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Katrina’s planner, Michelle Gainey of Lemiga Events outlines all the etiquette, planning and over “how-to’s” you need to know when planning your own Par-ception. More online>> www.OccasionsOnlline.com

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Anyone who has met them knows that Keinon and Katrina Johnson love to have fun, and their September wedding was no exception. After dating for seven and a half years, the music industry insiders (she works for a local radio station, he for a record label) got

engaged at one of their weekend favorites: a diner near their College Park home. When Keinon surprised Katrina with a gorgeous ring, she said she was so excited she can barely remember anything except crying, saying ‘yes’ and high-fiving the man of her dreams.

The two immediately began planning the wedding. The number one objective: making sure this wedding would be fun, a real celebration for them and all of the guests they wanted to include. Knowing that their guest list of 260 would make some of the things she wanted cost-prohibitive, Katrina hatched a genius plan: don’t have a typical reception, have a “par-ception.” If the reception is more like a party, she reasoned, more of their friends would be able to join them in celebrating. As it turned out, she was right.

ThemeThroughout the night, guests were

reminded that if one K (Katrina or Keinon) is fun, K2 must be double

the fun! The bride and groom used the play of their first names beginning with the same letter to

create the K2 logo. It first appeared on their invitations and stamps for

their invitations, and was carried throughout the night on their

ceremony program and menu card. A gobo light from One Stop Productions also projected the logo onto a wall on the rooftop once the par-ception was

underway.

KATRINA + KEINONreal wedding

102 | THE MAGAZINE FOR CELEBRATING IN STYLE

DecorSavage Garden crafted unbelievable floral arrangements that were suspended in the center of the huge windows overlooking the city, as well as over the bar, entrance and sweetheart table. The breathtaking arrangements managed to enhance, rather than detract, from the magnificent views. Modern, minimalistic centerpieces dotted the lounge tables throughout the venue, while intricate lighting from One Stop Productions kept the nightclub atmosphere going. “It was such a great mix and flow of small and large vases, flowers and branches. It was very cleverly placed and artistic, it was truly like works of art,” Gainey said. “It was perfect for a modern couple like this.”

On September 25, 2010, one hundred of their closest friends and family members joined together to watch Katrina walk down the aisle for their rooftop marriage ceremony at Ventanas. Katrina was a vision in her ivory Priscilla of Boston gown with a dramatic purple sash fastened with a brooch.

Following the ceremony, guests moved inside, to the top floor of Ventanas, where they enjoyed passed hors d’ouevres and the sounds of both jazz and modern hits from a friend’s band. After utilizing the site’s helipad for some quick portraits, the newlyweds rejoined their guests for a sit-down dinner featuring a choice of filet mignon, brown sugar and soy glazed salmon or thyme roasted chicken, provided by Endive. Katrina and Keinon were thrilled with the selections, describing all the food that evening as “stunning and amazing.”

Style SourcePHOTOGRAPHY: Project Duo PhotographyEVENT PLANNER: Lemiga EventsVENUE: VentanasCATERING: EndiveLIGHTING: One Stop ProductionDRAPING: Event DraperyRENTALS: Event Rentals Unlimited, Premier RentalsMUSIC: Kazanetti String, Knoterized & DJ MarsFLORAL: The Savage GardenLINEN: Connie Duglin LInensRENTALS: Classic Party RentalsSTATIONERY: Luxe ExpressionsVIDEOGRAPHER: One Chance Wedding VideoCAKE: Sweet Sensations

At 8 p.m., the “par-ception” began, with an additional 160 guests arriving at Ventanas. Photos of the wedding ceremony, taken just hours before, were projected onto the walls to share the experience with the new guests. The modern venue was decked out in the couple’s wedding colors of purple, silver and white, and looked like an upscale nightclub. Many of the traditional reception elements were incorporated into the par-ception, including the introduction of the bride and groom, their first dance and cutting the delicious cake from Sweet Sensations.

“It’s a unique way to have the big party and still have the intimate, served dinner,” planner Michelle Gainey of Lemiga Events said. “They didn’t want to exclude their friends, so this gave them a way to celebrate with family the way they wanted and also with friends.”

Ventanas, Gainey explained, was the perfect venue for their unique par-ception. They maximized the space by using each section as the evening progressed. The ceremony rooftop space was transformed into a lounge and bar area while guests ate dinner on Ventanas’ second floor. When more guests arrived at 8p.m., they found the first floor decked out for a party with lounge furniture, a dance floor and bars.

The couple’s custom logo which appeared on nearly all the event elements also appeared on favors that the guests took home, twin candles, one peach scented, in a nod to the bride’s Georgia roots, and one with a more modern scent, in honor of the groom’s hometown of NYC.

In fact, Gainey said, that North/South contrast was another slight theme throughout the night. “He’s from New York, and she has more Southern flair, so we blended the dichotomies of the North and South all night,” she said. Aside from the candles, guests may have also noticed this with the mix of hors d’oeuvres that were served continuously throughout the night. Guests snacked on turkey bacon wrapped skewers of BBQ shrimp, duck confit and caramelized onion pizzas and petit potatoes filled with asiago and chive soufflé, among other bites.

When they weren’t snacking, guests spent most of their time on the dance floor, which remained packed all night long. “It wasn’t a normal wedding DJ,” Gainey said. Putting their industry connections to work, the bride and groom had secured DJ Mars for their par-ception, a well-known DJ famous for touring with stars like Ciara and Neyo. “No one sat down the whole time,” said Katrina. “They had to kick us out! Everyone was dancing and there was such a beautiful energy in the air. We couldn’t have made the night any better.”

Gainey agreed. “They are such a fun couple, and their wedding reflected that,” she said. “They are the perfect example of throwing out the book and having a wedding that’s all about them!”

From the Bride...“I really wanted it to be modern with a splash of tradition, but also wanted it to be sexy.” She and Lemiga Events brought that vision to life with creative floral and lighting designs, as well as memorable personal touches.