As wedding planners, we dream of those perfect editorial shoots that transport couples into a world of beauty and inspiration. When we envisioned the Italian Garden Soiree at The Arlington Estate, we had high hopes of creating something truly magical.
With stunning grounds as our backdrop, carefully curated details like a pizza station, cannoli station, limoncello setup, and lounge furniture, we were prepared to capture the essence of Italian elegance. But, as every planner knows, sometimes the unexpected happens. In our case, that unexpected was a torrential downpour.
Rain isn’t just a minor inconvenience when it comes to outdoor shoots; it changes everything.
On the day of our much-anticipated shoot, the weather took a drastic turn for the worse, throwing us into a frenzy of rushed timelines and hasty decisions.
Our ceremony photos, which we had meticulously planned to take advantage of the Estate’s stunning outdoor scenery, had to be done in a flash before the next wave of rain hit.
The terrace setups that were meant to be the heart of the soiree with the pizza station, the cannoli station, and the inviting lounge areas barely had time to shine. We were heartbroken, watching our vision slip away in the rain, knowing that the backup plan, while still beautiful, couldn’t fully live up to what we had imagined.
However, despite the challenges, some moments of the day stood out. The incredible florals brought our Italian garden theme to life, the incredibe stationery, and the two dresses (one wild and sexy black gown and one demure and tradional in white) added a touch of drama and elegance.
Of course, the Rolls Royce was the perfect finishing touch, exuding timeless luxury against the gray skies.
In the end, this experience reminded us of an important lesson in the wedding and events industry: flexibility and resilience are essential. Even with the best plans in place, sometimes nature has other ideas.
We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this shoot, lent a helping hand, and adapted to the situation. While our original plan didn’t come to life as we had envisioned, the passion, effort, and teamwork behind the scenes made it a success in its own right.
This Italian Garden Soiree will always be a reminder that, as planners, we do our best to create magic, but sometimes the most important thing we can do is gracefully adapt to whatever comes our way.
I am just over here truly making lemonade (or limoncello) out of lemons, one day at a time 🙂
Wedding Team:
Venue: The Arlington Estate ~Photographer: Rosetta Li Weddings ~Video: Beau Films ~Planner/Design: Tracey M Events ~Florals: Royal Orchid Florist ~Day Of Planner: Rita Khanna ~Linens/Napkins/Chargers: Linen Closet ~Furniture Rentals: Detailz Couture Event Rentals ~Invitations: Royal Stationery Design ~MUAH: Michele Rose Beauty ~Cakes: Fruitilicious ~Tuxedo: Andrews Formals ~Wedding Gowns: Rent the Couture ~Audio Visual and Entertainment: BB Blanc ~Favours: Succulent Chocolates ~Model: Michele @michelerosebeauty ~Model: Jordan @njkrakower