Metropolitan Weddings Podcast
Metropolitan Weddings Podcast
A Metropolitan Love Story: Meet the Planner Misty Willinger Events
Today is a continuation of our earlier podcast A Metropolitan Love Story: Meet The Couple James and Sierra. We sit down and chat with not only the planner of the event, Misty Willinger with Misty Willinger Events, we also get to chat with our very own Dawn, who happens to be the mother of the bride. If you are looking for a true to life testimonial and behind the scenes anecdotes, this is for you. A real life wedding planning experience from those involved.
Welcome to Metropolitan Weddings. I'm Meg, I'm Dawn, and we are here to educate couples with information from wedding professionals in the industry.
Speaker 2:Our goal is to make the wedding planning process as seamless as possible by providing you with insight from industry professionals.
Speaker 1:Okay, couples, let's get this party started. Sorry, hot pockets, hot pockets, oh my gosh. So today's podcast is going to take a little bit of a different spin.
Speaker 3:We're actually going to be interviewing Dawn. Hello, there you go.
Speaker 1:And well, we'll introduce Misty in a second. We're going to be interviewing Dawn, even though she's like one of the hosts of the podcast. But she had an idea and we thought it was amazing where, since she's just kind of come off this planning process with her daughter and her daughter just got married she wanted to be able to share with our listeners and everyone that's planning a wedding kind of some of the unique thoughts and processes and ideas that she had, especially because of being in the industry for so long and, you know, being one of the people that's at like hundreds and hundreds of weddings as a photographer. So welcome Dawn even though you're always here.
Speaker 1:And Adam Hi, adam Hi. And so, dawn, in knowing that you've seen all of these weddings, what was the first thing that you knew that you were going to? What was the first vendor you hired? Misty, welcome Misty. So, misty from Misty, go ahead and introduce yourself. Here I am.
Speaker 3:Hello, my name is Misty. Go ahead and introduce yourself. Here I am. Hello, my name is Misty Willinger. I am a professional wedding planner and I focus on full wedding planning, which is the experience that I had for Miss Sierra in games.
Speaker 1:I also do day of recording as well coordination as well, and I would say that we put you to the test with this particular wedding, because Dawn had in mind to have everyone in the wedding industry at this wedding.
Speaker 3:We were just going through the laundry list of amazing merchants that were there to help complete this wedding day, so that's a lot of merchant wrangling that you did, misty it is indeed and I I made a joke to don as it goes on a wedding day um that she'll go down in history for having the most wedding vendors in one wedding at one time, for sure, um, a hundred percent. So a lot of wrangling, but also I think it um just how much care you know that don added the whole family put into Sierra and James' wedding, and meticulously. You know handpicking. You know the wedding professionals they wanted to play a role in that day was really really important, you could tell that and special, and so it was curated in a way that was aiming to just do something really special, really unique for Sierra and James and they could look back and say, wow, that really captured every essence of who we are. So long list of vendors, but every single one made such an important impact. It was pretty cool to see it unfold.
Speaker 1:I mean going as a guest and not really. I mean I did my little part, but I mostly walked into it blind. I didn't know a lot of the things that were happening or hadn't seen them, and I will say it was a spectacular event. You guys did a great job. Everything was gorgeous and unique and fun and all of the things so it was. It was very well done. You guys, as well as this team of merchants that all really put their heart and soul and creativity into this day. It shined through.
Speaker 4:So how many independent merchants were there? Like, do we have a total amount?
Speaker 3:Well, 30 seconds I'll have to count.
Speaker 1:It's that many, let's talk about them. Wow, let's talk about, if you're listening start start your fingers. So we have misty. And then we know sierra.
Speaker 2:One of her main things was choosing the venue yeah, so that was first and foremost for them yeah, because I wanted her to have her. You know, whatever venue it is that she wanted to match their style, and she had asked for greenhouse two rivers, which was super convenient for us because it's 10 minutes from our house, so that worked out nicely. So, yeah, I immediately called Caleb. They had like one summer date left, on a Saturday and it actually worked out really well because they have so many out of town guests and they did it on July 1st, which meant that lots of people were going to be off work for the next couple of days, so that worked out well.
Speaker 2:I think that, coming into this, you know I've been shooting weddings for 20 years and been a photographer, so there are literally hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of weddings that I've done, and I've done many at Greenhouse Two Rivers too and I think what was important to me as a mom and in trying to help plan this wedding was to make sure that my daughter's wedding was unique and had its own style versus, you know, so many that I've seen. I didn't want to do the same thing. I wanted to do something different and I was excited to let our wedding vendors do what they were really good at, like not necessarily have to tell everyone I didn't micromanage, put it that way, I didn't try to micromanage anyone. I wanted them to, I wanted their talents to shine through, because if you let them do what they do best, that's when they are at their best. That's true.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I would say, misty, don't you think, like a couple of the things that were important to me? Um was full draping on the ceiling, um which, you know, shannon's custom florals did um. Another thing that.
Speaker 4:So hold on. Yeah, why? Why was that so important to you? Because, a lot of parents and brides and couples. They they don't approach a wedding and be like draping. That's what I really want, so why was that important to you?
Speaker 2:um, because I feel like it takes it to the next level. So when I walk into a venue and the whole thing has been draped out and it's kind of has a little bit of you, walk in and there's that whoa, this is beautiful. And I think I wanted that aha moment for the reception for Sierra and James and for their guests.
Speaker 4:So let's take that down to somebody who's planning a wedding for the first time in their life. What is draping?
Speaker 2:Misty.
