Chris and Robert
Caroline and Mike
Sarah and Brian
Jane and Brian Where: 410 Club, Wrigley Building, Chicago
When: May 14, 2005
How An Urban Affair was involved:
Jane and Brian first met with us in July of 2004, not long after they got engaged. They wanted assistance finding a reception location, preparing a realistic budget, help with vendor advice and negotiation, and coordination of the event.
We located a number of locations for Jane and Brian that fit within their budget, theme, and size, and they fell in love with the 410 Club. They used our recommendations for the stationer, florist, and photographer. We kept them on budget and organized for the big day. When Jane and Brian needed to meet the minimum dollar amount for catering at the club, we suggested a chocolate fountain, which was a big hit with all the guests.
We located a number of locations for Jane and Brian that fit within their budget, theme, and size, and they fell in love with the 410 Club. They used our recommendations for the stationer, florist, and photographer. We kept them on budget and organized for the big day. When Jane and Brian needed to meet the minimum dollar amount for catering at the club, we suggested a chocolate fountain, which was a big hit with all the guests.
The Weekend of:
Jane and Brian wanted a smooth event, and smooth it was! The day was perfect, and their topsy-turvy cake looked about to fall over, but stayed put the entire night. The chocolate fountain was a big hit with all attending, and it was rewarding for Jane & Brian to see their dream envisioned.
What they had to say:
“[We] just got married and used [An Urban Affair] for everything--budgeting, planning, location scouting, day-of coordination, etc. [They are] thorough, organized, creative, reassuring (!!!) and [their] rates are very reasonable.”
Credits:
Ocken Photography, (312) 498-0407, www.ockenphotography.com
Wild Geranium Fresh Cut Flowers, (312) 733-3363, www.wildgeranium.com
Wild Geranium Fresh Cut Flowers, (312) 733-3363, www.wildgeranium.com
Photo Courtesy of Ocken Photography
Photo Courtesy of Ocken Photography
Photo Courtesy of Ocken Photography
Photo Courtesy of Ocken Photography
Photo Courtesy of Ocken Photography
Chris and Robert Where: Four Seasons Waliea in Maui, Hawaii
When: December 11, 2004
How An Urban Affair was involved:
After Chris and Robert determined they wanted to be married on Maui, and they had booked with the Four Seasons, they asked to assist with the long-distance planning of the wedding, rehearsal dinner, and day-after brunch as a weekend-of coordinator, and to assist with the long-distance planning process. Even though the Four Seasons had an on-site wedding planner, we were able to simplify the process for Chris by handling many details directly with the Four Seasons’ planner, helping with the local Chicago vendors, planning and coordinating the details of the Rehearsal Dinner (which was not at the Four Seasons), and handling the coordination of the day-after brunch.
The Weekend of:
We were able to act as Chris and Robert’s “personal concierge” from Thursday night when we arrived, through Monday afternoon when Chris and Robert departed for their honeymoon. We helped with any number of tasks, including changing salon appointments, ordering room service for the day-of for the bridesmaids, coordinating the groomsmen’s fishing trip, double-checking all the bills, including the bridal suite, incidentals, reception, brunch, and additional rooms the bride and groom covered. We packed and shipped the bride’s dress and accessories back to their home, designated someone to preserve the bride’s bouquet and transport the top layer of their wedding cake, in addition to taking accessories and programs to Hawaii for the event.
What they had to say:
Chris & Robert, Bride & Groom: “There are so many positive things to say about [our consultant] and An Urban Affair. We were married this past December in Maui, in choosing a destination wedding we expected more than your typical planning frustration.
[Our consultant] acted as our go-to person for all of our vendors, she ensured that everything was executed flawlessly, I never had to worry about the details. She is articulate, organized, and straightforward. What a relief to have someone with class represent us!
From orchestrating our rehearsal dinner to reviewing the seemingly endless post-wedding bills she handled every aspect with poise, forethought and the professionalism of a well-seasoned veteran. She even made herself available as a resource for all of our questions on proper etiquette, this proved to be invaluable! The individual attention she gave us exceeded our expectations and had our wedding party raving about her attentive and calming nature.
