Check out “In the Mix” this Friday

Now that Joe and I are married and our subsequent marathon wedding season has ended, I have been exploring new ventures to dedicate my time to.  A few months ago, I took on a role as Associate Partnership Director for the Social Media Club Sacramento chapter (shameless plug: if you have a venue or food you would like to donate, let’s talk!), I’ve also participated in my fair share of Sac TweetUps, and last month I attended the launch event for Metro EDGE – a program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber created for the River City’s up-and-comers.

It was a great event, but it wasn’t until a recent email from fellow blogger Jon Schuller (I Love and Hate Everything) that I actually began to really look into the organization and what it’s all about.  You see, Jon is part of the communication committee and filled me in on all the fabulous details of the Metro EDGE’s first –ever “In the Mix” networking mixer this Friday at Cosmo Café.  So if you’re like me and are intrigued by Metro EDGE but want to learn more before taking the plunge, this event is for you.  The custom Metro EDGE Martinis are just icing on the cake.

A couple weeks ago, I received an email about glam rock band Rocket.  The LA-based girl group, fresh off an appearance on HBO’s True Blood playing a “fake” band called  ”The God Rockets,” will take the stage at Townhouse this Friday with local bands BOATS! and The Babs Johnson Gang.  I checked out all three bands’ MySpace pages and had to share this amazing show!

Record Club Presents:
ROCKET (with Boats! and The Babs Johnson Gang)
The Townhouse
10:00 p.m.
21+
1517 21st St.
Sacramento Ca 95814

Here’s what other’s are saying about Rocket:

“The five ladies of Los Angeles’ Rocket mash punk rock’s forward
motion, girl-group lyrical delivery, and arena-filling power-pop into a slick package of chunky hooks, sing-alongs, and catchy guitar riffs.” – William Goodman (Spin Magazine)

“Spunky and charming girl-group pop with an edge” – Kevin Bronson (Los Angeles Times)

“Rocket is a great rock ‘n’ roll band. They’re what The Dead Boys would’ve sounded like if they were girls” – Don Was (Grammy-winning producer, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop)

“Mix Bangles with Runaways and you might come close. This is bubblegum-pop-punk-trash and it’s delivered just right,” -Peter Moren (Vocals/Guitar, Peter, Bjorn & John)

It’s hard to believe three months have passed since Joe and I tied the knot.  A year’s  worth of planning, hundreds of hours of Internet searching and innumerable sleepless nights culminated to one magical evening. Then it was all over.

That’s why it’s so thrilling to see remnants  of our wedding  pop up around the blogosphere allowing me, in a small way, to relive the most important night of our lives that seemed to disappear with the blink of an eye. 

The most recent flash back came via the newly launched Citizen Hotel wedding blog: Eat, Drink & Be Married!  Still in it’s infancy, the blog promises to spark the creative senses of budding brides by offering information, tips, advice and everything in between. I look forward to future posts highlighting this beautiful historic building and am flattered to have our wedding video by Artistic Imagery featured at the inception!

Following are a few other blogs we are honored to have played a cameo in:

Wedding Paper Diva’s Blog: Diva Dialogue
Vintage Glam Weddings
Bella Umbrellas Blog
Quirky Wedding
Sactown Catering Blog

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Last night was Nick’s memorial and opportunity to make peace with the passing of our friend.  It was amazing to see all the groups of friends he had made throughout his time living in the US - from all the places he worked and lived.  It seemed no matter where he went, Nick was a magnet to some pretty genuine and kind people.  Which is why it was so interesting that even though some of us had never met, because of our individual close bonds with Nick, we automatically felt like long-time friends.  So even though we lost a very special friend, I think many of us left feeling as though we made some special new ones.

One of the highlights of the service was the following poem read by a close family friend.  I had never heard it before but was so moved by it that I thought I would share it.  It’s a beautiful reminder of what’s most important in life.

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning to the end.
 
He noted that first came her date of her birth and spoke the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
 
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
 
For it matters not how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
 
So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?  For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
 
If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real.  And always try to understand the way other people feel.
 
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more.   And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before.
 
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile. Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
 
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash. Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

After the service, we joined in the church hall for wine and food, including a dessert table that Nick would had LOVED!  We also played the following video - at tribute to how Nick spent his “dash.”  Thanks again to Alan of Artistic Imagery for creating this special video for us.