Speaker 3:So well, I was going to chime in actually, because I think, you know, we kind of have to paint the picture for our listeners too. You know, when you think of draping, you're like, okay, hang a couple drapes from the ceiling, a couple swoopty-doos, okay, we're good, but there's draping. And then there's draping on a different level, which is Shannon's right. Shannon's husband, coral, is coming in and it takes hours upon hours upon hours for her and Jeff to come in and fully drape the entire ceiling of Greenhouse to reverse, of greenhouse to rivers, and it just adds such an incredible, like fine-tuned elegance and softness in the space. And then mix that with um ozark productions coming in and doing the lighting, um, in addition to that, it completely transforms the space, with or without draping.
Speaker 2:100 that was that was going to be like I, that one of the other things that I was like I absolutely want at her wedding is I want professional lighting. Whenever we're photographing weddings in other locations, lighting like transforms the room. It takes it from looking one way to a completely different way, and whenever, like I said, when we're like in california and all the different places that we photographed over the years rarely did I ever see a wedding.
Speaker 2:We've got to get a good taste yeah different places and how they do things differently and almost always they bring in professional lighting and then you we would get to see the rooms with the lights not turned on, and then the lighting people go, light the room up and you're like, oh my goodness, Like it completely transforms it. So that was yeah, and doing the draping. And then Brian from Creative Lighting coming in, like his lights look better on the drapes. So it also makes a difference.
Speaker 4:I think you you know, whenever you're bringing in a lighting person so to take it kind of back to draping, draping is is when you walk into a venue you'll look up and you'll see their ceiling and ceilings are all different in whatever venue you go into. Draping is basically where you take either sheer or colored or some sort of like curtain type materials and you drape it across the ceiling to kind of create this effect. That's what we mean by draping. So when you're shopping for a venue or looking at things like that, try to think the way we do because we've seen so many weddings and approach and be like how would this look draped?
Speaker 1:We do because we've seen so many weddings and approach and be like how would this look draped?
Speaker 2:And then lit.
Speaker 4:And then lit.
Speaker 2:And then lit, so yeah, and then I think the next thing was I wanted hanging florals, so hold on.
Speaker 4:Before we touch on that and Misty, we'll let you chime in on the hanging florals too, but I think for us so. So, Don and I, this was obviously our family's wedding. We're both photographers, so we've shot weddings for years and years and years and years and we see the photos, we see how they come out. So when you see the photos, you see how the guests are able to see the reception and everything. And that's why we both kind of had the thought of a drapery, because it just creates this different environment. And, being photographers, the lighting was the thing that we were both like. We've got to have Brian there. We have to because we've taken pictures at receptions where people will be dancing during their first dance and all of this creative lighting is on and then they'll do like a final dance when they turn everything off and it's just the chandeliers. Chandeliers are beautiful, but the lighting makes it completely different yeah, it's next level, totally different. So that was kind of our big bucket list thing is we want draping and we want lighting I told.
Speaker 2:I told me it's kind of like, um, I'm like the, the teacher in school who doesn't want to name her child after all the the kids that she's had in class. I was like I don't want our wedding to be the same. As you know, I didn't want Sierra's wedding to be the same as anyone else's.
Speaker 4:There's nothing wrong with that, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Everyone, you know, when you see a lot, everyone's got their own different style at weddings. I just wanted Sierra to have her style and she's, you know, you know. So I wanted it to match her personality and James's personality. So, all right, misty, you can talk a little bit about you know your thoughts.
Speaker 3:No, I absolutely agree with you both. I think, you know, and that stuck with me, dawn, kind of after our first discovered meeting, even with Sierra and James so long ago. You know, sierra really gave us, you know, a color palette and we kind of just went from there and built off of that. So between the draping and the extensive lighting that Brian was able to do and the impact that the color that we brought in, that all of that together made such a difference in that space that it's not something you know when we go back and flip through weddings that we've seen at that particular venue, it's not something you know we see a lot of. And that was really really important to you, dawn, throughout the planning process. It's like where can you make this a little bit unique? And I think we certainly accomplished that in.
Speaker 3:And Pat was the flower merchant coming in and, you know, really working off Sierra's color palette and she was kind of like, you know, just have fun, go from there. It really was cool for Pat just to kind of see what he came up with design-wise. You know, we both really didn't know what to expect. We just knew. You know, pat's been around gosh so long and he's just brilliant at what he does. He's fully trusted his vision and it certainly came across that way for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the hanging flowers when I mean when you walked into that room, that he did were unbelievably stunning. It definitely took it to a completely different level. And I will say, when Siri gave us her color palette, I think all of us me, meg Adam, you, we were like wow this is going to look like Easter eggs.
Speaker 2:So her color palette was lavender, light blue and like light yellow, and we were still yeah, it was very pastel. And it was somewhere in the time of easter when she did tell me what her color. You know, when she told us I should say what her color palette was, and um, and so I was a little nervous about it a true testament to pat uh, the flower merchant.
Speaker 4:We told him the flower colors and he wasn't like. Hmm, he was like okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's like okay Okay.
Speaker 4:Here's what we'll do. Yeah, and just ran with it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, everyone did their part, and I mean Meg did the invitations and she knows Sierra's style, and so when she did the invitations and the florals on the invitations, I mean everything just came together. It was incredible.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know, what was interesting about that color palette was once you know, sierra had said that I, you know, of course, the first thing to do is I go online. I looked at galleries and different blogs and there really just wasn't a lot out there with that color palette to go off of, which was really interesting, and then to see it come to life on the wedding day. It's like we're really kind of now pushing this out there and kind of, you know, it came together so beautifully. It's like now you know we can have access to this and inspire other weddings you know to come, because they're really just there's not a lot of weddings with this specific look, which I thought was really really cool.
Speaker 2:It seems like, yeah, it kind of seems like a lot of weddings I've you know in in the recent past that we've been a part of a lot of them do like the greenery and the white and and that's been a huge timeless which is timeless and beautiful yeah, it's timeless and beautiful. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, but it was fun having the opportunity to bring in a lot of color, um, and color that I was worried about. But, but it all, but it all it all worked out overtake anything.
