It’s rare that I get inquiries for winter weddings but when California-based couple, Brennah and Alex, reached out about their January wedding in downtown Boston, I was into it!
My event planning career began in Boston and it’s a city that I truly love so I was really excited to have an opportunity to return. Plus, it’s a city with so much history and charm that it’s so beautiful in any season.
Winter weddings are becoming more popular, and with good reason! Venue rental fees are usually a bit more affordable, top notch vendors are more readily available, hotel rates are usually discounted for guests (unless you’re getting married in a winter destination like Aspen!), and there is so much opportunity for great design that includes deeper tones, cozy accents and a heavier menu.
As with most of my initial calls, I wanted to get to know a bit more about this couple. Brennah was finishing vet school (yay, another animal lover!) and Alex was an engineer that traveled a lot for work. They met while living in Boston and both had a lot of family still here which is why they wanted to have an east coast wedding. However, with busy schedules and planning a destination wedding, they knew they needed some help!
When they first brought me on board, they had a few venues they were considering but nothing was confirmed. I planned a day trip into the city and scouted out several options for them. As with any of my “destination” clients, I will schedule FaceTime calls so I can include them on these initial tours and meetings. It’s never exactly the same as seeing the space in person but it can help them get a feel for the size, the layout and how things will flow.
After taking some time to consider all the pros and cons of each venue, they decided that the Exchange Conference Center was the best fit for them. We locked in Saturday, January 4, 2020 and got to work on planning!
Design and great food & beverage were very important to this couple and their family. Brennah’s parents are in the restaurant industry and being that they live in California, we had to have a killer wine menu (which I was 10000% in support of!).
We did a lot of work over emails, phone calls and FaceTime. They had a trip planned out to Boston over the summer and we met for the first time for their tasting/design meeting at the venue. Our overall concept was meant to feel elegant yet relaxed. We also wanted to incorporate wintery pale blues, whites, gold accents and an overall feeling of seasonality without things feeling too “holiday-like”. I think we nailed it!
Summer turned to fall and fall turned to winter and before we knew it, we were ringing in the New Year and getting ready for their wedding weekend. I drove into Boston the day before the wedding and planned to spend the weekend in the city so I could help them get décor in place, check in on the rehearsal dinner venue and details, conduct their rehearsal and be available for anything they may need.
The morning of the wedding, Brennah and her girls got ready at the venue. She was so calm, cool and collected – the epitome of a confident, relaxed bride. Alex and Brennah decided to do a First Look so that they could spend some time alone with one another and also get a lot of their photos done so they could join their guests for cocktail hour. Their photographer, the lovely Abigail, set them up in front of these stunning glass windows overlooking the Boston Harbor while they shared this special moment.
The rest of the day went off without a hitch, everything from the ceremony to the rockin’ dance party with music by the band Splash! to the sparkler send-off was perfect (okay we did light a small trash can on fire here but no biggie!)
I had so much fun working with these two and was so honored to have played a part in their day. Thanks Brennah and Alex for being so awesome and trusting me with your vision! I wish you two a lifetime of wedded bliss!
XO,
Alyssa
Vendor Team:
Planning & Design
Venue: Exchange Conference Center
Catering: East Meets West
Photographer: Abigail Jean Photo
Band: Splash!
Florist: White Moss and Twigs
Beauty: Hair & Makeup by Natalie
Stationery: Minted
Signage: Nob Hill Jane
Rentals: Peak Event Services
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