For Lisa and Bryan’s wedding, I was asked to do a Full Day-Of Coordination. What that means is we meet 1-2 times prior to the wedding to do a knowledge transfer. This is where I get to learn what they have planned, get a better idea of their vision for the day (along with a lot of inspiration photos!), and get a listing of their current vendor team. We also review the timeline and I offer any advice that may be of assistance as we go through the plans. More often than not, we will come to a few areas of wedding planning that the bride and groom haven’t thought of, so these prep meetings are a great way for us to collaborate and make sure every detail has been considered. On the backend, I am reaching out to the vendors to introduce myself and connect so they know who I am and I can see if they need any information so they can do their job well.
The lead up to the wedding, there was slight concern for the weather as there had been a forecast of rain (it was a backyard wedding, so everything was outside), but the only rain that fell was during the night before, and if wiping down chairs is all that needs to be done on the day of, we can certainly take care of that! I always advise my brides and grooms that wedding rehearsals are imperative, and it made for a wonderful opportunity to meet the immediate family and get to know how caring and supportive Lisa and Bryan’s families are.
The day of the wedding was perfect. Set-up ended up being a little more than I had anticipated, but the family jumped in whole-heartedly and took directions like seasoned pros! (One thing to remember about DIY backyard weddings is that you don’t have venue staff to jump in, so set-up ends up being a bigger job than you will ever anticipate and you really do need a team – my one flaw is that I think I can do it all, with the intentions of making sure the family just gets to enjoy the day, but it’s ok to know when you need help and ask for it!) Lisa’s vision for the decor was stunning and she sourced vast amounts of pieces to pull it all together (a garage-full!). What can I say other than my brides have stellar taste and vision!
One of the things I loved about doing this wedding is that I got to watch my husband officiate this special and intimate ceremony (shameless plug!). I love watching him be in his zone and the ceremony he created with Lisa and Bryan was elegant and beautiful. (He’s also my assistant, so he wore many hats that day and jumped between them seamlessly, as I knew he would. It also helps that I have lovely friends who can jump in to help me when he is wearing his second hat – thank you Miranda!)
It truly was a pleasure to spend this day with Lisa, Bryan, their families and their friends and help make their dream wedding a reality. Thank you Lisa and Bryan for letting me play a small part in it.
Congratulations Lisa and Bryan, may your marriage be filled with Simple Blessings!
Special thanks to:
Jesse Duncan, Get You Married – Officiant
Hannah Bacon, Retro Radiance Photography (credit to Hannah for the professional couple photos included in this portfolio piece) – Photography
Fiesta Ottawa – Rentals
Shawn Traversy, Traversy Catering – Caterer
Ottawa Toilets – Rentals
Nesserine Hdr, Ness Beauty Makeover – Makeup Artist and Stylist
Venue – thank you Jasmine and Dan for hosting!
Joseph Gauvin, DJ Joe & Co – DJ
