Covid has impacted so many couples this year. They had to make some tough decisions, some moved forward with a smaller guest count to stay within safety guidelines.
Ever wonder what they thought of their intimate wedding experience after it was all said and done?
We interviewed our bride Faith about her experience of becoming a Mrs. during this difficult time.
Melissa: “Tell me about you and Kevin. a little bit about your love story, and your proposal.”
Faith: “Kevin and I both grew up locally and belonged to some of the same social circles, but we didn’t meet until a one-year old’s birthday party, the son of a mutual friend, brought us together. We were amazed to be at a party where we knew every person there, but not each other. We connected initially over shared passions for food, travel, and color-coded spreadsheets. I was also training for my first marathon at the time and Kevin had completed eight. A budding friendship quickly started and a relationship grew and deepened.
Three years later, Kevin took me to Williamstown, Massachusetts for a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Orchard’s Hotel. Right before midnight, in front of the fireplace in our room, he sat me down and handed me 10 numbered envelopes. In each envelope, there was a “Kevin Koupon,” which were lighthearted promises for acts of service that Kevin would complete for me. When I opened the final envelope, the Koupon promised that Kevin would be my “Partner for Life” if I said yes. He then took out the ring and proposed. We went back to the New Year’s Eve party and celebrated the beginning of the rest of our lives.”
Melissa: “Tell me about your original plans.”
Faith: “We fell in love with the idea of getting married at Glen Sanders Mansion. It was the setting of our second date, where I invited Kevin to be my date to the Autism Gala that is held there annually. We looked forward to attending
this event together every year and became familiar with the level of service from Mazzone Hospitality. The recently renovated space and contemporary furnishings at Glen Sanders were just our aesthetic and required very little extra décor to make it exactly what we wanted. The Grand Ballroom was perfect and could easily accommodate our guest list of more than 250 people. We loved the idea of having an outdoor ceremony on their grounds with the Mohawk River as our backdrop.”
(More detail at faithandkevin2020.minted.us)
Melissa: “Then COVID happened. What had you both decide to scale back your wedding and go with a micro wedding now?”
Faith: “We were hoping that our wedding would somehow not end up being affected by the pandemic, but we quickly realized that would not be the case. As businesses started to reopen after the shutdown, we learned that we would have to drastically downsize our wedding if we wanted to have it on our original September date. It was heartbreaking, but we understood it was necessary. The threat of the virus is real, and it was important to us to keep our loved ones safe. Standing in the middle of the Glen Sanders Grand Ballroom during a meeting with Mazzone staff, we knew it was going to be a real challenge to make the space romantic and intimate for just 25 people. Instead, we turned our attention to their riverfront patio, where our idea for an outdoor Tuscan-inspired wedding emerged. We envisioned everyone seated together while properly distanced at one long table, under a beautifully decorated chiffon tent overlooking the river. This newfound vision got us excited to plan again. It gave us hope that we could still create the wedding of our dreams.
Melissa: “How did you feel on your wedding day? Did you still feel like a “Bride” Do you feel like you “lost” anything with not having your original plan? Why?”
Faith: “I remember waking up in the Mansion on the day of our wedding with all the jitters and nervous excitement that I imagine every bride experiences. I could hear the distant sounds of people building our tent and decorating the spaces. Seeing everyone come together to make the day special, from our vendors to our families, was humbling and heartwarming. I felt pampered. I felt beautiful. I felt like a bride. I did miss getting ready with a room full of my girlfriends and not having every person who is special in our lives physically there sharing the moment. But, in reality, they were all there for us on our wedding day. Through texts, chats, and videos, they sent their well wishes and their love and support. It was touching to hear some of our friends still getting together in small groups or in
zoom chats to watch our live stream that day. We felt surrounded with love, both near and far.
Melissa: “What made you decide to hire a planner for a micro-wedding?”
Faith: “It was important to us to make our wedding day extra special to offset the devastation of letting go of our original plan. We found it ironic that planning a larger wedding felt easier to manage and downsizing to a smaller wedding would prove to be more involved and complicated. With a larger wedding, there were not many opportunities, from a budget standpoint, to do more than the standard. With a smaller wedding, we now had the means and resources to make any dream possible. We focused on elevating the look, the feel, and the guest experience. We were inspired by a picture we found of a beautifully decorated Tuscan table, adorned with a runner of flowers, under yards of draped chiffon, in the middle of a well-manicured garden. We quickly learned that the coordination necessary to achieve that vision involved many moving parts. Pulling it all together became a real concern. It was our photographer Katherine Wright of YTK Photography who suggested that a wedding planner could help us achieve exactly what we were looking for, and connected us with Melissa Brown of SBM Event Co.
Melissa: “After it was all said and done do you think hiring a planner for your micro-wedding was essential? Why?”
Faith: “Absolutely. As much as we have a vision, know what we like and dislike, and believe ourselves to be quite capable and organized; a planner has the knowledge of the industry and how to execute a vision. They have invaluable insight into what value certain vendors can provide, and a clearer picture of what is possible. Coordinating with vendors and communicating a clear vision was a task we happily gave up to our wedding planner. As Melissa got to know our taste, she also recommended other elements for our wedding that we had never thought of but were
excited to incorporate. There was endless detail to manage, (more than you realize!), and it was wonderful to take away that stress and leave the detail in the hands of someone who was so creative, capable, and efficient. If there were any issues on our wedding day, Kevin and I were not aware of it. We were able to sit back, relax, and enjoy our day. Looking back, it was just nice to have another person going through this process with you. Someone who became your cheerleader and advocate, your confidant and trusted friend. Someone who was 100% invested in us and giving us the wedding we envisioned.”
I literally have no words after this interview. This is my WHY
Vendors who worked to make this dream a reality
Planning and Design : SBM Event Company
Photography: YTK Photography
Florals: Surroundings Floral Studio
Venue: Glen Sanders Mansion, Catering: Mazzone Hospitality
Layflat Styling: YTK Photography, Gown: Essense of Australia from Lily Saratoga, Invitations: Minted, Shoes – Badgley Mischka, Custom Groom Suit: Jack Victor Suit from Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel, Makeup: Carina Scott Makeup, Hair: Julie Potter Master Stylist, Cake: Mazzone Hospitality
Stationary + Calligraphy: Holly Winnie Calligraphy
