PLAYBILLDER Spotlight: This New York City Couple Brought Playbill to Their Ireland Destination Wedding!

Welcome to PLAYBILLDER Spotlight, where Playbill highlights shows from educational institutions or regional theatres and special events around the country (who have used Playbill's program-building service). By welcoming these PLAYBILLDERs center stage, we hope to give our readers a more in-depth look at theatre programs that are fostering the love of the performing arts in the next generation and the way theatre lovers are bringing Playbill along for life's big moments.

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This week's Spotlight is the Northern Ireland wedding of Kimberly Jabay and Justin Sanford. The couple, who met "the old fashioned way" on Bumble, celebrated their love with friends and family at Belle Isle Estate, a castle in Fermanagh. Jabay and Sanford made Playbills for their wedding, which were used to feature the guests that were the "First to RSVP" and "Next to Get Married"; run photos of their cats, Bernie and Bonnie; and to illustrate all the steps of their planning. Leading up to their big day, Jabay and Sanford had 438 email exchanges and pinned 448 items on Pinterest! 

Below, the newlyweds shared how their wedding Playbill made them feel like stars in their own show. 

Tell us about yourselves. How long have you been together, and how did you meet?
Kimberly Jabay: We’ve been together since 2017. We met the traditional way, through Bumble. Just your classic 21st-century love story. Justin had a picture with his plants on his profile, and Kim’s first message said, “You had me at Plant Dad.”

When did you know that each other was “The One?” 
Justin Sanford: For me it was just the process. Being able to see each other at our highest and lowest points reveals our inner truths. Then one day, you wake up realizing you can’t imagine life without them. 

Jabay: I know it sounds cliche, but when you know, you really do know. I remember not having to worry where things were headed, I just felt at peace with what we have and our relationship.

What were some of the most challenging moments in your wedding planning? 
Destination wedding means use your imagination through pictures and emails. You don’t get to see the venue, taste the catering, or meet the people in person. It definitely leaves a sliver of doubt on whether you’re planning correctly.

What was the most rewarding moment of your wedding day? 
Sanford: Pulling off all my dances! 

Jabay: Seeing all of our family and friends merge and have fun together!

What major milestones are you looking forward to experiencing as a couple?
Traveling to a continent we’ve never been and possibly moving across the country.

What was the first Broadway show you attended as a couple? 
Hadestown.

How have the performing arts played a role in your love story? 
Jabay: I’m a choir teacher who’s involved in theatre production at my high school. The arts are always a part of my life and incorporating it in our wedding just made sense.

What drew you to PLAYBILLDER for your special event? 
We love that it's different from the traditional wedding program and that we got to add a lot of personal and meaningful touches to it.

How did each of you participate in the creation of your Playbill? 
We both played an equal part in creating our wedding Playbill. It felt like a fun group project where we added our own ideas and personalities to bring to life.

How did your guests respond to seeing the Playbill for the first time?
They loved it!

How did PLAYBILLDER impact your wedding planning as a resource?
PLAYBILLDER made us feel like the stars of our own little show! It was such a fun way to share our story, wedding party, and even add our pets in. It added personality and a sense of theatre to the day.

Would you recommend PLAYBILLDER to other couples planning for their big day?
Absolutely! 100%!

To design Broadway-quality programs for your next show or special event, head to PLAYBILLDER.com. Who knows, you might just be featured in our next PLAYBILLDER Spotlight! And if you are looking for a beautiful way to display your Playbills, click here to purchase Playbill frames.