After our wedding, I was expecting to keep busy with posts about the special details of our big day, but never would I have imagined writing about some of the most extraordinary memories in this context.  Last week, while Joe and I were honeymooning in Santa Cruz on a coastal road trip, I received  a call from my friend Aaron with devastating news about the untimely passing of our dear friend Nick.  Both Nick and Aaron were brides “men” in our wedding and have been like brothers to me since we first met eight years ago working at BCBG in the Roseville Galleria. It was news that was difficult for me to accept.  After all, I just spent the happiest day of my life with Nick by my side only days earlier.  But it is those memories, of Nick looking dapper in his designer suit after obsessing about getting the right colors to match the bridesmaids dresses, multiple joyous toastings to a long life of happiness with all our friends, getting down on the dance floor with all the ladies in typical Nick fashion and a special visit from him and Aaron to my and Joe’s hotel room the next morning recounting all the memorable events of the  magical night prior, that I will hold close my heart and give me comfort when remembering the last moments with my beloved friend.

Nebojsa Coso ( February 12th, 1981 – June 14th, 2009)

One of my favorite details from the wedding reception was the photo station we set up for our guests. Not only is it more affordable than a photo booth, but the quality of images were far superior and there is room for more people and fun props!  AND our guests got to take their photos home with them as a favor.  The above photo is how the photos looked after they were printed and below are a few highlights. The very bottom image is of Joe and I and our wedding dream team (Jen and Christ Stewart of Jen Stewart Photography, Alan and Amber Silva of Artistic Imagery and Doug LaVine and Dara Harmon of Music on the Move)

A big thank you again to Amber Silva (aka the bride whisperer) of Artistic Imagery for doing such an amazing job!  **Special note to our guests: If you would like to view all the photo station images and order extra copies, click HERE**

Wouldn’t you know that as soon as I posted the video last night, I received a text from Chris Stewart letting us know our photo teaser was up on their blog.  It didn’t take more than two seconds for me to begin devouring the preview post.  Below are just a few of my favorites. 

Chris and Jen – what can we say? You two did it again!  You are both so talented and fun to work with…we couldn’t be happier with these photos and can’t wait to see the rest!! Love you guys!!

Jeff from Article Salon & Spa doing my makeup…

Am I a lucky girl or what?!?!

Joe and I decided to see each other before the ceremony.  I love the look of anticipation on his face!

I think he likes the dress

After the big reveal we headed to the balcony outside our suite on the 14th floor of The Citizen Hotel.  This is by far one of my favorite shots!

The guys…

Our stunning wedding party…

On our way to the church in the back of my uncle’s 1936 Ford Sedan (the same one from our engagement photos)

My glamorous bridal party holding vintage umbrellas from Bella Umbrella

Chris, Joe’s older brother, created custom movie posters we hung in the cases outside of The Crest Theatre

The poster to the right was created by the talented Alan Silva of Artistic Imagery

My smokin hot cigarette girls Melanie and Becky…

Detail shots from our retro candy station…

The Perfect Catch cake topper that stood upon a tower of delicious red velvet cupcakes created by fellow blogger Kristy DeVaney of Cakegrrl.com

Yet another tribute to Joe’s love for fishing…

One of my favorite moments of the night, a performance by the amazing Ricky Berger

Our first dance to Michael Buble’s “That’s All”

To veiw more photos, visit http://www.jenstewartphotography.com/.

That’s right, after a year of tireless planning, this past Saturday Joe and I officially tied the knot in what was the most spectacular night of our lives!  The entire evening was filled with this incredible feeling of exhilaration, magic and love that was not only experienced between Joe and I but reverberated through our guests and all those involved.  It was so surreal and went by entirely too fast which is why I am so glad Joe and I enlisted the talent of Alan Silva of Artistic Imagery.

Having a reception at The Crest Theatre, Joe and I couldn’t resist taking advantage of utilizing the big screen.  We hired Alan to create a standard montage, but what he ended up producing for us was nothing short of brilliance.  Not only did he capture our love story, but he was able to capture footage of our wedding day and play it that same night! The video is about 13 minutes, but I assure you is worth every minute …I’ve already watched it about 30 times!

So without further ado, Ladies and Gentleman, I’m excited to present the first ever Ficker/Berge Production:

“THE PERFECT CATCH”

Joe and I also want to give a BIG ”Thank  You” to all of our family and friends who helped make the evening possible and our amazing wedding dream team who helped bring our vision to life.  I will be sure to share photos and all the details in the weeks to come!

In a previous post I told you about how much fun Joe and I had being a part of  Jackson Raod’s  Speakeasy music video and now you can see why…Check out the final product below!!

Since deciding on a vintage-themed wedding there has been one wedding blog that I follow religiously for ideas and inspiration – Vintage Glam Blog which features vintage finds, DIY projects, vintage “eye candy” and everything in between for a fabulous vintage inspired wedding!  And after I devour each post, I rely on Vintage Glam’s tweets for even more inspiration – I know, I’m obsessed!  But it’s why I am so excited to share that our engagement photos were featured on today’s post! Check it out HERE!

Vintage Glam Blog