From the moment guests walked into the wedding of Lucy Dinkins and Harrison Floyd, they felt welcome. The ceremony was a wonderful juxtaposition to the hustle and bustle of pre-wedding activities. “I was struck by how peaceful and poignant it was,” says Nancy Dinkins, mother of the bride. “Our church, Trinity Cathedral, is such a spiritual place, it really almost seemed as if time were suspended inside that beautiful, old church.” Adding to the spiritual feeling was the music, a central element of the warm atmosphere. Having an undergraduate degree in piano performance, Lucy had a large part in planning the music with Dr. Jared Johnson, Trinity’s Canon Organist. The trumpets and timpani complemented the sounds of the organ and provided a stirring and memorable musical element.
The reverent atmosphere turned to jubilance once the guests arrived at the reception, which was held at the Columbia Museum of Art. “Lucy and Harry both love Columbia and our wonderful museum and are excited about the resurgence of the downtown area,” adds Nancy. Ten-foot floral pineapples made from more than 600 sunflowers graced the museum entrance, a unique element Lucy saw in a magazine and wedding planner and floral designer Jimmilib Harrison and her team wonderfully recreated. The amazing floral combinations continued into the interior of the museum, where the lively colors of mango and hydrangea complemented the vibrant atmosphere.
“I think the fun, party atmosphere of our wedding was unique,” says Lucy. “The fact that everything was downtown provided a wonderful, urban feel.” The lively music of The Mighty Kicks added to the energy, encouraging guests to venture onto the dance floor, which featured an intertwined L and H for the bride and groom, with a light projecting a lacy leaf pattern. “The dance floor was placed squarely underneath the beautiful Chihuly chandelier at the museum,” Nancy says. “Seen from above, it was really quite magical.” The dance floor was a favorite for many guests. “There was a lot of energy on the dance floor and people really were able to let loose and enjoy themselves,” adds Lucy.
Dancing was a must after dining on a traditional menu that also included some fun surprises like baby back ribs and a macaroni bar with four different gourmet macaronis. The contemporary wedding cake was comprised of six layers and adorned with sugar orchid flowers.
Creating a wedding that exudes the personality of the bride and groom, as Lucy and Harry so successfully did, is extremely important. “When I start to plan a wedding, I always want it to be unforgettable for the couple,” says Jimmilib. “They and their families are the ones who will remember their wedding more than anyone else.” To that end, Jimmilib tries to find something that is special to the couple to incorporate into the design, such as the unique initials in the dance floor. “Lucy and Harry’s wedding had the unusual color combination and the large pineapples – elements that they will always remember and that added such a special touch,” she says.
And everyone wants the memories of a wedding to be positive, so Nancy advises couples planning a wedding to pay attention to details but to steer clear of getting bogged down by them. “You cannot control every detail,” she says, “so stay flexible and let those with whom you are working help you. The wedding day is, of course, the highlight, but the planning will be a very big part of your memories; it’s really important to enjoy that process.”
Lucy agrees, “I think that we hear so much about how stressful wedding planning is that sometimes people feel that they are supposed to be stressed. If you find good, talented people you trust to help you, though, it is just fun!” That’s what a wedding is all about – a great start to a stress-free future together.
