Messina Wedding

The Wedding Day - By Mary Beth Schwartz

From the time they play tea party with Disney Princesses, little girls dream of getting married. Some day, after what seems like endless dating, Prince Charming proposes with a ring. And on her wedding day, Cinderella can have it all—the dress, the flowers, the church, the dancing. But first, she needs to do some research into businesses and the latest bridal trends to plan the magical event.

Emilie Haertsch said “Yes” to Michael Messina on December 21, 2010. Mike gallantly proposed to her at a Georgetown University fountain that they had jumped into during a rain storm years before as high school students on a scholarship program. Mike personally designed the traditional round cut engagement ring on a vintage pattern. The couple was engaged for a year and a half, and chose July 7, 2012 as their wedding date.

Emilie planned the wedding herself, but did have a friend who is an event planner serve as her day-of coordinator. “We wanted something that was vintage and elegant, but still relaxed. We did not want our guests to feel uncomfortable. We also wanted to have the wedding in an historic part of Philadelphia,” she says.

It was decided that the ceremony would take place at Old St. Joseph’s Church. Founded in 1733, it is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia. A friend of the couple, Father Ray Donaldson, traveled from North Carolina to conduct the mass. “The church had special meaning for me because my grandmother used to go there when she was a girl. It also was the church I went to when I was going to Temple University,” Emilie says.

For the reception, Society Hill Dance Academy was selected. “We wanted a space that was more personal. It was an historic building going back to the Colonial period. It also was a few blocks away from the church,” Emilie says. Emilie’s cousin, Ray Haertsch, a professional musician and disc jockey, provided entertainment. Emilie and Mike took ballroom dance lessons before the wedding and performed a choreographed Foxtrot style dance. Their wedding song was The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra.

Along with the reception and ceremony sites, Emilie and Mike wanted a different feel for the photography. They went with Casual Candids Photography. “It was stifling hot that day,” remembers Owner/Photographer Joyce Heisen. “I started with Emilie and the girls getting ready at her parents’ beautiful Victorian home in Churchville. My daughter Jessica was photographing the guys getting ready at Mike’s parents’ home in Fox Chase. The couple met at Old St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. There we shot some gorgeous portraits. Many times we do the portraits before the ceremony. This allows the couple to spend time with the guests after the ceremony. After the ceremony, there was a receiving line. We stopped for some outdoor images with the bridal party at the 18th-Century Garden. Then it was off to Society Hill Dance Academy,” Heisen says.

“It was 102 degrees—the hottest day of the summer. Mike said that it was symbolic of our passion for each other. Mike had booked a carriage for me as a gift to take us from the church to the reception. They canceled because it was too hot to work the animals. Instead, we took a trolley. It ended up being a plus—we rode in the trolley with the wedding party and it was really fun,” Emilie says.

The wedding party on the girl’s side included Emilie in her Pronovias gown from Sposabella in Feasterville, surrounded by Erin Cusack, Adriana Messina, Lisa Bednarz, Jessica Moffett, and best friend Jenna Marrone, Maid of Honor. The bridesmaids agreed on a royal blue dress from David’s Bridal. On the guy’s side, there was Mike with Best Man Joseph Wilson, as well as Joshua Greenberg, Donald Falso, Sean-Tamba Matthew, and Emilie’s brother Philip Haertsch. The tuxedos came from Men’s Warehouse.

Careful thought also was put into the fare. Emilie and Mike picked Infinity Caterers. There was a cocktail hour with signature drinks for the bride and groom. Mike enjoyed selecting the choice of appetizers. Guests were served buffet style and had a choice of Chicken with Mango Salsa or Salmon with Herb Glaze. There was a Vegetable Napoleon option. “We wanted fresh seasonal ingredients because we were getting married in the summer,” Emilie says. The wedding cake was made by Weinrich’s Bakery in Willow Grove. It was a lemon pound cake with butter cream icing. Summer berries were chosen to decorate the cake.

There were several other special touches to the Messina wedding day. Friends and family performed readings and helped out in small ways. Emilie’s bridesmaid Jessica Moffett designed the invitations. Emilie’s mother Gretchen Haertsch and some aunts arranged all of the reception flowers. Shetland Sheepdogs Kip and Barkis were part of the photos at Emilie’s childhood Churchville home. A vintage purse was loaned to Emilie by her mother for the wedding day. It previously belonged to Emilie’s grandmother. The reception favors were vintage picture frames that held the place cards. And, the bouquets and boutonnieres were designed by Philadelphia’s Love 'n Fresh Flowers.