Speaker 1:No, it didn't. It was just a subtle pop addition, it was just it. It it was woven through everything but it. It wasn't strong, it was yeah it was beautiful.
Speaker 2:It was beautiful and then light and airy and pretty and when and when you and pat were putting the tables together. So another thing that we decided to do at the venue was not use the tables that were there. Um, so a lot of the venues have kind of the long are you?
Speaker 4:are you catching a theme here?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, a long farm.
Speaker 4:Everything was a little unique with this. Like they have really pretty hanging gardens, but let's make them colorful.
Speaker 2:Let's add flowers to them.
Speaker 4:They have tables, but let's bring in our own tables. Exactly.
Speaker 2:And Misty just took it like a pro and was like, okay, we're going to do this, and so yeah, and she made it happen.
Speaker 4:I have to ask her too, because I mean, we've been a part of a lot of weddings but it seems like we had some things kind of interwoven that we had to change and everything and like, how was that process for you, misty?
Speaker 1:Like do you want to ask her that I do?
Speaker 4:No, no, I'd love. I'd love to hear her approach, and I think it would be important for people listening who have these thoughts of like hey, I want to do this, but I don't want to sound bougie, you know. Can I ask a coordinator these things, or am I just being ridiculous?
Speaker 2:Right Cause we have people who say that all the time.
Speaker 4:So how was it for you, Misty, kind of navigating those different things?
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, I think that's a great question and, you know, as part of my process, you know, before I even take on a client and, you know, is really getting to know them as a couple, but also before we book, it's like transparency is so important for our relationship, you know trust has to be there.
Speaker 3:I want to know all of your ideas call them crazy or not the right, I want to hear those so we can sift through those and, you know, make them come to life.
Speaker 3:So, as part of the process, you know, with any of my couples in first year and James, you know, we start with that discovery meeting of peeling back all the layers, like really getting to know them as a couple, what they're interested in, all of that, and then our next phase after that, as we're going through planning always leads us to the florist and the rental company and this is that day, my, you know, the most fun day to have with a couple. And I know Adam, you and Dawn were there too, and Kat from the flower merchant came over. It's kind of our time to just play around. So we've got an empty table and we've got a room full of really incredible items that we can play with, from chargers to plates to linens to everything. So being able to sit with a couple in the family and really do different mock-ups and see you know what they're, what they like, and then like, oh nope, here kind of made a road there so say you found on that one maybe not so much right, it's like it's your wedding right.
Speaker 2:So you know me or pat won't be offended if we go one way or the other, but that's a really cool day to sit with a couple and kind of narrow in on all of their expectations it's funny because that day pat's like um, you were like asking him like what do you think for linens for the table, and he went over and got like that dark blue kind of shiny linen and I'm like, huh, that's interesting, you know, cause that's just not.
Speaker 4:And you have a how's this going to work? Huh, that's interesting kind of tone.
Speaker 2:It was and it was like, was like he. He just stated his reasons because he thought that you know, you could really up your design by how you know what you, with the linens that going with like this certain color, like the darker linens on the table, which, of course, everything you always think of more light and airy and bright, and then you guys put that table together with those dark linens and then when, when you walked into that space, I mean, oh my God, it was absolutely the right call, but I can't say that I can't say that that would have been.
Speaker 4:That was your vision.
Speaker 2:I don't even know if it was my vision. I didn't know. Yeah, I didn't really have a vision for that, but it was interesting watching them work together with people who have designed since for that, and understanding the space and knowing like, okay, if we're gonna have these things hanging from the ceiling, if we're gonna have draping and lighting, and you know, we need to ground it with these darker linens, I don't know. It was just cool watching you guys work together and then walking into the space and being like whoa, it made such a huge difference.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I think the team right. You know it's, it's. It's always important to remember. You know I may push out these photos or the photographer may um Shelby Shantae and Ella.
Speaker 3:Kay did such a great job. Uh, you know photographing everything, but it really does. You know, it's not just one person or the other, I mean it takes all of us kind of sitting down and collaborating and pushing and pulling at an idea to really make it come together as well. And I will tell you this this is a device for couples too. Linen can absolutely transform your wedding day 110% as far as the look goes. You can take, even if you're doing all white linens for your you know entire wedding, if you sprinkle in a five or six floral designed or a pop of color of linens for coctail or something, it can really take your event up a level. No doubt about it.
Speaker 3:And Pat was right with this linen. I've never seen, I've never one used this particular linen and I've never had it in this venue before either. And it was right with this linen. I've never seen, I've never one used this particular linen and I've never had it in this venue before either. And it was like a wow statement when he walked in. So he was spot on with that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was crazy. I was like huh, we'll see how this goes.
Speaker 1:So who all did you use for rental? Because you mixed several things together.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, oh my goodness. So just really quickly who all did you use for rental? Misty probably has the list in front of her. My bad. I should have known.
Speaker 4:So it was funny because at one portion so we had this party at our house before and a vendor showed up and I was like what are you?
Speaker 2:doing here, yeah, so.
Speaker 4:Because I didn't realize they were a part of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah, the, because I didn't realize they were a part of it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the party. The night before. We used something borrowed to do all of our tables and linens and dishes and everything and we had an eventful that dropped off the. Eventful. We had porta potties. Yeah, porta potties, the luxury porta potties.
Speaker 4:It was in July, so eventful actually gave us some.
Speaker 2:The fans. Fans like the misting fans and stuff, the misting fans which made it perfect it was a huge difference.
Speaker 4:Oh, it was so great.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we had all that the night before and then for the wedding. So I'll go off what I can remember, Misty, and then you can fill in any blinks of anyone I missed.