We are thrilled with the way our wedding turned out, it was a dream come true for both of us and we could not have done it without [our consultant]! If you decide to use her I trust that your wedding will go as smooth as ours and you’ll find yourself writing a glowing review for her as well.”
[Our consultant] acted as our go-to person for all of our vendors, she ensured that everything was executed flawlessly, I never had to worry about the details. She is articulate, organized, and straightforward. What a relief to have someone with class represent us!
From orchestrating our rehearsal dinner to reviewing the seemingly endless post-wedding bills she handled every aspect with poise, forethought and the professionalism of a well-seasoned veteran. She even made herself available as a resource for all of our questions on proper etiquette, this proved to be invaluable! The individual attention she gave us exceeded our expectations and had our wedding party raving about her attentive and calming nature.
We are thrilled with the way our wedding turned out, it was a dream come true for both of us and we could not have done it without [our consultant]! If you decide to use her I trust that your wedding will go as smooth as ours and you’ll find yourself writing a glowing review for her as well.”
Credits:
Four Seaons Resort Maui at Wailea, (808) 874-8000 catering and location
Photography by Bill Stockwell, (888) 676-5500, www.mauiweddingphotographer.com
Photography by Bill Stockwell, (888) 676-5500, www.mauiweddingphotographer.com
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Bill Stockwell Photography
Caroline and Mike
Where: Cheney Mansion, Oak Park, IL
When: July 30, 2004
How An Urban Affair was involved:
Caroline and Mike came to us in the beginning of June, 2004, with very little planned for their July wedding. They had the site, photographer, and entertainer booked, and nothing else. Caroline had yet to select a dress, hire a caterer, stationer, florist, hair & make-up stylists, or musicians. We got them on track with their planning, with a very specific to-do list and a list of recommended vendors, and helped with many of the phone calls and bookings, in addition to providing day-of coordination.
The Rehearsal:
Since Caroline and Mike choose to be married by a good friend of Mike’s, who had never married anyone before (he was ordained just for their wedding), we ran the rehearsal and helped to plan out the ceremony.
The Day-of:
The wedding was on a Friday night, and everyone seemed to be running late…the photographer, musicians, the bride…but despite the late start, we were on schedule for the ceremony start time. The musicians neglected to bring a proper extension chord (and of course we have one in our emergency kit!), but other than that, the evening was glitch-free.
What they had to say:
Caroline, the Bride: “Thank you so much for all of your help and guidance; your careful planning and your day-of coordination (along with Paula--she was amazing!) allowed us to relax and really enjoy the wedding, knowing that all the details were taken care of. Everyone told us that I would be too nervous and exhausted to even enjoy our own wedding day but your presence made it worry free and we had a blast. (I was quite nervous until I saw Mike and had a couple of sips of wine and then I was fine.) I also really appreciate how flexible and unflappable you are; we wanted a somewhat offbeat, half improv ceremony and you worked with us to make it happen. The ceremony had the humor and natural manner that we wanted but still managed to bring in quite a bit of seriousness and reflection on the hard work of marriage and the love and need for support and witnesses. Your guidance during rehearsal gave us a clear structure that allowed those less rehearsed moments to work within. Also, thank you for setting up our private moment with wine upstairs; it was wonderful to have a little time together to reflect. Clearly, I could go on and on; obviously, our guests were very impressed with you--I saw at least one single gal grab your card...”
Sarah and Brian Where: US Cellular Field
When: August 28, 2004
How An Urban Affair was involved:
Sarah came to us in November of 2003, a few weeks after getting engaged to Brian. They wanted assistance with the reception location, budget, and day-of coordination.
When it came to finding a site, they wanted something in the summer of 2004, preferably something outside, with a picnic kind of flair. Since Brian had played for the minor leagues for a period of time, and they were both sports fans, Sarah and Brian chose US Cellular Field for both their wedding ceremony and reception.
When it came to finding a site, they wanted something in the summer of 2004, preferably something outside, with a picnic kind of flair. Since Brian had played for the minor leagues for a period of time, and they were both sports fans, Sarah and Brian chose US Cellular Field for both their wedding ceremony and reception.
