Photos of... The Reception

Photos of... The Limo

Photos of... The Wedding

Pre Wedding Photos

The Rehearsal Dinner

After the rehearsal, we all met at Venuti's in Bloomingdale for an absolutely gorgeous rehearsal dinner. The Scolas really went all out. The menu was delicious, the atmosphere was warm, the conversation light and the company fantastic. We had such a great time! We handed out pocket watches to the guys and bags full of goodies to the ladies.

Programs

How do you make 250 gorgeous programs?
125 sheets of shimmery pink paper
1 wonderful friend who is an Art teacher and has an awesome paper cutter
250 dark brown scalloped punches
250 cream scalloped punches
1 "S" stamp
1 pink ink pad
1 bottle of clear embossing powder
1 embosser
5 adhesive tape cartridges
1 very helpful fiancé

We spent hours. HOURS on these. We haven't even started on adding the paper to the inside and binding it. Ouch.

Share Your Photos

After the wedding, you'll be able to share your digital pictures from the day with everyone!

Joe and Laura have arranged a flickr account (an online photo-hosting service) that they invite you to add your pictures to.

They would love it if you'd visit http://www.flickr.com and sign in with the Yahoo! ID: Hince.Scola and the Password: wedding

Once in the flickr website, you can check out the easy uploading tools to help you upload pictures to the account or you can just upload photos one-by-one, the choice is yours.

Be careful when you're in the account though, don't delete or change anything anyone else has uploaded, but feel free to check out the pictures other people have shared.

If you already have a flickr account, feel free to add this account as a contact so that you'll be updated when new pictures arrive!

You can always visit the photos without signing on by going to the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeandlaura2008/

Enjoy and Thank You for Sharing!

The Ballroom... Linens

Today we met with Janet, Joe's cousin. She's taking care of the flowers for the wedding as well as the linens.

We got to the ballroom and she and Mom were bringing a table out to the center of the dance floor. We threw some linens on the table and set up the centerpiece with a few candles on the table. It was so neat to see what the tables are going to look like. There were two set ups that we ended up having to decide between. I had it in my head that I wanted to have the dark brown table cloths. Janet also brought some light gold colored cloths as well. They were pretty, but I wanted to go with the dark, supper club look. We chose an ivory striped napkin. We'll put our pink programs out on the table and they'll really pop. I'm so excited. Check out the way the table cloth looks with the shimmery curtains on the stage in the background.
This table pictured above is the set up we're going with. The one below is pretty too, but we liked the dark brown better. What do you think?

Directions

Highways
Church to Hotel
Church to Reception

Local Roads
Church to Hotel
Church to Reception
Hotel to Reception

Reception

October 18th, 2008 - 6:00 pm

Willowbrook Ballroom

708-839-1000
8900 S. Archer Avenue
Willow Springs, IL

Ceremony

October 18th, 2008 - 3:30 pm

St. Isidore Catholic Church 427 W. Army Trail Road Bloomingdale, IL

Accomodations

Please let us know if there is anything we can do or any questions we can answer. You can contact us through this web site.

The Holiday Inn-Willowbrook

7800 S. Kingery Highway
Willowbrook, IL
60527
877-270-6397


A block of rooms has been reserved for the evening of the wedding. Call by September 27th to reserve a room for the Hince-Scola wedding and receive a special group rate.

There will be a scheduled shuttle service to and from the reception.

Hard Working Girls

Mom and I worked hard to get these invitations ready to go in the mail. I spent the whole weekend at her house. Joe is out of town for a show so we had plenty of time. There were several trips to Archivers and I had to leave her with some extra work in the end, but they're looking so good. Better than I could have expected. We ended up finding some great stamps at the store that we decided to use instead of the ones we had bought previously.

The coolest thing was the pair of tweezers Mom got out for me to use when putting the rhinestones on the invitations. They actually have a built in light in them so I can really see what I'm doing. Fabulous!

We proofed our text, printed each page, stamped the invitation, adhered the paper, added rhinestones, stamped the reply envelopes, stuffed the envelopes, wrote out tags, poked holes, cut ribbon and tied tags onto bows.

