An April Weekday Wedding in New Hampshire – Chad + Ashley
This one time at Band Camp, Chad, a smooth sax player met Ashley and said “look at that cutie with the Flute over there.” One date, watching Finding Nemo, and she was hooked. Chad and Ashley were headed for a Journey that would land us right in the heart of Portsmouth on a Thursday afternoon with only their very closest family and friends.
One Day, At Band Camp
Chad and Ashley know how to laugh, play, and have fun together in a very rare and wonderful way. It’s almost as if it’s what they do for a living. They are so sweet and fun! Part of the reason they are this way is that they are very good at making the complicated seem simple. Their wedding day exemplified that.
Small Guest List, Large room. Let’s get creative!
With maybe 60 guests, they were able to make very creative use of the Portsmouth Harbor Events Center Ballroom. Lauren, their coordinator, took care of every detail to a T. The ceremony was in a section of the ballroom, completely separate from the cocktail hour. The cocktail hour was completely separate from the Ballroom, until the guests were invited in and seated. Almost like magic, the cocktail hour walls disappeared! The bar was now in the ballroom, and the guests were ready to receive the bridal party with open arms and rowdy cheers!
Simple Elegance
The ceremony was sweet and simple. The only flowers were those being held by the bride and bridesmaids, along with corsages for the groom and groomsmen. The bridesmaids walked in to Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Ashley walked in to Canon in D. Their ceremony was brief, at 10 minutes or so, but heartfelt, and sprinkled with humor. Ashley’s uncle officiated masterfully. After presenting the Newlyweds, the happy couple exited to OneRepublic’s “Feel Again” Forming a receiving line that welcomed their guests to cocktail hour.
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The Reception!
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After a relaxing, yet upbeat cocktail hour, the guests took their seats as the cocktail hour room magically became part of the ballroom. Amanda Perkins from Amanda Rai Photography was there with her assistant ready to capture the introductions and festivities to follow. Chad and Amanda chose to make their entrance to the tune of Imagine Dragons On Top of the World!
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They went right into their first dance – Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – They are huge movie buffs, and while almost no one wants “wedding” and “Armageddon” in the same sentence, especially when talking about their own wedding, for Chad and Ashley it was a must! The song and movie had very special meaning to both of them.
Dinnertime fun
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Fun and sweet toasts followed by Chad’s Best Man Kevin, his brother Anthony and Ashley’s Maid of Honor Jasmine, and dinner was underway. During dinner the glass clinking began getting overwhelming, so we leveled up. Now everyone at a table had to sing a line or a verse of a song with the word love in it. That didn’t stop this fun and crazy bunch, in fact each table went around and did it! It was time for some serious action. This time, if they want to get Chad and Ashley to kiss, the whole room had to do the wave! They did it not just once, but twice!
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Let’s get this party Started!
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As dinner was wrapping up, we had a high energy centerpiece giveaway that brought them to their feet! Ashley danced with her dad to the acoustic version of Forever Young by Rod Stewart. Chad danced with his mom to Mom by Garth Brooks, and we kicked of the dancing with Beyond the Sea from Finding Nemo, the very first movie Chad and Ashley saw on their very first date together.
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And the crowd goes wild!
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This wedding was so much fun! Thank you Chad and Ashley for asking me to be a part of it!
