The Willrich Wedding Planner's Blog

Wedding at The National Infantry Museum in Columbus Georgia

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:49:00 +0000

On June 6 we had the pleasure of working Chelsea and Arnulfo's wedding. If you have never been to the National Infantry Museum, you need to go. The place is fantastic. It is really a special place to have a Military Wedding.

Upon arriving at the site, guests were greeted by this fabulous entryway.

The entrance into the museum lead to the ceremony site.

The bride was a member of the Erskine Lacrosse Team. Flowers were placed on the seat of each of the attending team members. A sweet little gift for all her team mates.

The ceremony was perfect. Set at the entrance, known as the tunnel, into the actual museum flanked by two cannons it was perfect for a military wedding.

The couple wanted the sand ceremony to be part of their wedding.

The Reception was downstairs in the museum.

There was a kids table with plenty of activities to keep them entertained.

The bridal party entered down the stairs after being announced in. It was such a beautiful touch.

Details from the wedding and reception.

The Bride and Groom's table.

First dance.

Parents Welcome the Guests.

The buffet was delicious with salad, vegetarian lasagna, pork loin and grilled chicken, There was also macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Last Dance

It was a perfect evening for a perfect couple

The Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 21:09:00 +0000

On Friday, June 5, we had the rehearsal for Chelsea and Arnulfo's wedding. I don't usually post pictures of rehearsals, but I get a lot of questions on them. So I thought you might like to see how one looks.

Once everyone is there, we place people that will be walking down the aisle. The wedding party is up front and the rest of the family in the seats they will be in at the wedding.

The bride then walks in on her escorts arm and takes her spot with the groom.

The minister goes over the vows.

Then we practice walking out. Everything is planned out ahead of getting to the rehearsal so it is quick and easy.

After rehearsal, it is off to the rehearsal dinner.

Rehearsal is a great time for the groom's cake. No need for two cakes on the wedding date. Have the groom's cake at the rehearsal and you can practice cutting the cake.

At the rehearsal dinner is the perfect time to give your wedding party their gifts.

Bridal Portraits of a Beautiful Bride

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 18:58:00 +0000

I thought I would take a minute and show some of the beautiful bridal portraits that the Willrich photographer (Richard Sanford) took of one of our recent brides. We don't normally do bridal portraits, but this bride was a special case. She is my god daughter along with being my client. So take a minute and enjoy some great bridal pics. More wedding pics to come....

Perfect For Your Girls.

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 14:54:00 +0000

Planning a summertime wedding, well here is a great idea. I ran across this perfect bridesmaid's gift in the LTD Commodities (ABC) flyer. Not only cute, but affordable. You could fill the bag with all kinds of goodies for your girls.

Nick and Ping's Winery Wedding

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 21:03:00 +0000

I teach a class at Brookwood Church on “How to Plan Your Wedding Like a Pro”. Now it is not unusual to have brides, moms, and brides with their grooms attend this class, but what was unusual was that I had a groom attend this class all on his own. Turned out his fiancée lived in Singapore and he was in the process of trying to move her over here and plan the wedding so that they could be married as soon as she arrived. I thought this was an incredibly sweet and smart thing for the groom, Nick, to do. A few months after the class was over Nick called and asked if I would work with him and his bride, Ping, to get this wedding planned.

Until this point, I had no idea how hard it is to get someone into this country to marry. Let me tell you, it is not a piece of cake. The wedding date had to be moved back several times to accommodate the demands made by the American and Singapore government. Finally Ping was allowed to arrive and the wedding was on schedule.

They wanted a wedding that was an infusion of American and Singapore traditions. To do this we chose to go with a wedding feast that is common in Singapore. There were six courses of food including cake. Since Nick is really into wine and the wedding and reception was held at a winery there was a different wine with each food course. The sommelier explained each wine to the guests and why it was chosen. Dancing is not common at weddings in Singapore so there was only a first dance to start off the evening and then background music carefully chosen by the bride and groom was played throughout the evening. The bride changed from her American wedding dress into a traditional Singapore outfit as the night went on.