We printed pictures for the tables today too. Each guest will get a place card that assigns them to a movie star's table. We wanted to do something that went with our vintage Hollywood theme so Joe and I came up with a list of our favorite actors, from Ava Gardner to Humphrey Bogart. We tried to keep it in the 1940's and I'm really happy with how they came out. For instance, my Aunt Marie will get a place card that says she's seated at the Clark Gable Table...

Veils

I already ordered a veil from the bridal shop where I got my dress (it will be made of the same material on my dress) but I love to ooh and ahh over these gorgeous custom veils from Brides Head Revisited. They have custom bridal veils and accessories. I'm still trying to decide what to do with my hair for the reception when I take my veil off. Maybe something from this site will do the trick.
Two young artists who design bridal accessories. I love it! There is a list of retailers on their site.

The Elmhurst College Jazz Band

The Elmhurst College Jazz Band has gained international acclaim as a truly outstanding collegiate jazz ensemble. Under the direction of Doug Beach, the band has received outstanding ratings at jazz festivals from many jazz greats including Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Conte Candoli, Pete Christlieb, Greg Hopkins, Jiggs Whigham, Rob McConnell, and Bob Brookmeyer. The band has toured 17 nations and has twice been honored with invitations from the U.S. State Department to tour Europe. Frequent performances with well-known guest artists are a regular part of the band's schedule. Recent artists have included Bobby Shew, Louie Bellson, Pete Christlieb, Conte Candoli, Diane Schuur, Terry Gibbs, Lee Konitz, Denis DiBlasio, Clark Terry, Chris Vadala, and Frank Mantooth. In addition, the band has commissioned a number of original works from such well-known composers as Bill Holman, Alan Broadbent and Denis DiBlasio. The band also hosts the annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, a major event that attracts the best jazz bands from around the country and is adjudicated by the greatest names in jazz today. The band has produced numerous recordings, all available on CD.

The Willowbrook Ballroom

From its simple dance hall beginnings, to its rise as one of America's "SWINGINGEST" meccas -- the legendary Willowbrook Ballroom has touched the lives of millions for decades. From the high energy sounds of Count Basie and the oscillating rhythms of Benny Goodman, to the infectious dance tempos of modern-day swing groups like Brian Setzer Orchestra and the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Willowbrook has been 'home' to many a famous band. The Willowbrook Ballroom is a dance ballroom and banquet facility located in Willow Springs, Illinois along Archer Avenue. It was founded in 1921 by John Verderbar and named Oh Henry Park. Today, the ballroom continues to host ballroom dancing events with a live orchestra weekly. The Willowbrook Ballroom has its original 6,000 square-foot "floating" maple dance floor. In 2000 The Willowbrook Ballroom was profiled as one of America's "Glorious, Historic, Legendary, Treasured Ballroom Dance Floors" in Amateur Dancers magazine.

The DJ

After some brainstorming and some heavy candidates, we've decided on a DJ.

At first we weren't sure if we would even hire a DJ. We got the Elmhurst College Jazz Band right away, so that was cool, but we didn't think everyone would appreciate getting down to the standards all night. There was a very brief discussion about an iPod being used and I even had a plan to mix a video to music. Eh, too much work. What we really needed was someone to get on the mic and run the evening. So we decided to hire a DJ.
We got two recommendations. We've discussed the two, contacted them, got our quotes and we've made the decision. Joe has a friend at work, Rex, who has worked with (musically) a guy who goes by Jayfunk. He's a DJ for KISS FM and I actually listened to his mix on my way home from my Mom's house last night. We'll be meeting with him on Sunday, May 4th to discuss song lists and the things we need him to do for the evening. He gave us a very decent quote for what he'll be doing and he even went out to the ballroom to check out their system before giving us a solid number. I thought that was really professional of him to do.
So we should have some awesome music to kick it to while we're out on the dance floor. Rock!

Jay Ejercito
103.5 Kiss Fm Chicago
www.jayfunk.com
773-895-0528

Who Loves Cupcakes? I do!

