WW Renee Introduces Us To Her Bridal Party!
They are our closest friends and loved ones, and now we wanted them to be a part of our special day. There are so many creative ways to ask a bridesmaid to be in your wedding. Remember you are honoring her, but also asking for considerable time and financial commitment, so make sure you ask them in a memorable and special way.
I knew that I wanted to be a little creative in asking my girls to be in our wedding. I decided to buy a box that looked like a bride’s dress and fill it with candy. Also, I made sure to have a ring pop inside the box and on the outside I wrote “It’s my turn to pop the question!”
I also wrote a card to my girls with a poem that I found online. It read:
“The day, the dress, the bride, the groom
The joy, the tears will all come so soon
Professing true love to my husband-to-be
With family and friends all watching me
I hope the sun will be shining down,
Keep your fingers crossed that I’ll fit in my gown
But there’s just one more thing that there needs to be
And that’s to have you standing with me!
Will you be my bridesmaid?”
And the four beautiful women in my life that I must have standing by me are:
Kathryn “Katie” Campbell – Matron of Honor – college roommates, met in 1997 which was our freshman year at Pitt. We have done so many amazing things and vacations together. Katie now lives in Raleigh, NC so I sent her package to her and watched her open it on Skype so I can still ask her face-to-face to be in the wedding. Katie is married to Chris (I introduced them) and they have a beautiful daughter named Maddie who was born this past October.
Melissa “Mis” Wojcuich – Matron of Honor – met at work in 2007. Melissa and I are double trouble and we used to have dance parties at my apartment and then go out and moose dance (don’t ask). Melissa is married to Adam and they have a beautiful baby boy named Liam who was just born in June.
Beth “Beefs” Dunmore – Bridesmaid – met at work in 2004. Beefs and I have so much fun when we get together and even shared in many great memories, especially in Las Vegas. Beth is married to Dan, and Lorenzo and I recently attended their special day this past November. They have a beautiful dog named Bree.
Nicole “T” Hosack – Bridesmaid – met in middle school. “T” and I go way back. I call her “T” because her maiden name was Temak. We played all the same sports together and we always have each other’s back. She would spend the weekends at my dorm room in college. Nicole is married to Jared and they have three wonderful dogs.
And Lorenzo’s four groomsmen are:
Stefano Inglese – Best Man – Brother of the groom, best friends for life with Lorenzo. He shares a passion for travel, fitness, music, and simply having fun. Born only two and half years apart, Stefano and Lorenzo have remained close no matter what, despite their mutual propensity to embarrass and pull pranks on each other. Stefano is the owner of Nino, the bulldog that helped Lorenzo and I meet.
Michael George – Groomsman – Met Lorenzo when they were teammates on the same weightlifting team for Pittsburgh Barbell. They became training partners and close friends ever since. Mike is a dynamic individual who is well-versed in a diverse array of topics ranging from classic hip-hop music to Russian sports science. He is also one of the funniest men you will ever meet.
Peter Shaw –Groomsman- Pete and Lorenzo were high school classmates, but met earlier on than that, since they were both students at the same martial arts school. Pete and Lorenzo had a unique friendship since they could be punching and kicking each other in sparring matches one minute, and then laughing and joking the next. They also progressed through each belt rank at the same time, often taking the tests together.
Ken McLeod – Groomsman- Ken and Lorenzo were high school classmates who met through Pete. Ken is known for having an off the wall sense of humor, but also being a loyal and dependable friend. Ken is currently writing a book about his life experiences, which Lorenzo claims is “probably one of the funniest pieces of literature in human history.” Ken serves in the United States Air Force and has been all over the world serving our country.
We could not be more excited and honored to have these special people in our lives and to share in our day!!!
July Recipe from Chef: Pasta Alla Checca
Pasta Alla Checca
Hot summer days are not conducive to slaving over a hot stove. Here is a recipe for a Neapolitan classic and a great uncooked pasta sauce one might encounter if traveling the Amalfi coast. – Chef Haberle
Ingredients
8 medium ripe plum tomatoes, diced, preferably home grown or farmer’s market
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced\
1 cup loosely packed fresh, chopped basil leaves
Fresh mozzarella, cubed to your liking
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
¼ tsp fresh, ground black pepper
Salt, to your liking
1 pound fusilli
Procedure
1. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, red onion, fresh mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil and spices. Mix well. Let sit at room temperature for ½ hour.
