Five Year Anniversary

It's been five years since Michael and I were married, and people still ask about our wedding. So we wanted to post an article written by Eileen O. Daday for the Daily Herald Correspondent back in 2003 about all of the things we did to make our big day something everyone would remember. It might even give you ideas for your own celebration. Enjoy!


A Wedding Fit For A Screen
Film buffs mark start of a beautiful marriage with theater ceremony
By Eileen O. Daday
Daily Herald Correspondent - November 10th, 2003


When a graphic designer and a photographer decide to take the plunge, you can bet that it will be anything but traditional. Sure enough, when Jaime McDonough and Michael Foster, both of New Lenox, became engage, friends and family members knew to expect something creative from the artsy pair. That’s just what they got at their August 2002 wedding. “We’re both old film buffs, so we came up with the idea of a vintage Hollywood wedding,” said Jaime, who specialized in black-and-white photography. “We wanted it to be classy and different and represent our personalities.”

Their imaginations took off when they found the restored 1926 movie house known as the Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles. The theater’s rich history combined with its ornate design drew the couple’s interest immediately, they said. That and the fact that the theater operator was open to the idea. “Since we opened the place, we agreed it was going to be available for rent for different things,” said Todd Smith, theater operator. “This sounded like a neat idea.”

Michael and Jaime began by designing custom invitations and programs that resembled vintage magazines covers and Hollywood tabloids. They worked from two black-and-white photos, including one replicating the famous returning World War II soldier kissing his girl. The couple also created mock movie posters with photographs from the shoot to decorate the inside of the auditorium.

Once guests arrived, they saw the couple’s names on the marquee. As they entered the auditorium, ushers escorted them to their seats with flashlights, while famous movie scores played in the background. For their big day, Jaime chose to wear a 1940s-style ivory wedding gown, while Michael wore Humphrey Bogart’s classic white tuxedo jacket and black pants from the film “Casablanca.”
“Mine wasn’t an authentic vintage gown, but it made me feel like Audrey Hepburn,” Jaime said.

Before the ceremony itself the couple put together a 15-minute series of vintage movie trailers, featuring clips from such classic movies as “Casablanca,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “My Fair Lady.”
A minister married Michael and Jaime on stage in front of the movie screen. The ceremony began with the 20th Century Fox theme song, followed by the song, “Someday My Prince Will Come.” Both were played on the theater organ, which made its grand entrance from the side of the stage.
Afterward, they walked down the theater aisle as the organist played, “When You Wish Upon A Star.” Upon leaving the auditorium, guests received old-fashioned popcorn bags. instead of throwing the traditional rice or even rose petals, they threw popcorn - non-buttered of course.

Outside the Arcada, guests boarded a series of trolleys that toured downtown St. Charles and Geneva while playing old Hollywood musical numbers including “The Trolley Song,” from the Judy Garland film “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Then it was off to the reception in a vintage 1955 Cadillac limousine, which took the couple to their banquet at Gray’s Mill in Montgomery. Their Hollywood wedding theme continued with guests being assigned to different casts for their movie themed table assignments. Each table then featured a bottle of Marilyn Merlot, and favors of chocolate rolls of film from Universal Studios. The couple also put together a 10-minute short film that placed them in classic wedding movies.

“It’s been a year since our wedding and to this day people still talk about how much fun they had,” Jaime said.

“We had so much fun planning it,” Michael added. “It was a lot of work, but it was all worth it. We had a blast.”

Greetings!

Hello!  Welcome to our blog.

Michael & I will be posting all kinds of information on our studio, from recent clients we've photographed to tips for future wedding clients. We hope you enjoy it!

Respectfully,

Jaime & Michael Foster

www.boojazz.com