Storied Events

Without Carrie from Storied Events, I honestly have no idea what we would've done. In a few words...she.was.amazing.

She saved us in so many aspects. She saved us from pulling out our hair from frustration and stress of dealing with every tiny detail of the planning process. Saved us hours of researching who to use for vendors and avoiding the dreaded mistake of hiring someone that is completely awful. She made the planning process fun. I can honestly say I enjoyed it without any stress!

Always calm and collected, so made sure our rehearsal, welcome dinner, getting ready, ceremony, and reception went off without a hitch. I'm sure things went wrong, but she handled absolutely everything to make sure not a thing tainted Jeff, my family, my guests, and my day.

Thank you so much Carrie for all that you did. Thank you for putting up with my nit-picky questions, my millions of emails, my indecisive moments, etc, etc, etc. It takes a person with real patience to do what you do, and I have the highest respect for you. Thank you for helping put together the most gorgeous wedding I have ever been to (obviously I'm biased!). Every aspect was perfect, and we have you to thank. <3

For all your future VT/NH brides...I would HIGHLY recommend hiring Carrie. It is the best decision you will make in regards to planning your wedding!

My PINK Lighting!

Something I realized I forgot to mention in all the planning posts...was my specialty lighting!

One thing I knew that I wanted for my wedding (other then my pretty chairs)was specialty lighting. Obviously from watching multiple wedding shows, wedding movies, and reading millions of wedding magazines, something that really caught my eye was specialty lighting. I feel like it just 'makes' the reception. So I told Carrie and then Carrie took care of it! We booked Port Lighting Systems out of Seabrook, New Hampshire. They were so awesome, and my reception was exactly like I envisioned! Pictures do not do it justice! My favorite part, other then it being pink obviously, was they were able to shine our monogram on the floor. SO AMAZING!

Thank you Port Lighting Systems! And also Carey Bunker from Lasso'd Moons who helped make the monogram on the floor possible!

The Durfee-Bender Wedding Plan

So to give you a more clearer picture of how our wedding went...here is our minute-by-minute timeline. It really was not as hectic as it seems!

8:30AM SML Spa:

Hair: Betty McHale (Jeffrey’s Grandmother)

Sharon Bender (Jeffrey’s Mother)

Tomiko Anctil (Jessica’s Grandmother)

Lorraine Durfee (Jessica’s Mother)

9:00AM SML Spa

Hair: Bernadette Trenholm (Bridesmaid)

9:30AM SML Spa

Hair: Meredith Mills (Bridesmaid)

Amanda Pluta (Bridesmaid)

Make-up: Betty McHale

Sharon Bender

Tomiko Anctil

Lorraine Durfee

10:00AM SML Spa

Hair: Katelyn D’Eramo (Bridesmaid)

Elisa Johnson (Bridesmaid)

Make-up: Bernadette Trenholm

Summersweet to deliver and set up at Saint Andrews Church

Port lighting to arrive @SML for set up.

10:30AM SML Spa

Hair: Jessica Durfee (BRIDE)

Emily Durfee (MOH)

11:00AM SML Spa

Hair: Kristina Aufiero (Bridesmaid)

Robyn Blake ( Bridesmaid)

Make-up: Katelyn D’Eramo

Elisa Johnson

All Jessica’s Bridesmaids, Mom should be dressed

Jeff: To get dressed – photos with Mike

11:30AM SML Spa

Make-up: Jessica Durfee (Bride)

Emily Durfee (MOH)

Pre-Ceremony Photos with Jeff, Groomsmen & family.