Speaker 2:So for the ceremony we had eventful rental, like linens, and we, like I said, we didn't use the tables that were at the venue, so we brought in rounds and so I thought, yeah, we thought that the rounds would be a great, you know a great way to change up the room. And Misty, you can talk about that. Obviously, pat, with the Flower Merchants. For the flowers we had Nick Keith with all that music that did the DJing Just rentals. And then we had the photo booth, so that's a rental right?
Speaker 4:I don't know, I don't know if that's considered a rental. We could just sit and go down the list.
Speaker 2:And our podcast with Sierra and James. James talked about about the champagne wall. That was done by signature events. What's a champagne wall?
Speaker 3:Misty so, and by the way, me counting up this list, we had 28 wedding professionals, a part of just the wedding day. What was that again 28 28 vendors just for the wedding day that had a part. Wow, we have such.
Speaker 2:I mean honestly. We have such amazing professionals in this community. I'm so honored that they were a part of her wedding.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and it's hard to pick because they're so talented Exactly Well and it's also good insight, for we have an inside track that we've seen all of these different vendors do all these different things at all of these different weddings. So we knew when we approached this wedding it was like, okay, well, we want this vendor because they do this, and we want this vendor because they do that and this one.
Speaker 1:Well, and sierra shut stuff down that don wanted, yeah, and was like there's too much stuff and don was like but it's so cool and she was like mom, so in in in other vendors defense like not every cool thing was shown, because we did have to.
Speaker 2:I mean 28 vendors. Yeah, it is plenty.
Speaker 1:And she does have a say. I suppose I mean it's her wedding.
Speaker 2:So okay, champagne wall yeah.
Speaker 3:Oh, yes, I was going to link that so we didn't do the fog for the first dance. Sierra shut that down she did shut down the fog.
Speaker 2:Yep, the first dance.
Speaker 3:Sierra shut that down. She did shut down the fog. Yep, she was so funny. So when we met one and then I'll get into him all I promise but when we met at Greenhouse, two Rivers one time I was standing next to Sierra and James and um, and I had tossed out the idea, you know, the fog coming up and it'd be so dramatic, and James like kind of leans into me and he says, um, hey, miss Caesar, just so you know, like we're kind of low-key, so that may be like a little much for us, and I said, okay, got it, and I appreciated that it's like, absolutely like where we need to pull the brakes on, we definitely will um, but yeah so a champagne wall.
Speaker 3:Kayla from Stitcher Events and Rental is at a Dublin. She's incredible. She came out and put her champagne wall and basically it's just a structure. Hers is really cute. It has tears on top with a neon and it has champagne flute holders.
Speaker 3:And so what we decided to do was, right after the ceremony obviously it's a hot summer day we had stationed two champagne walls and kind of on the walkway from the ceremony location as guests were walking into cocktail hour that was taking place on the lawn out there.
Speaker 3:And there are a couple reasons reasons we went that way. One um, it's just a really cool I always walk through an event and envision it as a guest is what is the guest experience going to be like from the time they walk out of their car, like, what do they see? What's the sign they see? Um, where do they go? All of that? And from you know, getting done with the ceremony, walking over that beautiful path over to the courtyard, stopping to grab a cold glass of champagne, was a really cool guest experience touch and the other thing that that helps with it helps alleviate that bar traffic as well. So we don't have hundreds of people all in line at the same time. So it's just a cool added touch, makes for great photos, great signage, and it just kind of elevates your experience a little bit.
Speaker 2:And then we did the little.
Speaker 1:Plus they had those cute little. I don't know those little.
Speaker 2:They were like monogrammed. They had their initials on the side that Melissa.
Speaker 3:Casey did those.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they were cool.
Speaker 3:But that was fun. Yeah, melissa did a great job customizing all of the signage. One did her color palette, but also just the fun phrases that were just representative of Sierra and James. But yeah, as each guest had their champagne, there is a little clip on the side that I don't remember what it said. Was it Sierra James?
Speaker 2:It had an S and a J in their date.
Speaker 3:S and a J, like what a cute touch. Yeah, just such a cool little touch that people don't think about. I mean, we got pretty nitty gritty with the details. On this one for sure, you're every vendor. And then also, side note, if you're a bride and you're listening to this and you're like freaking out because we just said we had 28 vendors for one wedding, that's not typically the norm. A lot of times you'll have much less than that.
Speaker 4:I mean, if you want that many, you can.
Speaker 2:We have them the area has them.
Speaker 3:We definitely have them. But we had, you know, every single one of them. They kind of because Don, and of them they kind of because Dot and Sierra, they really kind of let them play. You know, it's like, hey, what are some cool things you want to feature and get out there and photograph. And they did just that and it definitely took it to another level With Melissa.
Speaker 2:we were at a, you know, a Metropolitan Weddings networking meeting and she came up and showed me she goes, look at these cool things. And she showed me the things on the sides of the champagne glass and I was like, oh my gosh, we have to have those. So that's the great thing is, if you ask the vendors, what is it that you're seeing, or what is it that you're loving right now, you might be amazed at what they show you, Cause that that silly thing on the champagne glass I would have never known. I would have even never even known she did that.
Speaker 1:um, yeah, so when she showed it to me, I was like, what a cool personal touch so, anyway, okay, well, for me the thing was it was just so like Melissa is, so she could just do so many darn things. Yeah, when you guys talked about that, I remember she was like I just need to know what size the glasses. And then she talked to Kayla and Kayla told her what side that and then she like literally custom made those. So it's just like almost like any idea you've got. You're like I want a frill pick in my, you know, dessert cupcakes. That's my blah, blah blah. And Melissa Casey would be like, yeah, I can do that.