Maybe it's because I used to take the most delicious Mom-baked cupcakes to school every year for my birthday, but I just love cupcakes. They're the perfect size dessert (as long as you can keep to just having one), and they come in any flavor/decoration combination you can imagine. If it wasn't for my equal love of wedding cake, I'd beg for a cupcake stand full of delicious cupcakes to share with our guests after dinner. Who knows, maybe I'll throw some on the sweet table.

So how does one become a cupcake guru? Crate and Barrel makes it all possible.

The first thing you have to do is decide which kind you want to bake. This is the most fun part! You can choose what kind of cake to what kind of frosting and how creatively you want to decorate your cupcakes. Do you want to make them all the same or put a different design on each? Maybe alternate? Or how about some letters so they spell out "Congratulations!" Try browsing 500 cupcakes from Crate and Barrel.


Once you've made your choice, you've got to gather your ingredients. Maybe you keep your flour and sugar in plastic bags in your cabinet. I prefer to store them in canisters on my counter. This way, they're always available for cupcake baking! This set of four stainless steel/acrylic canisters is perfect for keeping your ingredients fresh and styling up your counter space.




Time to start measuring and mixing!



OK! Let's throw those cupcakes in a pan and get bakin'. Of course, you want to put your cupcake cups in first, and cool them on a cooling rack, so you'll want to invest in an entire set of cupcake baking materials such as the ones featured at Crate and Barrel as the 4-piece Cupcake-Muffin Set. The thing I love best about this set is the option to make mini-cupcakes or mini-muffins. At school, the kids come around on their birthdays with mini-cupcake treats they get at the store. Wouldn't it be great to be able to make your own minis?

Ready to frost? The Barefoot Contessa has a delicious line of frosting mix all ready to go at Crate and Barrel!

The Dress

I got it! The dress I've been oggling online is mine!

Mom and I went to the salon today for our appointment (which they seemed to have lost but were very pleasant and accommodated me anyway). We were greeted by a lovely woman named Cindy who got right to it. I told her I was there to see a particular style and she showed me to the fitting room. She found the dress pronto and it was on! With my waist cincher firmly in place, she slipped the gown over my head as we discussed the uniqueness of the gown. Next, she slipped on the matching jacket and voila! I looked like a bride! The dress is everything I thought it would be and more. The color is lovely and I think the fit of the dress is perfect for my body type. I've never stood in front of a mirror and felt so lovely.
"I like it," I said shyly, afraid to let my 10,000 watt smile show.
"But do you love it?" Cindy asked.
There it was. I couldn't hold it in anymore. The smile still hasn't come off my face when I think of that dress.
Measurements out of the way, it was on to the veil. The one I ended up choosing is one they handmade at the store, so Cindy specified the measurements of the veil for the designer. She told me it would be made from the same material as the netting on the dress.
I'm sorry I can't add more specifics about the gown, I plan to save it for family only until the wedding. Some things just have to be a surprise.
However, I will say, that upon showing Joe's lifelong friend Avery the pictures of the dress online, he mentioned that it looked like something Vera Ellen would have worn in White Christmas (1954), which is exactly what I thought when I saw it. The song of the same name was my grandparent's wedding song, as they were married in December. Just another tidbit about this wedding that makes it so special to me.

How Pretty

I've decided to start looking at linens. While the ballroom will have some very nice linens, they're not floor length. Maybe I've watched too many wedding shows, but it seems to be a big deal to have floor length linens. So I started researching places to rent from locally and I found M&M Special Events in Carol Stream (they also have a location in Carollton, TX). I started browsing their samples and wow! They have a ton of gorgeous finds!
This was my first favorite.I really like the way the light catches the vines. I think this would be a pretty setup for the linens. It's their mocha vine overlay. I would layer this on top of a chocolate colored solid linen that goes all the way to the floor, just like in the picture. Imagine it with a tall centerpiece with raspberry colored flowers, perfect for fall!
My only hesitation is that I think most people would expect white linens for a wedding. Does it matter if I go with a color? The ballroom itself doesn't have much white in it and I'm afraid that white linens would stand out too much. What do you think? Color or not?

