Venue Tour

Wow. I've literally been MIA from the blog BUT I've been so busy and I feel so blessed. Since opening my Etsy shop in June, I have been getting between 5-10 sales a week so that has been keeping me busy daily as I have to physically put all the favors together - another blog for another day.

Check out my Etsy Shop in the meantime! --> https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBridalBinder?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

I finally found time to sit down and write a little blog to update everyone. My last blog I announced that I had met by business goal, to book 3 weddings in my first year! I still can't believe I met my goal in just 6 months!! The past few weeks, my goal has become a reality and I am just two short weeks away from coordinating my first wedding on August 31st!

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About 3 weeks ago I had my first venue walk through with the couple who's reception I am coordinating on August 31st. I have to say I was quite nervous to be honest as I was driving to the venue. I had left in plenty of time in case I got lost or had trouble finding the venue. I arrived with 10 minutes to spare! I had booked this wedding via a phone consultation so I didn't officially meet the couple until the venue walk through. We had communicated via phone and email a few days prior and so the bride had emailed me the vendor list, seating chart and a few details to review during the walk through. I had my folder and notes in hand as I walked up to meet them, I was ready and full prepared for the venue walk through. I texted the bride-to-be that I had arrived, she let me in the venue and I finally met the happy couple for the first time. Let me tell you, they are the sweetest!

My nerves had subsided (briefly) as we said our hellos, shook hands, "it's so nice to finally meet you," but as we started to walk the venue and discuss details and placement of everything, my nerves went away and I was so comfortable with the couple. As we walked every inch of the venue, we went over the venue map she had sent, asked my opinions on ideas and I gave her my honest feedback. She is just as organized and detail-oriented as I am so our minds think a lot a like.

It was going so well!

The venue is actually the ballroom at their condo complex so they were very familiar with everything. As they were informing me on the details, I took notes and they seemed very impressed with my attention to detail. After we completed the walk through we sat down to discuss the details she was having trouble finalizing. She needed to figure out food signs for the buffet table and she made a comment that she had a few birch wood escort card holders leftover and I suggested to her to use those and either type or hand-write the name of the dishes to insert into the wood. "Perfect, I didn't even think of that," she said, "I'll be able to utilize them all!" Listen, I am all about saving money and I was so glad she had enough holders leftover to use for the buffet table. Incorporating the birch wood holders would help tie in everything together too and add some decor to the buffet table.

We wrapped things up and I informed her I would finalize and confirm details with vendors and assured her to reach out to me with any further questions or concerns. The consult lasted for about an hour and in the end, I was very happy with the way things went. So many nerves and emotions but all well worth it. I felt very satisfied and confident with the consult and was looking forward to coordinating their reception that much more.

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This wedding is a little different and I won't be coordinating a ceremony, just a wedding reception. The couple is currently traveling on the west coast and will be getting married on a mountain top next week. What?! I cannot wait to see those photos! They have a videographer to film their wedding ceremony and this will be played prior to the reception after cocktail hour. Their wedding photos will be shown via a slideshow during cocktail hour which is on the dance floor prior to reception. The flow works so well and I cannot wait to see their ceremony video.

The past two weeks I have been putting together a detailed timeline for the reception. Four pages later, I confirmed the final outline with the bride on Monday as they left the state to travel for two weeks yesterday. In the meantime and specifically within the past 24 hours, I have been in communication with the vendors confirming their arrival and departure, answering their questions and confirming if they are in need of anything else.

I look forward to working with these vendors.

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If you have read the blog up until now, I appreciate you for doing so. Sorry if I bored you but I tend to continue to ramble. I know the wedding is going to be a LONG day but I am looking forward to it. After this wedding, I plan to look back and better myself for the next two weddings I have booked thus far.

My motto for this first year is "booked, busy and blessed"-- I never thought this business would thrive as much as it has in it's first year, let alone the first 7 months but I am extremely grateful and enjoying every moment.