Speaker 1:So it's just like these things that you think in your mind. Say them out loud.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 3:Don't be afraid to ask the question. I think that is the most important point. You know, don't think your ideas are silly or just way out there. And I do that as part of my process for every single wedding. When I reach out to vendors, I'm like what are you, what are you even itching to do, or what have you seen come down the pipeline or something different. And they will pass out ideas and then we just collaborate it, you know, together with a couple and make it come to life. But don't, you know, no idea is too silly or too out there. You know, it all comes down to what the vision is and if you've got the right people to make it happen.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we have a lot of things. I still want to talk about One of the things that you guys did that I cause I see the weddings go in the in the magazine all the time and one of the merchant types that you guys had that I very rarely see. But our genius was as you wish, princesses. Yes so when I see, as you wish, princesses on a merchant list, what am I seeing?
Speaker 4:done well, so so hold on before you get into this too. Just before you talk about it, the groom said this was one of the best things that they did that is true at post wedding he said it was one of the best things that they did because? So you tell us what it is now. Okay, and then we can kind of understand why it was the best.
Speaker 2:So they have babysitting at weddings and they are the princesses that you see dressed up for like birthday parties that do like the birthday parties around town and stuff. But they'll come and they'll watch the kids at the wedding and they have activities for them. So they had Elsa there. I think they got to pick two princesses, but I do know Elsa was there and the grooms James's has nieces and nephews, so a niece and several nephews. So anyway, I know someone was telling me that they went into that room.
Speaker 4:Was that you where they were? I walked in and it was just let it go.
Speaker 2:It was being belted to the rooftops. By his niece.
Speaker 4:By his niece and Elsa.
Speaker 2:So I mean for the kids to be able to create that experience for the kids. And guess what's happening? The parents were on the dance floor dancing and having fun and you know, spending time with family and the kids weren't sitting there like I want to go. I want to go. When can we leave? Because they're in the other room with the princesses having fun? And even his nephews loved it and they had like drawing things and they had crafts. So honestly, that was an incredible part of it.
Speaker 1:Well, and as another guest who didn't have a toddler there, you're not thinking about words that you're saying.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Like it's not like you're watching for kids underfoot. Right, they're out there, they're there. They got to have the experience. They're having their own stinking fun experience.
Speaker 4:It's a benefit for everyone the kids, the parents and the guests.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and all these parents didn't have to try to find babysitters or they weren't wrangling their kids all night. So the kids got to be there, they got to be a part of the wedding. It was a fun experience. They got to dress up and then they got to hang out with the princesses. I think it was a. It was a good call Win, win, win, win.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so I I have to give a coordinator shout out to Misty. She said something earlier about the champagne walls, even. And she said something in there that it would alleviate bar traffic. That's not something I would have ever thought about.
Speaker 1:No joke.
Speaker 4:Yeah, you know, like why would I have ever thought about that?
Speaker 2:So it's like you get. You know, I'm like, oh yeah, champagne walls, that's great.
Speaker 4:Oh, cool, oh, but it's more than just pretty you like well, and that's why you trust.
Speaker 2:You trust your coordinator on like what to do, how to do, because she's thinking logistically and about the guest experience all the way around. I never even really thought about that.
Speaker 3:So thank you, misty, and then also, misty, thank you.
Speaker 2:I do remember one day when we were on the phone and you're like oh, okay, so you've hired those two vendors.
Speaker 3:Okay, let me get them out into my list, because I would hire people and forget to tell Misty so it was like it was like a daily thing which I didn't mind one bit. I was like, no, what started, what started happening, is vendors started reaching out to me and talking about Sierra's wedding and I, you know, not knowing that Don had already hired them once. I figured out, you know, I just went along with it. I'm like, okay, great, let's plan out the details and, you know, move on. But yeah, they just kind of kept coming out of the woodwork, which was so funny.
Speaker 2:But I do remember making that comment to you oh my god, she was amazing and handled it like a pro, because, you are, as you, as you with her came it.
Speaker 3:That was a first for me. I really didn't know. You know what to expect, that you know she came. Is it Jay Lee, jay Lynn?
Speaker 2:yeah Jay, yeah Jaylene. I think think it's Jaylene Jaylene maybe.
Speaker 3:But she came in and owned it right. She pulled up what she needed in advance right A clean spot, you know, for them together and to do their setup, and you just didn't have to worry about it Her and her team. It came, they set everything up. They entertained the kids all night. They came out at one point during the reception. They all had made gifts for Sierra and James and so they gave their gifts to the bride and groom which was so cute and then they took them back to their respective parents. So it was just something that maybe not the top of mind when you're planning a wedding, but it was such a stress-free experience. We just didn't have to worry about it because we had a professional in place that knew completely what she was doing absolutely okay.
Speaker 1:What do we want to talk about next? We talk about the food or the fun, like entertainment, because there were several entertainers. I don't even know where to start with this or the food, but let's, let's do the entertainers.
Speaker 2:I mean, my goodness. I remember when we were going through the process.
Speaker 4:For sure, Dawn was like I have all of these music things.
Speaker 2:I want there. Well, because okay In some way or another. Another thing that I think elevates a wedding is live musicians. So I love a live musician, I love the talent. So being a creative, a talented person makes my heart really happy.
Speaker 4:And James and Sierra are both very much into music. They're huge music people, so we knew that was going to be important for them as well.
Speaker 2:They are very big music people. So when we had our party the night before for the out-of-town guests and close friends and family, we had Allie and Grace there. She has Allie and the cats, but her and her daughter also have the two of them, that's Allie and Grace. Then we and then for the cocktail hour we had Jason Warlow who does piano, which hopefully you heard in Misty because we were doing the family stuff and I didn't get to be a part of it, but I heard it was great.
Speaker 4:And let's go back. We actually had live music during the ceremony too.
Speaker 2:We had okay. So we had a family friend, neil Evans, who's a part of the Grant Williams Band.
