What is the ideal location for your wedding? Couples usually think about a church, a hall, home, the beach. You know the places. Well how about this?
Yesterday evening I performed a wedding ceremony at what could best be described as a rented party house. Located in the Fort Lauderdale area this was the perfect place for a small wedding.
The couple live in New York and were having their wedding here in south Florida.
This is the third wedding I have done in the past year in which the chosen location is serving as both a residence( while they're here) as well as the wedding location. The couple rents a very large home for a week. Their friends and family( as many as possible) stay in the home with them and they have a beautiful spot for their special event.
These houses are all high dollar houses. Great locations and spacious. Some of them are a little run down at the heels (so to speak) and many are being rented out in this manner in order to enable the owners to maintain ownership and have the house pay for itself either until they can sell it or until they are ready to renovate it for their own use.
Last night's house was truly unique. From the street it was barely viable because of the lush foliage. I sort of wandered my way in through a side entrance but once inside it was truly eye opening. It was more like a small estate with the main house, two separate guest wings and a beautiful pool (free formed to fit the space) multi level decks running everywhere and an orchid wall at the end of the house. There was a circular stairway leading to a sunroof and even a male body statue (no arms, legs or head but with the rest fully displayed) standing in the center of what looked to be a spa at one end of the pool.
Even though the guest list was quite small, probably no more than perhaps twenty, the couple had spared no cost in making their day special. Several photographers and caterers, food tables, bars, nicely set tables ...all set up around the beautifully landscaped pool. The bride even had her own special hair and makeup person in attendance.
Hey I was impressed. It was very pretty. My only complaint is a little disappointment in the failure to organize the little things that can make such an event special. Such as no music ready for their coming in and going out (even though there was a music system).
These weddings do tend to be loosely organized.
In a very large house, just across the street from the ocean in Fort Lauderdale I performed a wedding for a Russian couple. About the same number of guest. I arrived on time, which turned out to be quite early. They didn't have it together yet so I just stood around and nodded at all the people who were speaking Russian. They were a very friendly group and actually it was a rather amusing affair. I had a good time.
The girls had prepared their own food, all of which was ethnic and from their region of the world. Mostly vegetarian (which works for me) and very interesting.
The Miami wedding was catered with tents set upon a large lot in what had at one time been a very wealthy estate but which was in need of renovations. However even though it was not what it had once been it still had an ambiance all it's own, and had the feel of the roaring twenties.
It was well catered with tents and tables and chairs set out overlooking the waterway.
Each wedding is unique. Each couple is unique as are their guests.
If you're married where did your wedding take place? If you're planning a wedding what is your dream location? I hope you will share your interesting wedding stories.
If you're planning a wedding in south Florida remember TheSimpleWedding . We offer wedding ceremonies in English and Spanish. WE will soon be offering setups of chairs and arches for beach weddings. Please visit our website or call me at 954-254-6216
