May 20, 2020 Edition: Sunnyside Arms Over Easy Blog
- The Sunnyside Arms Gazette
- May 20, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 11, 2020
The Sunnyside Arms Gazette's Over Easy column is taken over today by our straight-faced, well-dressed and oh-so-handsome investigator and (temporary) resident specialist of all things rules and regulatory, the one and only John Vanderbilt!
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen:
John Vanderbilt here again.
As this Coronavirus pandemic continues, I remain quarantined at Sunnyside Arms. In the days since my last memo blog, I have come to believe that it would be in everyone’s best interest if I made myself more useful around here. In my official role as President of the Board of Retirement Communities of Florida, my usefulness of late has been limited to my calling in favors to keep us stocked up with disinfectant wipes and confiscating packets of blue raspberry Jell-O from anxious residents. But as just me, John Vanderbilt, I wanted to do something more...meaningful.
Morning Self Reflection Leads To New Brand
One morning over some really bad coffee and runny eggs (it was Miss Daphne’s day off and Harold was in the kitchen), I took a deep dive into my skill set and determined that this well-dressed leader and oenophile with mad boardroom-to-market negotiating skills, would be a great asset to residents of Sunnyside Arms trying to complete socially challenging projects. So, with a goal of enriching the social lives and skills of the residents (via Zoom or wearing masks and remaining 12 feet apart at all times, of course), the JV Project brand was born.
JV Project Takes On Our First Client
Today’s memo blog demonstrates how the JV Project helped our first client, Joe, fiance of Tiffani with an “i” and Sunnyside Arms resident, plan his virtual dream wedding in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you enjoy reading about this project as much as we enjoyed working on it.
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JOHN'S MEMO BLOG TO EVERYONE
MEMO: To Everyone
FROM: John Vanderbilt
Founder, JV Project
SUBJECT: Virtual Wedding Plans
Joe and Tiffani with an “i”
DATE: Wednesday, May 20, 2020
In an effort to get an official statement from Joe regarding his upcoming nuptials, I sat down with him last Wednesday night on Zoom to do some wedding planning. Joe came straight to the point, “I’m gon’ marry Tiffani. She’s gon’ be my wife. Uuuh, this there COVID-19-Curonavirus got in my way. Tiffani deserves the Best. You’re gon’ make our wedding dreams come true. I just know it.”
We Connected Over Drinks And Sir Elton John
Wanting to show Joe that I was a true professional, I shared that I’d once had a really long conversation with a guy who was a consultant for Sir Elton John’s wedding back in 2014, and that it was giving me some great ideas. Joe had heard of Elton John, so he thought that was really cool. With that feather in my cap and my glass of Château Petrus in my hand, I made a virtual toast to Joe’s upcoming wedding—which Joe acknowledged with a sip from his glass of Bud Light and a nod. It was a nice moment between two grown men.
Initially, I was confident that my ideas for their wedding, like adorning the 3-tiered cake and table with rose petals imported from Orlando, and springing for a tastefully expensive vintage champagne for the big toast, would be accepted carte blanche. But then I realized that while I was strategizing out loud and jotting all of my ideas down (thinking of my own dear Simon), Joe had gotten very quiet. Not even a beer sip out of him. It caused me to pause in my endeavor. That’s when Joe chose to speak his mind. He said, “I’m gon have a scissor-shaped cake cuz Tiffani loves her hair stylin’ business s’much as she loves me and I want her to know I get her.”
Maybe it was the vintage of the wine, or maybe I am just a romantic at heart, but it was in that moment that I got Joe. Joe is a man of few words, but when he said that, he said so much. I knew then that I was dealing with a man with a plan who just needed the JV Project’s help bringing it to life. So I asked him a few more probing questions, like, “What would your dream COVID-19 Wedding look like?” and “Do you have a date in mind?”
Joe Promised Tiffani A June Wedding
Joe made it very clear that despite the COVID-19 pandemic being in full swing, he wanted to get married this June so that Tiffani could be the June bride she’s always dreamed of being. A June 20th bride to be exact, because that is the date they met. So with the help of Agnes and some of the other talented residents of Sunnyside Arms, I crafted an intimate, virtual wedding plan that ticked off every single one of the wishes Joe had for his special day. Even the date.These resources for Couples Who Are Marrying Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic and Planning A Virtual Wedding were especially helpful.
