Fall Wedding at Historical Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg

Q1: Tell us about your wedding!

“John and I met in the theatre business  (he auditioned me!) so the natural venue choice for us was a theatre. I grew up performing on the Orpheum stage and have always been enamoured with the beauty of the space, so we let that be the star of the day.

“We kept decor simple, with burgundy and blues for pops of color supported by neutrals. John wanted a blue suit, so his groomsmen complemented him in darker blues. I let my bridesmaids choose their dress and color, which turned out brilliantly with my Maid of Honor fully expressing her big personality in rose gold sequins. I loved her choice! We wanted the day to feel classic and timeless, formal and sophisticated without being too stuffy.”

Q2: Let’s talk wedding decor

“All of the decor was done by myself or my talented friends! I love vintage china, and because our space for dinner would be sparingly decorated, it was a perfect way to dress up the tables. For our reception, lighting played a huge role in transforming the look of the theatre. I left it all up to the amazing technical team at the Orpheum. We knew we wanted lights strung through the audience, and the rest, we left up to them!”

Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding?

“Florals were limited. I definitely wanted roses, and we also used Eucalyptus throughout to soften the space and tie the bouquets together. I wanted the tables at dinner to feel eclectic and vintage, so I sourced votive holders, mini vases and other interesting pieces from thrift stores and antique stores to hold a few stems. Guests were able to take the vases with them after dinner if they wished.”

Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)?

“We wanted the ceremony to feel important and substantial, and my favorite part of the day was watching our talented friends play music throughout the ceremony.

“We had two moments of special music – one of which John joined in on. Being able to really sink into the performance of the music was a fantastic way to feel “in the moment”, and John and I both agreed after that it helped us relax.

“Also, our officiant just did a brilliant job writing a personal and meaningful ceremony completely full of the sentiment that we wanted to express and promise to each other and for our friends and family to witness.The reception was all about karaoke!!!

“We didn’t really know how it would go, but with a room full of actors and musicians, the mic was never abandoned. We asked one of our friends from here in Calgary to come down to DJ the night – and he drove all the way down from Canada. It was such a fun and crazy way to party!!”

Q5: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look?

“John wanted a bright blue three-piece suit. He also wanted the suit custom made for him from a Canadian designer. Eph Apparel was a perfect choice for us. He also knew he wanted french cuffs, with fantastic cuff links. He left the cuff links up to me, and I found a designer that made cuff links from British six pence coins. I had his links made from the year he was born, surrounded in rose gold to match his wedding band. I gave them to him as a gift on the morning of the wedding. I also would be wearing a six pence coin tied to my she that he gave me years ago, to complete my something old, new, borrowed, blue (and a sixpence in her shoe).

“I found my dress unexpectedly at a bridal expo. My girlfriend and I were joking, ‘who actually BUYS a dress at one of these things…’ Well, I did!

“At first I thought I might want something with a very vintage feel with lots of lace. But after trying on a few different silhouettes, I found myself drawn to a ballgown shape.

“One of my fashion icons is Jackie Kennedy, and I have always loved her wedding dress. I guess the image of her dress stuck with me over the years, because I think my Paloma Blanca ballgown is very reminiscent of her dress. I loved the color of the raw silk dupioni – in some lights it looks ivory, some lights a light blush pink. It’s just stunning.

“I wanted to look timeless and very classic on my wedding day – an image that would not look dated in 20 years.

“My veil was my favorite part!! I wanted a cathedral length veil with lots of detail on the train. I found one from a Bridal Consignment store while with a friend who was trying on dresses for her wedding. The veil has gold and silver aplique and stitching throughout and sequins for a bit of shimmer. It was such a perfect match for the dress – and definitely something I will look forward to passing down as a family heirloom.”

Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

“John auditioned me. We met working on a show about Buddy Holly. I went in for a large cattle call audition, after missing out on more specific audition calls because I wasn’t really wanting to audition. But at the last minute, I decided I should because I had done the show so many times before. I was told that I had to come back to meet John – the music director. And during the rest of their audition tour, HE kept getting told that he had to meet ME by the rest of the production team.

“We slowly got to know each other, and a couple years later I made the move to Canada from New York City so we could see just if this was as good as it seemed. I guess I auditioned for a little more than just a musical all those years ago!

“John proposed on a trip to his hometown of Durham, England. He wanted my engagement ring to be made there. After a series of close calls with getting the ring on time, he managed to pick it up about an hour before we were to leave. He tempted me with a quick pint at our favorite pub near his childhood home, saying that we should just have a quick quiet moment to reflect on the amazing time we had. He said a few beautiful words, and that he would like to marry me, and then asked if that would be alright. I said “of course”.

Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

“I most looked forward to getting ready with my best friends, and to having everyone gather together from all over. Because we live in Canada, we don’t get to see our closest friends very often. John is originally from Durham, England, so many of his family would have to wait until our second wedding there in December.

“However, his sister and cousin were able to come. It was so special to have a room full of the women most important to me, and to John, and to feel their love and support. My Dad walking me down the aisle was an unforgettable moment as well.”

Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

“So many people will say to try to take it all in, to stop throughout the day and look around, take mental pictures and truly try to be present throughout the whole experience. This is all so true!!

“I was so concerned about being so overwhelmed with emotion and with so much going on that I would miss a million things. However, I realized that with being so involved in planning all of those beautiful million details, there really was no way to miss them. Everywhere I looked on the day, I saw little moments come to life just as I had imagined them.

“So, enjoy the planning, the build-up, and this all-so-amazing time of being engaged. It goes by so quickly. The day won’t be without surprises or things that go “wrong”, but in the end – it’s all the perfect details that add to your personal wedding story.

“Also, delegate, delegate, delegate. Ask for help when you need it, and allow others in – they are all there to support you, celebrate you, and most likely are so excited and so willing to help. Just ask.”