- Oct 31, 2019

Dancing The Blues Away

We are creatures of habit. Whether at work or at home, us humans are easily lulled into comfy grooves and familiar rituals. While we crave these routines, we often find ourselves chafing at the monotony that can come from them. At some point, even the most creative brain cells get bored of themselves and tap out. So we have to change things up. We buy a different coffee creamer, add a new recipe to the rotation, take a vacation, or try a new hobby (although we will probably never get into hot yoga. It just sounds too hot). If we’re honest though, our tedium is best mitigated by encountering other humans whose energy breathes color into our dullness. Maybe they have a refreshing outlook or an infectious positivity or maybe their ideas are so out-of-the-box that you’re not sure if they’re actually from Earth (in a good way). Whatever the case, interacting with people like this sparks the limp, sputtering synapses in our brains back to life.

Liz and Michael are just these sorts of humans. Professional dancers by trade, these two beautifully creative and authentic individuals surrounded themselves with a team as inventive as they are to make some serious wedding magic happen for their day.

They had the Heritage Tree at Hidden Vineyard dressed to the nines with jaw-dropping florals and three(!) crystal chandeliers for their very memorable first-look. Rain necessitated a move onto the covered deck for the ceremony but Liz and her beautiful bridesmaids, all clad in white and clutching gorgeous antique-hued bouquets, brightened up the rainy horizon.

Liz and Michael wanted their ceremony to be “unplugged” so they took two minutes at the beginning, served up their fiercest dancey poses for guests to take pictures of, and then continued the ceremony with phones put away and everyone truly present. Because of their work in professional theater, Liz and Michael’s guests included some very talented friends. At one point during the ceremony, one of those friends started singing Jason Mraz’s “I won’t give up.” As he got to the bridge, more friends stood where they had been sitting to join him in singing. “Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools and gifts we’ve got...” swelled into the chorus, “I won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough. I’m giving you all my love, I’m still looking up.” These incredible voices and soaring harmonies delivered a profound musical expression of the love and commitment Liz and Michael have for one another. It was deeply moving and truly unforgettable.

Dinner in the barn was a gorgeous mix of farm tables, linened round tables, candles, more florals, and garland. Then, an after-dinner costume change for Liz was a no-brainer. How in the world do you dance your choreographed first dance in anything but a white jumpsuit and gold glitter wedge sneakers? You can’t.

The excellence of the dancing at Liz and Michael’s wedding (easily a 15/10) was rivaled only by the incredible shots the photographer grabbed of these two. They utilized every inch of their venue to capture everything from contemplative, serious drone shots in the vineyard, to goofy, fun candid moments on the dance floor, and romantic, chandelier-lit poses at twilight. The range and innovation present, not just in the photography, but in every aspect of Liz and Michael’s day, was an outgrowth of the energy with which these two live their lives. We left our day with them feeling deeply privileged that we were a part of it, inspired to be better, and with a million new ideas.

Take that, monotony.

XO,

White Dahlia