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Potterheads Doriane and Tony Tie the Knot in Style

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We all have that friend who persistently steers us to the gospel of some literature. In this case, thank goodness! At college, Doriane gave in and viewed Chamber of Secrets in all its cinematic glory. She would eventually go on to binge read the first six novels in two weeks. It was this same enthusiasm that allowed her to initiate her own soon-to-be Potterhead and husband, Tony.

 

 

After connecting on a dating website, Tony realized how seriously Doriane took her love for the series. In anticipation of the final two films, many of their dates were spent getting hyped on the first six. With enough viewings, Tony was even able to don his best Snape impersonation, opting for his most convincing “how disappointing.” But the biggest sign of commitment according to Doriane came when

Tony and I were watching TV when a jewelry commercial came on. I made a joke about how he needs ‘to put a ring on it’ while singing the lyrics from “Single Ladies.” Unbeknownst to me, Tony had already purchased the engagement ring. He left the room and came back with a small box, asking me to be his wife.

 

 

 

On the day itself, guests were ushered to the rooftop and presented with a matrimonial version of the Marauders Map. The scene was bursting with fascinators, scarves, hats, and ties all in the Hogwarts colors as those in attendance seized the opportunity to partake in the wizarding dress code. Even the officiant channeled his inner Dumbledore with a full-on beard and Gryffindor-themed socks. Wanting to highlight their unique cultures, (Nigerian and Belizean) the typical unity candle was nixed in favor of a unity wine. This represented not only their ethnic diversity but also the diversity of the wizarding world, where non-magical and magical unions forged incredible lineages.

 
 

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed butterbeer cocktails at their own decked-out Leaky Cauldron. The wedding party then proceeded to the photoshoot, where some special props lead to a bit of a comical meltdown. Doriane planned to incorporate her sister’s unopened trunk of Harry Potter novels… without their protective wrapping. This triggered off a frantic response since her sister planned on preserving their pristine condition. Luckily, wine and deep breathing came to the rescue, and the photoshoot proceeded.
 
 
 
 

Upon their return, guests were ushered from the cocktail hour to the superbly fashioned reception area. The tables were divided among various themes, including Shell Cottage, the Order of the Phoenix, and the homely Burrow. To help convert the less acquainted, a framed narrative on each table clarified the origin and significance of the theme. Doriane was definitely working to convert a few of the guests! As the night progressed, they were further treated to being serenaded by “Hedwig’s Theme,” a scrumptious Great Hall-inspired dessert table, and dancing that would bring a smile to even McGonagall.

 
 
 
 

Congratulations, Doriane and Tony! We anticipate many more magical moments for you both. Be sure to check out their Q&A and photos below. If you would like to have your own wedding featured, please do get in touch with us.  

Doriane and Tony's Q&A

Q. What were the biggest advantages of going the themed wedding route?

Doriane: The best part of having a themed wedding is that it kept the process of wedding planning fun. In my mind the wedding was like throwing the most personal and extravagant Harry Potter party of my dreams. Wedding planning can be so stressful, especially if you're not a detail-oriented person (which I am not). At some point during wedding planning you reach your threshold of stress and will want to nix the whole thing and elope! Having a theme was a great way to distract myself from some of the wedding planning drama. All in all having a theme made the process more enjoyable for me and my husband.

Q. Did you create many of the decor pieces?

Doriane: I totally got into the DIY and turned into a Black Martha Stewart! I had so much fun with it and my husband was a good sport with helping me paint and enduring our MANY trips to craft stores. My cocktail hour was a Leaky Cauldron theme. To make the décor more consistent with a wedding, the style was more rustic/shabby chic than pub. I made the centerpieces for the cocktail hour which consisted of decorated mason jars with flowers, mini distressed crates, and Leaky Cauldron beer bottles. I also made some some of the cocktail hour décor including: potion bottles, distressed crates, replicated Hogwarts textbooks,and the butterbeer signature cocktail sign. For the reception, I made Harry Potter inspired table names. Each table name was placed in a picture frame and contained a picture of the reference, a description, and a quote from the book.

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about the meltdown? How long did it last?

Doriane: After the wedding ceremony we went to a beautiful spot to take pictures with the wedding party. My husband and I were very excited to finally have pictures with the books because we forgot to bring them with us during the engagement photo shoot. Additionally, I was eager to recreate a picture I had seen on Pinterest where the wedding party was holding the Harry Potter books. Prior to the wedding, my sister agreed to let me use her unopened trunk of Harry Potter books. When the photographers asked for the books, my sister yelped "Wait...what books? My books?" I replied "Yeah, you agreed I could use them for the wedding." She responded that she thought I wanted to use the unopened trunk of books as a display, not that the books would be removed from the trunk. For about 5 minutes she had a mini-meltdown about how the books weren't actually for use but were intended to be an heirloom for many generations to come. There were some tense moments of silence but ultimately my sister pulled through and was a trooper, despite our miscommunication. Like Lilly Potter, made a selfless sacrifice for love!

Q: In lieu of your very game officiant, who from the series would you want to preside over the ceremony?

Doriane: Wow this is a hard question! For me it's a tie between Dumbledore and Fred Weasley. I love how Dumbledore is so wise yet quirky. But Fred's sense of humor would make the ceremony so much fun. I had to consult with my husband for this. He said hands down Dumbledore because "he's a G" (i.e. he has a lot of swag).

Q: Are you excited about all the upcoming "Potter" projects? Or are you both purists?

Doriane: We are definitely not purists. I'm all for knowing more about Wizarding World! I'm excited to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Of course I have the book and I'm curious to see how they flesh out the story. I'm also excited about the new book, but to be honest I'm far more interested in knowing the stories that come before Harry Potter. I want to know more detail about the founders of Hogwarts, Dumbledore defeating Grindelwald, the adventures of Harry's parents when they attended Hogwarts, and the first Wizarding War. I would totally prefer prequel books to sequels. Prequel movies would be AMAZING!

Q: Any advice for those gearing up for their own themed events?

Doriane: Above all have fun with it! At no time did incorporating the theme feel stressful or burdensome. If integrating the theme starts to feel like a chore or is causing stress you may want to re-think it. Weddings can be so stressful you really want to do all you can to reduce any potential headaches. I totally recommend websites like MuggleNet and Pinterest for inspiration. I googled "Harry Potter Wedding" like 100 times (no lie) [laughs]. Youtube was also very helpful with tutorials (I had never distressed anything before). Finally, recruit allies to help if you can. I did a lot of things on my own, but it would have been a lot easier if I had asked for more help.