Jennifer + Stephen: January 23, 2010

January may not be the most popular month for weddings here in Massachusetts, but Jennifer & Stephen had a great reason to choose the coldest month of the year for their wedding: they got married in Jamaica! Although I wasn’t invited to the ceremony (which took place one week earlier at an all-inclusive resort in the presence of their immediate family), I was thrilled when they asked me to be part of their reception here in New England.

The party took place at Jones River Trading, a one-time tack mill with a history dating back to the Civil War era. The venue is as unique as can be, with a bar imported from Ireland, an array of antiques, furniture and artwork, and an assortment of items that you just don’t see in most venues (including, but not limited to, a huge wooden kayak that spans the length of the dance floor). This was my first event at Jones River Trading, and my first time working with photographer Elizabeth Horne, who provided the images shown below.

The reception began at 6:00, with the newlyweds arriving for photos and guests arriving for cocktails. Music selections for the first hour included reggae, salsa and latin styles, to set a festive tone throughout the room. After the introduction of members of the wedding party, Jen & Steve walked into the room to cheers and applause, and then began their first dance, a choreographed Salsa routine to Tito El Bambino’s “El Amor”.

After dinner, a cake cutting and parent dances, I invited all of Jennifer & Stephen’s guests to the dance floor, and from there it was a non-stop celebration until the very last dance at 11:00 . In addition to great music ranging from Stevie Wonder to Shakira, Fergie and Kesha, I also provided lighting to add a wash of color to the venue’s wood floor. This definitely helped make the space more inviting for dancing, and Jennifer & Stephen loved it.

Introduction Music: “Get The Party Started” – Pink
Jennifer & Stephen’s First Dance: “El Amor” – Tito El Bambino
Song played during the cake cutting: “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Def Leppard
Last Dance: “Turn Your Lights Down Low” – Lauryn Hill
Farewell Song: “Send Me On My Way” – Rusted Root

Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Horne Photography