Meet in SML Lobby

*Flowers to be in Lobby for Groom/Groomsmen, family

* Flowers for Bridal Party, Jessica’s dad, family delivered to suite

12:00PM

Jessica and Emily Dress - in Family Suite

Jessica’s family – Dad to be Dressed

12:30PM
Groom and Groomsmen to be in SML Lobby to leave for church

(*SUV LIMO – Groom and Groomsmen)

(Town Car for Sharon and Jeff Bender and Jeff’s Grandmothers – Betty McHale and Eugenia Bender)

12:35PM
Bridal Party pictures at SML – meet in Lobby

1:00PM
Jessica’s family leaves for Church

(Town Car for Clover Durfee, Paul and Tomiko Anctil)

(Town Car for Lorraine Durfee, John Durfee, and Debbie Phillips)

********

Groomsmen/Groom and family to arrive at Church

Guests /other family begin to arrive at Church

Groomsmen to act as ushers.

********

Musicians arrive/begin prelude music at St. Andrews

1:15 PM
Bridal Party and Jessica and Dad leave for Church

(Stretch Limo for Bridal Party)

(Town Car for Jessica and Dad- Lang Durfee)

1:45PM
Bridal Party Arrives at Church

2:00PM
Ceremony Begins

Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke

Jeff and Best Man – Sean Arroyo to take place up front

Parents & Grandparents Entrance Music: "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire" by Bach

Lorraine Durfee escorted by Matthew Durfee & Andrew Durfee

Sharon Bender escorted by Ralph Johnson followed by Jeff Bender Sr.

Tomiko Anctil escorted by Jonathan Dioli followed by Paul Anctil

Debby Phillips escorted by Jeff Duelks followed by John Durfee

Clover Durfee escorted by Andrew Durfee

Grandma B escorted by Dylan Oteri

Grandma M escorted by Sean McManus

Bridal Party Entrance Music: "Canon in D Major" by Pachelbel

Katelyn D’Eramo (Far End)

Robyn Blake

Bernadette Trenholm

Elisa Johnson

Meredith Mills

Amanda Pluta

Kristina Aufiero (closest to Bride)

MOH: Emily Durfee

Bride’s Entrance Music: “Bridal March” by Wagner

Bride escorted by father

First Reading:

Margaret Berkley Hedden

Responsorial Hymn:

Song by Victoria - Path of life

Second Reading:

Mary-Jeanne Taylor

Gospel Reading:

Father Lance

Lord Hear our Prayers:

Emily, Andrew, Matthew, & Elisa

Lighting of Unity Candle:

Lorraine & Sharon light tapers

Light music will be playing in the background.

Presentation of Gifts:

Lorraine/Lang & Sharon/Jeff will bring them up.

Wherever You Go by David Haas

Communion:

In Love we choose to Live by David Haas

Meditation after Communion:

Ave Maria

Recessional Music: “Wedding March” Mendlessohn

Jeff & Jess will walk to the end but remain inside and wait till everyone else is

outside

Bridal Party will then proceed out and then form two lines for Jeff & Jess to walk

through. (top of church stairs)

1. Emily (MOH) - Sean Arroyo (best man)

2. Kristina Aufiero - Sean McManus

3. Amanda Pluta - Matthew Durfee

4. Meredith Mills - Andrew Durfee

5. Elisa Johnson - Ralph Johnson

6. Bernadette Trenholm - Dylan Oteri

7. Katelyn D'Eramo - Jonathan Dioli

8. Robyn Blake - Jeff Duelks

Jeff & Jess then will proceed out of the church and guest will blow bubbles- prime

photo op.

3:15PM
Depart Church for SML Formals

(Everyone back in same vehicles, except Lang to ride with Lorraine and

family 4^th in vehicle. One passenger in front)

3:45PM
All hired vehicles arrive back at SML for Formals.

Formal pictures in SML Lobby with family – elderly guests.

Pictures with bridal party (can use lobby – spruce camp. Not the golf course

with entire party).

Golf cart will be waiting for Jess and Jeff to go to golf course for photos.

4:00 PM

Supersounds arrives - Time tbd - Corey

Vermont Cake Studio to deliver the cake. VT cake Studio supplying cake

stand.

4:30PM

Cocktail Hour begins

Pool side @SML

Rain Plan - Lobby

Cocktail Music provided by Tom Cleary

(will need to provide keyboard)

* Tom will need power out in the pool courtyard.

