Shalimar + Jonathan | The Ballroom at Dubsdread – Orlando, Florida | Cory Callahan Photography

I remember the day Shalimar called me. We both just so happened to be sitting in the parking lot of different Publix Supermarkets (random I know). The moment we started talking, I new it was going to be a fun time planning their big day! Shalimar was the sweetest person I have ever met and she was so dang excited to be marring the man of her dreams, Jonathan! Shalimar was an elementary school teacher, so they planned their wedding around Thanksgiving break. We had just over ten weeks to pull it all together and we did just that!

After securing their venue, The Ballroom at Dubsdread in Orlando, we hit the ball running with the rest of the wedding plans and it all came together beautifully! Flowers by Lesley provided beautiful personal floral as well as centerpieces to accent the family-style tables at the reception. We paid the purple floral with silver table runners for an added pop of color. With Shalimar being a teacher and having a love for kiddos, we knew we had to get a DJ who would be able to interact with everyone and keep the party going. DJ Joe with Elegant Entertainment was the perfect match! He was very interactive with all the kids and they danced the night away with Shalimar right in the mix of it all.

Cory Callahan just so happened to be the dad of one of her students and he offered to capture their big day! It was special having him on their amazing vendor team. Shalimar and Jonathan knew that they wanted drone footage in their wedding video and Live Happy Studio was the perfect fit for that!

I must say the day couldn’t have gone better. The weather was perfect and the newlyweds couldn’t stop smiling! We started the day with a first look at Kraft Azalea Gardens in Winter Park (if you haven’t been there before – you must go!). It is an absolutely beautiful location for a picnic, intimate wedding ceremony or just an afternoon stroll. A limo picked up the girls afterwards and took them to the Dubsdread Ballroom where the ceremony and reception took place. Shalimar and Jonathan said their vows under a beautiful tree overlooking the golf course, surrounded by their friends and family. Live musicians entertained the guests during cocktail hour while the new Mr. and Mrs. were driven around the golf course for pictures. Guests enjoyed a delicious buffet meal followed by sweet treats and they danced the night away. It was the perfect day! Wedding planning package – Perfectly Planned.

Special Thanks To…

Wedding Planner // Big Day CelebrationsFirst Look Location // Kraft Azalea GardensWedding Venue // The Ballroom at DubsdreadDJ // Elegant EntertainmentMusicians // Music RemembranceFloral // Flowers by LesleyPhotographer // Cory Callahan PhotoVideographer // Live Happy StudioHair + Makeup // Kim TumlinsonCake + Desserts // Le Petit SweetOfficiant // Dave PaulLimo // Apollo’s Chariots Runners // Over the TopWedding Gown // Calvet Couture BridalSuits // The Black TuxInvitations // Minted.com

From the bride…”If you want to truly enjoy your Big Day… Hire Big Day Celebrations! I promise, you won’t regret it.Katie is one who loves what she does! Her passion shows in every interaction, from the first phone call to the follow-up emails after your event. I was looking for someone who had connections and could pull off “simple and elegant” in 8 weeks! I had very few call backs. Katie returned my call in 3 minutes and was up for the challenge, as she has built and maintains relationships with many reliable and amazing vendors. She is a highly motivated woman who will help you make your vision come to life, no matter your budget or time constraint. Katie is well prepared to handle as much or as little as you need her to, all while you work as a team. Seamlessly, she works wonders as “a ghost writer, writing your story.” My wedding day was absolutely just as I had hoped and dreamed… My husband was highly impressed with all that Katie & I had accomplished in a short amount of time (as I was teaching full time and he was hands off in the planning department). I was able to truly enjoy our day all the more because I had confidence that Joe & Katie would handle any issues that arose in the same way that I would. Working with Katie was a blessing and words cannot express my gratitude for her grace through the planning process.”