We are honored to receive the Gigmasters Best of 2017 Award and send a special thank you to all our couples who submitted lovely reviews about our work and its impact on their wedding day. This award comes on the heels of winning the Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award. We are proud to say that we have over a decade of continuous awards for our work in the wedding industry.
Few venues offer the the feeling of a tropical garden with the protection of an indoor climate. Located in Farmington Hills, Planterra Conservatory is a glass-enclosed, botanical garden venue. With European curved trusses, indoor koi ponds and a dramatic stone gabian archway, the Conservatory houses a wide collection of lush, exotic botanicals. Providing views of the stars on a clear night and soft, natural light during the day, Planterra Conservatory is a unique event space for weddings, corporate events and social functions.
Sarah and Matt shared their nuptials with many family and friends in this beautiful setting. We enjoyed speaking with several of their guests before the wedding and discovered that we had an audience of knowledgeable musicians in the house. It’s always a pleasure to perform for an appreciative audience! Sarah and Matt’s mothers walked in to the song “Here Comes the Sun” and lit their child’s individual candle that were later used in the unity candle portion of the ceremony. Sarah and her bridal party processed to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” with the ring bearer setting the tone for the ceremony. “Best Day of My Life” was a fitting recessional for the couple who clearly were enjoying the day.
Planterra always looks lush and beautiful. The candelabras and lit trees sparkled under the glass ceiling and created a magical effect. Tiffany, the Planterra wedding coordinator, is one of the best in the business. She’s always helpful and on top of every detail. It was a beautiful night for a lovely couple in an enchanting garden.
Of course the wedding venue had to be the Lafayette Grande for Lauren and Gregory! As the Head of Marketing at the Lafayette Grande, she understands the history and appreciates the charm and uniqueness of this stately building in downtown Pontiac. Built in 1923 as a Masonic Temple Lodge and purchased by Traveling Chef Catering in 1997, the intricate craftsmanship of fine details has been restored to its original grandeur.
Lauren and Greg’s wedding involved many friends and family. The large bridal party consisted of seven bridesmaids, two junior bridesmaids, four flower girls and three ring bearers. Marissah Lowry acted as wedding coordinator and helped us with cues. The ceremony was officiated by Chad Asman, Lauren cousin and Pastor at Heritage Church in Sterling Heights. The couple clearly love the movies and chose several movie themes to be played throughout their ceremony. Among them were “Harry Potter Selections”, “Game of Thrones” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
The marriage of this couple creates a beautiful new family and we wish them the very best!
If you follow our blog, you know that we perform an average of 65 weddings and/or engagements each year. We see a lot of weddings! The ceremony is one of most meaningful events in an individual’s life and all too often couples get caught up in doing what others couples have done for their wedding day thinking that this is the way it “should” be. A wise teacher once told me to avoid the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” approach to life.
That’s why we enjoy seeing couples embrace their individuality and step “outside the 
box”. Lindsay and Jeff’s wedding showed great creativity starting with their venue. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is a museum and former factory located within the Milwaukee Junction area of Detroit. The unpainted walls, worn wooden floors and historic Ford vehicles makes it a unique and memorable venue to hold an event. Jeff and Lindsay’s ceremony was held on the 2nd floor and officiated by our friend, Roy Thomas. There were several readings including one recited by Josh and Stephanie and the beautiful poems, “These Are The Hands” and John Lennon’s poem “A Dream is Just a Dream” read by Roy.
The couples creativity extended to their music as well. We played “Kissing You” by Des’ree for the bridal party and Lindsay’s’ processional. The well known Beatles hit “Here Comes the Sun” was the couple’s recessional.
The reception was held on the third floor where the couple again made their personalities known in the decor and floral arrangements by Royalty Linens and Events and Slows BBQ for the dinner. Approaching life on their own terms, Jeff and Lindsay are sure to have a long and happy life together.
It was a beautiful autumn day for the wedding of Alexandra and Michael. The bright sun lit up the stained glass windows of Holy Name Catholic Church in Birmingham. Andrea Solomon Wedding and Event Planner was on site to orchestrate the event which included Petey’s Donuts Truck from Brooklyn Michigan in the parking lot after the service to provide apple cider and donuts for the guests. Church music director Brandon Gauvin and venue wedding coordinator, Kim, provided awesome support with cues. Brandon sang the gorgeous Ave Maria during the ceremony. It’s always a pleasure to meet new friends in our business and we greatly enjoyed working with him.
Alexandra has a career in fashion and her unique wedding dress was clear evidence of her interest in that field while Michael’s career is in TV and Video Production. As Monseigneur John Zenz pointed out, they both know what “attracts and holds the eye.” 
The couple chose “Forever” by Chris Brown as the last song of the guests seating as it holds special meaning to them. They followed it up with “Sky Full of Stars” and “You Are the Best Thing”. It was clear that this fun loving couple were not nervous in the least, but enjoying every moment of their day.
A late summer day in the Pegasus garden seemed like the perfect setting for Emman and Mohamed to exchange their wedding vows. The couple enjoys touring historic homes and their affection for Meadowbrook was evident in their choice of the great estate as the site of their wedding along with the opportunity they provided for their guests to tour the mansion. This was a day for family and friends to celebrate this beautiful couple and it started with a welcome and introductions by Dr. Ali Dabaja followed by arrival of the cutest Quaran holder in a fully decorated wagon. The honorable Judge David Turfe officiated the ceremony which included a touching speech by Emman’s father and the spoken vows that each had written for the other. After playing for the ceremony, we moved to the terrace and played a variety of music for the cocktail hour. Both Steve from Studio 41 and Fairy Tale Production were present to capture the day and make lasting memories. While we did not stay for the reception, the smells from Byblos Banquet Hall were enticing and no doubt Heather Anne Bakery outdid themselves with the cake and sweets. Yasmeenas Flowers created lush arrangements for the bridal party and reception that stood out as truly unique, much like this unique couple and their enjoyment of history. It is our hope that like Meadowbrook, their love will stand the test of time. Best wishes to Emman and Mohamed.
