Having an outdoor tent, barn, or rustic wedding? Then you have to meet Kellie with Rustic Elegance! Kellie is one of my dearest friends and she’s also an amazing wedding planner! With a combined passion for the outdoors, weddings, and organizing- Kellie will make your wedding planning process a breeze! Her positivity is contagious, and she’s prepared for every possibility. Kellie will make sure your big day is absolutely perfect, rain or shine. Since she has over eight years of experience as a lead planner for outdoor events, Kellie chatted with me about wedding days and wedding planning tips!
What’s your favorite part of the wedding day?
Kellie: This is a tough one- there are so many great parts of the wedding day! This is when we shine, all our planning for months and months and we finally get to see it all come together! If I had to pick just one, I would say seeing the bride in her dress for the first time. It usually makes me tear up. It’s just so great seeing her so happy, looking her best with all of her favorite people!
What’s a favorite memory of yours from a past wedding?
Kellie: I have so many great memories from our weddings over the years. I can’t pick just one! Off the top of my head, here are a few:
- Watching the bride’s dad and stepdad walk her down the aisle…not a dry eye in the crowd!
- Witnessing the groomsmen give the groom a gift of glasses that let him see color for the first time.
- The wedding where Grandma was a bridesmaid!
- Watching the first dance of a couple that had to postpone their wedding by a year due to cancer. The bride did a voice-over on the song…again, not a dry eye!
- Watching the couple make their grand entrance via pontoon!
- Every wedding where Jeannine Marie Photography brings her good energy! (Aww-thanks, Kellie!)
What’s your favorite item from your rental collection?
Kellie: I would have to say our ceremony doors. I love where they came from and how we gave them new life. The doors were originally used on my friend’s mom’s farmhouse (they were red and blue). We spent many hours painting them and creating a doorframe that is freestanding. I love seeing them used at our weddings to create a main entrance for outdoor ceremonies!
What’s a common wedding day stressor that couples don’t plan for and how did your team diffuse the situation?
Kellie: I like to think we try and plan ahead for all the stressors that could possibly happen on the day. But it’s hard to know how weather will come into action. We always have a rain plan and have had to implement it a few times. I think it helps knowing what this will look like ahead of time and then we can be ready to put it into action when needed. We have had to bring in heart to a tent on the wedding day because it was an unseasonally cold September day.
Since your team specializes in outdoor tent and farm/barn weddings, what is your best tip for couples as they plan their outdoor wedding?
Kellie: I think a huge part of a backyard or outdoor wedding is creating a good layout/flow to the entire yard or space. Since everything is being brought in and setup, it’s so important to take this into consideration ahead of time. Examples: Does the placement of the tent best utilize the yard and is it assessable to all of the vendors for easy setup? How far are your guests parking? Is the placement of the bathrooms close enough to the tent, but far away from the catering? Will additional lighting be needed outside for guests to walk around safely? These are all important questions and we love helping couples take all of these things into consideration.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding and need a planner, check out Rustic Elegance! You can inquire here about your upcoming event! In addition to planning services, Rustic Elegance also has a selection of rustic rental items that couples can rent for their big day.