New Readers?

From what I hear, the save the dates have started making their way into our guests' mailboxes. If you couldn't tell, I did make them. Archiver's makes it easy. I'm curious to know if anyone has gone to our website and even possibly made it to my blog. I worked really hard to get the website all ready for today's "launch." I didn't want people to get the save the dates, go to look at our website and see an unfinished product. As for my blog, you can always comment on posts, you know. For all I know, no one has read a word of this blog but me. I haven't done a whole lot of internet advertising for it, but it's out there.

My adorable bridesmaids have been conversing online via email the last couple of days. I just love that they're doing that. Maybe I should start a wedding Ning. It's a thought. Could be fun. Something to keep around and look back on. I think I will, actually. Some of you non-techies are reading this with raised eyebrows, I'm sure. And I just know that if Joe ever read this, he'd roll his eyes at me. Just be glad I don't twitter. There would be a thousand posts for today alone.

XOXO

Dazzle

Made an appointment at the bridal salon!

Mom and I will be going Saturday morning to see the dress I fell in love with online. Cross your fingers that it looks good on me! The thing about this particular dress is its limited availability. I actually found it on theknot.com and have since seen it in The Knot magazine. In no other magazines have I even seen a mention of the designer, Justin Alexander Couture. When I first looked on theknot.com, I noticed that it said it's not even available in Illinois! However it showed retailers in both Arizona and Wisconsin. Since my brother lives in Arizona, I could always look at it out there while I'm visiting or I could drive up to Wisconsin to check it out, that wouldn't be unheard of. Well, as luck would have it, some further digging around revealed an availability at one store in Illinois. Eva's Bridals of Oak Lawn. That was back in January that I made that discovery. Now, today, I went back to the Web site but Eva's was no longer listed as a retailer! So I called them up to see if they have the dress. Sure enough, they do! Hooray!

I'm also in cahoots with a good friend of mine regarding some special gifts for my bridesmaids. It's a secret, but I'll just say that it will be dazzling!

DJ's and Limo's and Hair, Oh My!

While I'm on spring break, I figured I'd make the best of it and get some work done on this wedding!

I've emailed two DJ's about working the wedding, tying everything together. The thing is that we've hired the jazz band, but we're not sure that everyone will know how to dance to them all night. Seeing as music is such a big deal to me and Joe, we decided that hiring a DJ was in order. I've come up with a pretty solid schedule of events that goes as follows:
6-7 PM: Cocktails with the Jazz Band
7:00-7:30 PM: Party Introductions w/DJ & Uncle Jay, Grace, Speeches & Cake Cutting while Jazz Band switches over
7:30-8:15 PM: Dinner with a small jazz combo
8:15-9:30 PM: Dancing with the Jazz Band
9:30-11:30 PM: Dancing with the DJ

This way, we'll have the bluesy, jazzy feel of vintage Hollywood for a while before getting down to "California Love" and "Panama" the rest of the night. The EC Jazz band is especially great because of all the standards they do.

So we'll just wait to find out what the DJ's say. Once we get our quotes I'll be sure to update!

I've also been researching limo companies for just the right transportation. I think we'll probably be going with two separate companies.
I love the idea of exiting the church and hopping into a vintage automobile that evokes the feel of the wedding. Going with a '57 chevy or something similar would be ideal for me, but not too wedding-like, so I've decided that going with something more like a 1939 Packard or a Rolls Royce might be nice. There's a local company that also has Bentleys, so there's that to think about too. However, I'd still need to find a way to transport the wedding party to the picture spot(s?) and then to the ballroom, so I'm thinking some kind of large limo for that. The bigger, the better, I say. That way we'll be able to accomodate our flower girls, ring-bearer and at least a parent of theirs as well.

