Melanie & Nick Celebrate With a Dance-Til-You-Drop Reception

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Bride and Groom First Dance – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

After the ceremony, everyone was ready for a Hollywood rated celebration which began with cocktail hour – signature drinks were named after the newlywed’s favorite film quotes. Melanie looks back and says, “We wanted to capture the opulence of the roaring 20s.” As important as the flowers, the music helped to set a mood of stylish free-spiritedness for the evening. Here, Melanie shares the final chapter in her and Nick’s Real BB Wedding Story.

Part 4: Reception, Centerpieces, and Sweetheart Table

Custom designed escort cards that looked like vintage movie tickets, which were created by the maid of honor, directed guests to their seats. Along with numbers, tables were marked with signs featuring Melanie and Nick’s favorite movies such as Indiana Jones, The Princess Bride, and The Incredibles. “We also painted the ‘movie poster’ frames. They were originally white $1 plastic frames from IKEA,” Melanie says with a laugh. Each place setting was topped with pins, also made by the bride, with designs inspired by the movie table marker.

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Guest Name Cards – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Table Name Card – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Place Setting – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Filled with magnificent decor, the Riverhead Theater was transformed into a vibrant and dazzling party scene. The tablescape was adorned with centerpieces of various styles. Some tables were topped with soaring fire-work inspired centerpieces exploding with dahlias, roses, ranunculus, cosmos, anemones, marigold, amaranthus, astilbe, snapdragons, poms, pampas grass, and greenery. Voluminous low centerpieces composed of rich, jewel-tone blossoms rounded out the room.

Melanie & Nick Wedding – High Centerpiece – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Table Name Card – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

This was not one of those sit back and watch receptions. Melanie and Nick chose their music carefully and requested their wedding band, Mod Society, to learn songs for the big dance numbers. She runs through the set list. “Our first dance was to House Is A Building by Anderson East. Nick danced with his mother to Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett – they danced to the song when he was a growing up. Another request was Surrender, an upbeat rock/soul song, also by Anderson East that Nick and I love. Lastly, Ne-Yo’s version of Friend Like Me from the We Love Disney compilation. But we asked them to perform it in a swing/big band style. They absolutely crushed the song. Our guests still talk about it!”

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Sweetheart Table – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Any rest Melanie and Nick managed happened at their eye-popping sweetheart table. Cascading garland of lush, colorful florals and greenery created a romantic niche for the couple to escape.

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Wedding Cake Detail – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Wedding Cake Table -Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

A classically trained chef, Nick did double duty as cake designer. He made three single tier cakes, each a different flavor and topped with an artistic display of fresh flower petals.

In a day of one unforgettable moment after another, we asked Melanie if any stood out. “The moment the last song ended, all of the guests still on the dance floor immediately fell to the ground… me and Nick included! We were all laughing and couldn’t stand up for a few minutes. I took it as a sign that everyone had a great time.”