Let’s kick off May with a classic wedding filled with heartfelt moments and pretty details, shall we? There are so many lovely elements that came together perfectly for high school sweethearts, Jaime and Donald’s wedding day. We just love the bold color palette, romantic lighting, palace setting, and whimsy centerpieces. And we can all agree that Jaime looked absolutely stunning in her sweetheart strapless gown! Take a peek by scrolling through the gallery captured by CWM vendor, Nikki & Chip Photography.
From Nikki and Chip Photography…Jaime & Donald are a rare find these days: High school sweethearts! They met their freshman year at Jackson Memorial (go Jags!) in history class and knew it was a forever kind of love. “We knew that we were meant to be because of how easy and relaxed our relationship was,” Jaime told us. “We have trusted, and continue to fully trust, each other since day one and have truly grown up together as best friends.” The couple’s late autumn wedding at the Palace at Somerset Park was a perfect representation of their longtime love and friendship. And it was beautifully designed! Jaime’s bright, berry-infused florals and details popped against navy accents. As soon as we arrived at bridal prep, we cracked up at the shirts the girls wore. They all featured hilarious quotes from the movie, “Bridesmaids.” Right then, we knew we had to do something more than just a standard group shot. The posed just like the movie poster and we had some fun with the image in post-production! It was a crisp, yet sunny fall day, so we took advantage of the light and did their first look outside. There is nothing like capturing a couple seeing one another for the first time—it’s one of our favorite parts of a wedding day. And when Donald turned around to see Jaime, his jaw nearly hit the ground! The emotion was raw and pure. It was just awesome to witness! From there, we experienced a first…We drove the bride and groom to church! Yup, Jaime and Don hopped in the back of our SUV and off we went! We rocked out to the radio and laughed so much that the ride flew by. It was an experience we will never forget. After Jaime & Don made it official, it was time for their reception. SCE Event Group rocked the house as usual. After speeches were finished, we experienced another first: A surpriseflash mob! Jaime and Don’s family and friends burst into a choreographed routine to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars. Jaime and Don were SHOCKED! They had no idea everyone had been planning and practicing for months! It was such a cool thing to be able to document since we’d only found out just minutes before. The group had some serious moves, too!
What was wedding dress shopping like? How did you know your dress was the one?
Dress shopping was a blast! I went with my two sisters and my mom. We knew my dress was the one when I came out and we all got all emotional. Through her tears, my mom said, “My baby!” Plus, the sparkle on my gown made it all perfect!
What made you choose The Palace?
The feeling we had when we first saw it! We walked in with my parents and the moment we stepped inside and saw the double staircase and beautiful chandelier—all we could say was, “WOW!” We looked at a few other venues but couldn’t get The Palace out of our minds. On our way back from there, Donald wrote on the booklet they gave us, “It’s The Palace. That’s the one,” and we just knew in our gut that was the venue to capture our perfect day.
What is your favorite memory from the day?
FLASH MOB DANCE! Made me sob. We could not believe the amount of people and love we felt in the room knowing our families and friends all practiced for months! It was an incredible surprise! Best ever.
Ceremony Location: Immaculate Conception Church / Reception Venue: The Palace at Somerset Park / Photographer: Nikki & Chip Photography / Cinematographer: Untouchable Entertainment / DJ and Photo Booth: SCE Event Group / Floral Designer: Coco Buds (Cathy Cocco) / Limousine Service: Santos VIP Limousine Service / Cake Designer: The Palace at Somerset Park / Gown Salon: Bijou Bridal / Gown Designer: Stefan Jolie / Shoes: Bandolino / Menswear: Ozzy’s Tux / Hair Stylist: Nia Sofia Salon / Makeup Artist: Nicole Patrick (MAC) / Invitations and Signage: Sealed With A Kiss / Jeweler: Twin City Jewelers
