3 Months from Now
About 15 months ago I got a phone call from my younger sister, Adrian. After a few months of being engaged and planning a winter wedding for December of 2020, she and Joe decided there was no good reason for them to wait another year to say "I do". So, from that point on we officially had a little over 3 months to plan their wedding. The day would come fast with only a handful of weeks left, revolving around the already busy holiday... and I couldn't wait to get started.
On February 8th, 2020, Adrian and Joe became Mr. and Mrs. Livengood and had one heck of a party afterward to celebrate. It was the perfect day, filled with all of the people they loved and cared about, surrounded by a serene wintery snowfall. And the icing on the cake? By not waiting a year like they originally planned, they just missed the start of the pandemic and all of the chaos that so many couples have had to navigate through the rest of this past year.
A lot brides question how weddings this size with such a short planning period get pulled off with minimal stress and without fail, especially when knowing that that average time taken to plan a wedding is 12-18 months (or 200-500 hours!). Two of the biggest factors?
1. Trust your chosen vendors. You are paying professionals for a reason. In the wedding industry, we want nothing more than to bring your vision to life and make our clients happy. This means not only showing up for you day of, but also being here for you, ready to answer questions and offer guidance throughout the planning process as well. Always book vendors you feel you can trust. If the trust is there, the stress levels of everyone involved will naturally be lower.
2. Take advantage of who you know, and accept help when offered. It's all about who you know. This phrase is relevant in so many areas of life and is especially applicable when planning your wedding. So much time (and often times money) can be saved when you use the resources being offered to you. In Adrian and Joe's case? Their list of family and friends willing to help was overflowing and ultimately, along with their trust in their chosen vendors, was what made their day such a big success.
Photography l Swidrak & Co
at Old School Warehouse, Monroeville, Oh.
To start the day the bridal party sipped mimosas and got ready for the events ahead at The Old School Warehouse. Previously an old bicycle seat factory, OSW now hosts an impressive assortment of renewed and refurbished antiques inside of its perfectly worn and faded brick exterior. Growing up with the owner's daughter (who was also one of the bridesmaids), Adrian knew the added sentimental value made it the perfect place for the morning's activities when they offered to host.
Photography l Swidrak & Co
at Old School Warehouse, Monroeville, Oh.
Flowers l A Flourished Affair
The beautifully weathered brick exterior of OSW and the fresh falling snow set the perfect scene for Swidrak & Co when it came time for pictures.
Photography l Swidrak & Co
at Old School Warehouse, Monroeville, Oh.
Flowers l A Flourished Affair
After the first look and all of the bridal portraits were complete it was time to load up and head over to the venue. The Rocking Horse Ranch, owned by our incredibly driven and talented aunt Julie, held Adrian and Joe's ceremony and reception. From the open layout to the decorative pallet boards that adorn the walls, it was a more than ideal space for an indoor ceremony that was to be quickly flipped into a reception hall.
Photography l Swidrak & Co
Venue l Rocking Horse Ranch
Styling, Flowers & Decor l A Flourished Affair
Another special touch in a day already filled with sentiment; Adrian surprised Joe and her new mother-in-law with a song for their shared dance.
There's nothing quite like the ambiance of a winter wedding filled with twinkling lights and sparkles and sprinkled in a blanket of gently fallen snow. The day was perfect, filled with laughter and a shared love for Adrian and Joe as individuals and as a couple. From start to finish I was inspired (and honestly quite surprised) by how relaxed Adrian handled the pressure of their planning timeline. She tracked down and booked an amazing photographer, found and bought her dream dress off the rack, and gladly accepted the help of our talented family and friends to secure an incredible venue and DJ. However, I am most thankful for the trust she had in me to handle the rest of the details.
Photography l Swidrak & Co
Venue l Rocking Horse Ranch
Styling, Flowers & Decor l A Flourished Affair
This past year I watched Adrian and Joe hurdle a mountain of obstacles and heartbreak together. And because of that, I am now even happier they chose to wait only 3 months instead of 12.
So, cheers to 1 year of married life!
I can't wait to watch you continue to grow and love life together!
xx Becca