Marmaros Productions

Jul 13, 20226 min read

Melissa & Marques

4.30.2022 | Grove Park Inn

How We Met

We first heard from Melissa & Marques in January of 2021. They heard from us through their photographer Chaise of The Tinsley Co. (one of our favorite photographers). They didn’t have a venue or a date yet, but they were leaning towards Asheville - and who doesn’t love Asheville?! It took a while to nail down the perfect venue and date, but once they secured Grove Park Inn and the April wedding date, we were ready to go and start planning!

Love Story

We love hearing how our couples found their favorite person and fell in love! Melissa & Marques braved long distance and still made their time work until they could be together! Come read about their love from Melissa's point of view!

"We met during one summer in college when Marques was working hard at an internship and I was…not working at all. I was just waiting for grad school to start and wondering why I had decided to stay in town. It wasn’t long into the summer that Marques and I met, and I suddenly had an exciting reason to stick around. That summer was an unforgettable one - spending our days with friends by different pools in Athens and our nights downtown dancing at dive bars. Although we knew we had a great connection, neither of us thought we’d see each other again after the summer ended, which meant Marques heading back to Ohio for his senior year of college. Luckily, the slow and cautious texts that fall turned into constant texting, then hours-long phone calls, and eventually we were flying back and forth to see each other. We spent 2 years long distance, which was, of course, super trying. However, it really built the foundation of the relationship we have today, so we wouldn’t have it any other way. It was just a quick 6 years after that first summer that we decided to make it official and get engaged. After I nearly made us miss the train from Grand Central for an ‘impromptu’ trip north, Marques surprised me by proposing at Boscobel House & Gardens overlooking the Hudson River. It was a beautiful day in New York, and we lucked out again for our wedding day in Asheville, North Carolina! Not only because the thunderstorm held off and the weather was PERFECT, but because everything else about our day was perfect, too. All thanks to Marmaros!! <3"

Down to Business

Since Melissa & Marques live in New York City, all of our meetings took place virtually - which was no problem! We were able to talk details, create floor plans, and become friends all on Google! We met for the first time in January at Grove Park Inn when we went for a food tasting to pick the menu. We also got to walk around the venue and hotel to see the spaces for the day! The week of the wedding, Melissa & Marques came down to stay at the hotel and we joined them for rehearsal on Friday where the ceremony views took our breath away! We were so ready to help Melissa & Marques get married!

The Big Day

On wedding day, the ladies were up early with Lovely by Lindsey to start the hair and makeup process, but that was no issue for this group of friends because they were ready to have a good time and hang out together! The next to arrive on the property was Heatherly Event Design & Florals to begin getting decorations and florals ready for the day! When we arrived, we unloaded the car of our rentals and went to go check in on Melissa & her girls!

We started setting up decorations and making sure everything was perfectly set up in the reception space while Heatherly Event Design & Florals worked on the ceremony site “arch”. The Tinsley Co. arrived along with Nebo Productions and began collecting detail photos and getting ready videos. The last vendor to arrive was Emerald Empire Band where the band members unloaded their equipment onto the stage and began sound check to make sure everything was ready to go for later!

Melissa stepped into her dress from The One, did a first look with her bridesmaids, and then relocated to the ceremony site so we could do a first look with Marques. The tears started rolling as soon as Melissa saw her handsome groom! After some full bridal party photos and immediate family photos, we went on an adventure around the hotel taking photos and videos of our beautiful [soon-to-be] husband and wife before heading back to the green room to grab a snack and water before the ceremony began!

Guests were offered a glass of champagne as they started to arrive and find their seats for the ceremony. Soon it was time to cue the music and begin the processional! At the end of the aisle, Marques waited for Melissa as her father escorted her down! As we mentioned before, the ceremony site view was amazing and much of the reason that Melissa & Marques chose the venue as a whole! Melissa’s brother, Connor, married them and had so many wonderful memories to share during their ceremony! The two recited their own vows while exchanging laughs and genuine love for each other before finally being announced as husband and wife!

We took some extended family photos and took a couple more photos of our newlyweds before Melissa & Marques joined the cocktail hour to talk with their guests! We love when our couples get to actually enjoy parts of their wedding that typically couples don’t get to experience - like the cocktail hour. After some mingling, we invited guests to their seats inside the ballroom before introducing our wedding party and newlyweds! Melissa & Marques shared their first dance with help from Emerald Empire Band, we heard from Melissa’s brother again for a welcome, and food started to get served to our guests at their tables.

After dinner, we needed to take a moment for the gorgeous cake that Melissa & Marques picked out and that Grove Park Inn recreated - it was beautiful and so tasty! Next, we heard toasts from 4 people who shared some sweet moments and memories of Melissa & Marques both together and individually! The last thing we had to do before we let the band rock all night, were parent dances that were sweet and fun. Lastly, Emerald Empire Band got the crowd on the dance floor to party!

Something Spectacular

About 30 minutes before the end of the night, we broke out some LED light wands and as soon as the guests saw us with the wands, there was a huge cheer! Everyone loved the addition of wands to dance with! Then we lined up everyone to go up the stairs for send-off. But the night wasn’t over!! All the guests were encouraged to follow Melissa & Marques to a piano bar that was located in the hotel called Elaines! Such a fun way to end the night!

Raving Reviews

"Megan and the Marmaros team are absolutely incredible! Megan worked with us leading up to the wedding to make sure we felt supported and excited every step of the way, and then ensured our wedding day was everything we wanted. We felt like we were planning with a friend the entire time (and now she truly is a friend who better come visit us in NY!). Marmaros is the best of the best - highly recommend!"

Happily Ever After

Even with Melissa & Marques living in New York, we feel like we gained friends throughout this wedding process. We love them both so much and we are so happy that they are married and get to spend the rest of their lives together doing fun, and intentional things! We know that one day we will see the name “Melissa Mayoras” on Saturday Night Live and knowing that Marques is standing right there supporting her every step of the way! Congratulations to our beautiful newlyweds, Mr. & Mrs. Mayoras!