The Day of:
After a hot, humid day for the rehearsal, the day-of dawned cloudy, cool, and overcast. The rain seemed to be holding off in the afternoon, until fifteen minutes before the ceremony, when it began drizzling. Since the ceremony was going to be in the stands, we quickly had to set up a last minute ceremony site in the concessions area, under the upper deck.
What they had to say:
Cheryl, mother of the bride: “I watched my friends at their daughters’ weddings. They spent the entire time taking care of ‘stuff.’ I was delighted, then, when my daughter told me she was hiring a wedding planner. [The consultant] and her staff from Urban Affair allowed me to have a great time without a single worry. She checked and rechecked with the photographer, the florist, the caterer and the limo service. When rain forced us inside, [our consultant] took care of it. Plus, her advice in planning the wedding was invaluable. We couldn’t have done it without her.”
Sarah, Bride: “The first thing I will say is that in an event such as a wedding where quite a variety of vendors are used and you can really evaluate which felt “worth the money,” I felt like having [my consultant] as my wedding coordinator was the best money I ever spent.
I found [An Urban Affair] by going down a list of coordinators. [My consultant] was the first one to call me back and I felt immediately that she would be a good fit. On our initial phone call we talked a little about what I was looking for, and she came prepared for our initial consultation with several ideas and options already investigated. She truly listened to me and made sure she understood what kind of wedding I wanted. She explained to me what consultation packages she offered and they were very straightforward and comprehensive. I was impressed and didn’t need to talk to any other coordinators.
During the wedding planning, [my consultant] met with me several times for very lengthy sessions to go over all the details. She provided me with a detailed planning timeline and also gave me a timeline with tasks to accomplish listed by month, which I felt very comforting in reducing the enormity of the event. [She] encouraged me to feel free to ask any questions I had as they arose. I emailed her frequently with questions ranging from details about the ceremony / reception and etiquette dilemmas, to whether I should change my name and how to deal with natural wedding fears and frustrations.
On the day of the wedding, [my consultant] was on top of everything and was professional and responsible. She prepared a timeline for each of the wedding participants and family members and as a result, the day of the ceremony went smoothly. After the ceremony and during the dinner and reception, I felt extremely confident that [my consultant] would handle any kinks. Neither me, nor my mom had to worry about anything and we were able to participate fully. I always said that my biggest fear about the wedding was not about flowers or music, but whether I would be able to be a part of and enjoy this special day that I had spent so many hours putting together. Because of [my consultant], my fear was unfounded. I had a glorious day.”
Sarah, Bride: “The first thing I will say is that in an event such as a wedding where quite a variety of vendors are used and you can really evaluate which felt “worth the money,” I felt like having [my consultant] as my wedding coordinator was the best money I ever spent.
I found [An Urban Affair] by going down a list of coordinators. [My consultant] was the first one to call me back and I felt immediately that she would be a good fit. On our initial phone call we talked a little about what I was looking for, and she came prepared for our initial consultation with several ideas and options already investigated. She truly listened to me and made sure she understood what kind of wedding I wanted. She explained to me what consultation packages she offered and they were very straightforward and comprehensive. I was impressed and didn’t need to talk to any other coordinators.
During the wedding planning, [my consultant] met with me several times for very lengthy sessions to go over all the details. She provided me with a detailed planning timeline and also gave me a timeline with tasks to accomplish listed by month, which I felt very comforting in reducing the enormity of the event. [She] encouraged me to feel free to ask any questions I had as they arose. I emailed her frequently with questions ranging from details about the ceremony / reception and etiquette dilemmas, to whether I should change my name and how to deal with natural wedding fears and frustrations.
On the day of the wedding, [my consultant] was on top of everything and was professional and responsible. She prepared a timeline for each of the wedding participants and family members and as a result, the day of the ceremony went smoothly. After the ceremony and during the dinner and reception, I felt extremely confident that [my consultant] would handle any kinks. Neither me, nor my mom had to worry about anything and we were able to participate fully. I always said that my biggest fear about the wedding was not about flowers or music, but whether I would be able to be a part of and enjoy this special day that I had spent so many hours putting together. Because of [my consultant], my fear was unfounded. I had a glorious day.”
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