Michael and Frances Sissamis
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE STORY!
How did you meet?
We met through my matron of honor! She is my cousin, and while we were out partying, I got to meet Mike! He was roommates, as well as best friends, with my cousin’s husband.
How did you know he was “The One”?
I knew he was the one when I realized he was going to always let me pick the music, shows, and food as long as it made me happy! We also jinx each other CONSTANTLY and are so similar, it is kind of scary! We also balance each other out very well – I am a firecracker with attitude and he has a mellow, calm energy.
How did he propose?
He surprised me while I was visiting family in Corpus and got my whole family involved in the proposal!
Describe your wedding planning process
Who helped with the planning?
Mike, my mom, Jessica Posey from Heaven Sent Events, Whitney from Ivy Paige Events and myself all assisted in making our dream wedding a reality.
Did you hire a planner or day-of coordinator?
Yes, we hired a day-of coordinator! She helped us throughout the day making sure everything was going as planned and assisted in making choices on our behalf.
Did you DIY any aspect of your wedding?
We DIYed our signage! I loved how all of our signage matched so perfectly.
Did you have a specific theme?
Our theme was Spring Wildflowers meets Secret Garden Style, very feminine and aesthetically pleasing!
Where did you save the most?
We saved the most at the bar! We did an open bar and ended up being able to return a lot of unopened alcohol afterwards.
Where did you splurge?
We splurged with our florals. We could not have real florals due to being allergic, so all of our florals were silk! Also, to complete our Spring Wildflowers/Secret Garden theme, we needed an abundance of florals. Needless to say, Whitney and her team from Ivy Paige Events outdid themselves!
Why did you choose your venue?
I wanted a white barn in the Hill Country area since we have a lot of family there! Posey Meadows worked perfectly for everything we needed!
Did you incorporate any special traditions or sentimental details in your ceremony or reception?
We are Aggies, so we got our names and wedding dates on A&M football towels. We also have a “Benny and the Jets” tradition that our friend group has done at most of their weddings. I stood on top of a chair and all guys over 21 got to circle around me on the dance floor while I poured champagne into their mouths! By the end of the dance, all of our friends, guys and girls, were in the circle!
What was your most stressful decision?
Our most stressful decision on the day- of was having to decide whether to have the ceremony inside or outside.
What turned out to be your best decision surrounding the big day?
Having the ceremony inside! We got amazing pictures with NO wind!
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Since we moved the ceremony inside, I wish we could have had the chairs set up like an outdoor ceremony. We had tables everywhere and I think rows of chairs would have looked better if that had been possible. Also, I didn’t like how my dress looked bustled in our pictures.
Tell Us About...
Your dress:
My dress was a Mona dress with a super cute sheer corset top. It had a scoop neckline with a tiny V on the top which I loved! The straps were vines and there were vines down the dress to a fit and flare style that I was obsessed with!
Your flowers:
My flower choice was silk wildflowers with lots of color!
The food:
We served Chicken Bacon Carbonara and Salmon with veggies.
The cake:
For the bride’s cake, we had a 4-tier naked Bulverian Cream with cream cheese icing and pistachio filling! For the Groom’s cake, we had a 1-tier chocolate with raspberry decor on top!
Recap your big day for us
What made you laugh?
We laughed most while doing our “Benny and the Jets” tradition, and when the champagne tower would not completely fill up no matter how many bottles of champagne we poured into it!
What were the most memorable moments?
I will always remember all of the wonderful music, doing the Aggie War Hymn and all of the speeches.
Did anything unexpected happen?
The weather was so windy! We were afraid it would blow all of our silk florals away, so this is why we chose to move the ceremony inside..
What’s the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their wedding?
I have several suggestions, so bear with me as I list them. I highly suggest NOT doing anything DIY. Spending the money for someone else to do it was definitely worth it. Also, find a planner/coordinator who does what YOU (the bride) wants – NOT what your family wants or who is “paying” for the service. I was so thankful I could tell Jessica what I wanted, and she would see it through. If you have any doubts about who to include in your wedding party, go with your gut! Make sure to get the list of music played by your DJ! It’s okay to break “tradition” – this is YOUR wedding. My break in tradition was having both of my parents walk me down the aisle. If you can spend it, get an open bar – it’s worth it! Also, don’t let everyone in your wedding party do speeches… even with a given time limit. And lastly, get beer burros!!! It was not only pretty inexpensive and amazing, but it distracts your guests from the fact that you are outside taking pictures.
What did you look forward to most as Mr. and Mrs.?
We looked forward to building a life together and having that emotional and physical support from our best friend! OH, and the wedding rings!
Local Vendors:
Wedding Venue: Posey Meadows
Reception Venue: Posey Meadows
Wedding Coordinator/Planner: Heaven Sent Events – Jessica Posey
Officiate: Texas Wedding Ministers – Reverend Jesse Ferraro
Photographer: Jessica Chole Photography
Caterer: Mana Sabroso
Florist: Ivy Paige Events
Cake/Dessert: Cakes by Anna
Decor: Ivy Paige Events
Rentals: Crown Event Rental
Bridal Shop: Debi’s Bridal
Makeup Artist: Southern Tease
Hair Stylist: Southern Tease
Bartending/Beverage Service: Southern Standard
Music/Entertainment: DJ Jesse
Beer Burros: Big City Farm TX
Wedding Music:
Processional: Clair De Lune by Piano Fruit Music
Bride’s Entrance: Dancing in the Moonlight by Piano Piece
Recessional: Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) by Stevie Wonder
First Dance: Bloom Bonus Track by The Paper Kites
Father/Daughter Dance: My Girl by The Temptations
Mother/Son Dance: Simple Man by Shinedown (Acoustic)
Last Dance: We Are Young by Fun. featuring Janelle Monae
Grand Exit: A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
