mainIt could have been a disaster – Amy and Brian Sakowski drove up to the church on the evening of their rehearsal dinner and saw an ambulance parked outside the rectory, where the priest who was going to marry them lived.

“You know, I really hope that’s not Father John,” Brian said before they got out of the car. Two other priests rushed over to let the bride and groom know that it was indeed their officiant who was sick and being rushed to the hospital.

“That was really nerve-wracking,” remembers Amy. “He was in the hospital for four days, poor man. I felt bad, because I know he felt bad that he had to miss the wedding – we had a relationship with him.”

Thankfully, a replacement priest was found, and the wedding reception at The Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees went off without a hitch – even better than expected, says Amy.

“I still have people texting me, emailing me, Facebook messaging me, about what a great night it was,” she says. She says she is especially proud of the wedding’s look. “Everyone came in and gasped.”

Amy says The Mansion inspired her to create what she calls a “French cottage” wedding theme.

“The chandeliers and sky-blue ceiling at The Mansion inspired me to think Marie Antoinette and all things chic. And I knew I wanted lanterns, votive candles and tea lights, everything bedazzled, with feathers,” she says.

The centerpieces, crafted from lanterns, roses and gerbera daisies of all colors, “twinkled and glowed from the lights,” says Amy.

Photo 10The 180 guests dined on exotic food offerings, including a Brazilian steakhouse station and a carving station that included a whole poached salmon. Then it was onto the dance floor, with live music from wedding band The Exceptions.

“I felt like I was in a fairytale dream. It was so cool,” Amy says.

And then the Mummers marched in.

“My family is from South Philly, so they’re very involved in the Mummers,” Amy says. She and Brian led costumed members of the Quaker City String Band onto the dance floor, and the whole crowd joined in the Mummer Strut, umbrellas in hand.

“It was so much fun. Brian’s family is not in tune with the Mummers, but they were on the dance floor too,” Amy says. “Then they brought a chair in the middle of the dance floor for me, and Brian had to serenade me with ‘It Had to Be You.’”

Amy and Brian danced the night away with their guests, many of whom couldn’t believe the Mummer show happening around them.

“All I remember are all the flashes going off, because everyone was taking pictures,” Amy says. “I remember thinking, ‘If I could freeze time, I would freeze this moment.’”

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