What Lies Beneath

True to the bride’s style, the wedding cake was a fun and funky creation from local bakery Cake Alchemy. Forgoing the traditional sugar flowers, the square-tiered fondant cake was decorated with a cascade of pink, ivory and burgundy blown sugar globes. The four-foot creation featured alternating tiers of black-forest cake with cherry and cream filling and white-chocolate cake with fresh strawberry-buttercream filling.

After dinner, the bride reappeared in a shimmering, cocktail-length fuchsia gown of her own design, and a swing band kept guests dancing late into the night. As the cocktail foretold, the bride and many of the ladies attending cast aside their shoes to dance barefoot on the seamless white dance floor, illuminated with the bride and groom’s initials.

Attendees who overheated had the option of relaxing on the pier, taking a trip around the lake in specially reserved gondolas or indulging in the late-night appearance of a make-your-own-sundae bar. It was a much appreciated treat after a long evening of wedding celebration. I personally opted for caramel and candied pecans with a creamy French-vanilla ice cream, but the choices were endless.

Upon departure, each lady was provided with a silk drawstring satchel and each gentleman an embroidered handkerchief by Adrienne Lockhart Designs. Inside the purses, they found a card telling them that a donation had been made in their name to the Trend Next Foundation, the same organization that helped launch the bride’s successful career last year.

Before leaving, I had the opportunity to speak with the happy couple. I asked them, as I ask all my brides and grooms, what their wishes for the future were.

“My wish,” the bride said, “is that we can spend every day of the next fifty years as happy and in love as we are at this exact moment.”

“Make it sixty years,” the groom replied, sweeping the bride into a toe-curling kiss that brought a blush to this old biddy’s cheeks.

I have to admit, watching the couple depart the Boathouse for their own horse-drawn carriage amongst the twinkling of sparklers, I got a little teary eyed. I hope the new Mr. and Mrs. William Reese Taylor, III, remain this blissfully happy forever. I’ve never met a couple who deserves it more.