Melissa here - I want to talk about a special couple that is very near and dear to my heart. A couple that has forever impacted my team and I to strive towards this much love and devotion in all of our relationships. Let me introduce you to Kathy and Mandy - my wannabe adopted mothers. We began working with Kathy and Mandy back in August of 2022. They choose our full planning and design service because they were hosting a tented event on a private lot that was going to take a lot of planning and logistics to pull off. We managed all of their vendors, including transportation for all guests and even flooring that covered the entire event lawn. We also assisted them in planning a morning-after brunch at their beautiful home on Bald Eagle Lane here in Wilmington. I knew from the get-go that this couple was special and I couldn't wait to be a part of this planning journey with them. These two ladies were together for 20 years before they hired us for the big celebration that led to folks traveling from all over the world to be there on their special weekend. In addition to exchanging countless emails, our team did a few site visits, which often led to hour long conversations over tea and coffee, so we got to know Kathy and Mandy on a more personal level. We began to understand what got them to where they are today and how their relationship always persevered through various job changes and different cities they lived in over their 20 years together. While Kathy is originally from the United States, Mandy is from England. Not only were they trying to plan a wedding celebration in their now home of Wilmington, NC, but they also had to coordinate dates, times, flights, hotel stays, sleeping arrangements, and many other things for all of the friends and family flying in from out-of-state or out of the country. Let me tell you, the emotion of every single guest at this celebration brought me and my team to tears. You could honestly feel the love in the air. When Kathy and Mandy exchanged vows, there was not a dry eye in sight and it was truly the perfect moment. All of the hours of planning, along with any stress or worries, completely evaporated as the couple professed their love for each other. Once tears were dried and bellies filled, that's when the party kicked into high gear. I have never experienced the joy, happiness, and sense of togetherness that this group of family and friends brought together. It was and will always be a special memory that I hold close. Strangers came together to make long-lasting connections and moments all brought to them by two people who are very much loved and in love. It was a beautiful and spectacular day that I think my team and I will carry forever.
Vendors:
Full Event Planning + Design: Knot Too Shabby Events Venue: Private Location in Wilmington Photographer: Lightbloom Photography Florist: Designs by Dillon Band: The Finns (Sam Hill Entertainment) Table, Chair + Linen Rentals: Party Suppliers Tent + Flooring Rentals: Perfect Touch Rentals Speciality Rentals: Martha My Dear Speciality Rentals: DP etc. Plant Rentals: Coastal Plant Rentals (business now closed) Lighting: High Performance Lighting Caterer: Spoonfed Kitchen & Bake Shop Dessert: Nye's Ice Cream Makeup Artist: Makeup by Amy Kennison Transportation: Coastal Event Shuttle and Car Services
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This January, Knot Too Shabby Events celebrating 9 wonderful (and sometimes stressful) years of business! We cannot thank our amazing clients, employees, and vendors enough for their support in helping us with all of our fun-filled and beautiful events. When we started this venture in 2014, we never imagined we would be where we are today with almost 300 weddings under our belt. 2022 added 29 new weddings of that 300. Here is a look back at some of our best moments from 2022. Best First Look: Amanda + Aaron Talk about the sweetest moment between our bride and groom at their first look. Aaron isn’t the only one who was crying at the time…guilty as charged. Best Bouquet: Shannon + Mitch Flowers are individually styled to the client and their vision. All of the different bouquets and flowers we had this year were stunning. But Shannon’s bouquet really rose above as one of the biggest bouquets for the year and it was magnificent. Best DIY Project: Kendalyn + Reed To be a fly on this wall would be absolute heaven. Kendalyn and her family built this wall specifically for her wedding and check out how great it looks! We don’t often encourage DIY projects but when they turn out this great, we celebrate the outcome. We’re not the only ones who loved this white shiplap wall. You can now find this available for rent at Martha My Dear! Best Bridesmaid Reveal: Jess + Ben Believe me when we say that we can still hear the chant “Jess in a dress!” from all of these bridesmaids who were clapping and laughing as Jess jumped for joy in her wedding dress. Hands down one of our favorite memories. Best Plan B: Carlie + Tyler Amidst a fierce thunderstorm, everything about this day was outside. Beach ceremony, cocktail hour by the pool, and reception under the carport. Thankfully we are always prepared with a Plan B and look at how gorgeous it turned out to be! Best First Dance: Marissa + Tom Tear jerker is the only way to describe this first dance. Marissa + Tom had it choreographed and it was magical! Best Tablescapes/Head Table: Bri + Jeff, Tricia + Stew We had multiple tablescapes and head tables that were wonderful this year and honestly we could have picked them all! But a couple that stood out to us were Bri + Jeff’s and Tricia + Stew’s head tables. Both unique and beautiful in their own way. Something about them just catches our eye! Best Cake: Kendalyn + Reed Literally dripping in sugar, this wedding cake by B.Markova Cake’s traveled all the way from Portsmouth, Virginia and is 100% edible and we do mean: every. single. flower. Best Dressed Guest: Shayna + Andrew Not only was this special guest wearing full regalia, but he did also actually play the bagpipes as Shayna walked down the aisle and throughout the night. This was such a unique experience and definitely a moment to remember! Uncle Karl even played the bagpipes as the couple did their send