Association of Bridal Consultants

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REAL WEDDING | PHILADELPHIA

Screen-Shot-2016-03-28-at-8.43Planner: Lynda Barness, MWP™, I DO Wedding Consulting,www.idoplan.com, lynda@idoplan.comLength of time in industry: 11 yearsPhotographY: Shea Roggio Photography Businesses involved: Clair Pruett Studios (videography), Ruby the Fox (stationery/signage), Magnet Studio (save-the-dates), Linda Carol Gray (calligraphy), EBE Paris (music), Rabbi Robin Frisch (officiant), Beautiful Blooms (lighting), Frannie’s Fancies (floral/decor), Vie (venue/catering), Philadelphia Sightseeing (transportation), Margate Moonlight (signature drink), Diane’s Water Ice, Chicago Factory (cake topper)Screen-Shot-2016-03-28-at-8.42Wedding date: June 27, 2015Guest count: 281The couple: Though the couple is interfaith, they chose a Jewish ceremony. The Rabbi crafted a beautiful one that combined many traditions. The couple wrote and read their own vows, which was such a personal, humorous, and moving experience for them (and for all). Involvement: Consulting, plus wedding-day directionInspiration: Butterflies were the inspiration. The bride’s maternal grandmother passed away when the bride was nine. The grandmother knew she was dying and wanted to help make some sense of it for her granddaughter. She told her granddaughter that she would always be there for her—that when the girl saw a butterfly, she would know her grandmother was watching over her. As it happened, a butterfly appeared at the cemetery, and this was proof positive for the family.Screen-Shot-2016-03-28-at-8.36Aha” design moment: Definitely, I was inspired by the butterflies when I first heard the story.Most unique design element: The butterflies! To an onlooker who didn’t know the story, it appeared that there was simply a butterfly motif. The bride’s aunt, during the ceremony, explained the significance of the butterflies. Paper butterflies hung inside the chuppah and from the ceiling in the ballroom and they were on the escort cards and in the bride’s bouquet (along with a photo of her grandmother). There was supposed to be a live butterfly release, but there was a torrential rainstorm and the ceremony had to be moved inside. Regardless, the butterfly memories were aloft in the heart of the bride.Color palette: Black and white Screen-Shot-2016-03-28-at-8.31Budget: UnavailableStaff hours: Approximately 25Planning time: Seven months. There were many, many details, and the timeline was 32 pages long (including the backup information for the team).Number of meetings: Three face-to-face meetings were involved, plus many phone calls and more than 700 emails.Set up/strike details: It was originally to be an outdoor wedding, but rain required us to set-up indoors. This, of course, meant that there had to be a major turn of the room while guests were at an adjacent cocktail reception. The venue team and florist did a stellar job, including vacuuming the remains of the confetti poppers on the carpet. Screen-Shot-2016-03-28-at-8.30Revenue breakdown: 100% planningBiggest challenge: The bride had her heart set on an outdoor ceremony and a butterfly release. Unfortunately, the rain was torrential. When the bride and her entourage arrived at the venue, the bride stepped out of the trolley and fell, so when she walked in, she was upset, wet, and scared. She went to the bride’s getting-ready room and took off her slightly wet and stained dress. I used chalk to get lots of grey marks covered, and the dress looked better. The bride made a terrific recovery and walked down the aisle as if nothing had happened.Learnings: I will carry a small bathrobe in my emergency kit. When the bride took off her gown after she fell, I gave her my jacket to cover up! WPM