One of the sweetest parts of the evening was the “tea ceremony” that was done to honor the bride and grooms parents. I wish this was something that was done all the time at weddings. It was my favorite part of the evening.

I guess I should mention that the ceremony for this wedding was supposed to take place outside, but mother nature did not want to cooperate with our plans. It was raining like crazy. Of course we had a plan B in place and all the vendors jumped in and the ceremony was moved inside. It was still very beautiful and really touching in every way.

So enough talking, it’s time to see just how beautiful Nick and Ping’s wedding was. Below are some pictures my group took at the wedding.

Vendors for the event:

Site: Victoria Valley Vineyards

Florist: Just Weddings by Kaye

Photographer: Photographs By Sabrina

DJ: Pros Only Entertainment

Wedding Cake: Kathy and Co.

Wedding Planner: Willrich Bridal

Caterer: Goodlife Catering

Limo: DL Limo

Larkins River Wedding Photos

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:38:00 +0000

Here is a link to some of the beautiful wedding pictures that Josh Jones took of our October 5 wedding. I thought you might like to see them.

Larkins River Wedding

A Little More Eye Candy From Our Wedding at Zen in Downtown Greenville.

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 20:12:00 +0000

I thought you might like to see a few more pictures of all the "beautifulness" of this wedding. So here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure. Dave McMillan of Memories by McMillan did a wonderful job with the flowers and décor. Holly's Cakes provided the beautiful peacock cake. Food by Goodlife Catering was outstanding as usual and Party Machine keep the room rocking all night long.

Erin and Eric's Zen Wedding

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 21:50:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've had the chance to post on the blog. We've been so swamped with weddings that I haven't had the opportunity. Now let's backtrack to July and I can tell you a little about Erin and Eric's wedding. Erin was a month-of bride that came to me knowing pretty much everything that she wanted. Her colors were teal, purple, and green with peacock feather accents. Her ceremony was to be held at West Gantt Baptist Church and a reception at Zen to follow.

Once Erin decided on peacock feathers as her accent touch it was easy to bring in her design throughout the room.

The bridal bouquet contained purple double stock, blue bird roses, callas, and touches of green brought in by hydrangeas. The table arrangements pulled in the same colors and flowers and really brought the room to life.

One of the outstanding elements of the wedding was the tree used as a centerpiece during the cocktail hour with peacocks hidden within the branches.

The menu for the wedding consisted of fresh fruit display with chocolate mousse, imported cheeses, and action stations including a quesadilla and pasta station. There was also a candy bar full of delightful treats. No one left hungry.

This was a beautiful wedding and we were so happy to do it. This was the second wedding that we've done for this family. We were lucky enough to do her sister's wedding several years ago. Congratulations Erin & Eric!!

Ashley and Nicholas' Wedding at the Westin Poinsett in Downtown Greenville, SC

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 18:15:00 +0000

Ok, it’s time to do a little blogging catch up. I have quite a few weddings I haven’t posted. So we will start with Ashley and Nicholas’ wedding. It took place at the Westin Poinsett. The ceremony was in the Gold Room and the Reception was held in the Poinsett Ballroom. Cocktail hour was on the Mezzanine and the buffet was served in the Veranda area. So basically we had the whole hotel for their guests to enjoy.

From the beginning Ashley wanted a fun, elegant affair. It was important to the bride and groom that all their guests be seated together so that they would be able to mingle among friends. We managed this by using different size tables throughout the ballroom. It worked perfectly. The chairs were silver chiavari with different shades of ivory linens on the tables.

The ceremony area was bathed in blue up lights with a garden of flowers going down the aisle. The aisle ended at a beautiful flower covered arch for the couple to marry beneath. It really was breath taking.

The dinner buffet included a pasta station, seafood beneath an ice sculpture, sliders and even a ice cream station after dinner. The cake was an absolute beauty reflecting the lace on the brides’ dress and speaking of dresses, there were two. The bride changed once the dance party started. The band Six Stylez kept the guests dancing until late in the night. At the end of the evening favors were pill bottles filled with candy that read “Prescription For a Happy Life”. There are a lot of doctors in this family so it was a perfect fit.