Congratulations to Nick and Dee on their wedding celebration this past weekend. The Crystal Ballroom of the Masonic Temple in downtown Detroit was beautifully decorated. The couple was married earlier this year but chose to celebrate their nuptials with a cocktail hour and brunch for family and friends. Dee wore a beautiful floor length gown with a small train that conveyed the importance of the event while still maintaining a relaxed feeling for the day. With such a beautiful venue at hand, we witnessed many families making use of the beautiful setting for family and group photos.
Robert Navarre of Full Effect Productions was on hand to provide DJ service for the afternoon. Always gracious and helpful, Full Effect Productions has 10 straight years of 5 star ratings. We encourage you to check them out before hiring anyone else!
Graf’s Pastry of Farmington Hills did a beautiful job on the wedding cake. The couple performed the traditional cutting of the cake and we heard several guests commenting on how delicious it tasted. Nick took a moment to speak to his guests about his beautiful bride, Dee and their life together. It was a tender moment and one Dee and her family will cherish. 
Nick selected the music we played which included many selections of classical music along with some Beatles and Disney melodies. Our Harry Potter medley received compliments as did Build Me Up Buttercup. Best wishes to this lovely couple as they continue their journey together as husband and wife.
Congratulations to Kyle and Apurva on their wedding at the Diamond Center at Suburban Collection. Coordinator Rajul Pillai choreographed the day in such a way that it ran smoothly and looked elegantly luscious! Venue coordinator Bridget Polsinelli helped us immensely with the complexity of cues. We played a collection of contemporary 
music selected by the couple for both the seating of guests and during the ceremony. Kyle and his parents entered the decorated hall to Viva La Vida while Apurva and her parents walked to We Found Love by Rhianna. The room was beautifully appointed and following the ceremony the couple departed in a decorated carriage to the cheers and well wishes of their guests. Photographer Rosy and Shaun
along with Complete Video were on hand to capture all the tender moments. It was an elegant day for the couple and we thank them for the opportunity to be a part of their beautiful wedding day.
We had a delightful experience recently with a lovely couple, Kevin and Dawn, who were married in the Michigan Union Courtyard by Stacey Swickerath of A Simple Ceremony and celebrated in the Union’s Pendleton room. Kevin and Dawn were fun to work with from the first email exchange as it was clear that they had the right perspective on how to plan and prioritize their wedding day. Involving Ana Skidmore of Two Foot Creative and Liz Stotz of Parsonage Events enabled the couple to incorporate all of their unique ideas together into a phenomenal night.
Kevin and Dawn kept the ceremony traditional in many ways including the use of classical music for the seating of guests. But when it came to the processional and recessional, they allowed their musical taste to take center stage. Our fantastic arranger, Matthew Croft, worked with Kevin and Dawn in arranging the two songs, “M79” by Vampire Weekend for the processional and “Birdhouse In Your Soul” by They Might Be Giants for the couple’s recessional. 
When it came time for the cocktail hour and dinner, the couple took the time in the weeks preceding the wedding to poll their guests and ask for the song titles that they would like to hear. We thought this was a fantastic idea and highlighted the couples awareness and consideration for their guests. The response was as varied and eclectic as their guest list. We played hits from the Beatles, Journey, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga along with nostalgic songs such as La Vie en Rose, At Last and Mack the Knife. Contemporary songs were also present with Such Great Heights by Postal Service and Royals by Lorde.
Parsonage Events created architecturally intriguing trees for the table centerpieces and the food served by Michigan Union Catering Service was outstanding! It was no surprise to discover at the end of the evening that Kevin has a long history with music and musicians.
Kevin and Dawn are a memorable couple and it was a sincere pleasure to be a part of their wedding day. Best wishes! 
![eschmidt04[2]](https://rondostringquartet.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/eschmidt042.jpg?w=300&h=200)
A wedding at The Masonic is sure to create memorable moments for a wedding. Coordinator Melanie Matics provides a one-of-a-kind, individualized, custom wedding experience. The venue includes several options for weddings and receptions. Shannon and Craig chose to have their ceremony in the historic chapel, a replica of the Westminster Abbey. Though on a smaller scale, the chapel still seats 400 people, includes a balcony and provides a classic and historic surrounding. We sat in the balcony which allowed our performance of the couple’s choice of contemporary songs to float down and fill the stone chapel. We played the Israel Kamakawiwoʻole version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for the seating of the mothers and entrance of the groomsmen. The bridesmaids walked in to “A Thousand Years” while Shannon entered on her father’s arm to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. The flowers were the creation of Pam Sullivan from Blumz Florist and were stunning. Shannon’s bouquet was composed of calla lilies with black feathers which tied into the bridesmaids black gowns. After the pronouncement of husband and wife, the couple recessed to the Beatles song “All You Need is Love”.
The Crystal Ballroom is classic beauty rich in Italian décor. We sat upstairs in the balcony and played for an additional hour while guests enjoyed the cocktail hour. The guests really enjoyed our Beatles and Journey songs. Shannon and Craig had a movie themed reception and requested Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and Skyfall to fit within their theme. Mike Staff Productions provided the photography services and music for the reception. Their reputation is superb and ensures a memorable event. Congratulations Craig and Shannon and best wishes for a long and happy life together!
Rondo String Quartet's Blog 