1. Real Weddings

Linda & Michael: A Traditional Wedding in Rochester, MI

Michael had been working at a company for about six months when he noticed a new girl around the office -- Linda. A few months later, they ran into ea

Michael had been working at a company for about six months when he noticed a new girl around the office -- Linda. A few months later, they ran into each other at a bar and got to talking. They soon became lunch buddies, and eventually became a couple. The Bride Linda Quadrini, 29, mechanical engineer The Groom Michael Pedrosi, 28, certified public account The Date September 20 Linda loves trying new restaurants, so when Michael told her he had a business dinner at Rugby Grille at the Townsend Hotel, she was so excited that she looked up the menu online and decided what to order! Even though it was drizzling when they arrived, Michael parked far away from the hotel so that they could walk through a park on their way. In the middle of the park, Michael knelt and proposed. Linda said yes and was surprised to find a limo waiting to take them to another restaurant, where both their families were waiting to celebrate.

Linda and Michael displayed cards on each table to remind their guests to take pictures in the old-fashioned photo booth. Guests took home the photos as favors, and the bride and groom got their own copies, plus a CD with all the images.
Linda made a sign using wood, faux hydrangeas, and brown ribbon encouraging guests to play bocce ball on The Royal Park Hotel’s court.
Linda carried a mostly ivory bouquet of roses and hydrangeas. One of her favorite wedding accessories was her bracelet, which she bought at Roma Sposa in Birmingham.
As a wedding day gift, Linda’s bridesmaids left a basket filled with champagne, juice, and snacks in the newlyweds’ hotel room at the Royal Park.
The lower centerpieces were arranged with ivory roses, green hydrangeas, and chocolate cosmos.
All of Linda and Michael’s nieces were flower girls in their wedding. Linda searched all over the place for brown dresses, but couldn’t find anything she liked. When her sister found adorable dresses that perfectly matched the wedding’s green accent color, Linda had to have them.
Green satin tablecloths and brown, floral overlays covered the round reception tables while brown satin tablecloths covered the square ones. Each table was numbered and also named after a place special to the couple, like cities they’ve traveled to and where they’d grown up.
So that her bridesmaids would wear their dresses again, Linda let them choose between two brown taffeta Jim Hjelm dresses -- one was a strapless dress and the other a V-neck, A-line design.
Michael's family toasts all special occasions with Crown Royal Canadian whisky. To complement the tradition, the groom's cake was sculpted in the shape of a bottle of the Special Reserve, Michael's favorite.
For their first dance, the couple chose “Everything,” by Michael Buble. They decided to use the original recording instead of asking their band to perform it.
Linda and Michael worked with their stationer to create a signature logo, which appeared on their invitations and other wedding day stationery.
To mix things up, several different centerpieces decorated the reception tables. Some were tall, filled with pears, and topped with full arrangements of ivory roses, green hydrangeas, and chocolate cosmos.
As an alternative to escort cards, the couple’s stationery designer, Maria Mancani D'Agostini, created a seating chart.
Michael and his groomsmen wore ivory rose boutonnieres accented with green berries.