Finally, I've been looking into a special beauty day at the salon for me and the girls the day of the wedding. So far so good. I called Tigerlilie in Lincoln Square. They have the day open and I put my name down to book the appointments. It can always be changed if we decide to do something else. Their wedding package is fabulous. They accommodate the entire party in their salon and offer mimosas, fruit and pastries while we get our hair done, makeup and even mini-manicures. I'll probably splurge on a limo to take us to and from the salon as well. It's in the city and I'd hate to have everyone split up for that. Plus, it will be fun to relax and have fun with my bridesmaids while we get primped for the wedding. Has anyone else done this for their wedding? I'm not sure if it will be too hectic, but with all the girls and myself living all over Chicagoland and even two out of state, I really think it will be a nice gathering point before the wedding.

Things are starting to come together more. I just wish my mom had spring break this week too so we could be doing all this planning together. I just get so motivated I want to check things off my never-ending list of things to do!
Soon enough.

I announced our wedding on my MySpace blog this weekend. I've been getting sweet messages from friends about it, which is so nice. Joe and I are so lucky to have such great friends!

The Registry... Continued

It's Official
We are registered as Laura Hince and Joe Scola at:
Bed Bath & Beyond

Crate and Barrel

Target

The Registry

Joe and I went to Bed Bath & Beyond tonight to start our registry there. Joe picked out some lovely pieces to cook with on top of the stove, while I chose some stellar pieces to use in the oven. Those are our arenas. We also chose some towels which I'm very excited about, as well as a variety of other practical items for use around the house. Oh, and who can forget the china! Oh la la. I just love the china we chose. I'm so glad that Joe agreed to the pattern. Or should I say the lack of pattern?

The china is Kate Spade Cypress Point. While some of her china has matching stemware and flatware, this one didn't. It did, however look stunning with the Library Stripe stemware and flatware, so we registered for that. We were looking at the Library Lane china but I think we made the right choice. These items are timeless. They are absolutely gorgeous and we'll be able to entertain with them for decades.

Priorities

This is me making a list:
1. Register
2. Save the Dates
3. Website
4. Salon
5. Transportation
6. Linens
7. D.J.
8. Dress
9. Bridesmaid Dresses
10. Flowers
11. Tuxes
12. Invitations
13. Menus/Programs/Other Paper Goods
12. Favors (Need to know how many)
13. Placecards


What am I missing???

Fellow Willowbrook(ians)

I cannot guarantee that these links will last forever, but here are two wedding websites that pop up when you search for weddings at The Willowbrook Ballroom...

http://chariseandgunter.com/events.asp

and

http://www.erin-jeff.com/home.htm

I'm crossing my fingers that they will post pictures. I'd love to see what they've got to share from their wedding!

The Wedding Party

Joe and Laura each chose seven special people to stand beside them at their wedding. Isn't seven supposed to be a lucky number? Well, that's why these two decided that these seven people would bring them the most luck of all. Read on to find out more about the wedding party. You'll also find out who the ring bearer, flower girls and ushers are!

Nydia Laabs
Matron of Honor

One of Laura's best friends since she was 16, Nydia and Laura have worked together, gone to school together, laughed together and grown together.



Steve Tomlitz
Best Man

Joe and Steve have known each other since little league. These two have shared the stage, their room and their good times.

Amber Whitaker
Maid of Honor

Amber and Laura are sisters of rock. These two met five years ago and have enjoyed sharing music, attending concerts and meeting new friends.




Jamie Meo
Best Man

Although they met through Steve, Joe and Jamie became fast friends. Immediately they could sense that they shared some odd cosmic connection having an equal voracity for both food and Metal. You can often find them together, at your local bar...giggling uncontrollably.

Allison Dunn
Bridesmaid

Allison is the beautiful young lady engaged to Laura's brother. She's a good friend and will make a great sister.




Darren Hince
Groomsman

Darren is Laura's little brother. Even though he passed her up in height when he was around fourteen years old, she'll always be his big sister. These two have gone from teasing and hair-pulling to being great friends. Laura is so proud of Darren and everything he has accomplished. Love you Dar!

Jackie Scola-Bernstein
Bridesmaid

Having had the honor to stand up in Jackie's wedding, Joe is eager to return the favor. Though admittedly they weren't terribly close as young children, after the "who's more attractive" debate was settled, they were able to move on and have become tighter than ever.

