Chris and Elizabeth 3.9.2013

On Saturday March 9th, 2013 we were pleased to be involved with the wedding of Chris & Liz.  They had been working with Brett at the beautiful Kensington Country Club in Naples. For this location, there were actually five separate set-up areas - the main dining room, the adjacent dining room, the cocktail hour, the balcony and the putting green.  Liz and Chris chose to have blush/light pink colored uplighting to enhance the ambiance of their celebration.  In the main dining room we had our dance floor lighting stand with our speaker system.  We ran cables upstairs, where the main DJ system was set-up on the balcony overlooking the first floor.  As they had over 125 guests,  six guest tables were set up in the adjacent dining room, which required a wireless speaker set-up to let all the guests hear the music, announcements and the fun.  The cocktail hour was located in the bar area, which is also in a separate room;  we provided music and sound for the guests to enjoy as Chris & Liz continued with their photos.  And last, we had our ceremony system package set-up outside on the putting green.  There was no power close by, so we used the help of our ultra quiet Honda eu2000 generator.

After taking a few hours for set-up, it was time to begin the celebration.  The ceremony had excellent weather,  a bit cloudy (which photographers say is great for photos) and a constant breeze which felt wonderful!  They chose traditional wedding music set to strings as the ceremony included their closest friends and family.  All went off perfectly.

The cocktail hour was upstairs-inside next to the reception room and a patio area too.  We provided a mix of upbeat background music while their guests enjoyed snacks and drinks while mingling.

After the introductions of the parents and bridal attendants to "I Gotta Feeling" Black Eyed Peas.  Then, Liz and Chris to "Yeah" by Usher, they went into their First Dance which was "I Love the Way You Love Me" by John Michael Montgomery.

Dinner was plated and served;  the three toasts and the dances with their parents were done in between courses.  Guests were feeling the music early on the dance floor during dinner.  As dinner ended the dance floor was quickly crowded as the guests couldn't wait to celebrate.  Just prior to the time when the photographer Maria Glassford was set to leave we made sure to get in the Cake cutting and Bouquet and Garter toss.

At around ten o'clock Chef David set out another course of food, by putting out a buffet featuring meatball sliders, hamburger sliders and pizza for the guests to munch on while partying on until last call.  It was a great night of family, fun, and lots of dancing!

New at the Naples Beach Hotel

 

 On Thursday evening we were invited by the Naples Beach Hotel to check out their newest renovations, having completely redesigned the famed "Everglades Room" and adjoining spaces.

The Naples Beach Hotel's Everglades room is just off the lobby and features panoramic views to the Gulf of Mexico.  It is also the room most chosen for wedding receptions.  It is now an entirely new space. 

The room's updates included an expansion of the room, and a raised ceiling highlighted by beautiful chandeliers and providing increased acoustical enhancements.  The lighting control has always been very good in the room, and the on-site A/V manager Kenny Graham was raving to me about the expanded abilities the new room offers with directional lighting and built in A/V capabilities. . 

Chef had provided a wonderful spread for the guests, from sushi to jumbo shrimp.  The hotel's owner Michael Watkins came by to say hello and to see the new space.

The staff at the Naples Beach Hotel is both excellent and friendly.  As the room has been closed since the summer of 2012, we are looking forward to our next celebration in this beautiful space.