and wine. Guests enjoyed everything from scallop crudo and foie gras to fresh oysters served by a roaming oyster-shucking chef before sitting down for a five-course dinner paired with six different wines. The design evolved with the evening, starting with soft pastels and Andrea’s favorite color, lavender, then growing richer and moodier before being completely transformed for the after-party.
The after-party was just as important to Andrea and John as the rest of the celebration. Inspired by the party scene in Babylon, the cocktail space was reinvented into a room of stimulation - bathed in red with moving imagery, a mirror ball with a live dancer, and a Miami-based DJ with live accompaniment. Andrea and John changed for the after-party and surprised guests as they descended the staircase into their second dance, a salsa, with cold sparks aflare. Andrea’s Mexican background and the couple’s love of dancing inspired a heavy emphasis on Latin music, while John’s Lebanese heritage was celebrated with a traditional dabke.
For all the unexpected details, Andrea and John’s goal was simple: to provide an experience their friends and family would remember for a lifetime. Before their first dance, they worked their way around the circle of guests and hugged every single person; a small moment that made everyone feel valued and welcomed. Guests are still talking about the celebration, and several even told John that it made them fall back in love with their own partners all over again. For a couple who never thought they needed a wedding, it became exactly what they hoped it would be: a sincere celebration filled with care, love, and a whole lot of fun.
Full Service Design & Planning: Style-Architects Weddings & Events | Photography: Cadence & Eli Photography | Videography: Summit Hill Studios | Venue: The Beach Club | Catering: D’Amico Catering | Cake: Hey There Cupcake | Floral: Ergo Floral | Staging: Apres | Linens: Apres, Haven & Gather | Seating Chart: Bella Mystique | Wall Projection: Future Projections | Cocktail Musicians: Andre Rodriguez | Band: Rock with U/Fusion | Mirror Ball Dancer: Enticing Entertainment | Hair: Styled By Abbi | Paper: Jill Elaine | Transportation: Minnesota Coaches