Joe Bernstein
Groomsman

Brother-in-law and fellow musician, JB, has always been an inspiration for Joe...not because of his success or talent, but because of his amazing ability to grow his facial hair into any shape or length at will.







Bethany Lisack
Bridesmaid

Beth and Laura were college roommates. Now that both of them are teachers, they have even more to share.




Brian Budzynski
Groomsman

Despite some differences in appearance, taste and personality...Joe and Brian's friendship has survived since the glory days of High School. Ok, there was that 5-year period where Bud flipped out and left for Europe unannounced...then didn't call or write for 5 years...but hey, who's counting? Point is, all is back to "normal" and everyone is glad that Brian can be part of this special occasion.

Stacy O'Connor
Bridesmaid

Laura and Stacy met at work in 2000 and shared their first apartment together. It's impossible to think of how much these two have gone through together.




Chris Blomquist
Groomsman

Like the older brother that Joe never had...or asked for...Chris has been there, without fail, for the last 10 years. Whether it was back when they were hacking computers at Blue Cross, or when they were entertaining Chicago's North Side as Acousti-Rock duo, Orange Julius, there have rarely been better partners-in-crime.

Christine DiPompeo
Bridesmaid

Christine is Laura's cousin. Family parties and life events just wouldn't be the same without her.




Robert Colon
Groomsman

There is no better way to get to know someone than to be stranded 50ft. above the stage at Foellinger Auditorium with them. Joe and Robert's friendship is not only proof of that, but of the fact that Subway sandwiches taste better if delivered to you via a pulley system.

Annie Allan
Flower Girl

Annie is the daughter of Laura's best friend from work, Laura Allan. When Laura heard that Annie expressed the need to "be near a bride," she couldn't wait to ask her to be in the wedding party.

Ava Jarman
Flower Girl

Daughter of Laura's lifelong friend Lara, Ava will make a precious flower girl.

Zack McGillis
Ring Bearer

Joe is thrilled to be able to have his cousin Zack as a part of this shindig. There is no doubt his appearance in a mini-tux will steal the show!

Avery Sundling
Usher

Swedish sensation Avery Sundling, longtime friend to Joe, has always been there to provide our groom with the touch of class and style that he has always been lacking.



Justin DiPompeo
Usher

Laura is so excited to have her cousin Justin be a part of the wedding. No one played "Baby Dinosaur" better when they were kids.

Paper Goods

My Mom and I went to a Wedding Workshop at Archiver's. I think we've decided to actually MAKE the invitations. That means we'll be making the invitations, save the dates, menus, programs, placecards, etc. The list goes on and on. I absolutely LOVE this idea because I'll be able to make everything so that it matches AND I'll be able to scrapbook it all after the wedding. Everything will be exactly the way my Mom and I imagine it. I'm so excited, I can't wait to get started!

The Look: Inspiration

Their Story

The Distance

It was a late night when they met. One could safely say it was after midnight. Laura was winding down with her friends after a night of waitressing at a local restaurant and Joe was waiting for a friend to meet him. Both were sitting at the bar at the County Trail Pub. The karaoke was blaring and a fight even broke out at one point. The two passed each other a couple of times on the way to or from the restrooms in the back of the bar. He sang "Beth" and "Every Rose Has it's Thorn." Or was it "Patience"? She sang "Magic Man" and "Sin Wagon." As the night wore on, a seat opened up next to Laura. She looked over at Joe and patted the spot next to her. The rest, as they say, is history... Since that March night in 2002, Laura and Joe have dressed up for six Halloweens, invented numerous thinking games involving movies and actors, made tons of new friends, been to Alaska and Arizona, seen oodles of live music, recorded a couple of Christmas CD's, and welcomed each other's families into their hearts. There's just no telling how much more is left to come. All the love in the world.