A Wedding at St. James Episcopal Church and Reception at Studio 220 at Hyatt Regency in Greenville SC

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 20:54:00 +0000

Last weekend Jordan and Michael had the wedding of their dreams. The ceremony took place at St. James Episcopal Church and the reception was held in the new Studio 220 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville, SC

From the beginning, Jordan knew she wanted her colors to be pinks, tangerines, and vivid green. She wanted a crisp modern look to play off the artwork on the walls of Studio 220. The couple wanted a sit down dinner with a band to entertain their guests.

Guests were greeted with a cocktail hour set up in the lobby area of Studio 220. They entered under a garden arbor decorated with roses. There were cocktail tables with pink and white linens and white sofas for guests to relax on. Family heritage photos, showing weddings of family members, decorated the cocktail area. The bar was open and appetizers were butlered through-out the guests.

When it was time for the wedding party to be announced in the guests left the lobby area and entered the main room. It was a beautiful setting of white pin-tuck overlays, with vivid green napkins on the tables. Tall and short arrangements of pink, tangerine and fuchsia roses, callas and gerberas were the centerpieces of the tables. Pink up-lighting (provided by Better Tie Productions) gave the room a beautiful glow. At one end of the room a candy bar was setup for the guest favors. There were two cakes, the five tier wedding cake and the groom’s cake, a duck hunting scene.

Entertainment for the night was provided by the band Encore and they were terrific. The dance floor was never empty. The one surprise of the evening was the bride’s dress. The elegant, long skirt was removed to reveal a short, beaded dress with lacy scalloping cut about the knee. It was perfect for the dance party.

The evening ended with a bubble farewell as the bride and groom left in the groom’s decorated truck. A perfect wedding for a very sweet couple.

Wedding at the Rock Quarry with Reception at The Loft at Falls Park.

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:19:00 +0000

Over a year ago, I started working with a very sweet couple (Allison and Adam) on their wedding plans. The wedding held this past weekend was to be a garden ceremony with a fun small reception to follow. They wanted to show guests, who were mostly from out of town, the best a Southern wedding has to offer. After a few initial problems (site cancelled) we decided on using Greenville’s Rock Quarry Garden and the intimate Loft at Falls Park.

The couple chose sapphire blue with lavender and aubergine as their colors. They personalized everything from the glowing initial projected on the wall to the custom designed programs, menus and even the table numbers.

Highlights of the day were, ceremony music performed on a harp and cello that was perfect in an outdoor setting. Since it was a very warm day, water bottles were iced down in tubs and given to the guests as they arrived at the ceremony. At the reception, there was a photo booth provided by Pros Only Entertainment that was an absolute hit with the guests. It was packed all night long. The menu was a carefully thought out plan of Southern dishes ranging from miniature crab cakes to a prime rib carving station. Believe me, no one went hungry. The couple arrived in a trolley with their wedding party and ended the night leaving in a horse drawn carriage.

I would have to say, it was a perfect Southern wedding.

Wedding and Reception at Greer City Hall, Greer SC

Tue, 28 May 2013 03:05:00 +0000

I thought I would share a few pictures from this weekend's wedding at the Greer City Hall. More to come later. Enjoy!

The Children's Musem of the Upstate, Greenville, SC

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:19:00 +0000

Several weeks ago, before this crazy wedding season started, I visited a very unique venue for weddings. I was invited by Claire Stam, Events Coordinator & Development Associate to tour The Children’s Museum. Now, if you are like me, you never pictured having an event (other than a birthday party) at the Children’s Museum. But let me tell you, it is a pretty cool place to have a wedding and reception.

At 80,000 square feet, they can host events for groups of 15 to 1,500. You can rent all three floors or just one floor depending on your needs. The attractions are set up for children of all ages (yes, the attractions can be used by adults too), so your guests have plenty of interactive displays to keep them entertained during cocktail hour. Saffron’s runs a large café area that is the perfect size for a reception. There is also a terrace area off the café, where your guests can be outside and enjoy your cocktail hour. You can have Saffron’s provide your catering or you can bring in your own approved caterer.

