Feb 26, 2018 | Weddings
It looks as if we had planned it this way all along, doesn’t it? (Photo courtesy of Gold Grid Studios.)
From time to time I like to share these Success Stories with you. They are all about how your wedding planner saves the day! (Hey, someone’s got to pat me on the back once in a while, even if it’s myself.) Besides, these are the things I really enjoy about my job: I get to make someone’s wedding day better. Here’s one from last summer.
The bride and groom were a fairly laid-back couple, but they were having an enormous wedding at the Notebaert Nature Museum. The ceremony was to be in the courtyard; cocktails inside the museum; and dinner on the rooftop terrace. Naturally, we had back-up rain plans for both the ceremony and dinner.
Well, the weather was extremely iffy. It was quite hot and humid, and there were definitely thunderclouds on the horizon. I had been watching the weather forecast for several days to see if we could predict which way it would go–and it just would not settle down to be one thing. It even changed a couple of times after I checked in the morning of the wedding day.
The ceremony was early enough in the evening that we were pretty sure that we could get it in before there was any rain. So, we set it up outdoors. And, being optimists, the caterer and I decided we would set up dinner outdoors, too. The weather really did look, then, as if it would hold for the evening.
Well, it was really one of those changeable days we get in Chicago in the summer. Sure enough, it got to within half an hour of the ceremony time, and the clouds started to look rather threatening. We took a chance on it, though, and started the ceremony as planned. The musicians were prepared for rain: The keyboard player had some (not-so-decorative) plastic sheeting to cover his instrument, and the violinist informed me she would take her instrument indoors if there was rain. (As I’m well aware, even a drop of rain on the finish of a fine violin can change the tone permanently. Violinists don’t take any chances with their expensive instruments.)
About halfway through the ceremony, the drizzle started, but everyone (except the violinist) stuck it out, and it was a lovely ceremony. Meanwhile, the caterer, my assistant, and I put our heads together about what to do next. I knew the couple had a strong preference for having dinner outdoors. But we looked at the weather radar and the forecast and decided that it would be prudent to move the festivities indoors.
Obviously, I couldn’t consult with the couple; they were busy getting married right at that moment. So, I had to make the call on their behalf. After all, that’s what I do: Look after the best interests of my clients. I took the responsibility and we decided to move all the tables indoors. Thank goodness for a caterer with enough staff to do all that in a short time!
I found the couple during cocktail hour and explained the decision we had made. They were sad about having to change plans, but they understood that it would make their guests a lot happier. I have to say, the mother of the groom was thrilled that she would be spending the evening in air conditioning!
And it all turned out beautifully. The guests were perfectly happy with an indoor reception. It rained enough that no one would have wanted to eat dinner in it. There were still s’mores on the terrace for dessert, so everyone got to enjoy the view. (The rain had stopped by that time, mostly.) Dinner was a success, the dancing was superb, and it was a wonderful wedding.
Feb 19, 2018 | Weddings
I don’t know about you, but I never get tired of looking at wedding photos. Here are some from last summer. It was at one of my all-time favorite venues, The Grove in Glenview. Refined Dining did the catering, including the cake. Flowers were by Morning Glory. The fabulous Rev. Darrell Jones was their officiant. All photos are by Mike Staff Productions, who also provided the DJ and the videographer.
The beautiful bride, with her bouquet from Morning Glory.
The bride was accompanied down the aisle by her two brothers.
The ceremony was in The Grove’s gazebo, with Rev. Darrell Jones officiating.
The unity candle ceremony.
Cocktail hour was on the terrace of the historic house.
And the reception was in the covered outdoor pavilion.
The gift table.
A better view of those adorable mini-chalkboards used for place cards.
The guest book.
Floral centerpieces from Morning Glory.
The simplest wedding cake I’ve ever seen.
There was plenty of dancing!
The pavilion at night.
Feb 12, 2018 | Budget Planning
Even a very small wedding can benefit from having a coordinator.
There are two major reasons people don’t hire a wedding planner or coordinator: First, they think they don’t need one. Second, they think they can’t afford one. I’ve addressed the first issue in the past. Today, let’s talk about how a wedding planner or coordinator has an impact on your wedding budget.
Hiring a day-of coordinator for your wedding can add a few thousand dollars to your budget (depending on which coordinator you hire). It’s usually less than 10% of the budget, unless you have a very small budget. Is that the end of its impact on your budget? Hardly!
When you hire a coordinator, you can actually save money. And the earlier you hire, the more likely your coordinator will be able to help you save money. One of the things that makes weddings expensive is the fact that a great many people getting married have never planned a wedding before and can get trapped into spending more than necessary.
That is one of the reasons why I encourage my clients to keep in touch with me as they plan. Let’s say you hire me to coordinate your wedding as soon as you have a date, maybe a year in advance. You can always drop me a note or call me up when you have a question or problem. Chances are, I have an economical solution.
I was talking to a woman recently who was a couple of months away from her wedding. She was thinking about hiring a coordinator, but before we were able to have a discussion about it, her budget blew up and she decided she couldn’t afford me. I kept thinking what a shame it was that she hadn’t hired me much earlier and given me a chance to prevent the budget blow-up in the first place.
So, when you’re making your budget, include a reasonable amount for coordination. In the long run, your budget will thank you.
Feb 5, 2018 | Weddings
I worked on the loveliest little wedding last summer. The two people who got married are in science, with a lot of friends who are also in that field. They are both also handicrafters. The bride knitted the gorgeous lace shawl that she wore on her wedding day, and the groom crocheted all the flower decorations–including the bride’s bouquet! I’ve never seen anything like it. Take a close look at these beautiful photos from Allison Williams Photography for all the ways that science and hand crafts had a part in their very special day.
The ceremony was at Berger Park in Edgwater. The reception was at Bistro Campagne in Lincoln Square. Guitar music was provided by John Behling. Truffles came from Katherine Anne Confections. And the trolley was from 2nd City Trolley.
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