Following the wedding, the newlyweds spent a week in Bar Harbor, Maine. They stayed at Balance Rock Inn, which is right across the water from Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. The couple currently resides outside of Boston. Emilie Haertsch-Messina is an editor at the Massachusetts Historical Society, and Mike Messina is a veterinarian at a small animal hospital in the Boston area.

So what are some of the trends for those marrying in 2013? According to Bridal Guide, the trends start with the wedding gown. Spring/Summer 2013 will see gowns with jeweled details, keyhole back styles, long sleeves, coquettish bows, cascading peplum, illusion necklines, floral embellishments, lace and tulle combinations, golden hues, and whimsical touches—butterflies, metallic embroidery, scattered leaves, and such.

The Knot recently released their top five wedding themes for 2013. One: English Romance. Tablescapes will include English flower garden themed centerpieces, low and lush displays that are sophisticated and carefully arranged. Gold candelabras and lots of ornate charger plates and overlay linens will finish the look. Two: Great Gatsby Glamour. Event designers and florists alike will look to set designs from The Great Gatsby to create stunning, romantic tablescapes with roses and peonies. Three: Mod. For tablescapes, add in a more modern take on the table—from simple monochromatic floral arrangements to square plates. And interesting design details like lamp shades hanging over—or even on—tables. Four: Homestead Elegance. Designers are not skimping on flowers in this category. The idea is to create a luxe tablescape and juxtapose it against a rustic backdrop, like a mountain lodge, a farm or, of course, a ranch. Draping also is going to be a popular way to add a polished look to an otherwise casual locale. Five: Geeked-Out Weddings. Couples continue to outdo one another in the tech world with Instagram wedding albums, video guest books, QR code save the dates, virtual guests (via live stream), and over-the-top wedding Websites, featuring a guest of honor a week, polls, videos, and more.

When it comes to wedding planning, Bucks County brides call on Certified Wedding Planner Sharon Dachino of Events by On Stage and Off. Dachino has been planning Bucks County and destination weddings for nine years. Her event team can help with planning all or parts of the wedding, including Meet the Parents Dinner, Wedding Gown Tete-a-Tete, bridal showers, bridal teas, Wedding Jitter Spa Parties, wedding rehearsal and dinner, and day-of coordination. They also offer a specialized team of make-up artists, spa and skin care specialists, beauty consultants, manicurists, and hair stylists.

According to Dachino, there are trends specific to her Bucks County brides. One: Crystals. Brides want crystals on flowers, on tables, chandeliers, crystal columns coming down from the ceiling, vases wrapped in crystals. Two: Lighting as an affordable design element. Three: Bouquets with roses or calla lilies. Four: A live musical artist for the ceremony, and a DJ for the reception. Five: Cuisine has to include comfort foods like garlic mashed potatoes or types of macaroni and cheese, several appetizer selections, and stations. “The stations give more time on the dance floor. It takes away the time used for serving and clearing of plates. Now there are two to two-and-a-half hours on the dance floor,” Dachino says. Six: Unique places for the ceremony. “We did a wedding at Newtown Theatre and the reception at Brick Hotel. There also is Washington Crossing Historic Park, the gardens at Washington Crossing Inn, Pen Ryn Mansion looking out to the Delaware River.” Seven: Local weddings with a destination feel. “Guests are staying overnight, have a brunch the next day. For a Friday night wedding, guests stay for the entire weekend. We can have a welcome bag with ideas on things to do in the area. We also can do information cards. Some brides direct guests to their Website.”

Dachino also is owner of O' So Inviting. The Yardley storefront offers unique gifts and invitations. “Most girls want gray and pink, gray and yellow, gray and teal. They love the layered look—lots of pockets and layering. They like a mixture of fonts. We have a design studio to do custom invitations,” Dachino says. Brides also can select from invitation books from Vera Wang, Carlson Craft, Chloe B, Birchcraft Studios, Checkerboard, William Arthur, Crane & Co., Lilly Pulitzer, and The Chatworth Collection.

So get out there Cinderella with your bridal binder and start planning the special day. On your wedding date your prince will come. v

Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance editor who frequently contributes to regional publications.