Marmaros Productions

Mar 29, 20234 min read

Courtney & Tate

Updated: Apr 4, 2023

11.11.2022 | The Butterfly Pavilion

How We Met

We first heard from Courtney in February of 2022. Courtney and Tate came to us like most of our Butterfly Pavilion couples do - through the venue’s preferred vendor list! Courtney hopped on a discovery call with Marmaros to see how we could be a resource for their wedding day. After that call and talking things over with her stepmom, we had a November wedding on the calendar at Butterfly Pavilion. We are always so excited to go back there - especially in the fall!

Down to Business

We quickly got to planning and talking vendors with Courtney and her stepmom, Brielle. Wedding planning was primarily done virtually so that we could accommodate everyone's schedules and the distance between everyone. This did not slow us down one bit though! In the summer, Courtney, Brielle, Shannon (the mother of the groom), and Marmaros headed over to The Butterfly Pavilion to see the space again. It had been a while since Courtney had seen it in person since booking, and the ladies wanted to see the venue in person so that they could envision the decor. After that walkthrough, we were all so excited for November to arrive. We kept nailing down all of the smaller details that go hand in hand with wedding planning. By the fall, Courtney had secured her dream team of vendors, we had talked about scheduling, and details, so one of the last things to do was to go to the Butterfly Pavilion for a final walkthrough. It was surreal to think that after the final walkthrough, the next time we would be at the venue was wedding day since Courtney opted to have her rehearsal at the restaurant she works at. The night before the wedding day, we headed to Goin' Coastal in Canton to practice the ceremony - the wedding day was only hours away at this point!!

The Big Day

The day was finally here! It was Courtney & Tate’s wedding day! The day started early for the ladies as they were getting their makeup done by Brushworx. They spent the morning getting beautified, spending quality time together, and enjoying some Starbucks drinks and snacks. Beka Ray came to do Courtney’s hair and she nailed the assignment. Courtney looked like an absolute dream! We arrived at The Butterfly Pavilion early in the afternoon so excited for Courtney & Tate’s day! We said our hellos and then got to work decorating the tables. Ash & Miles, the photo/video team, arrived and started to capture the details of Courtney & Tate’s day while hair and makeup wrapped up. Courtney stepped into her stunning dress from Bridal Gallery Couture and did a precious first look with her father. After her first look with her dad, Courtney, and Tate shared a first look and then read each other their private vows before they were tucked away to rest before the ceremony.

Lisa Handman played the harp for Courtney and Tate’s ceremony which made their day feel even more dreamy. Tate’s father, Mike, was the officiant for their ceremony. We always love when a couple picks someone close to them to officiate their ceremony because it makes a ceremony so special and intimate. Courtney and Tate were pronounced husband and wife and sealed their vows with a kiss before walking back down the aisle! Guests were invited to cocktail hour where they enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided by Talk of the Town. During the cocktail hour, we flipped the room and Ash & Miles knocked out the remaining family shots that were needed.

The reception started with DJ Karl introducing Courtney and Tate as the new Mr. and Mrs. and then they did their first dance together. Courtney’s father took the mic and gave a heartfelt welcome speech to kick off the night and get everyone prepared for the yummy dinner ahead! After dinner, Courtney and Tate headed over to the dessert table to cut the cake made by Demarcus Desserts. We heard toasts from those closest to the couple and then saw parent dances before the dance floor was opened up. DJ Karl really got everyone out on the dance floor and you could tell that everyone was enjoying themselves! Before we knew it, it was time to bring the party to an end. Guests lined up out front for a sparkler send-off where they cheered on the newlyweds as they ran through the aisle to their getaway car!

Something Spectacular

First looks are a somewhat newer trend in weddings and make sense for a lot of reasons. They allow you to knock out photos before the ceremony which can be necessary when the sun sets early. They also allow you to get the wedding day jitters out and allow for a private moment where you see one another prior to the ceremony. Courtney knew that she wanted to do a first look with Tate, but she had a little something up her sleeve. She knew Tate might be full of excitement and nerves, so to somewhat ease those emotions she had a fake first look happen before the actual first look. We sent one of Tate’s friends in a wedding dress down the aisle to see Tate first. There were lots of laughs and we could definitely sense that Tate was more calm and ready to see his bride after that fake first look. Afterward, we got Courtney all setup and ready to walk toward her groom so that they could see each other for the first time that day. As with many other first looks, theirs left us in a puddle - so sweet!

Happily Ever After

We wish nothing but the best to Courtney, Tate, and both of their families! It was so much fun getting to work with everyone on such an incredible day. Congratulations to the newlyweds!