off at the end of the night. We couldn’t get enough! Best Hype Crew: Madison + Tanner When we say this crowd really loved this couple, we mean it! It’s always amazing when the couple is not only hype but so are their friends. Can't wait to see what 2023 has in store! Cheers to year 10! Morgan and Timmie’s Virginia wedding was like Cool Kid Summer Camp that also had adult beverages. Not only was this wedding memorable for our team because it was our first out-of-state wedding (and one of our favorite couples), Morgan and Timmie’s wedding will ALWAYS live in infamy because it included an event that not many people know about…… 9/18/2020 is the day that Melissa and I crashed a golf cart into cocktail hour. Morgan Robertson, founder, editor, and creative director of ModMotion, used to live in Wilmington, NC. As one of our favorite videographers, we worked with her often before she moved back to Richmond, VA. When it came time for her wedding, our team was the one she wanted to coordinate their day, even when it included the extra costs to bring our team in from out-of-state. She knew she wanted the level of attention to detail and professionalism that Melissa and our Knot Too Shabby team brings to the table. Morgan and Timmie had envisioned a unique and personable wedding experience for their guests. It was set with a BEAUTIFUL backdrop of the rolling hills of Crozet, Virginia at MontfairResortFarm. Every detail was accounted for including personalized camping mugs, an opportunity to canoe around the lake, smores around a fire, an origami crane photo booth, lanterns hung from the trees, buried booze for tradition, and one dope bride and groom. We were ecstatic to be a part. One of Morgan’s important details of her vision included a collection of vintage rugs that were scattered down the aisle for the ceremony. But being the KTSE resourceful-detail-istas that we are, wanted to re-use the rugs during cocktail hour and the reception. While the ceremony was on a bucolic hillside, the reception was about a ½ mile down by the lake and lodge. We had a large tent/dance floor set up lakeside and then utilized a blanket of sky and stars for the firepit and lounge. We couldn’t carry the rugs that far, So Melissa and I decide to roll up the rugs and bring them down in the golf cart. While we were at it, we cut down the large floral arrangements attached to the arbor – we can put those somewhere pretty too! Melissa is in the driver's seat, the rugs are rolled up in the passenger seat, and I am standing on the back of the cart, holding the giant floral arrangements in place across the back seat. The weather couldn’t have been better that day, but we had recently gotten a lot of rain so everything was a little… soft. We take the back way around to access the waterfront and Melissa tactfully drives the cart between the tent and the water – about a 6-foot-wide space. Well as we turn the golf cart to head toward the fire pit area, the golf cart starts to roll backward into the lake, shifting all the contents in the golf cart. Melissa hits the gas to save us from rolling into the lake. All of a sudden, the cart careens out of control toward cocktail hour (and guests)!! It probably happened in two seconds, but time slowed down as I watched our lives (and careers) flash before our eyes. Guests are jumping out of the way. There’s shouting and commotion. And the golf cart slams into two MASSIVE wooden picnic tables. Now, ask any member of our team how heavy these things were (shout out to Jared!!) because we had to move them, and LUCKILY we had put two end-to-end, so the golf cart wedged under a picnic table and wasn’t forceful enough to move two. I had jumped off the back as we were flying toward the crowd and Melissa has jumped out shouting, “IT WON’T STOP!! IT WON’T STOP!!!” What we didn’t realize as we zoomed away from almost rolling into the lake is that the rugs had wedged themselves against the gas pedal!! A couple of wonderful guests jumped in to help, and as we all pulled backward on the golf cart – tires still spinning midair – we were able to unwedge the rugs from the gas pedal. We returned the picnic tables to their place, stomped back in the turfs of unearthed grass, took a moment to assure the rattled flower girl that everything was okay and no one was hurt, and then all had a decent laugh about it – guests and all. The saddest part is that Morgan and Timmy were off taking their pictures with their photo/video team so none of it was caught on camera; In fact, they were forming their own camp story as they witnessed the video team’s canoe capsize, but that’s another story for another day. We were so grateful that this fateful accident happened with a couple that KNEW us and is also in the biz and knows mistakes DO happen – every wedding, behind every great vendor team. But one of the most memorable things that I witnessed was Melissa’s resiliency and her ability to shake off such a frazzling event because, well, the show must go on! You’ll notice that WE rarely use the word perfect to describe a wedding day because well, they rarely ever are. But the hours and hours of pre-planning, experience, and ability to keep calm in the chaos is what helps the inevitable mishaps, at best, never even come to anyone’s attention or, at worst, turn in to laughable camp stories. What happens at Cool Kid Summer Camp doesn’t always stay at Cool Kid Summer Camp, but it sure makes for a hilarious story to tell around the next campfire. Happy Anniversary, Morgan and Timmie! Vendors:
Venue: Montfair Resort Farm Photography: Kenzi Creates Co. Videography: MOD Motion Reception DJ: America Wedding Entertainer Ceremony Musician: J.P.P. Jazz Ensemble Rentals: Virginia Tent Rental Rug Rentals: Amy Marie Events Cart Rentals: Valley View Golf Carts Cake: Debby Robertson Caterer: Lunch.Supper Ice Cream Truck: Wonderment Bakeshop & Creamery Florist: Moondance Florals Brides Hair: Susan Chesson Hair + Makeup Artist: Beauty by Krista Rose Officiant: Kathryn Kirk Dress Shop: Lovely Bride NYC Dress Designer: Prea James |
Authora place for bridal tips, wedding highlights, and other fun stuff, written by Melissa of Knot Too Shabby Events Archives
January 2023
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