2. Cook the fusilli al dente, according to package directions.
3. Place 1 ½ cups cooked pasta on each plate and top with ¾ cup of the sauce.
Makes 4 servings
July Staff Spotlight with Office Coordinator, Melody Hyzy!
You were one of the first employees at the Willow Room. Tell us how the event scene has changed over time, and what you do in your current role. I’ve been here 9 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. The staff is wonderful to work with. My current role is the Office Coordinator. I enjoy greeting guests as they come in the office door. I also handle the final invoicing to the clients, and I assure that each department has the correct paperwork prior to each event. I am also involved in assisting the General Manager with the accounting and am always willing to help where needed.
Willow Room Note: Anyone that has worked in our office lately, was I’m sure, greeted with a smile from Mel. Or smelled one of her beautiful candles burning. Thanks for doing the little extra things!
I know you work events (bartending, holidays), as well as handle the office. Tell us how you got involved on that side of things, as well. When I began here I was hired as a part-time server. I was offered an office position in 2007, and was also promoted to Banquet Captain and then handled the duties of Banquet Manager for (7) months. I was then offered a full-time position in the office, and with my prior background in this department, this is where I felt I should be. I’ve also been willing to help and assist where needed. For holidays, I maintain the collection of payments for the guests checks and also help when needed bartending for events. I enjoy it very much and enjoy the people I work with.
Do you have a most memorable moment that happened at a wedding or event you were working? The moments that I enjoy most are when I’m working a wedding and I watch the Father/Daughter dance. To me, this is a very special time for them and it’s a memory that lasts a lifetime!
You get a chance to work with your daughter, Holly, sometimes for events. What is it like working with her, and do you think your younger daughter, Heather, will also join the team someday? Working with my daughter Holly is a great experience for both of us. It doesn’t happen that often but when it does, we try to be “co-workers” and “not “mother/daughter.” My daughter Heather will most likely join the team. She is looking forward to being able to get her “own” money.
Willow Room Note: We’re excited to have all the Hyzy girls working here someday!
What do you like to do when you’re not working? During my spare time I help with the Yough Marching Band, attend my daughter’s softball games, and also enjoy watching my son play his T-Ball games. I also enjoy going to Pirate, Steeler, and Penguin games with my husband and kids.
Willow Room Note: A shout out to Mel’s son Hayden!
Thanks for sharing a little more about yourself, Mel! Stay tuned for another staff spotlight next month!
WW Kristen’s Unique ‘Meet The Maid’ frames and other updates!
I started to panic a few weeks ago when I logged onto weddingwire.com and saw that there were only 99 days left until our wedding! *gulp* Now we are down to 85 days, and panic mode set in! Being a teacher, and having the summers off, I am able to totally dedicate my days to wedding planning. I now realize how truly thankful I am for that!
My best friend, and Matron of Honor, Jen, has been working DILIGENTLY to plan my shower and bachelorette party- keeping all of it a secret from me! For the bridal shower, I decided to steal an idea from Pinterest and create a “Meet the Maids” table. In each frame is a bridesmaid’s picture and some of my fondest memories that involve her. I thought that this task would be overwhelming- how could I put our entire friendship into one meaningful paragraph?! Once I started to reminisce, this project turned out to be a blast! I purchased the frames from Home Goods and Michael’s, and I downloaded a free background from the Internet.
Meet The Maids
Meet The Maids
Since I was in the crafting mood, I decided to also tackle some reception accessories, as well. I pinned a few more ideas from Pinterest that will add a nice touch. I created a bathroom basket and poem using frames from Home Goods and a chevron background from the Internet. Additionally, I created a sign to go next to the table cards that reads “Find Your Seat and Bon Appetit!” Again, I found a free lace background from the Internet which matches my dress!
The last frameable item that I made was a “Thank You” to our friends and family for sharing our special day. Instead of wedding favors, my fiance and I decided to donate money to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation- special to us because two of Joe’s nephews suffer from this illness. We think that this will touch his family’s heart, and they will appreciate this surprise.
The final item that I crossed off the to-do list was bridesmaids’ jewelry. I have searched high and low to find affordable, but beautiful, earrings and bracelets for the girls. I decided against ordering jewelry online because I wasn’t able to see the quality or size of the pieces, so I ventured out to Robinson Mall. At the end of the night, I found six bracelets and six pairs of earrings that I think will absolutely compliment the dresses!