5:30PM

Guests directed to Ballroom for reception – asked to be seated

Champagne passed as guests enter room

Bread already on tables

{Parents, Bridal party and B&G to remain in hallway}

5:45PM

Bridal Party announced into the Reception as follows:

Parents announced: {Parents of the Groom } Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bender

{Parents of the Bride} Mr. and Mrs. Lang Durfee

Bridal Party announced:

Mrs. Robyn Blake and Mr. Jeff Duelks

Ms. Katelyn D’Eramo and Mr. Jonathan Dioli

Ms. Bernadette Trenholm and Mr. Dylan Oteri

Mrs. Elisa Johnson and Mr. Ralph Johnson

Ms. Meredith Mills and Mr. Andrew Durfee

Ms. Amanda Pluta and Mr. Matthew Durfee

Ms. Kristina Aufiero and Mr. Sean McManus

MOH, Ms. Emily Durfee and Best Man, Mr. Sean Arroyo

Bride and Groom announced:

“For the first time please welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bender.”

5:55PM

First Dance – Jessica and Jeffrey - "Your Everything" - Keith Urban

6:00PM

Blessing by Father Lance

6:05PM

Welcome toast by Lang Durfee {Father of the Bride}

6:10PM

First Course – Tomato Bisque Soup with Pesto Melted Cheese Crostini

6:20PM

Best Man Toast – Sean Arroyo

Maid of Honor Toast – Emily Durfee

6:30PM

Salad Course – Simply Green with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette, Candied

Walnuts, Dried Cranberry and Cheddar wedge.

6:45PM

Mr. Jeffrey Bender to speak {Groom}*

Announcing Emily Durfee’s Birthday – Birthday cake to be presented with gift

from Jessica and Jeffrey.

DJ To play happy birthday.

6:55PM

Entrees Served – Split plate of Wood Creek Farm Steak with Maple Black

Pepper Jus and Jonah Crab cake with Basil Aioli

7:20PM

Dessert – Panna Cotta and Coffee Service

7:30PM

Traditional Cake Cutting - Jessica and Jeff

Then *Surprise* - presentation of three cakes

(1-Benders, 1-Durfee’s 1- Grandparents) DJ asks all three couples to come

up to cut their cakes.

*Bridal cake to be served to each place setting.

*Other cakes (all 4 to be saved and presented to guests at end of reception)

7:45PM

Surprise – First Dance Anniversary Montage compiled for the parents

and grandparents, played by DJ

7:55PM

Bridal Party Dance {guests asked to join ½ way through song}. - "You &

Me"-DMB

8:15PM

Father – Daughter dance - "Daddy Let's Dance" - Jamie Tate

8:20PM

Mother – Son dance - "Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong

9:30PM

Late night snacks out –

passed warm cookies and milk shooters – carrie will supply wood trays

trimmed with pink ribbon for cookies.

flatbreads - Display

9:35PM

Bridal Toss (2^nd bouquet to toss) and Garter removal

10:00PM

End Reception – Bars Close

(NOTE: CHECK WITH LANG DURFEE AT 9:45 about keeping the dancing going for another hour or ½ hour). ...Sidenote- our reception went to 11!

Part 5: The Reception!

So let me start by saying that before I was bustled, Carrie led Jeff and I into the ballroom to see the reception all set up before anyone else did. I felt like I was on that David Tutera wedding show haha. As Carrie led us into the room with our eyes closed, I was filled with so much anticipation. When she said "open!" my jaw dropped and I could not believe what I was seeing. What I saw before me was my absolute dream wedding. The ballroom was lit up with my 'pink' lighting, our monogram was on the dance floor, light music was playing, the votive candles were lit, and omg I can not even explain how beautiful our flowers had turned out. Everything was absolutely PERFECT. It brought me to tears. I was also SO excited to finally see everything all put together and for Jeff to see what we have been working on for the past year. He was speechless as well.

