photo by: O'Ryan Empire - https://www.oryanempire.com
The weather out here in Southern California is usually pretty mellow, especially during the Spring, making outdoor ceremony and receptions very common. My Brides love the yard garden at Falkner Winery, who wouldn't want to say their "I Do's" atop a gorgeous lawn with sprawling views of Temecula Valley Wine Country?
I met Ashlie during our consultation at Falkner Winery and discussed how she planned every detail for her gorgeous May wedding for over a year! It hardly ever rains here in Temecula, Ca but come May 6, 2016, rain was falling all day long, along with tears from my bride. With the weather report changing by the hour, the uncertainty was enough to make anyone crazy!
I wear many hats during the weddings day, but my main goal as a wedding coordinator is to make sure everything runs smoothly and the Bride is happy. With weather threatening to rain out the wedding Ashlie worked so hard to plan, I tried to comfort her and give her alternative options such as tenting the reception, renting heaters and moving the ceremony under the covered patio. Although all these options would work, it was nothing like what she had imagined her wedding day would look like. After a year of planning, every detail perfected in her garden setting, everything changed as soon as the first rain drop fell that day. After bringing her a bottle of champaign to enjoy and try to relax with her closest girlfriends and family I continued to set up.
Although this is not how she pictured it, I was determined to make it even more beautiful than she could ever imagined. As soon as everything was set, the music played and it was time for the bride to walk down the aisle. Holding tight onto her dads arm, she would soon see her future husband and the entire event as soon as she turned the corner. I fluffed her dress, fixed her vail, squeezed her hand and told her to go, smile, and live in this moment, because it will fly by too fast. She turned the corner and before she was out of my sight, I saw in her eyes, that she accepted everything; the rain, the changes, the slight disappointment, the uncertainty, and at the moment she was purely happy to marry the man of her dreams!
For the rest of the night all she could do was thank me, she loved everything. Her guests were comfortable in a heated tent and the ambiance was romantic. We brought in special lighting she wasn't expecting and the decor made the covered reception personalized to her and her husband. At the end of the event as I was loading everything in her car, she came by and got my attention. She grabbed my hand and told me, "You will never know what you did for me today, I will never be able to thank you enough, you have made a day that I thought was ruined into something more beautiful them I ever thought it could be" and gave me a big hug. At the moment, I started to tear up. I never expected that from her, and it reminded me of why I do this, seeing the overwhelming amount of joy in her eyes made me grateful, humble and happy for this life!
Many say rain is good luck on a wedding, and I believe that statement to be true! Congratulations to Ashlie & Kameron McCorry! Your love is one for the story books, so glad I got to be a part of it.
