Having just hosted a wonderful wedding over the weekend, I am reflecting upon the friendships and relationships that develop between families and The Inn at Honey Run team. I know on a personal level, every bride and groom and their families and friends touch my life. I think of every bride and groom as “my kids”. That could be why I have 28 Godchildren! It doesn’t matter if it’s a 20 year old couple or a 70 year old couple marrying after finding true love for the first or the last time in their life. The bride and groom are always in my mind and heart as “my kids”. I love having the invitation and opportunity to be part of such a special day in the lives of so many people. The number of brides and grooms or parents or grandparents who have become really good, personal friends because the bride and groom allowed me to part of their special day are considered my treasures and rewards of this career.
It makes for a lot of pressure and stress to be responsible for all the details for the event and experiences of all of the guests. Every guest will remember their stay at our Inn. They will remember the smiles, the laughter, the touching, sentimental tears of Dad as he’s walking his daughter down an aisle knowing she will always be “his little girl” but now, he has to share her with her new husband. (Oh the big “tough guy” Dads I’ve seen with crocodile tears as they start down that aisle!) They will also remember the beauty, the special attention to detail, the great food and wonderful service offered by the staff. The bartender that knows what you drink the second time you come to the bar at the reception. The server who brings more cream for your coffee without being asked, no lemon in your water because they know you don’t like lemon is the personal service that you remember as guests of The Inn at Honey Run.
No matter how customized and individualized a wedding is designed, in many ways they are all the same. The flowers, the colors of decorations, the wardrobe may be different. The style of the bride and groom, the ceremony with every detail planned for one special couple is unique but, overall it’s the love of the two getting married that overflows to all the guests and the staff of the Inn as we’re helping to make everything perfect for this one time/ major event in the lives of two families.
As a Certified Wedding Planner, I take my job seriously as it is a once in a lifetime event that needs to come off exactly as the vision of the bride and groom saw the dream in their minds. I try to sit down with the bride and groom (and their parents if the parents are involved in the planning) to ask all the questions I can to paint the picture of their dream. I want every detail that the bride started creating in her mind when she was 5 years old and playing Cinderella or the princess bride. If it’s possible, we will make it happen.
Thank you to the Klee and Mammoser Families for allowing me to be part of their wedding and allowing me to have some of those beautiful memories in my mind. I will always remember Julia singing to Charlie in that beautiful setting on the top of the hill and Marcy and Kevin’s faces as Julia sang.
Happy Ever Aftering……
Jill Smith