After all the guests had been ushered into the ballroom the bridal party and the parents took their correct place and got ready for the introductions. It was SOO funny to watch all the bridal party practice all their dance moves for when they were introduced...all wearing sunglasses. As "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas started playing I got SO excited. The parents were first introduced, and then one by one the bridesmaids and groomsmen were introduced and they all did their little moves which ranged from 'leap frog,' 'beating the beat- NJ shore style,' and 'raising the roof.' Then finally...the DJ asked everyone to please rise and he announced "And it is with my great honor to introduce Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Bender!" O.M.G.

Jeff and I walked through all our excited guests, and made our way to the middle of the dance floor where we shared our first dance as husband and wife. I will be honest I cried during most of it, I was just so overwhelmed with happiness. At one point I closed my eyes and opened them thinking I would wake up from the most splendid dream and I realized I wasn't dreaming, this was real, I was dancing with my HUSBAND with all our loved ones looking upon us, in the middle of the most beautiful wedding reception...our wedding reception. I'm not sure if I've mentioned before but our first song was "Your Everything," by Keith Urban. That song pretty much captures all the emotions Jeff and I feel for each other...obviously it doesn't capture all of them, because that would be impossible! Jeff broke away from our 'little world' a few times to look at our parents who were all bawling, and told me not to look, because obviously I would loose it too!

After our first dance we made our way to our cute sweetheart table where champagne and bread was awaiting us. Fr. Lance gave an opening prayer which quickly followed by the Amuse-Bouche course which was tomato bisque soup with pesto cheese crostini (which BTW was AMAZING...and also was the ONLY thing Jeff & I had to eat the entire night...) My Dad then stood up to give his welcome speech. And let me tell you it was probably the most amazing welcome speech I have ever heard. It was so well thought-out, so well spoken, and it was delivered with so much love. He loves public speaking and is always a crowd pleaser at all his NRLA events, so this was obviously no exception. He started off welcoming everyone and acknowledging those who had traveled far to be with us. He then acknowledged my Mom for their 25th wedding anniversary and all that she has done during the past year to help with the wedding. He played the most amazing slide show of their life together and then presented her with a beautiful arrangement of 4 dozen red roses. It was so sweet and so special, it was so hard not to get choked up. After Jeff & I composed ourselves we made our way to the front to greet everyone ourselves and to announce a very important occasion..Emily's birthday! We had a cute birthday cake brought out with candles and presented her with a birthday tiara, and got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to her!

The Maid of Honor and Best Man speeches were phenomenal. Sean, Jeff's Best Man, gave such a heartfelt speech and said so many kind things about me...and Jeff and me as a couple. It meant so much to us. Emily, of course was adorable, and really surprised me with how composed, well-spoken, and articulate she was. My baby sister made us laugh...made us cry...and overall made me so proud of her and reminded me how lucky I am to have her as a sister. I couldn't have dreamed of a better Maid of Honor. <3

While the first course was served Jeff and I started making 'the rounds' to all the tables, to say hi to everyone and to thank them for coming. Our table visiting obviously took awhile since we had 26 tables, 209 guests, and we wanted to spend so much time with every single one of them! Jeff and I missed the first course, the second course, and the third course while visiting tables haha. Even though we missed all the courses, we filled ourselves with our yummy signature cocktail! ;)

A little more into the evening, Carrie approached us and said it was time to cut the cake! Yay! Our cake was soo beautiful, Perrin at VT Cake Studio did such a fabulous job! Cutting of the cake is such a cute tradition. It was such a 'sweet' moment between Jeff and I :) And no we did no mush the cake in each others faces! We simply put a dab of frosting on each others noses and fed each other with a fork :) We didn't get a big enough bite/piece to tell if it was good or not...but I later heard it was the most amazing wedding cake, so flavorful and fresh! So we were happy to hear that! We can not wait to try it out on our 1 year anniversary when we get to eat the top layer! lol.

