BBCH Spring/Summer 2010 : Page 159
album, What’s the Worst Tat Could Happen, in 2008, of the proposal. Soon after Dayna accepted the ring (custom-designed with a low-set diamond as to not interfere with loading equipment in and out of gigs), the couple began debating where they should tie the knot. While Chicago might have seemed like the logical choice— Dayna’s from Skokie and Scott, a 39-year-old Dayton, Ohio native, had lived in Chicago for more than a decade—there was another factor to consider: Tey each play hundreds of area weddings a year with their respective bands and didn’t want their own wedding to feel like another day at the office. “We didn’t want a venue where we’d loaded in through the kitchen and sat in an anteroom next to the ballroom for dinner,” laughs Dayna, who was formerly the lead female vocalist in well-known wedding band Underwater People. “What we did want was somewhat of a destination feel and outdoor elements.” Te twosome decided that Union Pier would be the perfect spot, but the charming beach town didn’t have a large enough venue to hold the 300 people they planned on inviting. “When you get married in your 30s, you’ve accumulated a lot of friends and business contacts,” Dayna, 33, says. “When we realized Union Pier wouldn’t work, the next logical step was to go north. And when we visited the Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, and walked out those doors to see the gazebo and the boats in the harbor, we knew we’d found the place.” Te Abbey also proved to be the perfect backdrop for incorporating the green elements that were important to Dayna, who, in addition to her musical career, co-owns a company called Chicago Bag Lady, which collects and recycles the plastic bags that the city’s recycling program refuses. To keep things eco-friendly, the couple worked with their florist, Lisa Paul “We didn’t want a venue where we’d loaded in through the kitchen and sat in an anteroom next to the ballroom for dinner,” laughs Dayna about how their music industry day jobs led them to the Lake Geneva resort. Ceremony and Reception: The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva Wedding Planner: Big City Bride Florist: Lisa Paul’s Color&Company Invitations: Getaway Brides Stationery by Angela Cole Cake: Bridal Cakes by Ann in Kenosha, Wisconsin CeremonyMusic: Paulinho Garcia ReceptionMusic: Colby Beserra and the Party Faithful Videographer: Evolution Video Production Gown: Romona Keveza Suit: Jack Victor at Formally Modern Tuxedo Hair: Avani Salon at the Abbey Resort Makeup: Amy Spagnoli Rings: Fuenfer Jewelers of Color & Company, to complement their green and purple color scheme by using succulents, bamboo and, sparingly, green orchids. “We’ve played so many events where we’ve seen thousands of dollars of flowers being thrown into giant trash bins at the end of the night,” Scott says. “It’s crazy.” And while years of big-day overload put the pressure on Dayna to make her own stand out, two decisions came easily: her Romona Keveza gown (“It was the third one I tried on; my dad started tearing up, and I knew”) and, somewhat surprisingly, the music. “After we decided who we were going to hire, we were pretty hands-off,” Scott says. “We knew from being on the other side that it’s best to just let them do their job.” Brazilian guitarist Paulinho Garcia played during the ceremony, and Colby Beserra and the Party Faithful took over for the reception, minus their usual saxophonist, Scott. “It was great because the guys in the band would come down from the stage and join in the party while other musician friends sat in,” Dayna says. “We had so many great musicians there—people who have toured with famous acts—that it almost became like a concert,” Scott says. Two musicians who didn’t take the stage: the couple themselves, who were content to enjoy the night’s entertainment, which included their first dance, to Burt Bacharach’s “Close to You.” “Our guests kept asking us if we were going to perform, but we’re both used to working six nights a week,” Dayna says. “We just wanted to enjoy a night off.” Above, clockwise fromtop left:Mr. and Mrs. Scott Burns arm-in-arm on the pier at the Abbey Resort. The couple’s Champagne flutes. Dayna’s big-day accessories, including a handkerchief that belonged to Scott’s grandmother. Manicured hedges added to the agrarian scenery. Far left, from top: Green orchids and moss made up the organic centerpieces. The couple’s chocolate curls-covered confection by Bridal Cakes by Ann. S P R ING/SUMMER 2 0 1 0 159
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