Speaker 4:He did all the music for the ceremony, so yeah, it started with the ceremony, then the live music of the ceremony. Jason Warlow did Cocktail Hour with live music.
Speaker 2:And then during the dinner we had sean monday doing the bass guitar and singing and then we had um, all that music that dj'd the wedding got the party and then, got the party going, yeah.
Speaker 1:And then you had someone the night before at the yeah doing live music yeah, that was ali and Grace that was at the party.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, so that was the first. That was the first live musician we had. Then it went to Neil Evans doing the ceremony, jason Warlow doing the cocktail hour and Shawn Monday doing the dinner. The cool thing was is it kept it really like interesting for the guest it wasn't the same person. It kept it kind of you know, something different happening and different music kind of types.
Speaker 1:Like there was a female voice a male guitarist and a pianist.
Speaker 2:And Sierra and James were very much. They did not want a band, they wanted a DJ. They wanted people to be able to make requests and hear the music that they wanted to hear. So they wanted a DJ for the dance party part of it, and it was a dance party. I mean, it was like everyone on the dance floor all night. It was super fun, um, but yeah, okay, and then what did you say, misty? Did you have anything to say about all that?
Speaker 3:Um, no, I. I loved it because of just how you know different, right, each of those musicians are. But from the guest perspective too, you know, you're just you're experiencing little mini concerts right at every step, right between the ceremony and the cocktail hour, and then dinner, and then the dance party, was just a really cool experience for them to enjoy. And then, yeah, nick's the guy right To fill the dance floor, and it's funny because, you know, I didn't know James as well, right, so you know he's a little quieter and you know. So this is what I'm thinking.
Speaker 3:And then the dance floor opens and I'm like James and Sierra are just so fun together and to see them light up and to James like break it down on the dance floor was just such a cool moment. And we know, right, as wedding professionals, if a bride and groom are on the dance floor, everyone else is. You know they want to be close to where they are and I think it's a testament, you know, to Nick and the party that he puts on from all that music. But also just to see Sierra and James light up was just awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they didn't leave the dance floor all night. I don't think.
Speaker 1:Hardly at all. I was also impressed with James' dance skills.
Speaker 4:So we shot a wedding in Mexico and they actually came as guests to the wedding as well, and we discovered that night that he is a dance machine. I mean, you don't expect it. It's so unexpected. Oh my god, we were both cause we were shooting the wedding and they were on the dance floor and we both looked at each other and like are you seeing this? And it was the whole time covered in sweat just dancing his fanny off. And then afterwards we were like wow, buddy, and he goes. I love dancing, it's so funny because he is.
Speaker 2:He's more quieter, they're both engineers. It's just not a 100% what you would expect, but they do not get off the dance floor. So, yeah, that that part was super fun. And then what were you saying? Oh sorry, go ahead, misty, no.
Speaker 3:I just wanted to share um. I had a lot of favorite moments of today, um, but I wanted to share two of my most favorites. One of them pertains to dancing um. The first one was when sierra and james did their first look um, which when they do their first look, you know no one else is around, it's really just the photographer, um. And then, just to keep it a special moment, but when those doors open so we did it at the ceremony space and the doors open and james, he's here for the first time. Looking back back at those photos, I was in tears, like there was almost like just so happy and giddy, they both look at each other. There was almost like a sense of like, really friendly, and both like, oh my gosh, I'm here, like give me a hug and we've got each other Right. So that was a really incredible moment. My second favorite moment and I don't I don't think I ever I probably didn't tell you this, but um was during the reception when Sierra and Sutton did their dance together and you know I've known.
Speaker 3:you know, donna, we've known each other now for several years and, um, I know you pretty well, but I've never seen you on this side of the wedding industry, to where your mom Right.
Speaker 3:You know and you're experiencing it through that lens, and there's a unique pressure that comes with that, as all of us wedding professionals, because you know, you and Adam, you've been in this industry for so long and you set the bar so high for all of us. But when Sierra and Sutton were dancing and I was like sitting right behind you trying to hide from photos, and you were standing up there and you had your phone and it was kind of tilted down to the side so you're videotaping, but you were just in awe of your two babies and like you were just so in that moment and you had tears coming back. It was just such a cool moment for for you, no doubt, but for to see Sierra's witnesses you know, those are the babies out there and, um, just the pride that you could just feel coming off of you was one of my, my, my, top moments, 100 percent oh, now my eyes are teared up right now, but yeah, sierra did.
Speaker 2:Sierra did her first dance with her brother and they're five years apart and they are so close with each other. So that moment was super, super special to watch my two kids out there and my daughter doing our first dance with her brother. It was, it was pretty incredible.
Speaker 4:Such an adorably awkward way.
Speaker 2:And they were so they were so fun and the pictures the pictures that Shelby and Ella captured of that are like priceless. There are some amazing pictures of them just cracking up laughing and that laughter is the laughter I've watched between the two of them their whole lives. So it was amazing that Shelby and Ella captured that was amazing that that Shelby and Ella captured that. So they I can't explain how amazing of a job Shelby um Shantae and and Ella Kay photography did at the wedding. So and then I guess, like one of the other things, oh, that that kind of unsung a hero too. Um, well, your mom looked amazing.
Speaker 1:I mean, yes, she's a very pretty lady, she, she, she. They had a beautiful canvas to start with, but I don't see your mom fixed up a lot Usually. When I see her, she just t-shirt out and about doing her stuff. And when I saw her walking down the aisle with Sierra, I was just like, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she so gloss um did the makeup and the cutting edge did the hair and um I can. I mean they knocked it out of the park and I'm so glad we did professional hair and makeup because, I mean, my mom has so many times just said I just wish I knew how to do it. She did like I felt so pretty that day. And for my mom to sit and say how pretty she felt that day. That is so out of character for my mom.
