I’ve got to hand it to Clarksville-they have brought me some of the most wonderful brides I have worked with.  Blaire was no exception.  I met with Blaire, Chris, and Blaire’s incredible mother Bonnie in January.  They were on the ball, knew what they wanted immediately, and were a pleasure to work with.  They were not afraid to tell me when they did not like a flavor or idea which is helpful to me and let’s me know what can be improved in the future. 

Blaire and Chris planned to have an elegant and classy black and white decorated room with a little lime green and eggplant thrown in for color but Blaire’s heart was set on a zebra striped wedding cake.  I was SO excited about the cake after working with Michelle Bommarito of the Food Network Cake Challenges because zebra is her THING.  She had taught tips and tricks to really make the black POP and shimmer but I digress.  Bonnie and Chris were not sold on the zebra stripes and Blaire second guessed herself.  

She emailed a month or so later to change her mind to a traditional design.  While I knew she was trying to please everyone, she was not following her heart in the process.  I wouldn’t step on toes, especially when Mom is paying for the cake, but I encouraged her to think about it and try to talk to her loved ones about what made her happy.  Another couple of months went by and she was FIRM about changing the cake back to zebra stripes.  She didn’t care if other people thought it was just too different-she LIKES to be different!!  She chose tiers of Traditional White, Milk Chocolate, and French Vanilla with traditional buttercream.  The zebra stripes were made of Dark chocolate fondant brushed with black sanding sugar and midnight shimmer edible glitter.  The tiers were wrapped with eggplant ribbon and set of with a beautiful crystal studded topper. 

Chris’s cake had been set in stone from the time of our first meeting.  He loves sushi and I had brought them a fun design with fondant sushi on the cake.  When it came time to make the sushi, I decided I didn’t want to make it from fondant because if they actually popped it in their mouths, they may not love the taste and texture as much as they would love it in chocolate.  I mixed up a few batches of modeling chocolate (as seen on Ace of Cakes!) and began playing with it until I think it was pretty close to perfect.  I made four different kinds of sushi, a “ginger” flower, a hunk of wasabi, and a small dish with soy sauce all from chocolate.  I have to say that it was almost too much fun to stop.  Chris’s cake was a marble cake with chocolate fudge buttercream with chocolate flecks.  Yum! 

Blaire and Chris also chose dark chocolate dipped sandwich cookies with white chocolate monograms as favors.  They were placed in small white boxes that Blaire dressed up with black ribbon and a large rhinestone.  The boxes were stacked in a wedding cake style and they looked absolutely stunning.  I KNOW they tasted great too. 

The new Hilton Garden Inn was the reception site and I don’t think it could have been more perfect.  The staff was very professional and courteous, the banquet room was beautiful, the entire place was white glove clean, and it is SO easy to find just off exit 4 in Clarksville-yippee for that!  

I need to give a shout out to David Presley-the flowers were gorgeous and I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of the centerpieces.  The happy couple was also thrilled with Alex Adames of Adames Assoc. Productions (Sound Express) who rocked the house with 80s music and inspired Chris to rock a mullet. 

Now, for a personal note…I never focus on a disability but of course I knew right away that Chris has MS and is mostly confined to a wheelchair.  The planner, Carly, had made a platform to hook on the wheelchair that Blaire could stand on to ride around the room as they were announced at the reception.  I knew that Blaire and Chris were reading information, eating the right foods, and exercising in the hopes that Chris would feel strong enough to stand during the wedding.  When they sent me a picture of their first dance as husband and wife I lost it…I’m crying again now to even think about them standing and swaying on the dance floor-Chris’s cane and chair nowhere in sight.  I highly doubt there was a dry eye in the room and I noticed behind the couple, there was not a single person sitting as they danced. 

Blaire and Chris, you will have so many ups and downs as a married couple but during those downs, I ask you to focus on the strength in that exact moment and remember what your love and faith can endure.  You two are truly an inspiration. 

Blaire and Chris, may your love together always be as empowering as it was on your wedding day!