Behind The Scenes Of Mint To Be

On the wedding day, Brittany and I work our @$$es off to ensure that our clients and their family, friends, vendors and guests are relaxed, comfortable and having a memorable and fun day from start to finish! Let's take a behind-the-scene glimpse of what that day looks like for me and my amazing assistant, Brittany!

The Rehearsal
Final Walk: I typically request that my clients meet me on-site at their wedding venue an hour before the rehearsal to walk the property and go over my Itinerary, Layout and Detail Sheet to ensure we haven't overlooked anything or that there haven't been any last minute changes.... which 9 times out of 10, there are changes up to the very hour!

Final Payments: I then ask the bride, groom or family (whom ever is paying) to put all final payments and tips in envelopes with their vendor names labeled on them to disperse the next day, when appropriate. This way the bride does not even have to worry about remembering it. Plus, the bride doesn't see all of the vendors because she is busy getting ready and/or taking photos when they drop off.

Welcome: Once we organize the wedding party and gather everyone together, I always like to welcome them and give them my contact information to store in their phone. That way if there is an issue or question, they won't feel the need to bug the couple or family - they have access to me the entire day.

Decor Swap: After we have run through the rehearsal and everyone feels comfortable, the wedding party is invited to disperse to the dinner and I head to the car with the client(s). I take ALL decorations and special touches (not provided by vendors like the florist, catering, rentals, etc.) off of their hands so that they don't have to worry about transporting it on their big day or setting it up. This also allows me to have it all in my possession incase I arrive to the venue before the bride & groom to set up (which is the case most of the time). My DIY brides really love this!

The Big Day
Arrival: Brittany and I arrive at the venue as early as we are allowed on-site! Even if the set up is simple. We walk the venue to ensure everything looks tip-top and unload to set up our part. If the bride, groom, family and/or wedding party is on-site getting ready, the first thing we do is go say hello and ensure that they have everything they need and are relaxed.

Vendor Arrival: Typically after we have been there for an hour or so, some of the earlier vendors begin to show up. We welcome them, show them where to set up and see if they need any assistance. We are ALL about working together. If a vendor needs some help or is running a little behind, we are there however they need! And vise-versa, of course.

Checking In: Brittany and I typically check in with the bride/bridesmaids and the groom/groomsmen a couple times throughout set up to ensure they aren't in need of anything or don't have any questions.  A lot of time they will want me to show them photos of the set up, so we make sure to snap some as the set up comes along. We also usually make a visit once the flowers have arrived to pin on the boutonnieres.

Final Walk-Through: Brittany and I do a final walk through with the layout and detail sheet to ensure everything is out, prepared and ready for guest arrival. We also ensure that anything/area that needs to be flipped by us is set! (ex.- games, guest book/gift table, photos, etc.)

Guest Arrival: The very lovely Brittany typically welcomes guest and directs them to the ceremony area while I am with the bride/bridesmaids.

Line Up: We then collectively, get the wedding party lined up and in order - while also hiding them from the guest AND hiding the bride from her groom (this actually takes more than you think but we always have it planned out and Brittany is a rockstar!)

Cuing: Not only for the ceremony, but for the reception as well and highlighted events, we cue other vendors - such as the DJ, musicians, photographers, officiant, etc., while also attempting to be inconspicuous and hidden.

Directional: After the ceremony, we work quickly to get the wedding party away for photos and the guest to the designated cocktail hour location! This can be a tricky one as well depending on the guest count and layout of the venue but a lot of times, our lovely venue coordinators will assist us! :)

Photo Check In: During cocktail hour we not only ensure everything is set for the reception to open up, that dinner is still on schedule and that the guest have everything they need and know where to go, BUT we also like to check in with the photographer to ensure all vendors are prepared for introductions after photos and that they have everyone needed for the photos. I typically offer to grab the bride and groom and wedding party drinks as well to help keep on track. Sometimes the wedding party wants to run to the bar, which can delay photos so we take care of it!

Highlighted Events: As mentioned before, we line everyone up, give 5 minute warnings, check the timeline and cue vendors for all highlighted events. Typically the following; Introductions, first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, toasts, blessing, wedding games, bouquet toss, garter toss, last dance & exit). Our amazing DJ's and MC's are ALWAYS ontop of these and help make the announcements and get guest organized and paying attention. We also ensure that everyone who is needed is prepared and there; whoever is giving the toast, mom & dad are there for the cake cutting, the bride has a chair for the garter toss and infact is WEARING HER GARTER! haha.

Vendor Check In: NOT that vendors can't follow a timeline but we do check in with vendors constantly throughout the night so that everyone is in the know and on the same timeline. Wedding timelines change throughout the night! Photos may finish a little later and we need to bump introductions back 10 minutes... then the DJ may notice that guest seem a tad bored and he wants to bump up the dancing 20 minutes.... then the bride and groom might decide they want to dance just a little longer and we are back on the timeline for the cake cutting! We also check in to make sure they don't need water, know when they can go through the dinner line, etc.

Clean Up: Typically there is a (small) point in the night, during dancing, where we have some down time. Although this is down time, Brittany and I are usually still working haha. We grab your ceremony decor and start packing it away to be taken back to the designated car. We don't clean up ANYTHING that is in an area where guest still are but as the night goes on, we clean up the bridal suite, the ceremony location, the extra items that weren't needed - and go ahead and pack them up. We also flip the gifts to a designated car, that way they are ready to go when the bride and groom are!

Finishing Up: As soon as the final song is played and the grand exit has been coordinated, Brittany and I go to work! We clean up the rest of the decor, ensure the bride & groom have to-go boxes of food, pack up any left over cake, take boxes to the designated car and help any vendors who need some assistance with their clean up. Once everything is packed up, we check in with vendors and the venue to ensure that there is nothing else we need to assist with before leaving! If any client items are left over, we take them and return them typically within 10 days.

There are MANY other smaller behind the scene items that we take care of, like chalkboard signs, emergencies, etc. that vary from wedding to wedding. We LOVE what we do, which makes it easy for us to work our asses off for each and every client from start to finish and also have fun and goof off together (behind the scenes ofcourse!). If you pay attention, you can often find us laughing and dancing and goofing off privately in a corner somewhere during downtime (or crying if its the Father-Daughter dance!!!!) Although we really only sit down for a break maybe once or twice in the 8-12 hour day, we truly enjoy watching everyone have fun and celebrate love. We work along side wonderful vendors and make a team effort for a seamless wedding for the bride, groom, family, friends and guest!

Contact us today to coordinate your special day!

"WORRY LESS, LOVE MORE!"

MINT TO BE WEDDINGS: www.minttobeweddings.com
EMAIL: Caroline@minttobeweddings.com
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/mint_to_be_weddings
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/minttobeweddings

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