Speaker 4:What I thought was really great, too, is your mom and Sierra, and you all have this specific allergy.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:And that allergy involves things that you put on your skin as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:And it was like all of them just stepped up to the plate plate, even if it wasn't necessarily things that they're used to using yeah, and they still just killed it with things that they weren't always using all the hair.
Speaker 2:People were making sure they like, went out and sprayed hair outside. Like christy, um, with the cutting edge, um, they were incredible. They just totally took care of us and I always say her name wrong. Give me one second. I know we need to do this. What is the girl with christy cecily?
Speaker 1:cecily okay okay.
Speaker 2:So christy and cecily knocked it out of the park with the hair, um and and, and jillian and ashley did amazing with the makeup.
Speaker 4:So anyways, yeah, huge shout out to them because they, they were a part a shining part of it and if you listen to our podcast with James and Sierra, you'll kind of learn the the challenges that we had to face approaching this wedding because of these allergies, and everybody just kind of took it with grace and stride and adapted and just made it amazing.
Speaker 1:And talking about the allergies, like probably the biggest hurdle was food. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Food and dessert.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Which is food, but it's also its own category.
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I mean simply delicious, yeah, and so we had Simply Delicious, who, like, did an entire vegan wedding, completely amazing food. And then we had Charity, who we'd let Charity just do her thing with her normal cake because not everybody in there had an allergy, and Charity's cakes are stunningly beautiful and it was, and Misty, like made it a centerpiece of the wedding.
Speaker 3:It was a showstopper for sure. Yeah, we just played the cake right in the middle of the wedding. It was a showstopper for sure. We displayed the cake right in the middle of the dance floor. It was really the first thing guests saw when they walked in to the venue, With the lighting and how it was positioned on the dance floor and then the flowers on top of it. It was the moment for Carrie's cake design. It showcased it so beautifully.
Speaker 2:We had that, and then we had frosted fox who did um, like our vegan cupcakes and gluten-free, because we had not only alpha gal people but celiac people who were at the wedding, and so we were. There was a lot of food stuff going on, but our community is like completely able to step up to the plate and work together to make it happen and to kind of bring it all together.
Speaker 4:You said said that about Charity's cake being right in the middle. You want to talk about creating this wow moment as people walk in the reception beautiful cake in the middle of the room, lit by creative lighting, right on that cake, all on a beautiful table with everyone around it and everyone walks in and it's like whoa, like show-stopping like that's the stage as you come into the reception thank you, misty, for she completely set that up.
Speaker 2:They did have like a hanging thing to put the cake on and, um, like kind of in the back of the room, and misty was like what do you want to do? And I'm like what is it?
Speaker 4:charity says nobody puts baby in the corner. Yeah, yeah, no one put baby in the corner.
Speaker 2:So there was this thing back there for the cake to be on and she just asked me. I'm like nope, she's like yep, and she took it. She made sure it went right into the center of the dance floor and gave it the other funny thing that happened.
Speaker 3:So we put originally I had a smaller table up there for the cake and Charity walks in. She's like, oh girl, no, like we need a bigger table. I was like you got it. I went and found another much longer for the cake and she like hauls in like four wagon loads of cake in and pieces it all together so beautifully. But it was fun and the guests were so appreciative, right of the thought, because it takes a lot of thought and love and concern that goes into this food to make sure you're supplying it for all of your guests because you know you know kind of what their preferences are and some allergies. So between Frost and Fox and their cupcakes and charity and then Simply Delicious coming in with their meal Like everyone, there was something for everyone to enjoy and to love, which is really cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean they totally, totally, totally did it justice. I mean the food thing was a big deal for us and they all really stepped up and made it happen. And I think Patty said with Simply Delicious, it was her first fully vegan wedding and she, she was. It was incredible.
Speaker 4:And you know, kind of going past that into the reception once it all started. After the food we go to a. We've been to a lot of receptions over the years where it's been very a lot of people leave after a certain point but everyone stayed quite a bit pretty heavily through the reception because of all of the things that were there. I mean we had the photo booth there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, live events to the photo booth and the cold sparks.
Speaker 4:We had the dance floor with the lighting and everything that kind of created this cool environment that you wanted to stay there and it wasn't just like a dark dance floor.
Speaker 2:Well, we brought in a dance floor, so it was Eventful, rental. We did this really cool dance floor and then Brian with Creative Lighting like, did this whole pattern on it. That was beautiful.
Speaker 4:So it made you want to hang out, Because a lot of times if you just kind of keep it that blank slate, they'll turn the lights down really low and it's just dark yeah, you know, and you're just dancing with maybe like some lights from the dj, but nothing really else. But the dance floor became a focal point because of the lighting and that's where everybody hung out yeah and then um, and not to forget how we ended the night with um the cold sparks and then the fire ridiculous fireworks, fireworks from flying lion.
Speaker 2:Flying lion um ashley hill, oh my god, the the fire, ridiculous fireworks, fireworks from Flying Lion, flying Lion, ashley Hill, oh my God, the firework display was amazing. So and then, and then they got into gotta get a limo, it's limo.
Speaker 4:He was sitting there waiting with the red carpet.
Speaker 2:Yep, so yeah, wow Okay.
Speaker 1:And two of the things that we haven't talked about, because a lot of times it's like after the fact, when you think about you, you get to see the video and you had a live painter. Yeah, so as a guest you're there and you're watching.
Speaker 2:It kind of come together. I would love to see the final. We just watched the video together as a family. The other day it was. I'll send you the link it was. It was awesome. So complete did the video. It was absolutely incredible. And then Christine Westwood with the live painter.