While the countdown quickly continues, I hope to tackle a finalized choice of cake vs. cupcakes, ceremony and reception music, and gifts for the bridal party.
4 Bridesmaids, 4 Different States, Willow Writer Gwen Gives Us The Scoop!
Hello again. I case you were wondering about why we are getting married in southwestern PA; I grew up Uniontown and went to Laurel Highlands High School. Since graduating from high school I have lived in Florida, Ohio, California, Texas, and now North Carolina and practicing as an occupational therapist. This beautiful area will always be home to me.
In response to my last blog… I showed David what I had written prior to posting it. Our conversation went something like this:
Him: I like it.
Me: Even the part where I tell the world you aren’t smooth?
Him: It’s the truth, isn’t it?
I thought for my post I would tell you a little about my bridal party and give David’s ego a break. 🙂 We had a great debate about the number of people to include in our bridal party. In the end, we decided on 8. David has asked his brother, Brian, to be his best man but I can’t tell you the rest since he hasn’t asked them yet. He is waiting to do that in person later this year.
David and Brian
My side has 4 wonderful women to include Lori, Keira, Mindy, and Teresa. Teresa is my best friend and fellow lover of horses. I met Teresa in late 2007 and seriously tried not to like her. I was working as an instructor and rider for various barns in the Orlando area and thought it would make life easier if I didn’t befriend any of my clients. Besides the horses, we have sarcasm and the love of a good beer in common. Teresa and I bonded over a sarcastic conversation involving the stereotypical crazy horse person (seriously all horse people are a little crazy). Later we took the horses out to the state park to go galloping (a rare feat for dressage horses), got hopelessly lost (please reference the picture of the sign I included), finally found a way back (despite our horses being as SEVERELY as directionally challenged as we are), and went out for wings. She is my favorite person to be hopelessly lost with. Since I moved from Florida we don’t talk nearly as much as when I was living there and I miss her every day. I am honored she has agreed to be a part of our special day.
The Sign!
Gwen and Teresa
Mindy is my cousin, confidant, secret keeper, and dear friend. She always seems to have a way to drag the truth out of me whether I want to spill it or not. It leads to some very interesting conversations, mostly via text, which leads to her having blackmail material on me for the rest of my life. Mindy eloped with her current husband about 2 years ago. She has a beautiful family of 3 boys and 1 girl. Addison, her daughter, is going to be our flower girl. During this adventure called wedding planning, I was emailing Mindy and Addie pictures of perspective flower girl dresses. Addie said “no way” to one suggestion because it reminded her of Sleeping Beauty. Memo to self: choose flower girl dress which reminds her of Belle, Jasmine, or Cinderella.
Mindy and daughter Addison
Kiera was a friend of David’s until I claimed her as my friend, too. David and I were already madly in love before he kissed me which took some people aback a little because it appeared we were talking about marriage a month after he kissed me for the first time. In our minds we had been involved for years being friends and dating from a distance for a long time. Keira has known David since they were about 4 and supported her dear friend in the beginning of our life together because it was easy for her to see we were so happy. She and I were able to spend some time together during my stay in California (even after David left for San Antonio for Navy training as a corpsman). A wine induced confession let her in on the semi-secret David and I were talking about getting married. She was thrilled for us then and continues to be thrilled for us now. David and I are greatly looking forward to attending her wedding this fall.
Keira
The final woman in my bridal party is my sister Lori, my matron of honor. Many sisters have a history of arguments as kids, and we are certainly not the exception. Somewhere along the way we started to lean on each other. Beyond that we became friends. She married a wonderful man, Ken, in 2007. Ken is the brother I never had. (He recently offered to mail me the wings I didn’t finish eating during a recent visit. Apparently, I am alone in my love for leftover cold wings. No, he didn’t mail them in case you were wondering). Lori is my fashion guide, my sounding board, sometimes my filter, but beyond all of that, a loyal friend. Lori dubbed David as “New Guy” last Christmas when they met for the first time. Somehow “New Guy” ended up shoveling show for the first time in his life. She tends to have that effect on people. Haha.
Lori and Gwen
I mentioned before I moved around a lot for school. The challenge is now to plan a wedding with 4 bridesmaids in 4 different states. Teresa is in Florida, Keira in California, Mindy in Ohio and finally Lori in Maryland. I can’t wait to have my 4 favorite ladies in one place!
Words of Willow 