Posted by Caroline Crown, whose wedding is featured in our Fall issue
Yesterday, I shared some of my planning tips when it comes to destination weddings. I was lucky enough to work with Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events and thought it'd be nice to share some additional tips straight from a pro. Here are some things that came into play when planning my wedding, which will help any of you getting married in the colder months when there's a chance of rain, snow, and chilly air. Here's what he had to say.
1. Have a Plan B that you actually like!
A simple no-nonsense rain plan involves reserving a ceremony (and/or dinner!) backup location, or putting a tent on hold with your venue or local rental company.
Saturday, 11.29.08, when Caroline & Keat got married, turned out to be a gray, rainy day with a dampness and a chill that we were determined to overcome. Plan A was a ceremony outdoors in the centuries-old Octagonal Gardens at Middleton Place. A few days out, we watched the forecast and made a bold decision to move the ceremony indoors to the Pavilion, which we had on hold as a rain backup for the ceremony. The beauty of our Plan B is how seamlessly it unfolded. We had long ago planned to flood the back-up venue with an abundance of varying votive light for warmth and drama. The simplicity of hanging hundreds of votives from the beamed ceiling resulted in a breathtaking scene as the guests filed in from their trolleys, happy to settle into a lovely environment. Remember: Spontaneity can be a plus!
2. Pretend You're a Guest
When worrying over a flawed design idea, event flow sticking point, or concern over guest comfort, we often ask ourselves: 'What would I feel like if I were a guest, walking through this wedding?' Here, we did the same thing. For starters, we bagged up gigantic piles of fresh towels for toweling off anything that needed drying. Secondly, we invested in plenty of nice, white golf umbrellas big enough to cover 2-3 heads at once. Next, we arranged for staff to be on hand at every step to play "personal umbrella holder" to guests stepping across the plantation grounds. (Think P. Diddy!) Lastly, we dropped down tent sides and added canon-blown heat to the dinner tent in lieu of the unsightliness and limited reach of mushroom heaters.
3. Play "shepherd"
We are often asked if transportation is necessary, as it can pose a financial and logistical challenge to brides planning for their big day. Destination weddings come with their own layers of presumed modern-day etiquette, including the notion that rental cars aren't necessary and guests will be shuttled to/from each and every function. While this isn't always feasible for each and every bride, it is certainly something to remember to aim for when budgeting for the big day. When possible, planning to shuttle guests about town in a streamlined fashion can be the element that makes them feel completely confident and secure in their enjoyment of the evening.
Transportation provides an automatic safety net if guests over-indulge. Secondly, it assures the timeliness of the event's agenda, as guests are "captive" for the most part, and planners and other professionals can ensure a speedy arrival and departure. Lastly, it is that special touch that very well may cap off a guest's entire perception of how well-received he or she has been for the wedding weekend.
For Caroline and Keat's wedding weekend, we had a lot of fun utilizing several different local vendors to "shake up" the way guests were moved about Charleston each day. On Thursday night, we deployed sleek black sprinter vans to move them in style. On Friday night, we used a bevy of British black cabs to/from the William Aiken House. On Saturday, we lined up old-fashioned trolleys to take them on the 45 minute trek to Middleton Place.
4. Welcome them with Local Flavor
We worked closely with the families to plan for darling little welcome bags aimed at introducing guests to Charleston. Caroline will be talking about all the goodies inside tomorrow!