The next ceremonial event was...the Father-Daughter dance...I knew it was going to emotional...but I really had no idea how emotional it was going to be...my Dad said a few words, and he then played a slide show of pictures of me growing up, which then led into our dance. Our song was "Daddy Let's Dance," by Jamie Tate. It was such a special moment, a moment that every little girl dreams of having with her daddy. Jeff and Mrs. Bender's mother-son dance was also emotional. Their song was "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, such a classic.

A few other special things that happened during our reception was Jeff & I really wanted to acknowledge and celebrate 6 important people in our lives and their BIG anniversaries! This year is my parents and the Benders 25th wedding anniversary (they have the same exact wedding date...CRAZY!) and my Memere & Pepere's 50th. We asked our cake-designer to make 3 mini-wedding cakes so they could all 'cut the cake' like they did at their own weddings. I actually brought my parents knife they used at their wedding! After, the DJ played a montage of all their wedding songs. It was a lot of planning and coordination on my part....but it went PERFECTLY! They were all SO surprised and it was so special :) ALSO- to further celebrate my grandparents milestone anniversary- my Uncle Paul announced on behalf of the entire Anctil side (my Mom's side) that we were sending them on a cruise to the Western Caribbean! They were shocked! Jeff & I were so happy to share our special day and celebrate so many amazing occasions!

Later on...the DJ invited the bridal party back onto the dance floor, and played "You & ME," by Dave Matthews Band, a favorite of Jeff & I, and then invited all the other couples onto the dance floor. Once the dance floor was PACKED the DJ then transitioned over to a fast-paced song, that gave you the urge to dance! Needless to say the dance floor was PACKEDDDD the entire night after that. Which made us SO happy! I wanted everyone to dance and have fun, and it was soo much fun to see everyone going wild and letting loose! Our DJ, Corey, was SO awesome and SO much fun. He was going wild and having a dance party of his own behind his DJ booth! Born to Run was obviously played for AGP, and Heaven was obviously played for my favorite girlies, Alpha Phi! While Heaven was playing, I completely lost it...for multiple reasons...I knew that this would be the last time I would see all my friends for awhile before Jeff & I moved to Georgia. I tried to ignore the fact that it was kind of 'goodbye' for awhile, and I did a good job ignoring it, until Heaven was playing. I had my BEST friends around me, I was already filled with emotions and champagne, I mean how could I now completely break down for a moment?? (Love you all SO much..and miss you all like crazy! But no matter the distance I think of all of you always, and you guys will ALWAYS be my best friends <3)

SO- I definitely need to mention the bouquet and garter toss. Bridget O'Mally, my college roomie, caught my bouquet, and Brian Mason, fraternity brother and friend, caught the garter. It is tradition for the person who catches the garter to put it on the person who catches the bouquet. WELL- our DJ decided to 'spice' it up a bit...meaning he had to dance around her and try to 'impress' her. Let's just say I haven't laughed that hard in SO long.
One of my favorite memories of the night, was during the last song. Since it was Em's birthday, the DJ played, "Say Ah." What made it special was some how all 4 of the Durfee siblings were dancing together celebrating Emily, and then people made a circle around us. It was so cute, and it really meant so much to me, and people could see how close of a family we were. Overall...our reception was AWESOME lol. We had the time of our lives. And what made it so special, was there was a glow of love and happiness that FILLED the entire room. I really can not describe that feeling. It was so incredible. And also, it meant so much to me that people saw how awesome my family is. I really am so blessed to have suchhhhh an amazing, fun, loving family.

Our reception ended about 11pm, Jeff & I were both STARVING...and a bit too happy from all the champagne! So we headed up to our 'hidden' bridal suite to where we were greeted with our dinners, more champagne, and rose petals everywhere :)

And that is how the Durfee-Bender went down. I will never forget that weekend. I couldn't have wished or dreamed for anything more. So yes I am now married to my best friend, the love of my life, and my soul-mate <3 Love you forever and more Jeffrey John Bender.

So this is me...Jessica Lynn Durfee signing off....and now Jessica Lynn Bender signing on!