Building The Perfect Virtual Wedding Day
1. The Venue: Where The Roses Meet The Breeze
We’re going to hold the matrimonial ceremony in the Milady March Memorial Rose Garden behind the main building on the Sunnyside Arms property. After starting up Zoom and escorting the bride and her groom down the flower-lined garden path, Agnes will officiate the ceremony. The bride and groom will be providing their own vows. Joe assured me they “gon be mighty short. Uuuuh, like about five minutes.” We’ll plan to kick things off at 1 p.m. with the reception in the recreation room following right after. Betsy Ross will decorate the room with red, black, and white wedding-themed florals and decor. (I won Joe over on the colors on account of Sir Elton John.) Then an In-Your-Room Zoom Dance Party with Mr. Hawker as VJ will round out the festivities from 3:30-4:00 p.m., when our bride and groom will say goodbye to their guests and retire to their room. And then we’ll all live happily ever after.
2. The Menu: Where The Casual Meets Nostalgic
At the strong insistence of the bride and groom, the reception menu consists of hotdogs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I’ll be certain to eat beforehand. Ms. Daphne will be making their wedding cake from an old family recipe that I’m told includes some heirloom spices. Now, that I’ll leave room for. Additionally, while they chose the cake flavor together, Joe (thus far) has managed to keep the secret of the cake’s special scissor shape from Tiffani. Ms. Daphne is set to prepare the reception food and beverage for pick up, and have it available between 1:15-2:00 p.m. The Wedding Cake will be available for pick up immediately following the cake cutting ceremony, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. Note: On-site guests will be able to stop by the recreation room to pick up their food but a strict 12 foot distance restriction and mandatory face mask ordinance will be in effect.
3. The Media: Where Zooming Meets Grooving
This virtual wedding will be accessible via two Zoom feeds that will be streaming from each of the event locations for residents and other wedding guests to watch from the safety of their own rooms. At the helm of our Zoom events will (of course) be Agnes, the ruler of all things Zoom at Sunnyside Arms. Streaming the music videos will be our VJ for the day, Mr. Hawker, who promises to provide a special wedding soundtrack made up of our couple’s favorite songs, including I’ll Oil Wells Love You by Dolly Parton, The Bones by Maren Morris, and Home by Daughtry. I’ll be there with my iPhone 11 Pro Max to document the day with photographs.
4. The Wedding Attire & Attendees: Where Designer Dresses Meet Costco Coveralls
Giving a nod to the fast approaching date and virtual nature of the wedding, the couple has agreed to what we’re calling a “Summer Afternoon Picnic Attire” dress code. It was the best we could come up with for something that embraced both Tiffani and Joe’s unique styles and still made some kind of sense when written on an invitation. Tiffani has purchased an elegant designer wedding gown. Joe doesn't own a suit or tux. Even after I offered him one of mine to borrow, he still elected to wear his work coveralls. They will truly be a sight to behold. Agnes and Betsy are appeasing Tiffani by wearing some Jessica Simpson bridesmaid dresses she found on Ebay. I, of course, will be wearing my tux.
While Agnes, Betsy, and I will join the bride and groom in real life at the ceremony and reception (taking all COVID-19 mandated precautions), the rest of the residents and the additional guests will share their day with us via Zoom.
5. The Invitations & Gift Registry: Where Art meets Function
The happy couple is registered at Crate & Barrel, certainly an elevated choice for these two. I can tell that it was Tiffani that set up the registry because Joe doesn’t quite understand the concept of a gift registry. He is making Tiffani her own crate…and barrel. I don't want to break his pride so I’m not going to correct him. The more gifts the merrier.
Invitations Are Coming Soon! Save The Date
Betsy will be sending out the official wedding invitations (designed by my dear friend and resident artist, Genevieve DuVoo) along with her handcrafted wedding-themed masks and rice packets this week. We are just waiting on the last of the invitations from Genevieve. In the meantime, I encourage you all to mark off June 20, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on your calendars so that you don’t end up double-booked and miss out on attending Joe and Tiffani’s virtual wedding.
Sincerely,
John Vanderbilt
Founder, JV Project
cc: Agnes
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Here For You, Forever and Always, For Now
The JV Project would like to thank Joe (and his bride-to-be,Tiffani with an "i") for letting us help plan your special day. Your virtual wedding promises to be an unforgettable and unique event, culminating in the eternal union of two souls so obviously deeply in love. We are honored to be a part of something so meaningful.
If YOU or someone you know is a Sunnyside Arms resident struggling to complete a socially challenging project during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the JV Project might be able to help. Please contact Agnes who will contact us who will then contact you to discuss it further.
About our Guest Reporter: John is the Board President of the Retirement Communities of Florida, now serving his fifth year in this role. When not busy inspecting retirement communities in South Florida, John can be found having to-the-point conversations while drinking expensive wine. He also enjoys shopping at large flea markets, often in the company of his old friend and Sunnyside Arms resident, Genevieve DuVoo and his long-time partner, Simon Chandler Kind.
Good information