Some of the best areas are a circular room that could be set up for a beautiful ceremony or a real special dance area after dinner. There is a real TV studio were guests can record their wishes or performances for the bride and groom. Out front there is space for a lovely ceremony if you are looking for outdoors. Around back is another beautiful garden area that is great for cocktails or a ceremony.

So, if you are looking for that unique venue with a fun atmosphere, this just might be the place. Give me or Claire a call and we can start planning your event today.

Faith Thornburg Trunk Show at Belk

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:18:00 +0000

Hi brides,

If you are on the search for your wedding dress, you might want to check out the Faith Thornburg, Trunk Show at Belks at Haywood Mall. The wedding gown designer will be taking appointments on Saturday, April 6 from 11:00am until 3:00pm in half hour increments as part of her trunk show. If you are interested in setting up an appointment, please contact Megan Szuster at 864-915-0835. The event will be held at Belk in the Haywood Mall in Greenville.

The New and Improved Crowne Plaza Greenville

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:18:00 +0000

If you are researching venues to hold your wedding and reception, you might want to check out Crowne Plaza Greenville at 851 Congaree Road. They are in the process of doing a huge renovation and it is going to be pretty spectacular when it is all finished.

We had the pleasure of touring the facility with Donna Oglesby the Sales Manager. The lobby is being totally redone and will be a beautiful place to hold your cocktail hour. Rooms are being remodeled and redecorated. We were able to see a couple of the model rooms and believe me, your guests would be happy to stay in them. The hotel is hoping that the total makeover will be complete by August 2013.

So while searching for your perfect wedding venue, be sure to stop in and visit with Donna. Her phone number is 864-248-1722.

Sweet Thank You

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:04:00 +0000

While I am in the midst of all the craziness of getting ready for today's wedding, I decide to check the mailbox. In it, I find a reminder of why I continue this nerve racking, crazy profession. It was a very sweet thank you from the parents of a bride we had a few weeks ago. So as stressful and crazy as the job is, it does have its wonderful moments!

What Makes a Wedding Guest Happy

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:51:00 +0000

I watched another session of Four Weddings. The show overall is terrible; asking brides to judge each other’s weddings is just wrong. But it is interesting to see the things they dislike as guests at weddings. Some things are ridiculous, such as the church service was too long or too short. That is not up to the bride or something she can, in most instances, have any say in at all. It is after all a religious ceremony decided on by the church.

I have also noticed that almost every time, the bride that spends the most on her wedding wins. Money may not buy happiness, but it does buy drinks, good entertainment and good food, all very important to wedding guests. Want to make sure your wedding doesn’t win; then have a cash bar.

So what causes a wedding to not be a favorite with guests:

A cash bar

Lack of food choices, cold food or bad food.

Lack of décor and under this comes using fake flowers. The guests will notice, pure and simple.

Lack of seating, no matter what you think guests do not want to stand for any period of time.

Rooms that are too tight. Too many guests crammed into a room does not make for a pleasant time.

Outdoor weddings that are too hot, too cold or too buggy. Beautiful setting does not make up for uncomfortable guests.

Guests like a wedding to look like a wedding, not a dinner, and not a cocktail party. They come to a wedding and they want to see a wedding. They are looking for something special.

Long speeches or lots of speeches. Two is ok, more are not. Guests don’t really care. Have them at the rehearsal dinner where it is just family that does care.

Don’t split the event between rooms. Cake in one area, dinner in another, dancing another, guests spread out in different rooms. Doesn’t work, guests in outer rooms away from the wedding couple feel like lesser friends. Not good.

So even though I don’t really approve of the show, it does teach the occasional good lesson. So what would you like to add to the list? What makes you happy or unhappy as a wedding guest?

Lena and Christian Get Married

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:03:00 +0000

This past weekend we were lucky enough to work with a great couple, Lena and Christian. Their ceremony was held at Christ Church and the reception was at the Sawmill.

