Jacquelyn Klarenbeek & Wally Cruz – Auburn, Alabama
By Sarah Christine Bolton
Wally and Jacquie met when she was moving into her college dorm room. “He offered to help me with all of my luggage and boxes,” Jacquie says. “He was so nervous he introduced himself twice!”
Wally might have had to introduce himself twice, but it only took one time to ask Jacquie to marry him. “I was performing in a church Fourth of July concert,” she says. “I was singing the song “Matchmaker” from Fiddler on the Roof, and he came out in his military uniform and asked me to marry him. It was amazing!”
Even Wally had planned a dream proposal, making their dream wedding happen would prove to be a bit more tricky. “Wally was shipped overseas shortly after the proposal and was gone for a total of fourteen months,” Jacquie says. She had plenty of time to plan for the wedding, and was mostly concerned about her fiancée getting home safely.
Jacquie searched for a while for her perfect gown. It was very traditional with a cathedral length train, beautiful Swarovski crystals and pearl-like jewels on the bodice. The veil was custom made by Toni Frederici and extended beyond the cathedral train. “My gown made me feel like a princess!” she says. “It was everything I had envisioned since I was a little girl.”
The bridesmaids wore elegant brilliant cerise pink gowns with separate top and skirt and a small train on the back. The groom and groomsmen wore traditional black tux with silver vests and ties.
Growing up, her dad owned a flower shop and she always knew that she wanted to have, as she says it, “a ridiculous amount of flowers.” Jack Smith is a leading floral designer in the U.S. who actually decorated the White House for several Christmas holidays and special parties. He came on board to assist Jacquie’s dad in designing a floral scheme that featured vibrant tropical flowers. The flowers included dendrobian orchids, bird of paradise, heliconias, oncidium orchids, and anthurium, all flown in from Hawaii and Costa Rica. The tropical flowers were combined with pincushion protea, shocking versilia roses, gerbera daises, fern fronds, and many unique foliages to create the perfect landscape. The dominant floral colors were bold and vibrant in shades of brilliant pink, yellow, sapphire blue, purple, and orange.
The ceremony was very formal with a traditional double ring, unity candle and exchanging of vows. However, since Wally is from the Philippines, the couple celebrated many of his family’s traditions as well. They incorporated a traditional Philippine ceremony, where a veil and cord are wrapped around the shoulders of the groom and placed on the bride’s head to symbolize unity and oneness in the marriage.
To celebrate their family’s love of music, the couple had a full professional orchestra with players from the Montgomery and Columbus Symphonies and the full choir from Auburn UMC. “It was beautiful, magical, and very moving,”
Jacquie says her favorite moment was most definitely when she heard the minister say “I am proud to introduce to the congregation Mr. and Mrs. Wally Cruz.” “I had waited so many months to hear those words during Wally’s deployment,” she says. “It was finally official. The most beautiful words I heard all night.”
When the couple arrived at the beautiful Fountainview Mansion after the ceremony, Jacquie describes it as a dream come true. Her family owns the mansion, and she regularly experiences weddings there. “Our reception really put together the best of every event that had ever been there, plus our family’s own special touches,” she says. “It was like walking into a fairy tale!”
Wally’s mother is a caterer and she incorporated her traditional Filipino foods into the more traditional American foods provided by Christine’s Gourmet. The food stations reflected the different places that the couple had lived, and included an Italian Station, Tex Mex Station, American Station, Filipino Station, seafood station, and several others.
Kidd Blue provided the reception entertainment, and during the reception, Wally’s mother and a group of her friends presented traditional dances and costuming from the Philippines.
The wedding lighting designer prepared a custom monogram illuminating the couple’s initials on the side of the tents. “It was an enchanted atmosphere even better than I had ever dreamed,” Jacquie says. As a dazzling finale to the day, the couple left underneath a surprise fireworks display.
The funniest moment during the couple’s wedding day was after they arrived at their hotel. “The limo got lost, our bags weren’t at the hotel so we couldn’t change clothes, and we didn’t receive the champagne and strawberries that were supposed to be in our room,” Jacquie says. They were both so hungry from not eating all day that they dug out Hershey’s chocolate kisses from the bottom of Jacquie’s purse to munch on. “We didn’t care, though!” she laughs. “We were so happy to finally be married!”
Acknowledgements and Special Thanks from the Klarenbeek/Cruz Wedding
Ceremony Site
Auburn United Methodist Church
Auburn, AL
334-826-8800
www.AUMC.net
Reception Site
Fountainview Mansion
Auburn, AL
334-466-2120
www.FountainviewMansion.com
Wedding Photographer
Infinity Photographers
334-737-0200
www.Infinity-Photographers.com
Wedding Planner
Kevin Duvall
Fountainview Mansion
334-466-2120
Invitations
Carlson Craft
www.CarlsonCraft.com
Wedding Gown
Bridals by Lori
Atlanta, GA
404-252-8767
www.BridalsByLori.com
Bridesmaids Gowns & Tuxedos
Clothes Rack
Auburn, AL
334-826-7225
Caterer
Christine’s Gourmet
Auburn, AL
334-826-1408
www.ChristinesGourmet.com
Wedding Cake
Sonshine Cakes
Auburn, AL
334-826-8303
Musicians
Kidd Blue
Tim Chambliss
334-444-2204
www.KiddBlue.com
Rehearsal Dinner
Auburn University Club
Auburn, AL
334-821-8381
www.AUCYF.com
Transportation
Limousine Service
Fountainview Mansion
334-466-2120
The bride and groom and/or third party supplied all vendor information to Southern Bride. Southern Bride cannot take responsibility for misinformation that was provided. This is not a paid advertisement but simply a courtesy to share as a resource to Southern Bride readers.