Speaker 3:I mean, misty, that's like a guest experience, don't you think? It totally is. It's, you know, and Christine, she does such a great job. But she was set up down at the ceremony and so she. I believe what she might have painted was the first look, yeah yeah. So she was down at the ceremony location for quite a while and then what's cool about her is she brings her setup back into the reception and the guests are actually, you know, kind of part of the experience because they're able to watch her as she finishes this painting throughout the night to, you know, make the final product. So it's just again, it's a unique experience, to add, not only for you as a couple, but also for your guests to kind of walk by and be like, oh my gosh, that's so cool. She's just, you know, hanging out and literally just finishing up her painting is a cool touch.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I actually love that because from um from photographing weddings. Once reception starts, when you're the photographer, you're, you're moving and going the whole time, so you're not really able to take moments to really soak in what some of those specialty vendors are doing at the reception. And what was cool for me was being able to actually watch Christine work at the reception and watch guests watching her work.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and talking about it.
Speaker 4:It was really cool because then it goes from being hey, you're getting this awesome painting as a couple to your guests are getting there, stand there and be like whoa.
Speaker 2:That's really cool and they see it progress. Yeah, and they get to experience it. Like misty just said, it looks like them, like their, faces.
Speaker 4:It's crazy. The finished product.
Speaker 3:I'm like oh my god, their little dog in it, yeah, yeah, it was crazy so well in the detail, because let's just give a moment for sierra's incredible dress by norman bridal, like totally just suited her a hundred thousand percent. So beautiful, so unique. And then how christine was able to get that detail, everything into her painting, um, just, so cool.
Speaker 2:All those florals it was, yeah, it was absolutely amazing. And then just, I want to give a quick shout out to meg, who did all the invitations and all that stuff for us, because, holy cow, you between you and misty, you two put up with a lot and Misty, like you know, us using suite 101 for the bridal shower and I mean it was a super fun place.
Speaker 2:I mean, there's just, it was an incredible experience for our family and it was everyone who came together, um, all the vendors, and my goodness, I hope I didn't forget anyone and if I did, I'm so sorry, because everyone was such an amazing part of our incredible experience, I think for the whole experience, for us to sit and talk about the wedding shower, the rehearsal dinner, the night before dinner, and let me say rehearsal dinner was at venue on brick well, it was what's it called the number two venue on brick two, and then we had italian kitchen catered that yeah so veggie haven catered veggie haven catered the bigger dinner at our house, um, that was for out the out of town guest.
Speaker 2:Um, because it and and all of them vegg Veggie Haven Italian Kitchen Simply Delicious. Charity and I mean well, not Charity Frosted Fox, all of them had to accommodate the allergies. Charity's the one person who got to accommodate everyone that didn't have an allergy.
Speaker 4:But as far as the whole experience wedding shower, rehearsal dinner, dinner that we had for out-of-town guests, and wedding all of those events were all put on by our, by our vendors, by vendors everybody they did everything so you can do all of these things with these vendors. It's huge, even down to having porta potties.
Speaker 3:I porta potties and misting fans, which were incredibly important yes you don't, you don't realize how important they are until you host an event with 100 people at your house 105 degree weather.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was like oh gosh, they cannot be using the bathroom in the house.
Speaker 3:I don't want to clean that the luxury restroom is always the first thing I book for any outdoor event or at a private property and and if you haven't seen the restroom trailers, they're not like actual porta potties, I mean, they're air conditioned, they've got tiled floors, they've got individual stalls, like it definitely. I mean, it's probably nicer than some of our own restrooms.
Speaker 2:People were talking about them.
Speaker 4:And the ones that we had specifically. They have Bluetooth sound systems in them with speakers, so you can take and pair and play music in the bathrooms too. It's like, oh my God, this is amazing. Okay, they were air conditioned.
Speaker 1:There's the 16th musician. Oh man, you guys, I don't mean to cut anyone off. This has been a really, really, really good podcast.
Speaker 4:It's been fun.
Speaker 1:It's been super fun and educating and just talking out some of these things has been really great. I think it's been amazing Such a benefit to any listener that made it this far with us through the podcast. But, man, we should probably just get all the mom and coordinators on and have more of those too I know this has been really I don't know. I felt like it was really educational.
Speaker 4:I guarantee we missed something.
Speaker 1:I know.
Speaker 4:But there were like 68,000 vendors involved.
Speaker 1:That was her list that did so many different things 28 times. You know a thousand.
Speaker 4:What you need to do is check out the issue when it comes out, when the wedding's in it, and then you'll be able to see a bunch of details and see all of the different vendors who are involved.
Speaker 2:Won't get to see the day the the several parties that we did, you know, leading up to it. But you know, maybe there'll be a day that we get those in there too, who knows? We'll try to figure out a way to share all those people.
Speaker 4:But if you have any questions about that, feel free to get a hold of Misty.
Speaker 2:Yeah, get a hold of Misty, she'll take it. She can tell you, everyone involved, and on the days before parties, she knows who those people were too, and you do the same thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, shout out to everyone.
Speaker 3:How do they get a hold of Misty Misty? You can get a hold Misty Willinger dot com. My contact info or my contact form is on that. You can reach out to me via social media as well, at Misty Willinger events, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to Adam and John for you know, inviting me to play a role in this. Ultimately, it's like the most special day for you and I'm so grateful, and it turned out pretty magical. It's like the most special day for you and I'm so grateful and it turned out pretty magical, so we were very thankful for you.
Speaker 1:You knocked it out of the park, you did.
Speaker 4:Good job, all right.
Speaker 3:We seriously have to go Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining us for Metropolitan Weddings Engaged podcast.
Speaker 2:Be sure to click subscribe so you are notified when our new episodes drop.
Speaker 1:For more information and to get connected with merchants for your wedding, visit metropolitanweddingscom. You'll find information on upcoming wedding shows, access to our blog, facebook and IG.
Speaker 2:Also look for the latest issue of Metropolitan Weddings on newsstands near you Email any questions or suggestions for topics to hello at metropolitanweddingscom.