Lena was a bride that knew exactly what she wanted. She chose aubergine, eggplant and ivory as her colors with a theme of classic elegance. Lena’s main request was candles, candles and more candles and boy did we have candles. They were everywhere, in the windows, in the fireplace, on the tables, and we even had candle trees set up around the room.

Lena had made a lot of her own personal touches throughout the wedding such as programs, signs and favors.The menu choosen by the couple and prepared by Larkins and was to die for. Everything from the shrimp and grits to the steak was delicious. Dessert was the fabulous wedding cake and grooms cake.

At the end of the evening the couple, who will be honeymooning in London, were cheered on their way with British flags. The favors were British tea cookies and tea bags. The getaway car was a beautiful antique Bently.

As you can see below, the whole evening was absolutely beautiful.

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: Willrich Bridal and Special Events
Wedding: Christ Church
Reception: Sawmill
Floral and Design: Memories by McMillan
Cake: Kathy and Co.
DJ: Pros Only Entertainment, Sam Brooks
Photographer: Christine LeGrand Photography
Transportation: Gene Gore

Valerie and Ryan Get Married

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:01:00 +0000

We had a Thursday wedding this past week. I think it might have been the first Thursday wedding we have done. Why Thursday, you might ask? Well the couple wanted to be married on 10/11/12. Isn’t that cute? The majority of guests were from out of town so a Thursday event worked fine.

The bride, Valerie, was actually the second bride we have had from this family. I love return customers. It’s so much fun, because you already sort of know the family. Right from the start, the bride and her mom knew that they wanted dark blue to be the main color. They had seen a picture of dark blue goblets on a table and they loved the look. So that’s what we did. Professional Party Rental brought in dark blue glasses and silver chargers for the table. These were laid on a silver table linen with silver napkins. Dinner plates were white with a silver rim. It was truly beautiful.

The flowers were blues, bronzes and tangerines offset with ivories to pop the colors. There was a touch of a natural element with river rock surrounding candles on the tables.

For fun there was a gorgeous candy bar that played off the dark blue crystal goblets on the table. The bride’s mom had collected all types of dark blue containers and we filled them with silver, white and blue candies. There were also glow necklaces and bracelets for everyone to wear during the dancing. These were a huge hit.

Take a sweet couple, fun family, great vendors and what do you get? A picture perfect wedding!

Vendors for this event are:

Ceremony- Covenant Methodist

Site – Huguenot Loft

Florist – Memories by McMillan

Photographer/Videographer/Lighting – Better Tie Productions

Cake – Couture Cakes of Greenville

Musicians- Trio 864

DJ – Life of the Party (Robert)

Limo – DL Limousine Service

Caterer- Goodlife Catering

How To Go To The Bathroom in a Wedding Dress

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Ok for you guys out there that read my blog, you may want to turn away. This one is strictly for the brides. I found this picture on Pinterest and had to laugh out loud. I have taught so many brides how to use the restroom wearing a wedding dress. Now, I know you wouldn’t think this is something that you have to learn, but it is. No way, can you go to the bathroom the regular way once you are dressed. There is an art to peeing in a huge dress with a train on it.

So to accomplish this deed you will have to:

1) Remove the panties before entering the stall.

2) Instead of backing into the stall and over the toilet as you normally do, you are going to walk forward and straddle the seat. This allows the dress to flow out behind you. One note, before entering the stall make sure the floor is totally clean.

3) Once finished hold dress up and back out.

4) Remember to put panties back on, or not depending on how racy you feel.

Now head back to the party and have a great time!

Summer and Outdoor Weddings

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:39:00 +0000

If this unbearably hot summer has taught us anything, it is that a lot of the time outdoor weddings are not all they are cracked up to be. Sure, the dream is beautiful, lovely scenery, gentle breeze, doves flying overhead, but the reality of sweltering guests, sweating grooms, fainting attendants, mosquitos and expensive makeup sliding off the face is more a nightmare than a dream.

