Bill can be reached at my studio 952-237-3507 or by email billcoombs{at}gmail{dot}com.

Here’s images of the ceremony in the Solarium of Calhoun Beach Club and what the room looked like just two short hours later.

Here’s her reception in the Boulevard Room of Calhoun Beach Club.

I loved every moment of our two years together and wish EB & John a fabulous and colorful life together. Thanks to Andrew Vick Photography for these gorgeous images.

Here’s the style board that my couple loved for their upcoming destination wedding early next year. I can’t wait to see this board come to life in Portugal.

A planning trip helps in dozens of ways including:

• understanding challenges guests may encounter upon their arrival through to their departure
• locating the nearest banks, ATM’s or pharmacies just in case
• viewing first hand the ambiance of the ceremony and reception venue and working to enhance with floral or decor and not compete
• develop an early & trusted relationship with wedding professionals we contract with
• meet the staff at the host hotel, chateau or villa where guests will stay the week of the wedding
• sample regional food and beverages and recommend
• experience activities guests may be interested in and recommending first hand
• understanding transportation challenges and logistics and anticipate problems before they occur
• preparing guests for cultural or language differences
• meeting wedding professionals who come recommended by local contacts
• obtain advice and recommendations from the local professionals regarding best dates, locations & little know hidden gems or resources not normally known through the internet

Once we return for the actual wedding I have the confidence to look forward to a great week with our bride and groom and their guests.  For many of the guests this trip is their first time at the destination and it’s always fun to listen to their excitement and share in their joy.

I would not plan a destination wedding without having the opportunity to visit the location first and I advise couples to always make a preliminary visit whether or not they hire a planner.

Here’s photos of a few scouting trips I’ve conducted recently.

As I was perusing one of my cookbooks, in particular one that also provides a pictorial of Italy, I started reminiscing of my last wedding in Tuscany. I wondered if an adventurous couple would be interested in a cooking tour of a particular region of Italy and how this could be planned and successfully executed.  I think it’s a great idea and would be interested in exploring this further for any couple who wants to create a truly personalized experience for their destination guests.

A few years ago I spent twelve days in the Bordeaux region of France visiting various vineyards and chateau’s known for some amazing wines. Our trip combined lessons in grape growing, harvesting and wine making along with cooking classes from a Michelin rated chef. Every day brought a new chateau, new winery and new appreciation for preparing French food.  By the time our trip was over I had an entirely new understanding of the delicate balance between food, wine and the journey from sea or land to vineyard and table.

I think a destination wedding is the perfect time to create a hands-on experience for foodie couples by carefully crafting several special opportunities to explore particular regions of Italy or France. For example, Tuscany is well known for Chianti wine and Pecorino cheese so scheduling tours of wineries and farms provides guests with a greater appreciation of the processes involved with producing these fine wines and cheese so why not share these treasures during the destination experience.

Chef’s do not have to be Michelin rated to teach and create a memorable experience. The owner/chef of Beppone Ristorante in San Gimignano is the cutest little “mama” you would ever want to meet. She offered an impromptu instruction into making the very best wood-fire pizza dough and her secret to outstanding bruschetta for our guests.

So for any self-proclaimed foodies out there wanting to plan a destination wedding, consider a cooking/wine experience your guests will never forget.

Just a few images of our Chianti tour last year.

I know Melissa and her energetic team are always on top of every wedding they produce and I can count on them to go the extra mile. Their deliveries are always on time or even ahead of schedule which, to a planner is imperative. Standing around toe-tapping while waiting for a brides bouquet or corsages to be delivered is definitely NOT in the carefully crafted timeline of the day.

Besides being punctual Melissa creates works of art for every couple.  She never duplicates previous centerpieces nor does she copy bouquets found in wedding magazines or blogs.  Her creations are truly customized and exclusive to every bride & groom.  Here are a few weddings created by Melissa Stratton and Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling. Enjoy!

