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Shyla and James used the Hilton Columbia Center hotel to get ready, and I am so glad they did. It really makes things so much easier to have the getting ready portion take place in a hotel that is right next door to the venue. And having the groomsmen and bridesmaids in the same hotel meant I could move back and forth between them without missing a moment. Shyla was a hyper-organized bride, and she thought about everything. Definitely made my job easier, and I couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out as a result.
After the ceremony, held at the USC Alumni Center, we took a quick party bus ride to the SC Statehouse. When we arrived, there was a concert going on out front, and tons of people. The week before, I was in Washington DC and ran into some major problems with crowds of people getting in the way, and I really wanted to avoid the crowds if possible. Luckily, when we drove around, we noticed the back was almost completely empty, but had the same beautiful views. I have never been more thankful for a bride and groom who knew the area so well, and who stuck with the plan when the unexpected happened.
Finally, it was time for the reception. This is where Shyla and James could finally let go of all the wedding day stress and start celebrating! And what a celebration it was – first dances, traditional and non-traditional dancing, and….a lip sync battle? That was definitely a first, and possibly one of my reception ‘intros’ I’ve experienced so far. All in all, it was a great day with a great couple…I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to spend my Saturday with.
Thank you for tuning in for Shyla and James’ beautiful USC Alumni Center wedding! It turned out to be a perfect day, with an equally perfect group of people to share it with. Congratulations to the happy couple!