I caught up on Four Weddings (truly dislike that show) this week and time and time again the complaint was being outside in the heat and humidity made the guests miserable. Is that really how you want people to remember your wedding?

So what if you just can’t live without an outdoor wedding? Well then there are a few things to remember.

1) Don’t have it in July and August and you might want to think about June and early September.

2) Plan for a late afternoon/early evening ceremony.

3) Offer guests some sort of shade, trees, tent, or umbrellas.

4) Remember your musicians will probably require some sort of tent to shade instruments from the sun (or possible rain).

5) Offer your guests fans and something cool to drink. Make sure these drinks are non-alcoholic. The last thing you need is a bunch of drunken guests in the blazing sun.

6) Realize that your flowers will wilt in the sun. No way around it.

7) The female guests might be cool in summer dresses but remember the guys are in suits and tuxes. They will be miserable.

8) ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS have a rain plan.

Check Out a Willrich Bridal Wedding in At Home Summer 2012 Issue

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:31:00 +0000

We were very excited to hear that we were mentioned in an article in the Summer 2012 issue of At Home Magazine. The article entitled A Family Affair talks about a wedding we planned for Hunter Todd and Justin Lovvorn. It truly was a beautiful wedding and I feel honored that it was chosen to be in the magazine.

For more about this wedding click here.

A Perfect Night at the Huguenot Loft in Greenville, SC

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:16:00 +0000

This past Saturday, we did another event at one of my favorite venues, Huguenot Mill at the Peace Center. This was the wedding and reception of Kimberly and Mark. You could not find a sweeter couple if you tried. Kimberly purchased our Month of Package with some extra hours added on. This meant that we were available to help throughout her planning process as needed and about a month out we came on board to help with pulling all the details together for a beautiful event.

It did turn out to be just that, a beautiful event. The colors chosen were greens and corals set off by burlap. There was a rustic feel to the whole event with mason jars for the flower arrangements, burlap overlays and sashes on the tables, chalk board wedding program, and a wooden cake plateau. There were lanterns hanging from the ceiling and string lights on all the poles in the reception area. The ceremony area was decorated with a wooden arch covered in flowers and grape vine. A large moss initial “B” decorated one wall. A handmade runner, a gift for the couple, was placed on the aisle.

Guests were treated to a BBQ dinner with all the trimmings. For entertainment there was a band and a photobooth setup. Donations were made (in place of favors) to Miracle Hill. At the end of the evening, our Cinderella and her prince left in a horse drawn carriage. It was the perfect ending to a perfect event.

Vendors:

Planning:        Willrich Bridal and Special Events
Ceremony and Reception: Huguenot Loft
Florals:           Statice Floral and Memories by McMillan
Photographer: Christine LeGrand Photography
Cake:               Kathy and Company
Ceremony Music:       Don Shabkie
Reception Music:       17 South Band
Catering:                     Good Life Catering
Lighting:                     Optrics
Carriage:                     Whispering Winds Carriage Company

All pics are by Willrich Bridal Images

A Great Lighting Deal For Our Brides

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:50:00 +0000

If you read this blog a lot, you know what a big fan of event lighting I am. Nothing makes a reception go from great to WOW like lighting. And now, my favorite lighting vendor is offering Willrich Bridal Brides a great deal. This is a limited time offer. So hurry and give either me or Daniel at Better Tie a call.

Peanuts for Favors

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:20:00 +0000

Source: Martha Stewart Wedding Summer

I love the idea of doing peanuts for favors. Some of my best memories are Sunday afternoons, during the summer, when my father would take us to the Jockey Lot. We would spend hours walking around and then stop to buy peanuts. We would sit on the picnic tables under the shed roof and eat them and drink Pepsi. It was so much fun and just represents summer time bliss to me.

Why not bring back fun summer memories and have peanuts as a favor at your wedding. If your wedding is casual and relaxed this would perfectly fit your theme. (One warning, before planning to do this, make certain that no one on your guest list is allergic. Some people cannot even be in the same room as peanuts.)