How to keep the bride at peace during a storm (literally)
- sincerelyplanned
- Nov 30, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 12, 2021
July 22, 2017
A Lovely Day! Two hearts became one family.
It was a sunny day with a 71% chance of rain, Summer 2017 in Clinton, Maryland a suburb of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. The lovely couple, the former Danna Scott and Giovanni Williams entrusted their nuptials day in the hands of our team at Sincerely Planned, LLC. We prayed petitioning to hold the rain and you know what, not only did it rain, it stormed! The wind came through during set up and blew the tent structure (almost taking a few people with it) into the neighboring property, all while we kept the bride at bay inside. We quickly asked the family to close all the curtains, turn up the music and keep her unaware of any of the craziness. This is a bride's worst nightmare for an outside wedding ceremony. The last thing we needed after all our work was for nerves to convince her that this was a "sign" and the next thing you know we could possibly have a run away bride to add to the horror.
We stayed positive and professional to try and salvage what the wind did not destroy and worked double time as guests are soon arriving. All's well that ends well as they say, but let's start from the beginning.
We began our journey with the Williams Wedding at the top of the year, January 2017.
The bride is a very dear friend of our CEO and we aimed to capture her vision with every detail. We gifted our clients with a bottle of wine with a custom label we made to share in the excitement!
The laid back couple was hands on in prepping for this vintage rustic themed wedding that represented their fun loving personalities.
We began laying out planning providing our clients with a wedding checklist including a timeline and budget template. And then the fun began!!!
The bride provided details and samples of items she wanted for the big day. We provided a vision board and began to secure the venue.
We planned a day of site visits to local venues. 1st stop was Robin Hill Farm in Brandywine, Maryland. The couple fell in love with the ambiance and layout to accommodate the theme that we cancelled remaining appointments and looked no further.
Stationary needed to be finalized and mailed with the secured venue so we went to work designing custom invitations, RSVP and gift registry cards for printing. We worked with the bride and her family to produce the mason jar favors that we created paper embellishments using items from our Stamp Up brand consulting inventory. We shared a Pinterest Board and designed a program template using a combination of the favorite ideas. The bride wanted something functional for outdoors and the double sided fan was perfect.
We scheduled and accompanied the trial make-up day with a local Make Up Artist. The bride found her gown at a vintage consignment store and we worked with our preferred seamstress at SowD'Stiches owned by Ms. Della Walker. We accompanied the bride and met with Ms. Della and the bridal party for a day of measurements for the tulle skirts to be worn by the bridesmaids and dresses for the flower girls.
The couple disappointingly lost the venue date and moved forward with preparing their backyard for the ceremony. The large yard was flat and in good condition. It had a few trees used to prop a draped arch background. We searched and helped the couple secured a black and white checkered flooring to cover the ceremony area and rented white chairs for guests. As well as a table with two barrel legs. DJ Milly rocked the evening audio and music. Family businesses were hired that provided the large tents for the reception tables and catering display of a tasty barbecue grill and feast.
All set for the big day, the forecast has proven to be on target but no rain yet. We reset as much as we could, guest have arrived and have the front yard is full, let's go people, let's get ready to rumble!!! We dash and do a quick change to look presentable, the bridesmaids are in line and the clouds are moving in. And they're off, the music is keyed and the procession begins, each bridesmaid and groomsman couple comes in does something impromptu and keeps on down the aisle, just like we rehearsed. The flower girls proud and pretty and then the ring barrier. All rise, Here Comes The Bride!!!!
As fate would have it, the couple was able to make it through the exchange of vows as drizzles began to fall. The officiant quickly gets through the exchange and just after the kiss he announces Mr. and Mrs. Williams and the sky began to open up! The families dashed into the two large tented areas for refuge and stayed until the rain finally let us some about 20 minutes later.
The sun did come back out and the newlyweds were able to enjoy each other and their family the rest of the evening with food, dancing, lots of laughs and all smiles. Blessings to the Williams' and the day two hearts became one family. Bill Withers Lovely Day was chosen and the lyrics we can agree, it was indeed a Lovely Day.
When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face
When someone else instead of me
Always seems to know the way
Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day.....
~Bill Withers Lovely Day
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