The Abbey and The Mezz Wedding by Jenn Hopkins Photography

Black and white and FABULOUS all over, this wedding by Jenn Hopkins Photography is classic with a modern twist – which makes this little blogger pleased as punch. And how much do you just LOVE the fact that this stylish pair hosted their reception at The Abbey and The Mezz – a cabaret-style theater? Because I just think that is just the icing on this very pretty wedding cake (speaking of cake, how amazing is theirs?). So much to gush over and so little time, so be sure to check out the full gallery of images for even more!

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From the Bride…Although I’m more classic and traditional, I’m still not the cookie-cutter bride.  My husband and I are a really fun-loving couple and we don’t take ourselves too seriously; we like to be silly. We definitely wanted our wedding to incorporate that aspect of our personalities.  I wanted the wedding to be pretty and elegant, but I was not afraid to have a little fun and venture away from traditional with some of the details.  Still, while my husband would have enjoyed an intimate and casual beach wedding or an impulsive trip to the courthouse, I preferred a size-able and traditional church ceremony with a conventional ballroom reception.  We met somewhere in the middle, and that somewhere turned out even better than I could have imagined.

Our first planning goal was to find a “hip” reception site that would accommodate our 180 guests, and we were able to find exactly that at a new venue in downtown Orlando near beautiful Lake Eola.  Downstairs at “THE ABBEY,” a cabaret-style theater, we were able to provide our guests hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment from an acoustic guitarist.  From there, guests made their way upstairs for a dinner reception and dancing at “THE MEZZ,” a brand new urban event space, with an metropolitan/contemporary feel. We knew that The MEZZ was the perfect setting for our fun-loving, high-spirited, and lively group and would be a great backdrop for a classy, but unforgettable party.  A general theme had taken shape, simply based on the fabulous urban décor of THE ABBEY and THE MEZZ. Our goal was to merge the simple with the stylish, the classic with the modern, and the formal with the fun. Through all of our décor, we stuck to a fairly neutral palate of black, white/cream, and hints of silver.

We began our wedding day with a traditional Christian wedding ceremony in my family’s church, and I wore a fairly conventional ivory wedding dress, but not a ball gown.  I like to describe my wardrobe that day as the Modern Princess.  My traditional dress was updated with a statement-making crystal belt, large crystal and pearl earrings, a show-stopping crystal bracelet, and a cathedral-length veil.  One of my favorite memories was seeing my grandmother’s wedding dress, my mother’s dress, and my dress all displayed together beforehand – three generations of beautiful dresses and happy marriages.  After the ceremony, I transitioned for the modern reception and swapped the veil for a large embellished flower, and made my dress strapless.  I was ready to party and our DJ definitely kept the dance floor packed all night.

Wedding Photography: Jenn Hopkins Photography / Second Photographer: Abbey Saxton Guffey / Flowers: Dream Designs Florist / Ice Cream Catering: Pure Magic Ice Cream / Event Design + Planning: An Affair to Remember / Ceremony Location: St. Lukes Lutheran Church / Reception Location: The Abbey and The Mezz / DJ: Our DJ Rocks