His Story

Southbound Pachyderm

Growing up in Addison, Illinois, Joe had one of the most normal childhoods ever imaginable. Thankfully, early on, he decided to make it his mission to change that fact. Amidst a sea of little league games, school clubs, and cub scout meetings, Joe was somehow blindsided by the entertainment bug and hasn't looked back since. From piano lessons at age five, through numerous stage productions in school, to his current position as bassist for the international Heavy Metal phenomenon Sacred Dawn, he has managed to surround himself with music and performance. Little did he know that this obsession would eventually lead him to meet Laura. That's right...if you're reading this, you probably know the story: "Karaoke Bar...ditched by friend...Ruby Tuesday uniform"...the rest, as they say, is history. Now, here we are, almost 6 years later. Joe struggles through his weeks slaving away as a drone in the field of Information Technology, but still manages to fill his remaining time with music. Outside of the band, Joe enjoys watching an almost inhuman amount of television on DVR and watching his dog eat all of his worldy possessions. But somehow, between playing around on his computer and trying to write the next great Monster Ballad, Joe has managed to find the one woman who can put up with all of it....and is looking forward to spending the rest of his life with her.

Yummy Cake and a HUGE Dancefloor

This morning we went to Patty Cakes in Lemont to sample the cake. Oh yum! We chose a beautiful cake made of yummy and delicious. We decided to go with a marble cake and chocolate fudge filling. There will be no need for fondant, I'm not a big fan, so it's butter cream all the way!

After we picked out the cake we stopped by Target and started our registry there. We picked out a few things that we could definitely use.

Next, it was on to The Willowbrook Ballroom! I love going there. Even if it's just for a meeting in the middle of February and the heat isn't on so it's freezing cold in there. My Mom had some questions for Toni and one of the owners took me and Joe over to the DJ booth and showed us the stage and the light/sound system. He threw the lights on the dance floor and I was amazed! It's one humongous dance floor with a ton of fun lights that sparkle and twinkle all over the place. The stage is ultra fun, too. There's a shiny/sparkly curtain and a nice area in the back of the stage for the band to hang out. I can't wait!

Her Story

Little Miss Can't Be Wrong


Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Laura knew early on in life that music was for her. She started singing in a children's choir at age 7. The choir took her into the recording studio for several choral demos and eventually got Laura into a video demo as well. She went on to perform on stage in high school and college through both singing and acting. While she was at Glenbard North High School, she realized that she not only loved to perform music, but that she also wanted to teach it. Laura chased that dream at Elmhurst College where she earned a degree in Music Education. Laura was in her last year at EC when she met Joe. When she realized how much he was into music and acting, she knew she had found "the one." Laura invited Joe on stage with her for her senior recital where the two performed the song, "Come What May" from the movie Moulin Rouge. The song holds a special place in their hearts and Laura can't wait to dance to it with Joe at their wedding. Now Laura is an elementary music teacher where she works with students in grades one through five. She spent some time working for a park district where she directed the theater program. Now she focuses her directing time at her school. Putting on three musical shows every year, Laura keeps busy planning the programs and rehearsing with the children. When she's not at work, she's spending time at home with her beloved puppy Dio, her cherished cats Lannie and Gwin and of course Joe and his rats Nicodemus and Azrael. Laura was thrilled when Joe popped the question on December 23, 2007. After an afternoon and evening out with his family, the two returned home to open some early Christmas gifts. Afterwards Joe presented her with a beautiful ring and asked that they spend the rest of their Christmases together. She gladly said Yes!

Bridesmaids

Here's the card I gave my bridesmaids when I asked them to be in the wedding. I made it in Microsoft Publisher. I mounted it on Archiver's Pomegranate colored paper from the Yours Truly collection, tied a ribbon on the top, placed it in a chocolate colored envelope and spelled the girls' names out in glittery pink stickers. I'm so thrilled about the bridal party!

Wedding Bouquets

Here's what I'm thinking for mine... White Ranunculus, White Gardenias and White Cosmos
For the girls... Pink Ranunculus and Chocolate Cosmos

For Joe: A White Gardenia and a Chocolate Cosmo
For the Boys: White Ranunculus and Chocolate Cosmos

Moms would have the pink ranunculus and the chocolate cosmos for their corsages and Dads would wear White Ranunculus with the chocolate cosmos.

Just thoughts that I wanted to get down...






XOXO