For example, the Solarium at the Calhoun Beach Club was used for a beautiful all-white ceremony and cocktail hour, but after guests departed to the Boulevard Room for dinner, a huge team of people came together to transform the all-white pristine Solarium into a rocking nightclub, the likes of which are typically seen in New York.

Customized lighting played a huge role in transforming the room. Thanks to Josh Reitan and his entire team at AV For You for their expertise. Several companies played a role in making Elizabeth & John’s wedding extraordinary, including D’Amico & Son’s, Ultimate Events & Linen Effects not to mention the Fete Perfection Team of men and women.

Here’s a before picture of the ceremony:

And here are a couple of after photos:

The main color scheme was blue but every 15 minutes rotated to pink and then purple.  I’ll never forget the look on Elizabeth & John’s faces when they walked into the Solarium for the first time.  It was priceless.  I can’t wait to see the professional photos from Andrew Vick of Vick Photography.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about creating extraordinary events!

Amy

1. Budget should be a sacred cow. In other words, commit to and protect your budget as long as its realistic.
2. Cut the guest list to make your budget stretch further.
3. If you plan a long engagement, say 2 years or more  go ahead and find your perfect venue, book it and then stop all planning until you are 1 year away.  Planning a wedding longer than a year is just too draining both financially and emotionally. Trust me on this.
4. Consider an unconventional ceremony time and reception.  Why not an 11:00 AM ceremony then an afternoon luncheon say on a boat or in a garden. I guarantee your guests will remember your wedding.
5. Nothing says you have to plan a long engagement. I can plan a wedding in a matter of weeks or even days if needed. Options might be limited but if time is of the essence or you just don’t want to wait, it can be done.
6. Can’t please all the people all the time; consider a destination wedding. There are many planners who specialize in destination weddings and who know the ins and outs of exotic locations.
7. If you are planning a destination wedding you might have to legally get married at home then have a symbolic ceremony in your dream location.  Countries like France require a 40 day residency to legally marry which is virtually impossible for most couples.

This is just a sampling of some of the suggestions experienced wedding planners can offer.

Although the weather was a little cooler & wetter than normal, this didn’t dampen their spirits but probably made the hikes up the steep hill to the almost thousand year old Reichsburg Castle more tolerable.  Cochem represents the quintessential German medieval town at the base of the castle, which sadly, sustained heavy damage during the Second World War but has been lovingly and historically restored. Cochem is pedestrian friendly with charming cobblestone walks and roads.

Family and friends took over Hotel Lohspeicher for the week and we couldn’t have been happier. Our hosts provided an extensive breakfast every morning, refreshing bottles of water and homemade truffles upon arrival. Hotel Lohspeicher is home to the award-winning restaurant Restaurant L’Auberge Du Vin so we all were very well-fed.

The evening before the wedding, Kayleigh & Brian played host to a cruise on the Mosel River courtesy of Kolb Family Cruises. The weather was perfect and the scenery breathtaking. Although this video of the  Mosel River Cruise is not my own, it accurately represents our guests experience. Thank you Cochem Mosel Channel for providing this.

On Saturday, after several brief but intense showers and a fifteen minute rain delay, Kayleigh & Brian said “I do”. They were married on the outdoor terrace of Hotel Brixiade overlooking the Mosel River which is the most picturesque side of Cochem. Here’s my photo of the ceremony as it was being performed.

Guests enjoyed a wine tasting featuring local wines immediately after the ceremony, followed by a multi-course dinner of delicious mushroom & white asparagus soup, duck salad, tenderloin beef or fresh caught trout and an amazing buffet of assorted desserts, pastries, chocolates and chocolate fountain.

The entire staff at Hotel Brixiade helped make Kayleigh & Brian’s Germany wedding memorable and even though communication became challenging at times, everyone ultimately collaborated to make this destination wedding an experience to remember.

One of my favorite photographer’s, Bjorn Meisner joined us from Minneapolis to facilitate the language barrier but more importantly capture images that speak for themselves. I can’t wait to see them. Thanks Bjorn for joining us and congratulations Kayleigh & Brian.

Here are a few of my images of the area.