LOL When I heard TFG Wedding and Event Coordinator Lea McIntosh's bride exclaim in shocked profanity how thrilled she was to see the ballroom before the guests were invited in? I knew the wedding was a total success. A huge hug followed by "Woman, you are F#@*!ng Awesome! Everything is EXACTLY what I expected it to be," had to be music to Lea's ears. I don't know how to explain it except to say that there is something about a woman cursing in a wedding gown that truly conveys her sincerity that she means what she says. I can attest that the bride was completely over the moon with the job Lea and her team had done. So ended my Saturday evening...
My day had begun after I grabbed a quick breakfast and headed over to the hotel to meet up with Lea before going over to the church to be a wedding coordinator's assistant for a day. For the wedding team their day started at 7:00 am with the bride waking up at the hotel followed by the arrival of the make up artist and hair stylist at 8:00 am. I had to opt for a later start. Oh my gosh I'll have to blog tomorrow about why my start became later then planned. Yup, another "duh" kind of moment.
I first met Lea a year ago as I was planning my own wedding. When my then fiance and I walked into the Cypress Hotel for our site visit it was Lea who showed us around. We hit it off immediately and are still working together but in a totally new situation: Lea has since left the Cypress and opened her own event company and I now have The Flirty Guide. Lea and I also spend quite a bit of time chatting about our blogs. If you haven't checked out her new site "The Wedding Chat" you should go take a peek!
When I arrived at the hotel I caught Shuli Floral Design just finishing placing all of the centerpieces and North American Theater Technology setting up the custom lighting.
Lea's two professional assistants today were Ashley and Shizue. Both were totally cool to me. Here they are setting up the walkie talkie system. LOL I even got to wear one. It made me feel very official and important. 
One of my jobs was to be in charge of the binder. The binder was all knowing and contained all of the information we needed to keep things on track and running smoothly
Here we go. Getting set upon our arrival at the church. Lea and crew had already been to the bride's residence that morning, followed by a visit to the hotel, then to the church and after the ceremony, back to the hotel.
At the church there was so much to do. Checking on the bride, bridesmaids and flower girl out in the limo, the groom and groomsmen, getting the corsages and boutonnieres on the wedding party and family, the chapel flowers, making sure the organist had arrived on time, tracking the arrival of the photographer and videographer. Whew, the wedding hadn't even started yet and I was already overwhelmed!
To me this is the most exciting moment, seeing the bride preparing to walk down the aisle. Here Lea carries her veil and train into the church.
With the ceremony complete and the bride left in photographer Michelle Walker's capable hands, we headed back to the Cypress Hotel to finish setting up for the reception. This was especially fun for me since this was the same venue I got married in just 9 months ago.
The final view, with a petite bride and groom's table to the left, the cake table to the right and custom flames made out of lights that moved and swirled just like real flames on the dance floor.
Here were the reception tables right before the candles were lit and the room lights dimmed. Gorgeous!
Lea didn't let any detail go unnoticed. Of course there were the unexpected issues that all coordinators learn to expect, and Lea handled each of them as they arose. It takes a special kind of person to be a great wedding coordinator, someone who is flexible at a moments notice, assertive when necessary to look out for their client's best interests, appreciative when things are running as smoothly as planned and has the endurance of marathon runner. The latter I am sadly lacking in.
I arrived at the hotel at 11:00 am and stayed through the ceremony, cocktail hour, guests being seated, the toasts and dinner being served. At that point I could feel my energy waning away. So at 6:15 I met my hubby next door at Armadillo Willey's for dinner. I did make it 7.25 hours today. That's up 45 minutes from my videography assistant stint. But here's the rub: While I was saying "Stick a fork in me I'm done" Lea looked like this in the last photo I snapped of her before heading out. Just as fresh and happy as she did when I first met up with her in the morning. Which was a good thing because she still had another 6.75 hours to go!
8 comments:
Stacie it was great meeting you. I had a blast working with Lea and Shizue. I enjoyed talking with you and can't wait for more blogs.
Definitely hats off to the wedding coordinators and all they do. I've helped my friend do weddings, as well as be day of coordinator for package weddings at the Moana Surfrider and I have to say, it's a lot of work. I enjoy it, but wouldn't want to make it my profession. It takes a special person to be a coordinator/wedding planner. That's why I always say, I'm so glad I'm not a wedding coordinator and I'm kind of behind the scenes with my products/services. :) I commend you for being a wedding coordinator assistant for a day! I'm sure you did an awesome job.
Thanks Ashley! I had a great time. Other then being exhausted by 6:00 pm. LOL. I learned so much that day. More then I had expected to. We'll have to get together some time just for fun :o)
Thanks Diane. You're right. It does take a very special kind of person. It is fun and exciting though. But like yourself, it would be something I would only want to do occasionally. I am happy to leave coordinating to the pros and would like to encourage any brides who may be on the fence to contract a coordinator, at the very minimum one to help you on the day of. There is so much to do, more then even I realized.
Wow, long days... I am so glad all the outdoor weddings here on Maui end at 10 pm (we have a statewide noise curfew)! I don't know if I can be on my feet for a 12-hour day!
Hi Stacie, wow what a day!!! Thank you so much for coming out not only to check out the great work my coordinators did, but also for helping out. Stephen and I could not have been more happy with the way the wedding and reception went. It was a beautiful, stress-free day all due to Lea McIntosh and her crew. Lea went above and beyond the call of most wedding coordinators, and I should know because this was the ninth wedding I have been a part of but the first time as a bride. Ashley and Shizue worked their fingers to the bone and we are so happy they helped make our vision of hot rods and humor with a ton of purple come to life. It was more beautiful than I had pictured in my head. I cannot recommend Lea McIntosh enough. If you need someone that can do, this is the coordinator to use. I would love to get copies of the photos you took as well, so contact me please. Once again thanks so much to everyone involved. I cannot stop smiling and it was for sure the most perfect day for everyone!
-The bride, Kristina (Tina)
Evonne, 12 hours is not even a full day here! *Gasp, gasp, thud!* Lea, Ashley and Shizue were on the go from 10:00 am to midnight! It blows my mind :P
Tina, you were such a gorgeous, happy and hilarious bride! It was an honor to help at your wedding and I did get some really great photos of you leaving the limo and entering the church. I'll put them on a CD and give them to Lea so she can send them to you.
Your wedding was beautiful. My only wedding day regret is that I left before the gelato was served. :D
Congratulations! Wishing you many happy years together.
Thank you for coming to the wedding and for writing such a cool blogpost! We loved having you, the flirty girl, with us. We all had so much fun together!!!
Tina, you and Stephen were a lot of fun to work with and I enjoyed making your wedding dreams come true! Too, thank you for the compliments. : )
Tina and Stephen's wedding was the most fantastic thing I have ever seen. Lea and her crew did one amazing job of staging a gorgeous, well-organized, seamless day. Everything went like clockwork, and, if there were any glitches, no one would have ever known. Thank you all for making our family's day and the wedding of my mother's first grandchild the most beautiful in the world.
Janice Allen
Aunt of the Bride
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