Washingtonian Bridal Blog: Real Weddings 2012

reprinted in part from - http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/weddings/bridalparty/22158.html

Washington Real Weddings: Chelsea Causey and Nick Sparaco
Written by: Kim Forrest
Photography by: Genevieve Leiper Photography

Reston couple Chelsea and Nick share a very important trait: a total sweet tooth. They bonded over their love of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, so when it came time for Nick to propose, he found a way to incorporate Chelsea’s favorite treat. While on a trip to the Outer Banks, the pair went to the beach at sunset. “After a few minutes, Nick reached into his bag and pulled out a pint of Ben & Jerry’s,” recalls Chelsea. “I thought nothing of it, because I eat ice cream almost every day. But once he knelt down, I noticed that this was not my usual banana split flavor. It was one I had never seen before—the container said: ‘Will You Marry Me?’” Inside the ice cream container was a ring. Nick and Chelsea planned a September 24, 2011, wedding, with the ceremony at the Aquia Episcopal Church and the reception at the bride’s family’s vineyard, the Potomac Point Winery in Stafford. The theme of the day was “wine, love, and ice cream.”

...The couple performed their first dance to “Crazy Love” by Michael Bublé. Afterward, guests danced to a variety of tunes. The night ended with a traditional Polish bridal dance. Another highlight of the day: grape stomping!

Vendors
Photographer:Genevieve Leiper Photography
Videographer:Thomas Bowen Films
Ceremony Venue:Aquia Episcopal Church
Reception Venue:Potomac Point Winery
Gown:Alvina Valenta, purchased at Katherine’s Bridal Boutique in Alexandria
Hair:Frizzles Salon & Spa in Springfield
Makeup:Carl Ray
Bridesmaid Dresses:Cynthia Rowley, purchased at the Bridal Closet in Vienna
Invitation Designer:Fingers in Ink
Floral Designer:Holly Heider Chapple Flowers
Cake:Sweet Creations Cakes
Caterer:Le Grand Cru Catering (in-house at Potomac Point Winery)
Wedding Music:Chris Laich
Dance Lessons:The Wedding Dance Specialists

Washingtonian Magazine, January 2003
The author of this article chose us as her wedding dance coordinators and was so inspired she wrote a full page article about our services!

Start on the Right Foot: Worried About That First Dance? Here Are Good Steps to Take.
by Cindy Rich

For many brides and grooms, a first dance isn't really a dance. They stand in place and sway, whisper, and kiss.

I'd always found it romantic. But when I got engaged, my fiancé saw it differently: Those couples, he said, didn't know how to dance.

Neither did we. So we took our four left feet and our first-dance song, a Billy Joel ballad to Alexandria . Our instructor, Deborah Joy, introduced us to the “Foxy,” a slower version of the foxtrot. Its “walk, walk, sway, sway” pattern seemed doable. We'd have five private sessions to choreograph our 2 ½ minute wedding song.

“The diaphragm is the center of dance,” Deborah said. If we used good posture and looked into each other's eyes, and “invisible current” would flow between us and keep us in sync. She was right: Whenever I looked at my feet, we stumbled.

Deborah suggested that we make it a date, so we turned lessons into dinner and dancing. It became a welcome weekly escape from seating charts and floral arrangements.

We learned enough steps to feel like dancers. We practiced at home. We took our last lesson a week before the wedding so we wouldn't forget anything.

Then came the wedding…We laughed and enjoyed the moment...We're glad we took lessons, even if we do our fanciest footwork in the living room.