Sometimes in life you meet people and just click. When I met Kristen and Chris for the first time, it was like we had been friends for years. They had so many fun ideas for their wedding day that would make it unique to them. It was a little unconventional because they lived in Oregon and were planning a wedding here in Richmond, Virginia. When they hired me the first thing I did is start to build trust. They listened to all of my vendor suggestions and because of this, their day ran smoothly. Once the vendors were booked, then came the fun part of figuring out all the details!
A small intimate ceremony on Brown’s Island, then a fun cocktail hour at Circuit Bar (where Kristen and Chris first met) followed by a reception at Blue Bee Cider. We had ZZQ for dinner, The Sugar Cube for specialty drinks and then Gelati Celesti for dessert. They wanted their guests to really have the full Richmond experience. Multiple places, vendors and a flawless timeline would ensure this would work. A year of planning, meet ups when they came into town and many zoom calls later every single detail was completely planned out perfectly. Until Hurricane Ian decided to come to town…
This is where a year of building trust comes into play. The week of the wedding a new plan was created. I knew it wasn’t ideal but with a hurricane on the way things had to change. I was able to secure a tent for the reception and used the spaces they had booked to ensure a dry ceremony. So with the new plan in place just days before the wedding everything was coming together. The day of the wedding it rained, and rained and rained. To anyone else it might have put a damper on the day but not Chris and Kristen. They arrived smiling, and a little teary eyed because it was their day and it was perfect! I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect couple to handle this storm! The rain did not stop them from getting married, getting photos or even doing a confetti entrance! Even if I followed them around with an umbrella, it’s all part of the job.
Bunn DJ Frankie kept the party going the entire night and even had a few guests dancing in the rain. When the song says “feel the rain on your skin” you experience it firsthand. The up lighting we picked out created such a warm ambiance and a cozy environment. The dance floor was packed the entire time and everyone, regardless of the outside storm partied until the end! The Sugar Cube setup close to the reception area so people were able to get drinks and stay mostly dry. The day was filled with so many emotions but ultimately laughter and love.
You never know what issues can arise the week of your wedding, but having someone with experience to help make the BEST decision for your event makes a difference. Having a trusting relationship and knowing that we want to give you the absolute perfect event, even in the middle of a hurricane. The difference can be an “epic” wedding or a failed one. Thank you Kristen and Chris for completely trusting me from the beginning. I was so honored to be a part of such a memorable day and continuing following your journey! This wedding goes down in the books as one of the most successful even given all the circumstances.
