Wedding: Coordinated.

Just when I thought our wedding venue couldn’t make wedding planning easier, they did.

Up until this past weekend, Ryan and I had been working with Michael, our event designer.  He took care of all the initial details, helping us work out a menu, floor plan logistics, and sketching out the basic timeline.  He gave us multiple tours of the venue, even in the windy October snowstorm, and provided all the info we didn’t know we needed to get the basic plan done.  But two months before your wedding, Herrington assigns a coordinator to run the big day, and ensure our reception is set up just the way we want it.  This past weekend we met Krissy, our coordinator, and found out about more little details we hadn’t ever thought about.

As soon as Krissy sat down with us to discuss the wedding timeline and other details, our favorite chef showed up with treats.  Chef Tom whips up the killer baked goods at Herrington, including a fab coffee cake and the best crusty French bread I’ve ever tasted.

This fateful morning found us sampling his German chocolate coffee cake (an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast? OK!) and the raspberry cheesecake lollipops.  The coffee cake was great, but the cheesecake bites dipped in dark chocolate were even better.  I’d gotten to try them on a previous visit with my parents, but it was Ryan’s first time.  And he was sold.  We’ll be serving them at our rehearsal dinner for sure.

As we snacked, we discussed a ton of details and Krissy asked really good questions that helped me identify which parts of our plan needed more thinking-through. We also found out just how detailed we could get with our setup requests.

At one point Krissy suggested that we could have flower petals scattered on our tables, and I said “but who will clean them up?”  Her response:  “I will, or we have staff to do that.”  Makes sense, but it was one of those little moments when it hit me that for once I’m planning a party but I don’t have to do all the work.  It’s so exciting.   I am sewing (big surprise?) table runners for all the long tables, such as the gift table.  I will write a list of how to set things up, and do a mock table setup at home to get a photo, and then I give that to Krissy and she makes sure everything is set up just how we want it.

Now you may be thinking “Duh, Jane, this is how weddings work” – but I’m not used to having this kind of help, and I’m really appreciating that this is the level of service our venue provides.  The concept that we’ll be able to have everything set up the way we want it – but not have to be racing around doing it ourselves before the wedding – well, that rocks.

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After our meeting, Ryan and I went over to the ceremony site to check some details.

It’s so naked since the palm trees and other tropical plants were removed for the winter, and the new ones haven’t gone in yet.

Despite that, it’s still pretty nice to look at.

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This weekend I have my bachelorette festivities, and I get to pick up my gown.  My bridesmaids and I have collected 13 assorted dresses in the lacey / taupe-y / chiffon-y style that I was looking for, so we’re sure to have a good dress for each bridesmaid.  Photos week!