Real Wedding Spotlight: Melissa & Bob
Hold onto your hats for this one Aisle Files Readers!! Melissa & Bob had not only an unbelievable wedding, but an unbelievable weekend!
The wedding took place on Saturday, September 4th, 2010, the last weekend of the Saratoga Meet, but the festivities started on Friday with a welcome reception for their guests at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Saratoga.
Saturday was a truly amazing day. Racing and Saratoga are extremely important to Melissa and Bob. Bob has been coming to the race track since he was young. When the couple met, Bob brought Melissa up here to Saratoga to spend a weekend at the track and in the city. Melissa instantly fell in love with Bob, the town, and all Saratoga has to offer. They wanted to show all of their invited guests all that Saratoga has to offer.
The guests were treated to a rarity, a ceremony at the Saratoga Race Course.
Never before has this been done at Saratoga Race Course! Starting at 10am, the guests were shuttled to the track where Melissa approached the ceremony in a horse drawn “Cinderella Carriage” by Bowman Carriages. Pachter Photography captured the whole day with some amazing images.
The ceremony took place on top of the executive suites overlooking the finish line and the infield. In Melissa’s words “It was the most unbelievable experience…to be on the track…hallowed ground. I am so grateful, and so privileged to have been given this honor!”
As Melissa was coming onto the track from the back side a little girl saw the carriage, turned to her mom, and said “It’s a Princess!”, how sweet! It was extra sweet for Melissa, whose father has been ill, that he was able to ride in the carriage with her.
The Associated Press even picked it up for a Dallas newspaper. “The most fabulous part” Melissa says, “was as I pulled up in the carriage, everyone came over to see and leaned over the top rails…all I saw was a sea of beautiful women in hats. It was a spectacular vision and I loved that they all participated in the theme, and celebrated with us in such a fashion and verve.”
After the ceremony Bob & Melissa and their guests stayed at the track for an afternoon reception “at the rail” and to see the Woodard Stakes.
After a full day at the track the guests were shuttled to the Canfield Casino where they joined Bob and Melissa for a show stopping evening reception. The room looked stunning with specialty linens and gorgeous centerpieces by Hidden Gardens.
The cocktail hour consisted of a seafood bar;
a chef attended sushi station;
an Italian Antipasto Station;
as well as various Chaffing Dish items including Italian Style Meatballs, 7 Hour Cherry Pepper Pork, and Crisp Ricotta Gnocchi. Guests were treated to music from Al Bruno.
Also, Melissa and Bob has an Ice Luge shaped like a horse’s head with three different specialty cocktails. One of the specialty cocktails, Afleet Express-o Martini honored this year’s Travers Stakes Winner.
Following the introductions, first dance, toasts, and a dance set guests were served multiple courses, the first being an Italian Salad. This was followed by a pasta duo of Beef Short Rib Ravioli with Sweet Garlic Cream and Trivoli Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce. The entree course started with a Grilled Petite Filet Mignon demi glace, roasted fingerling potatoes, and buttered asparagus. These were followed by French Service of Petite Veal Parmesan and Chilean Sea Bass Provencale. Melissa and Bob had beautiful menus printed and gave out sets of glasses for their favors with their logo etched on them. The sets included a champagne flute, a wine glass, as well as a shot glass.
Melissa and Bob kept their love of horses throughout the day including this adorable cake topper and tables named after Kentucky Derby Winning Horses.
After dinner, Cheers: The Band took the stage. Cheers: The Band kept the dance floor full all night! I just love this shot of Melissa and Bob’s first dance.
For a special treat, Melissa joined them on stage. Melissa has been a professional singer for twenty three years in Atlantic City. Awarded the “Best Lounge Act” for the 2010 Nightlife Awards she has opened for Don Rickles, Fred Travelina, Michael Burston, and worked with Tony Orlando. She regularly performs at the Tropicana in Atlantic City in Tangos Lounge and she is phenomenal! It was as if everyone at the reception was in a trance, she totally blew them away!
The party didn’t stop at the Canfield Casino, it continued on at Jacob and Anthony’s until 4:30am!! I caught up with Melissa and asked her what her favorite parts of the whole wedding were, here’s what she said “my favorite art was the carriage ride with my father by my side…my vows…my first dance with Bob…my dance with my dad…and getting up and singing, looking up at the ceiling of the Canfield Casino was amazing. But the whole wedding from ceremony to staying up til 4:30 for the after party, every moment of it was the time of my life. the BEST 22 hours of my life!”
Sunday morning Melissa and Bob had a Mimosa Breakfast Buffet for their guests at The Hampton Inn & Suites as a final send off and thank you. What an incredible weekend!!
Congratulations Melissa & Bob!!!
